DD9TransAmGTA

iTrader: (1)

Yep! Already had a rebuilt title before the visit with the pole. And Thanks!!

DD9TransAmGTA

iTrader: (1)

The weather has been iffy the past couple days but it was around 50 today and we got the car inside finally. The engine and transmission should be out by tomorrow

CharcoalBird

iTrader: (4)

If my wife took a picture like that bent over my car it would be in my private collection. Good girl for helping you. I need to get mine back into it.

DD9TransAmGTA

iTrader: (1)

Shes alright I guess.....that pictures definitely in a special folder lol.


Tonight we got the engine and transmission out

DD9TransAmGTA

iTrader: (1)

Started gutting the interior last night and today. Found a cool pin under the carpet

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

Very cool vintage pin!

roadthrills

Good luck with your major undertaking. Let me know if you need any Firebird specific parts that you don't have. I have an '87 Formy sitting here that I bought for the drivetrain. It's a rust free pretty straight car.

DD9TransAmGTA

iTrader: (1)

I thought it was pretty neat, must have fell out of the console at some point

Thanks! I'll let you know for sure thanks for the heads up!

Bullydawg

iTrader: (7)

If you need more funding, I am still interested in you wheels... Good luck with the rebuild!

FirebirdUSX

Maybe I'm blind but I don't see anything "bent" inside.Was expecting some deformation in the foot area but everything seems fine.
Also really nice to see a stock paint inside the car.Really clean except the rust spot on the driver side but I guess that's from T Top.

DD9TransAmGTA

iTrader: (1)

I was really happy with the floors, they are really clean. Both the other thirdgen's we have are not as fortunate. I'll get some more pictures tonight, I'm currently pulling the rest of the interior out. The floors are noticeably tweaked looking in from the rear of the car, not sure if I'll be able to fix them but we will see

DD9TransAmGTA

iTrader: (1)

Got the interior removed today. You can see the way the floor is bent now. The exhaust hanger decided to put a gash in my trunk well also. Lastly removed the heater box and a/c

DynoDave43

iTrader: (11)

That ol' floor has a little low to it, doesn't it.

More surprised by the rip from the exhaust hanger.

DD9TransAmGTA

iTrader: (1)

I believe the frame pulled down on the floor. The transmission did some damage along with that. I'm guessing the ditch bent the right tail pipe and caused the hanger to do that

PurelyPMD

iTrader: (3)

I can fully understand having an attachment to a car, but seriously, I think you need to cut your losses here. Props to you if you succeed in getting it done however!

thtanner

iTrader: (1)

Nothing but respect from me for putting in the work, but that damage just scares me to the point I would not trust it to be a safe vehicle again. I also don't do frame work so somebody with that experience would have more confidence I'm sure.

DD9TransAmGTA

iTrader: (1)

Yeah I think someone with common sense would just let it go at this point. I guess I lack that lol

Yeah I can understand about the safety. I have 2 decent parts vehicles and a frame puller. My dad has fixed a ton of totaled vehicles far worse than this. He has the experience and this will be a huge learning experience for me. His friend had bought a rolled 2004 Mystic Cobra convertible and was told the car couldn't be fixed, well it's tearing up the streets now lol! We have been seriously looking into a Howe Racing front frame to adapt to it.

thtanner

iTrader: (1)

I will be watching your progress and cheer-leading on the sidelines!

DD9TransAmGTA

iTrader: (1)

Haha! Thank you!

The weather is supposed to warm up a little this weekend so I'll be able to move the car on to the frame machine Saturday!

FirebirdUSX

I think most of us should.He fixes his car (never seen anyone trying to fix that kind of damage) and we get to understand how these cars behave in crashes.You can't get that with any new car...you get crash ratings but not this type of detailed view.

@DD9TransAmGTA
Now its safe to say that these cars need SFC for both safety and stiffness or that the weak point is the floor.In the new 6th gen Camaro (damn time goes away so fast can't believe we are at 6th gen already) the frame rail that got separated from the floor in your car goes all the way back.I guess GM noticed what we see here that the force distributes along the floor through the frame rail.If it had SFC this whole thing would have been avoided.

Now I understand why Tesla gets so good ratings in crash tests...the batteries are in the floor so the floor is really stiff.Guess its time to pimp up the floor.

DD9TransAmGTA

iTrader: (1)

Yes you are exactly right! SFC is a must and should be one of the first things you do when purchasing a thirdgen. If I had installed some in my car I bet it would have saved quite a bit. I forgot to get the headliner out and I will check to see if the T-Top bar is kinked.

DD9TransAmGTA

iTrader: (1)

Been trying to plan out what i'd like to do to the car the past couple days. Got her up on the frame machine/puller today

DynoDave43

iTrader: (11)

Time to start measuring!

mjdavis68

iTrader: (1)

Ok i see your determined and i totally respect this. You have the tool and a experienced mentor (dad?) I'm just concerned about the "body tweak" it has. Hate to see the effort and no result..That frame is going to have to take a tremendous amount of "pull". Make sure your clamp or hook places are solid and wont tear and break off during the pull.. BE SAFE AND STAND as far away as you can when pulling. Just a tip. in the past when i was concerned of break away i placed a "moving" blanket on the chain to help minimize any back lash inertia

DD9TransAmGTA

iTrader: (1)

Yes lots and lots of measuring! Ill keep that advice in mind, I'll be running both towers at the same time. I'm going to bolt a pulling plate in the right frame rail to probably start off with and clamp to the cowl, etc.

Tonight the windshield and dash came out!. Fished some wiring out of my way also.

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

In the picture above miss tasty, I was looking at the pass floor pan trans tunnel and there is one heck of a wrinkle from the front of the shifter back down to the edge of the sockets on the floor.
This is one h#ll of a project!

DD9TransAmGTA

iTrader: (1)

Yeah I think the transmission did quite a bit of damage in that area. From the front of the rear seat mounts forward will most likely be cut out. The grey 86' Firebird I have a lot of parts from had a extremely clean floor and strut towers. So I'll most likely use alot of that

DD9TransAmGTA

iTrader: (1)

Got her clamped down and ready to be pulled on! First will be pulling on the right frame rail

DynoDave43

iTrader: (11)

zbird90

Subscribed! Really admiring your tenacity here and look forward to your updates!

DD9TransAmGTA

iTrader: (1)

Thanks!!

Tried to start pulling on the frame tonight but the seals in both rams are leaking so new seals are on the way!

mjdavis68

iTrader: (1)

Maybe the seals are too cold? Illinois i mean

DD9TransAmGTA

iTrader: (1)

I sure the cold didn't help but its pretty old and we haven't used it in 3 years. They probably need rebuilt anyways

DD9TransAmGTA

iTrader: (1)

The rams are getting new seals tomorrow, from what little pulling we did the drivers door is starting to line back up and passenger door no longer rubs.

FirebirdUSX

how you know the car is "balanced" or how its called after you are done with it? I mean will you know it won't try to pull to a side or have weird behavior.Is that even a possibility ?Is there a precise way to measure to know its "fixed" or it works by eye?

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

There are "targets" that get hung under the car to show where things should line up.
A giant "lazer" lets you know when you are in spec. Most of these cars are not in spec from the factory..

DD9TransAmGTA

iTrader: (1)

The rams for the frame machine should be done this week. In the meantime I got the steering column out and fixed a set of door panels that'll be going in my formula.

PurelyPMD

iTrader: (3)

I like the 4th gen spoiler - got any other pics of that?

DD9TransAmGTA

iTrader: (1)

Yeah I've got all kinds of pictures of it. I made a thread back when I actually did it I believe which you can check that out if you're curious. Heres a couple shots of it




I took this picture a year ago today! It's my computer background

DD9TransAmGTA

iTrader: (1)

Pictures of said door panels

B4C5.7

iTrader: (2)

Subbed, that cowl is driven up on the pass side.

chazman

iTrader: (4)

Well that sucks. Glad you're both okay. Good luck on the rebuild.

Bob88GTA

iTrader: (2)

...

DD9TransAmGTA

iTrader: (1)

Thanks! I was really excited for the expo this year, I'll still be there with or without a thirdgen. Hopefully I'll get that figured out and bring one!

chazman

iTrader: (4)

I hope you can make it to Expo this year. It's going to be kicked up a few notches this year. We'll have details soon!

DD9TransAmGTA

iTrader: (1)

Sounds good! Once the show gets a little closer I might look into seeing what it'll take to get the Ol' IROC road worthy. Its been off the road since 2008, I drove it once and it seemed alright. Needs brakes, fuel pump, cooling fan wiring fixed, etc. Hopefully it'll be up for the drive

DD9TransAmGTA

iTrader: (1)

So apparently they won't be calling till monday to get us a price on rebuilding the rams for the frame machine. So in the mean time I'm welding up the old holes in my hatch

DD9TransAmGTA

iTrader: (1)

Rams are finally done and I'll be slapping them together tonight!!

DD9TransAmGTA

iTrader: (1)

Probably won't do much pulling till the gauges for the pedals arrive. But in the mean time my wonderful girlfriend helped me weld the old holes in the hatch

PurelyPMD

iTrader: (3)

She welds too? How are her baking skills?