Newbie (Trans Am)
 

Hi Guys,

I recently purchased a 1989 Firebird Trans Am and I'm relying on you guys to educate me in all there is to know!

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/l.../mytransam.jpg

I'm near Manchester. Is there anyone else in this area?

Re: Newbie (Trans Am)
 

Not near you but nice car!

Re: Newbie (Trans Am)
 

Your car actually looks small compared to the Chrysler 300C next to it

Re: Newbie (Trans Am)
 

It's actually about the same length and slightly narrower and a hell of a lot lower!

Re: Newbie (Trans Am)
 

welcome to the board. Please post a few more pics...I love TAs with the silver GFX:nod:

Re: Newbie (Trans Am)
 

I will, but it's the height of summer here in the North West of England, which means it's been raining constantly since i bought the car! First hint of dry weather and i'll find a nice location to take a few shots for you!
----------
..and well spotted, didn't realise before how little of the 300c was showing on the pic.

Re: Newbie (Trans Am)
 

Nice car! Where did you get it from? You'll enjoy the boards and find that they contain a vast wealth of information.

Re: Newbie (Trans Am)
 

I bought it from a friend, who's well into his classics

here are a few more pics (It's finally stopped raining!).

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/l...ytransam03.jpg

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/l...ytransam04.jpg

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/l...ytransam06.jpg

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/l...ytransam02.jpg

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/l...ytransam05.jpg

Re: Newbie (Trans Am)
 

NICE CAR! good luck with it.. you can basically find anything you need to know about it using the search feature or posting a question about a specific thing on it... but.. what would you like to know?

Re: Newbie (Trans Am)
 

That's a really nice looking TA :thumbsup::goodjob:

Re: Newbie (Trans Am)
 

Well what do I need to know..

erm... Well I'm in England and need to know where to get parts. Audio wise I need an adapter for the radio (1.5 din size adapters not available here - may have to fabricate one myself) and things like the gas struts on the hood and trunk are weak and need replacing.

what else... let me think about that one!

Re: Newbie (Trans Am)
 

Metra sells radio kits for your 1989 TA. I bought one from a local dealer that sells the Metra brand in my area. http://www.metraonline.com/
http://www.metraonline.com/fit.aspx.
They also sell the wiring harness to make it plug and play.

Re: Newbie (Trans Am)
 

Thanks for that Steve!

Re: Newbie (Trans Am)
 

Thats a clean looking car from the pix, looks like you got a good buy. :)

Re: Newbie (Trans Am)
 

You can buy the adaptors to bring the head unit aperture down to single din from numerous suppliers in the US and the UK.

Off hand, I believe, USAutomotive in the UK would be your quickest source.

Buy a copy of Classic American and American Car World magazines. Their are plenty of UK suppliers ads in them both.

Re: Newbie (Trans Am)
 

I managed to get the harness through my local car parts store it made my Autoleads and the cat number is PC2-82-4 if anyone else needs one. The aerial had the smaller plug but i just prised open the lugs a bit and it worked fine. As for the adapter. I made my own from a piece of aluminium. Had to make a few modifications to make it sit flush but at least i'm now legal with the bluetooth stereo.

Re: Newbie (Trans Am)
 

Congrats on a GREAT CAR!!! Actually it could be a clone of mine except for the current wheels. Mine is also an 89, same color combination and everything!!!

What engine/tranny (5.0TBI/TPI?? did yours come with? How many miles? Tell us more details? If you have the TBI and the 2.73 rear with a 700R4 you should probably get 30mpg on the highway - at least I did with mine driving it as a mid-twenty something did right after I got it and for years after that.

It has been the most faithful, reliable car I have ever owned. Several years ago though I did some mods to it (new engine - killed my MPG, but huge gains in power).

Yours appears to be in exceptional condition - I hope that mine will return to that glory in the not too distant future.


PDG

Re: Newbie (Trans Am)
 

It's a 5.0 TBI and has done 33,000 miles (no idea about a 2.73 or a 700R4???) there is slight bubbling on the paintwork in one spot and a scratch over the wheel arch that i need to get sorted, other than that it's great.

Re: Newbie (Trans Am)
 

You can look up the RPO codes and it will tell you whether its a 2.73 or not. I forget what that code is exactly, but chances are that it is. Is it an automatic transmision or manual? If its an automatic it should be a 700R4 though.

Still a great car!!!


PDG

Re: Newbie (Trans Am)
 

It is a 2.73 rear and it's an auto box 4 speed THM4L60 whatever that means.

How about posting some pics of your car?

Re: Newbie (Trans Am)
 

I will be happy to post some photos of mine. Currently, I am on the road and the car is in the shop in the US. I am headed home in about a week or so and want to take plenty of photos of it. It is undergoing a number of upgrades/overhauls and such. I am redoing the headliner/weatherstripping and almost all of the electrical connections (window motors, hatch motor, headlight motors, etc....) this summer. I also got new wheels and tires for it. All of this is being done now so it will be ready for me next week.

I also have the 2.73 pegleg rear and had hoped to get that changed to a 3.42 posi unit while it is in the shop for this round of work.

Next time I put it in the shop I want to get the rear changed, new Ram Air Hood, and a new rear spoiler. I also need to get it repainted, then the final stage of my development will be a supercharger. My goal is 500rwhp.

I have to tell you though that after having owned mine for 14 years now I have NEVER seen another one with the same color scheme in person. Thats why I was so excited to see yours. I know they are out there, but it just seems to be an unusual color.


PDG

Re: Newbie (Trans Am)
 

I Hve to say, I've never seen one either (though they are pretty rare at all in the UK), and it matches my 300c lol. Look forward to seeing pics of your car.

Re: Newbie (Trans Am)
 

That is one Badass looking TransAm. Very clean bro.

Re: Newbie (Trans Am)
 

Hello.....WELCOME to the board.

Very nice TA you have. Love the colour.

You'd be surprised how many Brits living across the pond in Canada have f-bodies :)

Good luck

Re: Newbie (Trans Am)
 

Identical:

Beautiful car. Looks as good as mine, I think your camera is better and it is cloudy :)

Re: Newbie (Trans Am)
 

My new toy.

Re: Newbie (Trans Am)
 

That's the first time I've even seem a photo of one the same!

Re: Newbie (Trans Am)
 

Finally - I got mine and got the new wheels and tires on it. It still needs a ton of work (its basically been neglected for the last six years). But she is all mine and has been for the last fourteen years!

You will note that I have the same color combination too!!!

PDG

Re: Newbie (Trans Am)
 

Cool! I really like those wheels.

So that's three we know of now...

Re: Newbie (Trans Am)
 

I'm really not digging the wheels. Gotta keep it stock. But still a clean car.

Re: Newbie (Trans Am)
 

I agree those wheels don't work on that car. Stock wheels set the car off, other wheels don't. :imo:

Re: Newbie (Trans Am)
 

I'm in Manchester as well, might be worthwile joining the AACNW, its open to any US "built" vehicle. :)

http://www.aacnw.com/joomla/index.php