She is being pulled straight at the body shop. They removed the damaged fenders and the hood, and bumper, of course.

She's been sitting in his lot patiently waiting to get her frame pulled straight. He called me because he needed hinge pins for the doors so he could align them for me after pulling the frame.

So, yesterday, I drove over to his shop, and they had her on the frame machine. I had never seen anything like this. They have slotted steel channels embedded in the concrete floor, and a big steel frame above it. They actually clamp the car to the floor, and then attach pulling devices to other slotted rails and they have these calibrated gauges that they position on the car to tell them if the car is straight.

I watched them do one pull (BTW, the fenders and hood were removed to do this) and after they were done, the one guy reported "OK, that got us 3 more millimeters".

I'm guessing this car probably never had it so good.

They are also going to realign the doors for me, and then we will begin making her pretty again.

I'll post pix when she comes home.

 

Good to see another ThirdGen come back from the dead. You sir, Are a God in Your own right.

 

Peter called yesterday to tell me that "Nellie" was ready to come home. He is going to flatbed her to my house, and then she'll wait just a little bit while I fix my son's 87. He has a t-top leak, and I think the heater core is leaking again. So, "Nellie" will have to rest a bit until I can start putting her back together.

 

OK... Peter at the body shop is a good friend, and we have done business together for a long time. Right now, he is pretty slow, so I agreed to let him work on Nellie in exchange for running advertisements on my radio station for him. I have some body parts that I am going to drop off, and he's going to get all the body panels on and lined up straight, and then strip her and get her all primed for me... and maybe more.

Although I would have liked to say I did the work all by myself, I am relieved to have it done for me, especially by a guy like him. He is hands down the best body man I have ever known.

Plus I get to do other stuff that needs to be done, and she won't languish in limbo.

 

Peter called me today asking for parts... he is going to paint her while she's apart, so it will all look original. This is especially important since I have decided to paint her red... Pete's going to take care of that as well.

Here are a couple of pix:

Peter is the short guy facing the camera (the other guy is a customer, who also happens to be a friend of mine).

Note the hood and decklid, both of which I thought were perfectly straight.

 

More pix... it looks as if the only work I'll be doing is the interior... which is AOK with me! He tore the whole thing down, and is really paying attention to detail.

 

That is impressive, Tim - It's going to be a nice car, thanks for posting all of the photos.

 

I love seeing fix-ups! I get so immersed in my own restoration that it's nice to wake up and see that I'm not the only one going through the trouble. Any plans on putting a V8 in it or are you keeping it original and staying with the V6?

 

Well, the thing is: she has 230,000 miles on her, and the engine and transmission have never been apart. If you pull the dipstick, the oil is clean. Even after sitting for months, she starts up with a flick of the key.

As such, I think it would be a shame not to keep her the way she is for as long as the engine and trans continue to run well.

Now for the good part: Long-range plans include a V8 swap and a swap over to manual trans.

If/when that happens, I'd like to beef up the suspension and go to an LSX/T56 package. Since I don't have the cash to do that now, I'm happy to wait.

 

I went down to the body shop today. I'd have been sooner, but I needed to bring some parts there for Peter, and for that I needed the truck. I had to force myself to leave the GTA at home and drive the truck today.

He says we are about a week away from paint... OMG...

 

More pix... I had no idea my iPhone would take such nice pictures.

 

Here's the last couple. I am gonna OWE this man when this car is done.

 

lookin good, any pics of nellie before all this work?

 

I don't have much... the pic in my avatar is Nellie before my son wrecked her... she was badly in need of a paint job and interior work.

After the wreck, she was a little bent up, including the frame:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/atta...n-imgp0568.jpg

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/atta...n-imgp0570.jpg

Those two pics were taken after I had pulled her fairly straight so he could drive her while we fixed up his '87.

You can't see it, but the windshield is cracked and the rocker panels are bent. I pulled her straight to get the headlights to work and the doors to open.

 

ouch,your son ran into an embankment didn't he? either way its good that you are bringing her back to life

 

Yep, that's what he did... ran her into the embankment, and then up and over.

If I were to attempt these repairs, I'd probably have taken at least 2 years, and not done half as good a job. I can't wait to post more as the work progresses.

 

My son, Alex, who got me started with the whole thirdgen experience, has gone missing since Thursday, from the Wal-Mart parking lot in Rocky Mount, VA. His car was found parked there.

If you live anywhere near here and have seen him or heard anything, please let us know. You can learn about him on my facebook page: Tim Ernandes

I will accept any and all friend requests.

Thank you for your indulgence.

 

I hope you find your son soon, you and your family will be in my prayers.

 

its nice to see someone else with an S/E. soon im going to start my own thread about my car... and i hope you find your son soon as well

 

Yes, he was found murdered. They have his killer in custody.

I can't begin to tell you the kind of pain that I feel. I will say that folks here have been extremely kind, and it helps for me to remember that it was Alex who originally inspired me to belong to this online family.

Alex was about the best son I could have had. I take great comfort in knowing that I can look back fondly with no regrets.

 

I really truthfully don't know what to say...
So very sorry 4 your loss..

 

My thoughts and prayers are with you...I'm so sorry for your loss. I truly do not know what else to say...I am very, very sorry to hear such awful news.

 

You and your family are in my prayers. That is terrible.

~Matt

 

That is truly shocking and sad. I am so sorry to hear that. As others have said, this is truly a speechless crime.

I found the link to the story, for those who want to read it.
http://www.roanoke.com/news/breaking/wb/274916

RIP Alex. And btw, drive that bird, he would want nothing better, I'm sure.

 

i can only imagine your pain . my thoughts & prayers go out to you and family . GOD BLESS .

 

Wow, what terrible news. I am so sorry for your loss.

 

With Alex's tragic loss, I am now the sole owner of three firebirds. Two that were his, and one that I have because he had the other two. I can't imagine giving any of them up. I'll probably give Nellie to my daughter to use.

Yesterday, I was overcome with grief, and the family kept a close watch on me. Late in the day, I suddenly snapped out of it and felt a sudden urge to drive my GTA.

After being silent all day, I stood up and announced that I felt like going for a ride in my car. They all asked me where I was going, and offered to drive me. I told them, no, I wasn't going anywhere, I just wanted to drive my car so I could feel normal for a few minutes. I guess I scared them, because they insisted that I not go alone, so I took my daughter along so they wouldn't worry.

It was like my car knew how I felt, she ran so perfectly for me. I know you guys understand.

 

again Tim, I'm so sorry for your loss. My family and I offer our sincere condolences we feel terrbile David offers his condolences as well.

 

thanks to all of you

 

The progress on "Nellie" is amazing. I went to visit her yesterday, and Peter has her looking AWESOME.

(Bear in mind that she is covered in dust in these pix. Clean her up and roll her out in the sun and she ought to really dazzle)

 

She looks good, can't wait until you get her all cleaned up and post more pictures for us to see!

 

looks great! ill have to check this shop out when i need my 1/4 replaced!

 

You won't be sorry. Peter is the best body man I have ever known. Tell him I sent you.

 

Looking Sweet in Red. You son would have loved it. Sorry for your loss again. Must be painful to come back to these threads.

 

Well it would be nice to get my body work done within the year but I doubt that will happen

 

Actually, it is not painful at all. I take comfort in the 'family' atmosphere that exists here. It means a lot to me that guys come forward and express condolences. It's not the words (there aren't any) just the thought of taking the time to write a message that gives me comfort.

Alex told me recently that he was sorry that he didn't let me talk him into painting the 87 bird red... but I did try.

Anyway, it's kind of cool now that I have three birds that are red, white, and blue. He was very patriotic, so he would like that.

The other thing that helps me is that coming here is something that might never have happened if my son hadn't fallen in love with an 86 Firebird... and this is a way that I can find some happiness in a passion that we shared.

Bullydawg, I know from other posts that your Dad is also involved with you and your car, and I think that is just great. I hope you enjoy many more happy years together.

 

Adly my father is not to car savy so I've pretty much learned as I went and help from this forum and many others but I do have me a helper she may be small and still learning but I'm sure it will give me many memories

 

looking good, tim!

 

God bless that little one. The greatest gift that you can give her is your time, and it does not matter what you do, as long as you do it together.

 

Ternandes, I cant help but think of my brother when I read your threads. He passed over a year ago.

Our bond did not come from cars, but skate boarding. He loved to skate board; it was his life. When he passed I was giving his board. His best-friend since childhood owns a skate shop and created a memorial for him. I ended up giving the board to him to go with the memorial.

Now that its gone; I want it back. I believe he would rather me ride it.

My point is that what you are doing is great. I dont know him, but I dont think he would want it gone.

Im sure your daughter will love "nellie" if she gets it.

 

Got a call from my friend Peter at the body shop the other day. He needs my crosslace wheels, a hood latch, and one headlight door, all of which I should have lying around in the garage somewhere. I just need to drop them off in the next couple of days.

He is polishing her up now for me. When I get her home, I can start on the restoration of the interior.

 

New pics! Nellie is about finished (they are replacing lower ball joints and the idler arm now).... here are some shots I took right before they finished her up:

(The man in the blue shirt is the genius who is responsible -- my friend, Peter De Filippis, at Team Coachworks)

 

wow looking amazing!

 

Just got a full set of replacement seats for her... now I just need carpet...

 

looking great. that first ride will be awesome.

 

is Coachworks doing your work?? I got a quote from them to paint my car. I was going to have them do it, but they said it was like a 4 month wait to get my car in and they would need it all last summer. Bummer for me because I've seen the work they do and its amazing!

 

They were a LOT busier then than they are now... try again. Don't forget to tell Peter that I sent you. I will tell you though that part of the reason the work is so good is because they take their time and they attend to all the details.

 

yeah I hear that. I think the reason for the wait at the time was "deer season" lol

 

After seeing the work they do at the auto body shop I want them to paint my IROC. I am located in Temple Hills, MD. This is located maybe 5 mile outside of Washington DC. How far is his shop from there? I want someone like him who will take there time and do the job right. Can you give me a contact number for him. Thanks.

 

All I can say is wow. I'm so sorry you and your family has suffered such a loss. The car looks great and your family is in my prayers.