`86 ish Trans Am restoration - complete!
#1
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Car: 2001 Firehawk, `86 Trans Am project
Engine: LS1 in both
Transmission: T56 six speed in both
`86 ish Trans Am restoration - complete!
Some of you may remember a few posts I posted a looonng time ago, looking for an `86 Trans Am that I sold back in `94. I bought it when I was 18, and it was one of the nicest F-bodies I`ve ever owned, and I`ve owned well over a dozen so far. It was red with carmine and charcoal interior, t-tops, digital dash, roof console, 16" wheels, and 305TPI engine. Last I heard, it was registered in `98 in MD, and likely met it`s demise shortly after from the research I did at the time. Here is how it looked in `94:
Sorry for the picture quality...early 90`s technology.
Anyway, I couldn`t find it or one like it, so I had to make one of my own. My brother did most of the work on this one, building and installing the engine, replacing the entire driveline including all new suspension components, exhaust from header to tailpipe, and figuring out the ECM and wiring in the digital dash into the harness (it was originally an analog dash car). I did the paint/body work, as well as piecing together and restoring the interior components.
How it arrived:
Progress:
Sorry for the picture quality...early 90`s technology.
Anyway, I couldn`t find it or one like it, so I had to make one of my own. My brother did most of the work on this one, building and installing the engine, replacing the entire driveline including all new suspension components, exhaust from header to tailpipe, and figuring out the ECM and wiring in the digital dash into the harness (it was originally an analog dash car). I did the paint/body work, as well as piecing together and restoring the interior components.
How it arrived:
Progress:
#7
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Car: 2001 Firehawk, `86 Trans Am project
Engine: LS1 in both
Transmission: T56 six speed in both
Re: `86 ish Trans Am restoration - complete!
Thanks Former!
I also forgot to add...special thanks to mantaguy. He gave me alot of direction and encouragement on this project. Thanks manta!
I also forgot to add...special thanks to mantaguy. He gave me alot of direction and encouragement on this project. Thanks manta!
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#8
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Car: 1987 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
Engine: LB9
Transmission: Turbo Hydra-Matic 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.73 limited slip differential
Re: `86 ish Trans Am restoration - complete!
You must have really loved that original car to have gone to the expense and effort of making a reproduction. It even appears you got the positioning of the sail panel bird decals correct. Most screw that up. Have to say, it's beautiful. Job well done! Now have some fun with it!
#9
Supreme Member
Re: `86 ish Trans Am restoration - complete!
Absolutely gorgeous restoration!
I am in the process of bringing my first third gen back to life. Had a Black and gold '85 Z28 305ci 5-speed back in 1997 that got rear ended and totaled out. Now that I'm older and all of my money isn't going towards ramen to keep myself alive lol, I'm doing up an '87 IROC that will look very similar to the '85.
I hope when I'm done mine will look as good as yours does!
I am in the process of bringing my first third gen back to life. Had a Black and gold '85 Z28 305ci 5-speed back in 1997 that got rear ended and totaled out. Now that I'm older and all of my money isn't going towards ramen to keep myself alive lol, I'm doing up an '87 IROC that will look very similar to the '85.
I hope when I'm done mine will look as good as yours does!
#10
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Car: 1 Owner 1986 TA with a WS6 package
Engine: 5.0 EFI
Transmission: THM700R4
Axle/Gears: 277 Posi Speedo
Re: `86 ish Trans Am restoration - complete!
Congratulations,the 86ish looks B E A U T I F U L
#11
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Car: 1989 G92 IROC-Z
Engine: 5 Liter 305
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.45
Re: `86 ish Trans Am restoration - complete!
Congratulations man. Very nice restoration and the best part is you got it how you want it.
#14
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Re: `86 ish Trans Am restoration - complete!
Beautiful!
#18
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Re: `86 ish Trans Am restoration - complete!
Wow - the car looks fantastic. You should take some credit also. You helped a lot of people fix up their interior with the restoring plastics thread you started - including me! I still say it should have been stickied at the top.
#19
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Re: `86 ish Trans Am restoration - complete!
Thanks for the pictures!
#21
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Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Doghouse ······································ Car: 1989 Formula 350 Vert Engine: 350 L98 Transmission: 700R4 Axle/Gears: B&W 3.27
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Car: 87 Formula T-Top, 87 Formula HT
Engine: 5.1L TPI, 5.0L TPI
Transmission: 700R4, M5
Axle/Gears: Sag 3.73, B&W 3.45
Re: `86 ish Trans Am restoration - complete!
Car looks fantastic!!
Bone stock appearing on the outside, a little custom touch on the interior (center console) and then a monster under the hood....
Rock on!
John
Bone stock appearing on the outside, a little custom touch on the interior (center console) and then a monster under the hood....
Rock on!
John
#22
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Car: 1986 2.8 Camaro
Engine: TPI 350
Transmission: Tremec TKO
Re: `86 ish Trans Am restoration - complete!
Very impressive!! Did you treat the rust on the fire wall with anything or just sand it down and paint it? Car looks amazing!
#27
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Car: 1989 Iroc convertible
Engine: 305
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.08 posi
Re: `86 ish Trans Am restoration - complete!
Wish I had the ***** to paint my car in my garage. Paint looks fantastic. Body shops around here don't pull off jobs with that kinda quality. If you you were closer I'd see if you were interested in painting my vert.
#28
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Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Doghouse ······································ Car: 1989 Formula 350 Vert Engine: 350 L98 Transmission: 700R4 Axle/Gears: B&W 3.27
Posts: 14,235
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Car: 87 Formula T-Top, 87 Formula HT
Engine: 5.1L TPI, 5.0L TPI
Transmission: 700R4, M5
Axle/Gears: Sag 3.73, B&W 3.45
Re: `86 ish Trans Am restoration - complete!
Painting a car is a TON of work, If you pay someone to do it IE a bump shop, it will look good, but it will never be as good as if you do it yourself. I was a little crazy on mine, like air brushed my decals on the bumpers and sail panels.
The attachment is not to hijack the thread, but to show that hard work like Hawk312 has put into his car pays off...
#29
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Car: 1 Owner 1986 TA with a WS6 package
Engine: 5.0 EFI
Transmission: THM700R4
Axle/Gears: 277 Posi Speedo
Re: `86 ish Trans Am restoration - complete!
Really nice Air Brush job,looks just like the decal without the border.
#30
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Car: 1991 Z-28
Engine: 383 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.73
Re: `86 ish Trans Am restoration - complete!
Great job. Paint looks awesome. Did you do the paint work in your garage?
#32
Supreme Member
Re: `86 ish Trans Am restoration - complete!
I would love to paint my own car, but I would be afraid I would really mess it up lol!
#33
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Car: 2001 Firehawk, `86 Trans Am project
Engine: LS1 in both
Transmission: T56 six speed in both
Re: `86 ish Trans Am restoration - complete!
Thanks everyone for the kind words. Sorry, I have been on vacation and haven`t been responding to messages....
It took us about 3 years to complete this. I did treat any rust spots, but I forget what it was that I used. It came in a white bottle and had to be brushed on. Yes the paint work was done in a garage.
Thanks again!
It took us about 3 years to complete this. I did treat any rust spots, but I forget what it was that I used. It came in a white bottle and had to be brushed on. Yes the paint work was done in a garage.
Thanks again!
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