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88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one This project started by a tag in a Facebook post by a good friend of mine https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.thi...96d5391c08.png The guy was posting a pic of his recently acquired 85 Corvette with the red GTA setting sadly disabled in the background. My friend ask about it and the guy said he was probably going to sell it because he lost interest in it. After few messages back and forth the next thing I know I was at his house with a trailer ready to possibly buy. After a lot of negotiation I bought the car for $800.00. The car blew a head gasket about four years ago and the PO yanked the heads off and never put it back together and it just set in his driveway. Before the guy I bought it from got his hands on it it was a very loved GTA with 140k miles that appears to have been garage kept and was completely unmolested down to the original radio. The paint and body are in excellent condition with exception to the horrible wing choice someone replaced the factory aero spoiler with. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.thi...4f797c2a9d.jpg First plan of action is to get the engine bay cleaned up and drop a fresh engine in her. The above pic is just off the trailer ready to go into the shop and remove the engine. |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one For the engine, its getting an L98 out of a 88 corvette i found on craigslist. The engine was completely disassembled and the status was unknown, so I rolled the dice and bought it for $300 bucks. The engine ended up needing boring to .30 over to clean up the cylinders and the crank needed turning .10/.10. The heads got new valve seals and springs. Pic after cleanup and assembly: https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.thi...f127ed649f.jpg I powder coated the valve covers and TPI setup with bright aluminum powder, turned out very differnt than I was expecting... looks more like chrome than aluminum. |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one WOW WOW WOW, that was the buy of a lifetime! Great deal, major congrats! |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one NICE! Wish we could do engine swaps in cali. |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one Great car! Great deal! Good luck with it! |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one Thanks guys, I thought it was a good deal as well. I love bringing these cars back life! I was digging around in the interior and found all the original documentation along with the original window sticker, pretty cool stuff. |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one Nice Find and STEAL! I need to start looking around all these farms and find something. Probably nothing but HAY!!!!! |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one
Originally Posted by Bob88GTA
(Post 6052710)
Nice Find and STEAL! I need to start looking around all these farms and find something. Probably nothing but HAY!!!!! Speaking of farms I went to a cruise in last night and an old farmer rolled in with this: https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.thi...2430fa4cad.jpg all original un-restored, he is the original owner. after talking with him found out its been parked in his barn for over 20 years just setting. he just recently got it running and driving again.. Talk about barn find! |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one UNBELIEVABLE.......! Back in 1972, my buddies brother smashed one up. Tree won. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.thi...3d72e91627.gif |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one Wow, you stole that! Congratulations on the purchase! https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.thi...c854269dbd.gif |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one Congrats! That is a great car! |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one While cleaning the engine compartment today I found some rust.. not a surprise I wanted. although it was well hidden behind and under stuff it had to be fixed. Under the washer bottle: https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.thi...6c1b0ac569.jpg inner fender where it meets the firewall: https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.thi...49e22b48f9.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.thi...628b9b5417.jpg Above the battery box: https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.thi...053d5b9f54.jpg Looks like every where an inner fender liner screw was placed it rusted through.. strange. The good news is after closer inspection those are the only spots the rest of the car is rust free. |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one First thing is to get all the rusty metal cut out: https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.thi...6131e38314.jpg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.thi...4a4a05257c.jpg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.thi...a748f2ff27.jpg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.thi...2a3eaa5d33.jpg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.thi...f16d743e9e.jpg |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one New metal back in My ugly metal forming skills: https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.thi...05b71ecf67.jpg Shot some weld thru primer on the seam: https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.thi...cdecaff5eb.jpg Some ugly welds: https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.thi...2867708c3f.jpg welds cleaned up and shot with self etching primer: https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.thi...6febc945ff.jpg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.thi...3f44e7ea4f.jpg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.thi...eb3180316d.jpg |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one Well that's nasty surprise, battman. Good repairs though. :thumbsup: I found the very beginnings of rust around a screw hole on my car. You can see it here. https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/memb...ml#post6052473 |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one
Originally Posted by DynoDave43
(Post 6053528)
Well that's nasty surprise, battman. Good repairs though. :thumbsup: I found the very beginnings of rust around a screw hole on my car. You can see it here. https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/memb...ml#post6052473 Glad you caught in time, I hate rust! Your's was a much easier fix fortunately. I'm going to tackle the battery tray tonight then repaint everything, hopefully it turns out as good as yours did. |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one Good score on the GTA and the Corvette L98! Gona be a very nice car when youre done! |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one
Originally Posted by dmccain
(Post 6053932)
Good score on the GTA and the Corvette L98! Gona be a very nice car when youre done! |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one rust repair complete https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.thi...2d3d08b543.jpg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.thi...29e9ff7f47.jpg The Duplicolor spray touch up paint is too shiny so i am going to sand it back down and just spray it with base to get the original look back. I want it to look as original as possible. |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one A good looking repair. I ran into the same issue...too shiny. That under-hood is almost a mat finish. I was considering a satin clear, but didn't do it. |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one Thanks Dave, yea the under hood paint is straight base with no clear that's what gives it the matte finish. I bought a pint of base today to rework it with, I'm hoping it looks like the original.. |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one battman if im ever down that way id love to see your collection! Gona have to get some of us members together and cruise at "cruising the coast" this year. I should have mine freshly painted by then and maybe I will register this time, I usually just ride around and spectate. |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one
Originally Posted by battman
(Post 6054522)
Thanks Dave, yea the under hood paint is straight base with no clear that's what gives it the matte finish. |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one How about rattle can spraying some satin, or flat clear over the red, to reduce the shine? |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one
Originally Posted by scooter
(Post 6054715)
There's no way, it would come off too easy without clear over it. It would have to be single stage, or just came out of the gun differently. The factory spun the paint, or so i've heard Maybe someone that knows for sure will chime in.. |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one I'm with you battman. This paint even comes off with cleaner, like 409. Also, it scratched very easily. |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one
Originally Posted by battman
(Post 6054732)
I don't think GM sprayed two kinds of paint during the process and there is definitely no clear over the engine compartment paint so that leads me to believe it's base with no clear. If you touch that paint with lacquer thinner it wipes off very easy. Maybe someone that knows for sure will chime in.. Good luck with the car. Louis |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one
Originally Posted by dmccain
(Post 6054587)
battman if im ever down that way id love to see your collection! Gona have to get some of us members together and cruise at "cruising the coast" this year. I should have mine freshly painted by then and maybe I will register this time, I usually just ride around and spectate. I would be down with a third gen meet up at cruising the cost this year! I'm planning on taking the 88 if I go. |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one
Originally Posted by battman
(Post 6054732)
I don't think GM sprayed two kinds of paint during the process and there is definitely no clear over the engine compartment paint so that leads me to believe it's base with no clear. If you touch that paint with lacquer thinner it wipes off very easy. Maybe someone that knows for sure will chime in.. |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one Well none of the third gen and 4th gen fbody's I have owned have had clear coat in the engine compartment. |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one All of the 3rd and 4th gens I have seen have had clear coat, because they had to have or the paint wouldn't have lasted.... They barely last WITH clear coat. Do you think they masked off the engine compartment while they were putting the clear on? Trust me, it is all clear coated, maybe not as thick as the rest of the car, but it is there Look at this car, it's bone stock and almost completely preserved it has clear coat everywhere you can see paint in the engine compartment https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/hist...-1992-a-2.html |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one It's interesting that you point out this thread...beautiful car. Look at post #76. https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/hist...ml#post6048037 In the first photo, behind the passenger side strut, the paint on the top of the tower is clear "semi-gloss" or "satin" in it's appearance, showing little evidence of any substantial coverage with clear coat. This is how most of my engine compartment looks. Yes, it may have an incidental dusting of clear on it, but it is never wet, or exterior grade/quality in it's appearance. And as a result, it is very easily removed with cleaners or abrasion. In the second photo, look at the fronts of both of those towers...look at the shine! So I think this shows that if they got clear, it was hit and miss, and incidental, not deliberate. We'll probably never get to the bottom of this for sure (assembly line processes lost to history). |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one
Originally Posted by siuol
(Post 6054776)
Really great find, nice looking car. As far as the paint goes, as I was told. When they painted the car, the hood was open and when the urethane clear was put on, they painted with the hood closed, so the engine compartment is just the base paint. If you take the under hood insulation on, you will probably see just the outer portion of the hood is painted, the center part, that does not show is gray primer. Louis I actually talked to my brother last night about this as he was a painter at a large GM dealership in the early 90's and he told me they did not clear coat the engine compartment. |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one Well I finally got the new paint to match by using a grey scotchbrite pad. A light scuffing and it matches almost perfectly https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.thi...f2e3a7a8ab.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.thi...ab2666cced.jpg |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one Well, I can't tell which parts you painted, so I guess it worked! |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one
Originally Posted by DynoDave43
(Post 6056548)
Well, I can't tell which parts you painted, so I guess it worked! |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one PM'd |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one Good Job!!! |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one Well I spent the weekend getting the engine in and running. When it first started it was missing like crazy, so I got the infrared thermometer out and checked the exhaust temp on each cylinder and the whole right bank was cold.. Checked fuse box and one of the injection fuses were missing. Put a fuse back in and she runs like a champ! https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.thi...a88fad3393.jpg |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one Clip of it running |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one Well I took the car to the muffler shop today and got the long tubes connected to the existing exhaust system: https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.thi...d543308e1c.jpg The car already had a Flowmaster muffler installed when I got so I went ahead and used it for the time being. I am actually pleased with the sound combined with the long tube headers. I am still going to replace it later down the road with a Magnaflow though. |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one Looking good and the L98 sounds very healthy! |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one Little idle clip with the LT4 cam and 1.6 RR |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one And a little fun at the track last night, ran a bolt on C5 auto |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one Wow that thing sounds good! You wasted no time getting it together. |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one
Originally Posted by dmccain
(Post 6066932)
Wow that thing sounds good! You wasted no time getting it together. The next project is going to be get a new spoiler on it and paint the car all over. |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one That's what ive been working on the last 3 wkends and evenings. Got my spoiler from Classic Industries and it was shipped to me within a week with new hardware and a very nice piece if I might say. It has been a HELL of a project and about 30 hr of prepwork im ready for a fresh coat of bright red hopefully later in the week. Next year maybe I can cobble together a fresh smallblock similar to what you just dropped in and I should be happy with it by then. |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one |
Re: 88 GTA Resuscitation.. saving another one Hows the fitment of that spoiler? I'm trying to decide weather to buy one from Hawks or Classic Industries. Hawks shipping is a little cheaper, Classic Industries wants almost $200 for freight.. |
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