How does everyone think i made out.

Just got an 87 gta with 140k miles missing rear spoiler in prety good shape for 1000. needs work fuel pump needs replaced wiper doesnt shoot fluid need to get that fixed has flowmasters smoged pump was removed.Rear hatch lifts with the release button. She needs some work but i am very excited to get her running good. Seata have some tearing and need rewiring. And dome light is missing. Also needs new headlight motors and fog lights.

 

looks good man... i wouldnt mind having 1

 

looks like a good start for a project. would look even better with a serpentine belt setup!

 

I thought all 87s came with a serpentine belt setup

 

Looks like you made out very well! It sucks that the things that need work are some of the most expensive parts though. The fuel pump will be about $800-$1000 to have replaced. The spoiler is about $400 brand new. Nice clean car though, good luck!

 

Actualy I made out prety good the pump is getting changed for free next week as a favore from a friend that owns a shop and spoiler wise I don't need oem just anything that will look good. Might try to get some louvers for the reare window. Gold hood bird. Just put gta side emblems back on only missing little birds.

 

So did anyone fix the antifreeze leak from the front of the engine yet? The orange rusty crap all over the alternator, cruise servo, and washer tank is a pretty good indicator something was leaking. With the water that rusty, a good thorough flushing is probably in order. Doesn't look too bad otherwise.

 

I found a recept for a radiator repai kit in the glove box while cleaning out the interior. So something was don't. Won't fully know till the pump is changed and she's getting fuel. What's the best way to clean all that crap off under my hood.

 

Scrub brush, and water... maybe some Dawn dish detergent. Pop the radiator cap and look to see if the antifreeze is bright green or rusty dirty orange. If it's orange you're looking at a nice afternoon with the hose flushing the radiator.

I'd look around the plastic end tanks of the radiator for cracks, and around the ends of the water hoses, and around the hose clamps. Look for soft spots in the hoses. Usually when it sprays all over like that it's a pin hole leak that only sprays when the engine is hot and the system is under pressure.

 

Well I was gonna give the rediator a flush and change oil as soon as it was running so that's already on the list. Hopefuly the leak has already been fixed. Buy chance do you know off hand where the washer pump is located?

 

On an 87 it's in the wiper motor. There's a little metal clip near the bottom, carefully pry it out (don't break the plastic housing) and then the pump pulls out the bottom. A new one slides in and comes with a new clip.

 

No. Serpentine started in '89 for 3rd gens.

 

Serpentine setups started in 88 at least for GTAs, not sure about other models. So 87 was the only year you could get a GTA with V-belts.

 

My 88 GTA has serpentine...

 

What would it cost to put a serpentine setup into my 87

 

Do you really have a good reason to convert? I've got the stock mixed V/Serpentine setup on my Iroc and a complete 88-up serpentine setup in the garage and absolutely no desire to swap.

You'd need the brackets, a water pump, tensioner, a $15-20 belt, all the pulleys, potentially a different alternator (I'm thinking they're clocked differently, or could be different case sizes), A/C hoses, and either a power steering pump pulley puller or the donor cars power steering pump. Not to mention the A/C compressor and Alternator are mounted reversed on the engine, so you get to rewire the engine compartment.

 

Will I get anything out of swapping? I'm not going to unless its gonna be a huge difference. Noticed today that air is only comming thru defrost vents wheni turn on ac. So hopefuly my ac isn't bad because I'm in south florida. Its chilly now but when summer comes windows down just doesn't cut it out here.

 

Can any of the third gen camaro spoilers be mounted to my gta trunk without modding. The high rise might fit and I was wondering if the center part of the lip spoiler will fit. I found someone on my local craigs list selling both for 25 bucks.

 

...

 

not without modding, they would require different holes and look cheesy on there IMHO. I'd simply wait and find a decent looking factory style spoiler. If you can't find a used one just save up for a reproduction. As far as the rust on the front of the engine I'd agree it looks like rust from a filthy cooling system boiling over. Are you mechanically skilled at all? Like any older used car I'd start off with the very basics: An oil change, a COMPLETE tune-up (plugs, wires, cap + rotor, pcv valve, air filter, fuel filter), check the base timing, confirm the cooling system is full and pressure test it to make sure you have no leaks, replace cap and thermostat and flush cooling system, remove all wheels and check condition of the brakes AND the brake lines. While the front end is jacked up check front end components for play since it most likely needs a complete rebuild unless it was done already. Service the rear differential, examine your transmission fluid and verify level is correct and fluid is reasonably clean, etc. From what I can see it looks like a pretty decent car as far as the body and interior go, post some pic's of the underside so we can see how much rust there is.. that's a good indicator of how good of a deal you got as far as I'm concerned.. also you didn't mention.. is it a 350 or 305?

 

Is this in reply to something he posted in another thread? I ask because it appears he started this thread

 

I did start this thread.

 

Yes....And I deleted my post because I saw it wrong. Too many tabs open in my browser = confusion.

 

With the information on how to do it I can do anything myself.most all tune up yhings have already been done. I don't know anything about checking timing. And the previous owner stressed that there was no rust on the underside of the car. Haven't jacked it to look very well yet. It is a 350.

 

So the high rise camaro spoiler that I see on a lot of trans ams don't line up with the normal mounting holes?

 

Nope. Not only do the holes not line up, there are holes where the 3rd brake light is, which you'd hafta weld shut & repaint, but there are also clips along the edge of the glass, that would have to be cut off (they are spot welded on).

 

Can you post or link a pic of one of these trans am's you're talking about? I only ask because I personally have never seen a maro highrise on a trans am that I can remember and I'm wondering if that's really what you're refering to..

 

There is a black one here in the forums I found it by typing in camaro spoiler on firebird in search. Also saw some posts about 4th gen trans am spoilers mounting flat onto third gens. Any of u guys do this and how much work is needed. Not worrying about wekding holes I will plug them till I'm ready to paint. There's tons of 4th gen ta spoilers for sale neer me so thay would b a nice replacement

 

For a 4th gen wing swap, you'll want one from a 93-97. The 98-02 wings are different & don't sit flat. Mine is from an '01.

But either way, you'll hafta extend the center 2 posts. Mine are made from layers of 1/8" Lexan (what was available).
Wing Pics

4th gen mirrors are a cool swap too.
Mirror Pics

 

Dam makes man mad that I sold my 4th gen hatch with the car it had a 95 ta high rise and was already black. Guy that baught it was for interior parts hopefuly he didn't get rid of the hatch. I still have my low rise firebird hatch from the 95 but that is of no use to me

 

I had v-belts and swapped to the serpentine setup. The ONLY reason I did it was because my 383 has a VERY light rotating assembly and revs like lightning. I couldn't get the belts tight enought to not squeal when i revved the engine up. that was problem #1.

I also occasionally road race the car and it has tossed all the v-belts off 2 times on me. I don't know if the quick revs slack the belt and cause it to fly off or what the deal was but I threw all the belts off once, and the 2nd time it threw all the belts and flipped the powersteering belt inside out.

I swapped to a serpentine setup with the spring loaded tensioner. Now I have no more slipping and throwing belts.

Here are some shots of my setup to compare to your stock setup....

 

Am i the only one that likes the GTA with out a rear spoiler, looks cleaner to me, looks bulky to me, same reason i took off my camaro high rise on my 91

 

I took mine off over a year ago to repaint it & I have never bothered to put it back on.

I really like the way that when I pop the hatch, it comes up by itself completely, due to the lack of weight of the wing on the hatch now.

 

I took the spoiler off the back of my '91 TA as well. Depending on the angle, sometimes photographs don't do the removal of the spoiler justice. In person, I like the spoiler delete way better than I thought I would.

 

I do think it gives it a beefy look kinda makes it look similar to a vette from the side. I was contemplating keeping it off but then I see it with a spoiler and can't make my mind up. I would realy rather have a second gen style spoiler on it but unfortunately they don't make them. On another note where have you guys purchased headlight motor repair kits. I need to fix the gears in both of mine they have strong motors just don't move

 

89rspower i took a look under the car a little bit ago there is no rust its very clean

 

what can i use to plug up all the mountin holes. Dont want to weld because im not gonna be painting anytime soon. Any type of black plugs i can get somewhere that would cover them up?

 

Anyone? Well I got a chance to give the interior a cleaning today she looks almost brand new. She will be taking a trip this week to the shop to get the fuel pump changed. Might have to put a new water pump in as well just to be safe. Turned my lights on and off and the left headlight decided to close today and not got back up lol so I just manualy closed the other one to stop the wink.

 

update on the gta. i am picking her up from the shop tomorrow, all it needed was the fuel pump a water pump and a new radiator mechanic said she runs like a champ.

 

x10 on leaving the wing off i plan to take mine off..
awsome gta btw

 

Who in the world would pay $800-$1000 to have the fuel pump replaced!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This can be done with some basic tools,jack and stands

To the OP you made out only a $1000 for that I wish I could find a steal like that.Can it get better than a black on black gta thats also a hardtop man you are lucky.Im thinking of dropping 3k for a 5.7 GTA that has not been on the road sice 2004.

 

yea i picked her up from the shop today. Ended up paying 250 for new fuel pump filter new water pump oil change radiator flush. Now comes finding the little problems and fixing them. I have a check engine light on which might be from my smog pump removal i hope. And she is idling low at arround 500 600 unless i put her in neutral. Gonna get some plugs and wires today as i can hear a ticking sound comming from one of the plugs.