Well, looking for one to be exact.

I am currently the very sick owner of the vehicle pictured below. I guess the downside of driving a vehicle is that sometimes stuff happens, and being that I really drove it (10,000 miles alone this spring), stuff eventually really happened. Thanks to a careless driver, I now have a totaled 3rd gen and $15-20,000 worth of parts needing a new home.

I'm scouring the Texas/Louisiana/Arkansas/Oklahoma/New Mexico for a solid 3rd gen to serve as a recipient for all these parts. I'm looking for something as low miles as possible. Doesn't have to run that great, in fact, I don't even really care what the powertrain is or if it has one. Makes no difference if it's a V6, 305, auto, 5-speed, whatever. A low miles 350 would get points, because although my current engine is heavily built, it's still a 305.

I would prefer a vehicle that is unmolested. If it's had a bunch of modifications and stuff done to it I'd like to see documentation. After putting the black car together, I can't stand fixing many more of other peoples previous mistakes.

Now's the time to talk to you're brother's uncle's cousin who's been keeping your great aunt's old firebird in the back of the garage for the last twenty years. I know they've been talking about putting it up on the market for the last ten years but just haven't gotten around to it. I need to meet these people.

I will pay a no kidding $100 finder's fee if you lead me to a car (which I end up purchasing) that wasn't listed for sale in a public source (ebay, craigslist, newspaper, thriftynickel, autotrader, etc.)

My price range is below $4000, unless it's something spectacular. I really need to pay less than that so I have money left over for all the odds and ends involved in swapping stuff over.

Particular interest in 91-92 cars, but no convertables.
No preference on hardtop or T-Tops.
No real preference on exterior or interior color.

Thanks for the help guys. I'm hoping that somewhere out there the right one is waiting to become the next one.

-cal30sniper

 

I dont know if you would be interested, Im selling my black GTA with an L98, digital dash, hawks fiberglass spoiler, mint everything. PM me if you would like more details. I really would like to see it go to somebody who will take care of it, and would post pictures regularly like you do

 

Selling the GTA? Why? That is definitely a clean car!

 

I got bills to pay, my Trans Am has got to go.

 

wow, that WAS a nice car. It definitely looks repairable, or would it just be cheaper to put your parts on another body?

 

Sadly, it's beyond saving. You would have to cut out the entire subframe and put in one from another car. Then you'd have to figure out a way to straighten out the rest of the body. The passenger side door barely opens, it's way out of line. That tells me there's some serious structural damage underneath. These cars are built to soak up energy and fold up under impact. It did it's job, she kept me safe. The car is toast though.


That's where the passenger side front frame rail. It's folded up like an accordian for 4-6 inches.


The whole radiator support was pushed back and down nearly a foot. The inner fender and subframe where the battery sits is so mangled that the battery is actually trapped inside the wreckage.

I just don't think it can be fixed. I would love to if it could, but it's just not a feasible option at this point. Besides, even if I did, it would have a salvage title, which would kill the value in the future. Just not a plausible option.

-cal30sniper

 

well a situation like this just happened to me. My 91 TA got crushed by a fallen tree in a storm. I ended up parting it and replacing it with a really nice 89 GTA which is what I've really wanted all along anyway. You'll come out on top if you're patient. For 4k you'll be able to get a solid car to start with again. It is a sucky situation, but these cars are still plentiful and cheap, play your cards right and you'll end up better than before.

 

That's the plan. I've played this game before, and I'm a lot better off now than the last time I had to jump into a 3rd Gen. I'll find the right car. It'll just take a bit of time and patience to sort out the right one. I've got lots of both.

That really stinks about your 91 though. What are the chances? Good to hear you got what you wanted though, that's what counts.

 

Im so sorry that happened man! your car has been my wallpaper for months now.Its been my favorite Trans Am=[

 

too bad your too far away, my buddys selling his rust free 88 camaro with a fresh 350 out of a 94 lt1 and all new suspention from that 94 for $3000

 

It's a tough hurdle to go over, but rest assured, there WILL be another. And most of the goodies from the last one should find their way into the next one. It's my passion, I can't get away from it.

I'm just glad that I've had the chance, and will have the chance in the future, to impact the hobby. We don't realize what a great resource and community that we have in these forums. It's enough to me that I had a chance to make a difference to somebody else's pursuit in these cars. That's what it's all about.

-cal30sniper

 

so sry and best of luck my man!!!!!!


nice rims wat kind are they?

 

sorry to hear man...bigbads t/a is definately worth while to look at ...good luck man

 

I think those are BMW wheels, ive been looking for a set but they seem to run real high on ebay used and abused.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-7...#ht_2740wt_754

 

The rims are BMW M6 Parallel rims. If you search my threads created, you will see the installation thread for it.

I'm looking at a couple of Firebirds right now. I just finished my insurance counteroffer. It included a 13 page memorandum supported by over 100 pages of copied receipts, documented work, and ten other similar 3rd Gen 'birds selling within the price range of my estimate total loss value of $7000.00. I also included 250 photos of the restoration process and finished product on a CD-ROM. I have a feeling that whoever opens this packet at USAA is going to herniate themselves, but hopefully I'll get what I'm asking for.

-cal30sniper

 

You hit the nail right on the head. Mine came off a 760 series. I managed to steal the set for $480, but don't expect to find that deal everyday. That will be the FIRST thing I swap over to my next 3rd Gen.

-cal30sniper

 

Now I understand. It definitely looks worse with the hood up! Good luck with the insurance co.

 

Found her, driving to Kansas City to pick her up this weekend.

It's a flame red/camel tan '88 GTA factory L98. She's been garage kept and has 87,000 original miles. I'll post up some pics when I get it home.

-cal30sniper

 

Would not of thought those BMW wheels would fit. I may have to get some for my Firebird.

 

Pix or ban!!!

 

We just finished 400 miles of rain together, so no pics til I can clean it up a bit, but I'll get them on here real soon. It's home now, and she sure is pretty. One of the cleanest third gens I've ever seen, and definitely the best I've ever driven. It ran the 700 miles home without so much as a stumble. 21 mpg at 75-80 mph, and it's definitely got some get up and go. Judging by the RPMs it was turning down the road, I'm pretty certain it's a G92 car as well, kind of rare.

Couldn't be happier. I'll get pics up soon as I can.

-cal30sniper

 

I own a 88 GTA FRM camel interior L98. 88k miles but not always garage kept. Pics please!

 

Someone may correct me here, but I'm not sure if GTAs got G92. Mine has dual cats, AL driveshaft and all the other G92 fare but no G92 on the RPO list. GTAs also got the 3.27 gear standard so thats why you're turning some RPM on the highway. I'm turning in the neighborhood of 2500rpm (from memory) going 75mph and I only get 19mpg which is disappointing but I'm working on that...

 

I'm pretty certain that you're right. From what I can gather, they all got the 9-bolt rear. 350 cars got the 3.27 rear and aluminum driveshaft. 305/5-speed cars got 3.45 gears and 305/auto cars got 2.77 gears. That's just what I inferred after carefully adding up the production option numbers on the GTA source page.

I'm turning the same RPM range as you, so I must have the 3.27s as well. I keep forgetting that the TH700 4th gear is nowhere near the T56 6th gear in my other car.

-cal30sniper

 

Nice to hear that you got a new 'Bird. Hurry and post some pics.

 

Pics are up, I started a new thread for 'em.

Let's see what y'all think.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/memb...ml#post5063603