85 Berlinetta build.
#1
85 Berlinetta build.
Starting a new thread since my other one was supposed to be an 89 V6 car. That car ended up having rotten floors. Found an 85 Berlinetta that was originally a 305 auto. Has had full ground effects and different nose installed on car. Also has a 2” cowl induction hood. Car now has a 350 with the 4spd auto.
Interior is toast but have purchased new seats from a 4th gen. Also have a disc rear end from a 91 1LE car. Car will be a street car/autocross car. Car does need some work done to the digital dash and light/heater pods. For being a Pennsylvania car it doesn’t have one bit of rust anywhere. Will post more pics as I get work done to it. Winter with no garage in PA sucks for working on cars.
Interior is toast but have purchased new seats from a 4th gen. Also have a disc rear end from a 91 1LE car. Car will be a street car/autocross car. Car does need some work done to the digital dash and light/heater pods. For being a Pennsylvania car it doesn’t have one bit of rust anywhere. Will post more pics as I get work done to it. Winter with no garage in PA sucks for working on cars.
Last edited by Fullmonte77; 12-01-2018 at 08:29 PM.
#4
Re: 85 Berlinetta build.
So after messing around with getting the dash and pods working I’m gonna have almost $500 in getting that working right. I have ordered new shocks, struts and plug wires. Also got a set of 91 5 spoke 16” wheels. Also ordered an adjustable UMI panhard bar.
#5
Re: 85 Berlinetta build.
Have been dealing with the digital dash and pods for the past few weeks. With help from JohninRI I have working pods and have finally found a working dash. I have started to part out the 89 to pay for the parts for this one. Also purchased a zexel torsen posi unit from a 00 T/A to put in my disc rear end as the one in it now is bad.
#6
Re: 85 Berlinetta build.
Did what I could today. Put on my wheels and tires. Pulled the light module that is shot. New one coming from JohninRI. Put new hood supports on. Also changed over from a top post to a side post battery. Not much I can do with no garage and car not being at my house. Definitely need to lower it.
#7
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Join Date: Apr 2014
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Car: 82 Pontiac Trans Am
Engine: 350 Vortec, sprayed
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: Spooled Strange 12 bolt, 3.73 gears
Re: 85 Berlinetta build.
That's some dedication to get out there in that weather to work on your car! I can't even convince myself to get down in my garage to put in some work, lol. It's already a good looking car, good luck with it! Looks like you're already getting it done pretty quickly
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#8
Re: 85 Berlinetta build.
That's some dedication to get out there in that weather to work on your car! I can't even convince myself to get down in my garage to put in some work, lol. It's already a good looking car, good luck with it! Looks like you're already getting it done pretty quickly
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Bumcheex (11-08-2019)
#15
Re: 85 Berlinetta build.
I knew I didn’t have any holes in the floor as I checked underneath good before I purchased the car. I did know the inside had some water issues as the interior smelled really musty and had condensation on the windows a t tops when I looked at it. It sat under a bunch of trees for a couple years and never got much direct sun.The headliner and door panels are damaged beyond repair. All the plastic is in nice shape though.
#16
Re: 85 Berlinetta build.
Did some more work on the car this past weekend. Pulled the rest of the interior out. Cleaned up the rear seat backs and was able to salvage them. Bottoms were toast so I purchased some from a member on here. Door panels were also junk so purchasing them from another member on here. Headliner was falling apart so got the one from my parts car and can salvage it with a little fiberglass work. Found out the engine is the stock 305 not the 350 previous owner said it was. Got to take it out for a drive and it runs pretty good. Tranny shifts smooth and pretty hard so I think it has a shift kit in it. Installed a new Momo steering wheel. Had to buy a new alternator as the other one died. Next on the list is installing the new door and t top seals I purchased.
#21
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Car: 84 TA orig. 305 LG4 "H" E4ME
Engine: 334 SBC - stroked 305 M4ME Q-Jet
Transmission: upgraded 700R4 3200 stall
Axle/Gears: 10bolt 4.10 Posi w Lakewood TA Bars
Re: 85 Berlinetta build.
What were the rims you bought the car with? I actually kinda like them.
#23
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Car: 84 TA orig. 305 LG4 "H" E4ME
Engine: 334 SBC - stroked 305 M4ME Q-Jet
Transmission: upgraded 700R4 3200 stall
Axle/Gears: 10bolt 4.10 Posi w Lakewood TA Bars
Re: 85 Berlinetta build.
Thanks. I might see if I can find a set. My 84 has the 20 slots.
#24
Re: 85 Berlinetta build.
Mounted my gauges tonight. The console was jacked up so I bought a piece of ABS plastic to cover the hack job. This car will by no means be a show car so function over fashion. I’m deleting the radio so this was the perfect place for them. I have oil pressure and trans temp gauges on the A pillar already.
#27
Re: 85 Berlinetta build.
Yeah. The original not so much it feel apart as soon as I took it down. This one was from my parts car. It did rip in half taking it out but other than that was intact. I just strengthened it up with some fiberglass mat and resin. Not to much as to cause it to sag though. I recovered my rear sail panels also as they were all moldy!
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SuperCamaro87 (11-27-2019)
#31
Re: 85 Berlinetta build.
Did a little work on the car today. My fuel gauge had been pegged since I purchased the car. I know the gauge worked so figured it was the sending unit. I drilled out the rivets holding the connector into the rear of the body where the wires pass through. I got lucky and noticed both wires were broken about 6" from the connector. Couple heat shrink connectors and I have a working fuel gauge again! I'm glad cause the ones for a carbureted engine are hard to find and pricey!
#32
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Car: 1989 Trans Am
Engine: sp357
Transmission: T-5
Re: 85 Berlinetta build.
Did a little work on the car today. My fuel gauge had been pegged since I purchased the car. I know the gauge worked so figured it was the sending unit. I drilled out the rivets holding the connector into the rear of the body where the wires pass through. I got lucky and noticed both wires were broken about 6" from the connector. Couple heat shrink connectors and I have a working fuel gauge again! I'm glad cause the ones for a carbureted engine are hard to find and pricey!
How did the carpet turn out from the steam cleaning ? Salvageable ?
#33
Re: 85 Berlinetta build.
It turned out pretty good. It's really clean. Where I work we have an industrial steam jenny and some really good soap that takes all grease and oils off anything. It does still have a light musty smell to it. Thinking some hydrogen peroxide with water will take care of that. I did rip all the backing off as it was shot and was the source of most of the musty smell.
#34
Re: 85 Berlinetta build.
More done today. I only have a couple hours at a time to work on things as the car is at my parents. Wife doesn’t want it in the driveway. Put new door seals on today and fixed a little bit of wiring that one of the previous owners did. Also put the doors completely back together.
#35
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Car: 1989 Trans Am
Engine: sp357
Transmission: T-5
Re: 85 Berlinetta build.
More done today. I only have a couple hours at a time to work on things as the car is at my parents. Wife doesn’t want it in the driveway. Put new door seals on today and fixed a little bit of wiring that one of the previous owners did. Also put the doors completely back together.
#36
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Re: 85 Berlinetta build.
I just realized that you've got an 87+ tail-fin brake light,..... nice !
The next time your wife see that car up-close she'll have a WHOLE different opinion about it. She still might not "like" it,......... but all the interior work your doin' IS going to show ( and wont smell bad anymore !! )
The next time your wife see that car up-close she'll have a WHOLE different opinion about it. She still might not "like" it,......... but all the interior work your doin' IS going to show ( and wont smell bad anymore !! )
#38
Re: 85 Berlinetta build.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Tulip-Bla...-3-Oz/45823274
You will need a couple cans but worked great!
You will need a couple cans but worked great!
#39
Re: 85 Berlinetta build.
I just realized that you've got an 87+ tail-fin brake light,..... nice !
The next time your wife see that car up-close she'll have a WHOLE different opinion about it. She still might not "like" it,......... but all the interior work your doin' IS going to show ( and wont smell bad anymore !! )
The next time your wife see that car up-close she'll have a WHOLE different opinion about it. She still might not "like" it,......... but all the interior work your doin' IS going to show ( and wont smell bad anymore !! )
Last edited by Fullmonte77; 04-29-2019 at 08:01 AM.
#42
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Car: 1985 Berlinetta
Engine: 5.0 LG4
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.08 Peg Leg
Re: 85 Berlinetta build.
Looks like you covered up the gas gauge that was just fixed. Will that panel get cut out? Good job on the car, keep the pics coming!
#43
Re: 85 Berlinetta build.
No it won’t get cut out. If you look a few posts up you will see I added aftermarket gauges to the center console. I have fuel, volts and temp. Car already has oil pressure and trans temp on the a pillar. The factory gauges stick and are not very accurate so went full aftermarket. Car is going to be weekend warrior and autocrossed so no need to keep the factory look.
#45
Re: 85 Berlinetta build.
Yeah. I got 2 that didn't work and this was the third one. It was for a V6 car also so I had to get the tach converter to make it work right. It's nice that there is a button to go fro KPH to MPH or it would have been a real pain in the butt!
Last edited by Fullmonte77; 06-04-2019 at 07:51 AM.