Doobie52

I just picked this beast up about two weeks ago. Its a 1992 Jamaica Yellow hardtop Trans Am with a 5.0/700r4. I've been out of a third gen for about 13 years but it's so good to be back. The plans for the car right now are just to get it cleaned up and road worthy again. The car came from the original family (father gave it to his son and that's who I got it from). Unfortunately, he couldn't afford to take care of it the right way. I've already changed a headlight motor, window motor, and in the pictures, I'm changing the water pump gaskets and installing a new radiator. I still have to do door hinge pins, fix the column, tires, and lots of other little things before she's ready for the road. Future plans for the car are an LS 6-Speed swap but not until my Formula is done. I'll get some better pictures up after the car is clean but this is all I've got right now.

BLACK92B4C

Nice ride! Love to see them saved!

CharcoalBird

iTrader: (4)

Very nice. I love the JY cars.

2007xl50

Looks like a nice project, lucky you have a MAP engine so you can have the open K&N on the TB. What's going on with the black nose? Also there are no decals on the car-has it been repainted?

Doobie52

The black nose looks to be a reproduction piece. It was just never painted. I need to get a set of the front lower gound effects from Hawks before I have it sprayed because the ones on the car are shot. The car itself has never been painted and I'm going to leave it that way for a while. It's all original and I like the patina. A few dents and dings here and there but nothing major. I asked the kid I bought it from the same question about the decals. He just took them off because he said they were cracking, and he did a lousy job of it. It looked like he used his fingernail to scratch them off. I've been getting all the glue and remnants he left behind off with some Turtle Wax heavy duty bug and tar remover and it's coming out nice. It's also working good to get the glue left behind from when he took off the door moldings. He had big plans for the car, but he didn't have the funds to see them through. I'm in the process of cleaning it really good right now so that I can buff the car out. I have a feeling it's going to clean up really nice from the little bit of work I've done so far. I'm off from work next week so I'll get some pictures up after she's all clean.

StripedZ28

Looks like a real fun project car! By the way Phoenix Graphics makes great reproduction decals if you want them back on the car.

Anti-Venom

Nice find. Birds look great in yellow.

2007xl50

See that's how my TA is, there are dings and scraches, spoiler is about shot, but the car is like 95% original and only has 50k on the clock so i'm leaving it as is for a while. I'm so glad I have all the decals still on the car. Mine even had the old dealer decal on the rear bumper and I took it off-kinda wish I would have left it.

Doobie52

Thanks for the compliments everyone. I'm definitely going to be ordering the decals to put back on the car. Does anyone make a template so that I put them back in the correct places? I've been busy with house projects, and I'm about to go take down Christmas lights, but after that my day is being devoted to the Firebird. I'm hoping to have it all degreased and stuff so that I can clay it and at least compound it. I'll try to get some pictures up later.

98LowRanger

I love that yellow! Looking forward to more updates on your progess and new pictures.

Doobie52

It took the better part of the day, but the results were worth it. The car has been degreased, clayed, compounded, polished, and waxed. I don't think it came out too bad for neglected 21 year old paint. This is a Nevada car so the sun has definitely left its mark. There isn't any clear coat left on the top side of the spoiler and the back bumper needs some more love. I'm also going to polish up the taillights. Anyway, here are some more pictures as promised. When I get it down off the Race Ramps I'll get some better ones in the sun. I'm going to try and get the transmission out today to replace the front seal.

92GTA

iTrader: (11)

Damn I'm jealous, very nice! Exterior condition looks very good for it's age!

fmorgan1963

what is claying a car mean?? new here not sure what that means. thx

Doobie52

Claying a car is something you can do before you start compounding and waxing after a car has been washed. It involves using detailing spray and a special clay bar that you rub over the paint. As you rub the clay over the paint, it pulls out any deposits. It leaves the paint really smooth. Just look up clay bar kits from Mother's, Meguiar's, or Clay Magic. They all work great.


I've been busy lately but I have been managing to make it out to the garage on the weekends to keep working the bugs out of this thing. I've got the engine all squared away, and I'm currently waiting on some new hardware to put the transmission back in. The PO told me he thought the car might need a flexplate, but I didn't expect to find what I did.

Phenom-1

It's beautiful

LHernandezJr

A little duct tape and that thing will be as good as new

Good luck with your project. Subscribed!

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

How could that NOT be heard!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? did you drive it home or trailer her?
Been down that broken flexplate road about 6 times myself.
Y in the he11 is the motor orange!?!?!?!?! yuck I would pull that motor, clean and paint it just because I hate that orange!!
I really dig the JY cars tho!! (have 2 myself)

Doobie52

When I originally went to look at the car, I had the kid start it up and it started and idled fine. I never drove it because I had no intention of keeping the TPI power plant in it. I figured as long as I could move it as I needed to around the house I was good. This was going to be my "project.". On the night I went to pick the car up, the kid was going to drive the car to my house which was about 3 miles from his and I was just going to follow him. Let's just say all hell literally broke loose in the form of the balancer snapping off the end of the crank and shooting out from under the car. This was after we made it about 1.5 miles. He fortunately had towing on his insurance so he got a flat bed to bring it the rest of the way and drop it in my driveway. Fortunately for me, the local pick-a-part had some untouched IROCs and I was able to get everything I needed to fix the engine for less than $100. I got a new radiator, balancer, pulley, timing cover, and all the miscellaneous stuff I needed to put the front of the engine back together correctly. When I was pulling the transmission, I found that the mount was in two pieces so the transmission has been just resting on the crossmember. Who knows for how long? I have a feeling that was the start of a lot of the cars problems.

As I've been putting the car back together, I've been getting the itch to maybe drive it a little this summer so I've been putting more money into it than I originally intended. The motor was rebuilt about 20K ago and the transmission was a fresh rebuild so why not enjoy the car until I'm ready to do my swap. I just changed all the outer seals on the transmission because there was a little fluid by the converter and I've got some ARP hardware on the way for the flywheel and converter. Hopefully I'll have it running in about 2 weeks or so. In the meantime, I've got my Formula keeping me plenty busy.

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

I know all about that flexplate problem! I drove 5hrs one way to go race, bolted the tires on made one pass and broke the flexplate just about like that and drove home the 5hrs with it knocking!
I'd say enjoy the car as is! Like you said, you have another car to play with! Not many JY TransAms ;-)

Richboll

The car looks great. I'd have to go along with the enjoying it now and doing the swap later plan. You've got a great looking ride. How's the interior look?

fmorgan1963

ok thank you.

maroman88

beautiful! thanks for saving one!

Doobie52

If all goes well, I should be firing up the car tonight. I put in about 5 hours in the garage last night and I was able to get the new flexplate in, bolted in the transmission, bolted up the converter, changed the oil filter and filled the oil, changed the fuel filter, installed a new transmission mount, connected the transmission lines to the radiator, and filled the radiator. Right now the transmission is being supported by the jack because I didn't have time to wire wheel the rest of the bolts. Tonight I just have to bolt up the transmission crossmember, hook up the torque arm, install the driveshaft, change the transmission gasket and filter, fill the transmission back up, install the starter, and reconnect the battery. The weather here has been beautiful this week so I'm hoping to get some pictures of the car outside this weekend.

86T/A_Ram_Air

lookin good so far. Tires look shot though lol

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

I hope its going well !!!!

Doobie52

Got her all back together and she runs like a champ!

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

Well, where is the vid and pix of the 11s out on the road !?!?!?!

Doobie52

I actually did take a video of it running yesterday. I drove it around the neighborhood to make sure the transmission shifted well, but it won't be seeing any real road time until I fix the column and get some tires.

Jersey89GTA

iTrader: (1)

Cool car, wish there were some untouched JY cars around here.

Hey Doobie 52 - what is the name on those wheel jack stand things, never saw them before. That would work well for me.

scooter

iTrader: (11)

Race Ramps, very expensive

Doobie52

Like scooter said, they're Race Ramps. The set I have are the 12" wheel cribs. For all four, it costs about $350, but I use them all the time. Definitely one of the best purchases I've ever made for the garage.

Jersey89GTA

iTrader: (1)

Thanks, do you use 2 floor jacks to set up ? Set up two wheels at a time.

Whats the best way to safely get it up there ? Appreciate it - i'm a bit green with that.


Saw these on y tube - pretty neat stands.

Doobie52

I have an Arcan low-profile XL35R jack. First I jack up the front of the car and put it on a set of jack stands. Then, with a block of wood on the jack, I jack up the rear of the car and put it down on the Race Ramps. Then it's back to the front, this time with the block of wood to jack it up and put it on the Race Ramps. The front is a pain because the suspension hangs down unlike in the rear, so you have to get it pretty high. Usually after I have the fronts on I'll go back to the rear, jack it up, and make sure the ramps are perfectly centered before putting the car down for the final time.

Doobie52

When I bought this car, the PO told me he was having cooling issues with it. Well, there was a hole in the radiator, only brown water in the cooling system, and the thermostat was shot. So a new radiator, coolant flush and fill, and thermostat later, I haven't been having any problems. When I had the transmission out, I also noticed the fan switch plug was smashed and not really connected so I bought a new plug, soldered it all together and the car won't really get past 185* now. My question is, when the car gets up to around 180*, only one fan is coming on. Is this correct or are both fans supposed to come on at the same time? As I'm writing this the thought to go out and start the car and put the A/C on to see if both fans work just popped into my head. I'm going to go try that, but I'd still appreciate any input. Thanks

Jersey89GTA

iTrader: (1)

Yup,you answered your own question, fan #2 comes on if AC is working.

Usually fan on driver side is set to come on at 227 degrees, cycle on/off.

Doobie52

Just a quick heads up to anyone who might be interested. This car is FOR SALE as of today, but an official thread will be posted this weekend after I take some new pictures. If you're interested, feel free to PM me.

86T/A_Ram_Air

why are you selling??

Doobie52

I just don't have the time for it right now and rather than park it in my backyard until I do, I'd like someone who can enjoy it now to have it.

Zane M

iTrader: (1)

Great car.
Wish I was in a position to buy it. It is light years ahead of my current project in terms of how close to completion it is.
Good luck with the sale.

karl's-92'-z28

iTrader: (5)

Where in NV are you located?

Doobie52

I live in Henderson right outside of Las Vegas.

Doobie52

So, I went outside this past Saturday all ready to finish cleaning the car up so that I could snap some pictures and post the for sale thread. On Friday, I even typed up the ad that would accompany the pictures. Once I got outside though, I found myself doing everything in my power to stay away from the car. By the end of the day on Saturday, I'd done nothing to it. Sunday rolled around and I had the same intentions, get this car cleaned up and get the for sale thread up. The difference was that I actually spent a good part of the day working on the car. I vacuumed it out, wiped down the interior, put everything I had taken apart back together, checked all the fluids, and I even took it out for a little (illegal) spin just to see how it felt. When I got back home I waited until just before the sun went down, parked the car in the driveway, and began the photo shoot. I was tired on Sunday night so I planned on picking the best photos on Monday, and then posting my classified ad. Monday morning came, I made breakfast for the family to celebrate President's Day off, and that's when I started thinking about someone else enjoying the car I found, and then put a bunch of time, money, and effort into and I decided to keep the car. Finding a clean thirdgen in the Las Vegas area for a realistic price is damn near impossible. I know because I've been looking at turds for about 3 years now. This car is by no means perfect, and I may not be in the position to do my dream swap right now, but I don't think I'll find a solid foundation like this one again for the price I paid, so I'm keeping the car. Even if that means parking it for a couple years.

OK, I feel better now. So many of you have asked for some pictures and I think the few I took this weekend came out good. I cringe every time I look at the front end in pictures so I'm going to get some paint within the next month or so and take care of the bumper and front ground effects. I think it will look 100X better.

Doobie52

Here are some shots of the interior. With the exception of the seats and the carpet, it's in good shape. The seats in my 98 Formula are immaculate and I have a feeling it's getting a set of Kirkey's this year, so they'll be going in this car along with a new carpet.

Richboll

Good decision! I'm sure that its one you won't regret.

chazman

iTrader: (4)

karl's-92'-z28

iTrader: (5)

NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!! Lol.....I'm glad your keeping it. Just enjoy it as is until you find your motor.

karl's-92'-z28

iTrader: (5)

I have a set of beige leather seats from a 97 Trans Am....

86T/A_Ram_Air

I like the decision. Enjoy her as she sits until you can afford to do your motor swap.

Zane M

iTrader: (1)

I'll jump on the bandwagon and say good decision on keeping it as well.
Like you said, you will be hard pressed to find another in that condition for a decent price down the road.

Doobie52

I've regretted selling car parts before, so I know selling the car would have just killed me. I'm going to continue to use this thread to document what I do to the car as time and money allow. Next up I have to fix the sagging driver's side door, and then I'm going to get the car all one color. Thanks for all the support!