Hey all, OSS here;

Picked up an '85 T/A the other day, so I figured I'd begin a build thread with updates...

1985 Trans-AM
5.0L LG4
T-5
G80 (3.27)
Hardtop
199,000 KM's.

The car has been sitting for 15years, in a field. Before being "putaway", it got all new paint/bodywork, a gas tank and exhaust.

The brakes are seized right now, and hasn't ran since it's been parked. He was asking $500, I managed to get it for $300. Floors seem rotten, and the engine bay needs welding in the inner fenders, lower rad support is missing. Aside from that, the body and interior are mostly flawless.

 

The rust looks pretty bad, but with any luck donor panels shouldn't be too hard to find. Between the factory A/C delete, and crank windows, it's a bit of an unusual combo.

 

Wow. That's some serious rust. Especially on the air cleaner. Good luck with the build, interested to see how well it's going to clean up.

 

Wow what a shame. Def a nifty color and combo of parts tho. good luck with it!

 

I think your battery tray is slightly rusted... lol

I see potential there, though. Good luck with the project!

 

Update:

Went out today at lunch hour with a buddy. Dug out the tires (flat and sunk into the dirt) and jacked up the car. Managed to get off the old 215/60's, using my rachet and the shovel handle for leverage to break the lugs loose lol/ Rear brakes were right seized up, took a can of WD, went to town with a hammer.

Un seize the rear, dug a little hole, and put my old '83 z8 rims (the Z in my signature) on, tightened the lugs to "OSS torque"..

Front was a bit more tricky, but got 'er done none the less...front brakes weren't seized at all, spun beautifully actually. Hooked 'er up to the truck, and lightly towed her out of her 15 year old resting spot.

I noticed the brake pedel seemed stuck at first, but I checked the brake resovoir, and it was pretty empty. Maybe I'll throw some fluid in for fun.

With the brakes un-seized, and rubber that will hold air, I'm now ready to transport her to my place.

Oh as soon as I left, it started snowing hard, and we're expecting 20cm tonight good timing




-OSS

 

Wow I've never seen such a base Trans Am! LG4, 5spd, C41 Heater, manual crank windows, and it's a hardtop. I like it! Good luck with the build.

 

Wow, the body looks amazing for sitting so long.

And it's basically the same as mine, except mine is an '83 camaro. LG4 - T5 No A/C Crank windows, hard top, haha. Goodluck with the build!

 

Progress lads! SHE LIVES!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vncqAM0hdrU

 

 

That sounded like Christine, when Artie first fired her up in that movie.

 

nice car...nice color combo !

 

Hooked a battery up, poured some gas in and she fired? I sure as heck hope you added some fresh oil. Something that hasn't been sitting in a field for 15 years.

 

That was the first thing I thought....I can't imagine how awful 15 year old oil is..

 

Finally got the car home. I changed the oil the day I fired it up, yes. It was super sludgy! Yesterday, I put some fresh fuel in the tank, and it ran for about 10 mins..got to drive it around the yard a little to get a feel for the clutch and gears...clutch feels awesome! Drove it onto the car trailer, as I started to fall through the floor lol. Oh well, it's at my house now finally!

Fuel pump started to leak, so I'll shell out the $30 for a new pump (shucks!)

-OSS

 

mine sat for four years, battery jump and some gas down the throat of the carb and it stateted like we drove it yesterday

 

Hey folks,

Hate to dig up a three year old post! but!

We bought this car for parts, it was horribly rusted underneath! Way to far gone! No floor left at all the only thing holding it together was the roof and rocker panels, barely.

Anyways We stripped that car hard, took what was left to scrap in 2 pieces, virtually a couple hunks of metal left...

The only thing we did not take was the LG4 block, some accessories were taken.

I used in my car
T5 tranny
Chicken Rims
interior, dash, console, seats(front-rear), interior panels, pedals, steering column, Complete wiring harness(in car, underhood...)
performance suspension (sway bars etc)
hatch and spoiler

Sold the front clip, ground effects, tail lights, doors and anything else I didn't use

Kept the Borg-Warner Disc brake rear, It got stolen though...arghh.

 

Sad but it was obvious from the pictures the body was too far gone. Sitting in a wood like that is probably the worst way to keep a car...

Who the hell steals a rusty rear end !? I mean, it's not a very desirable rear end (7.5" 3.23, maybe not a limited slip), it's very heavy and I guess not really appealing at first sight seeing the car it was on.

Not many options on this one, everything seems to be the standard stuff you get when choosing a T/A.