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History / OriginalityGot a question about 1982-1992 Camaro or Firebird history? Have a question about original parts, options, RPO codes, when something was available, or how to document your car? Those questions, answers, and much more!
As the title states, I picked up a super cheap roller last week. It came up on Marketplace for $300 and I saw an uncracked dash and good tail lights, figured it'd be well worth picking up as a part out car. Fast forward an hour, I get it home and start to dig... There's zero rust anywhere, it's a T top car (genuinely didn't notice when winching it onto the trailer), 3.73 posi disc rear, brand new OEM gas tank in the back seat, interior is in pristine condition and I hooked up a battery, all the lights work. Was originally an L69 5 speed car, drivetrain is gone but the car is complete otherwise. Paint is rough, but it's all black and gold. Clear Illinois title.
My question is, where would you guys go from here? My current plan is a mild 350/T56, buffing the original paint and driving the car. To do this, I'll have to sell my fairly rusty/rough '91 Trans Am convertible with an immaculate interior and digital dash swap.
nice score! besides the obvious, it looks like it's only missing a few things - radiator, shroud & fan, and the front air deflectors.
deep clean the interior, install a tranny & crate motor and start driving that sucker.
Do thirdgens ever buff out? Pretty sure if the paint looks bad now, there's not much cleaning it up. If it's base coat/clear coat, it'll probably shed the clear before it cleans up. Point being, plan on needing paint.
Aside from the pain of labor to install a drivetrain that is less than ideal, you could look around for a junkyard V8 with a roller cam and a used T5. Do it cheap and end up with an enjoyable car. Then you could stack em up like the rest of us, because be honest, no one stops at just one.
nice score! besides the obvious, it looks like it's only missing a few things - radiator, shroud & fan, and the front air deflectors.
deep clean the interior, install a tranny & crate motor and start driving that sucker.
Yeah, I'll have to find a rad and fan/shroud. Air deflectors are in the trunk, though. Once it's road ready I'll have it detailed professionally. Thanks!
Originally Posted by 1MeanZ
How do you want to use the car?
Maybe autocross someday, for right now a fun daily and occasional track toy.
Originally Posted by Drew
Do thirdgens ever buff out? Pretty sure if the paint looks bad now, there's not much cleaning it up. If it's base coat/clear coat, it'll probably shed the clear before it cleans up. Point being, plan on needing paint.
Aside from the pain of labor to install a drivetrain that is less than ideal, you could look around for a junkyard V8 with a roller cam and a used T5. Do it cheap and end up with an enjoyable car. Then you could stack em up like the rest of us, because be honest, no one stops at just one.
Oh, the car is half spray paint, lol. I'm not counting on saving it, just making the best of a bad situation for the time being. As for the cheap drivetrain, finding a true L69/T5 and making it original again was a thought, but I'd rather just build it the way I want. Now's the time, since it's already apart.
Wouldn't an 84 HO have a single electric fan? Shouldn't be hard to come up with, it's the same setup they used up through 92 on the 6cyl.
I wouldn't bother trying to make it original. It's arguable if an 84 305 anything will ever be worth more as a stock HO vs a mild 350 with a 4bbl and headers that fits under the hood. Potentially I could see the car being worth more with a more realistic drivetrain. There's a lot to be gained by simply going to a 87-up 305 to get the roller cam and 1pc seals. A TBI or Vortec 350 truck engine with a cam swap would be a nice upgrade, as would a World Class T5. I'm not suggesting to just throw together some junk, but there's a huge margin between picking up the latest wonder LS(?) crate engine, and a 10-speed manual trans, with Death Stars and "My 900hp...", etc and having a roller rotting out back.
I wouldn't 'rebuild' or 'freshen up' or whatever euphemism, a 305, or even an older 350, but I could see dropping a healthy used engine in a roller to make it a complete car. But maybe that's just because I have a... uh... Well, it'd be a roller if I put the suspension back under it... Sitting in the garage going on 4 years now... I don't think I'd want to recommend someone sell a car they enjoy, that drives, to fund rebuilding a car that doesn't drive and won't drive any time soon, without a good reason. IF that makes sense.
Wouldn't an 84 HO have a single electric fan? Shouldn't be hard to come up with, it's the same setup they used up through 92 on the 6cyl.
I wouldn't bother trying to make it original. It's arguable if an 84 305 anything will ever be worth more as a stock HO vs a mild 350 with a 4bbl and headers that fits under the hood. Potentially I could see the car being worth more with a more realistic drivetrain. There's a lot to be gained by simply going to a 87-up 305 to get the roller cam and 1pc seals. A TBI or Vortec 350 truck engine with a cam swap would be a nice upgrade, as would a World Class T5. I'm not suggesting to just throw together some junk, but there's a huge margin between picking up the latest wonder LS(?) crate engine, and a 10-speed manual trans, with Death Stars and "My 900hp...", etc and having a roller rotting out back.
I wouldn't 'rebuild' or 'freshen up' or whatever euphemism, a 305, or even an older 350, but I could see dropping a healthy used engine in a roller to make it a complete car. But maybe that's just because I have a... uh... Well, it'd be a roller if I put the suspension back under it... Sitting in the garage going on 4 years now... I don't think I'd want to recommend someone sell a car they enjoy, that drives, to fund rebuilding a car that doesn't drive and won't drive any time soon, without a good reason. IF that makes sense.
Yes, I planned on swapping to the dual electric fans out of a newer car. As for the drivetrain, I have a 40k mile LT1 long block on a stand, it'll likely get a carb and a mild cam and get thrown in the car for the foreseeable future. Just gotta hunt down a good BW T56 for a decent price and I'll be mostly set. I'm not looking to build a wild forced induction race car, if I had 350whp or so I'd be more than content. Hell, if it can outrun the truck that towed it home, I'll be content, lol.
Yes, I planned on swapping to the dual electric fans out of a newer car.
No need to do that. The large single fan setup is plenty adequate, less complicated and much cheaper and easier to find in good condition.
Originally Posted by Paintchips97
As for the drivetrain, I have a 40k mile LT1 long block on a stand, it'll likely get a carb and a mild cam and get thrown in the car for the foreseeable future.
That's much easier said than done if what you have is a 93-97 LT1. I'd recommend an L31 out of a 96-99 truck or van
Originally Posted by Paintchips97
Just gotta hunt down a good BW T56 for a decent price and I'll be mostly set.
A T56 for a good price is nearly impossible to find, and way overkill for 350hp. Go with a T5, you'll be fine if you stay on street tires and don't powershift it daily.
I'll be going T56 in case I go further eventually. I see no reason to go T5 if there's a good chance I'll need a beefier trans later on. That, and the lower cruising RPM would be nice. I put 12,000 miles on my '91 this year, the MPG adds up. As for swapping an LT1, especially if I use a 4th gen radiator, I don't really see much of an issue. I'll be running a distributor so I won't have Optispark woes, either. The particular LT1 I have is out of a '93 Corvette, so I don't even have to make room for the AC compressor.
GM used to offer a special intake manifold to run a carb and dizzy on an LT1, but I thought it was discontinued, I could be wrong. That's why I was saying it could be a challenge.
Are you sure that's an 84'? It has the 82'-83' lower body spoilers in front of each wheel and the open grilles in the front bumper. The 84' Trans ams had ground effects and closed panels for the front bumper grilles.
If it is an 83' that had an L69, that would be somewhat rare since they didn't make very many. Still, it wouldn't be worth trying to put it all back to stock. Build it the way you want it. Seems like a solid starting point.
Are you sure that's an 84'? It has the 82'-83' lower body spoilers in front of each wheel and the open grilles in the front bumper. The 84' Trans ams had ground effects and closed panels for the front bumper grilles.
If it is an 83' that had an L69, that would be somewhat rare since they didn't make very many. Still, it wouldn't be worth trying to put it all back to stock. Build it the way you want it. Seems like a solid starting point.
I was actually somewhat excited that my car doesn't have the ground effects, as most '84s do. It's definitely an '84, only W62 RPO cars got the ground effects. I do plan to swap to the closed front grilles though. Thank you, though! I'm sure it'll be a fun car finished.
I love that car, wish I had it for myself. I'd do an L98 with mild period correct mods (maybe dyno don headers and SLP runners if you can find them, maybe a cam or heads, but make sure it looks stock-ish), a T56, lower it about an inch, put on the 17" Hawks GTA wheels (tough call between black and gold here... I'd want the gold to match the car). Add a momo steering wheel, maybe search for some 80's recaros or C4 seats, and drive it!
I currently have 2 84 black/gold w62 Trans Am's.
both vin H 305
1 ttop auto, tan interior, pwr wind/locks
1 hardtop 5spd Dark charcoal interior, manual wind/locks
Are you sure that's an 84'? It has the 82'-83' lower body spoilers in front of each wheel and the open grilles in the front bumper. The 84' Trans ams had ground effects and closed panels for the front bumper grilles.
If it is an 83' that had an L69, that would be somewhat rare since they didn't make very many. Still, it wouldn't be worth trying to put it all back to stock. Build it the way you want it. Seems like a solid starting point.
There were MANY non-W62 Trans Ams made in 1984, both LG4 and L69.
