This is my first project car, and I'm really looking forward to it, but my problem is I have no idea where to start. I'm just looking for some advice and recommendations in general, any help or suggestions would be appreciated. Here's the rundown:

84 Trans Am w/ 305 4bbl, auto trans

I've already done some of the minor body stuff like replacing the dash and a few struts and hinges, but where to start on the engine is my conundrum. It smokes when it starts and a lil when it runs, it's a little sluggish to start, and when driving if I accelerate too much it slips out of gear. At highway speeds the engine kinda runs up and down in RPMS, and during any kind of acceleration from a stop the front end makes a clacking noise.

I'm pretty sure I need a new transmission, as its the original and the car has about 188k on it, and I'm guessing the engine work won't be too extensive to get the smoke and ignition problems fixed, but the clacking noise has me stumped too. Again, I'd greatly appreciate and advice on any of these things.

Thanks,
Lagomorph, Master of Concentra-...OOOH! SHINY!!!!

 

Have you heard of the phrase clapped out? It comes from when horses knees would wear our from walking and clappping their iron shoes on cobble stones. Macadum roads fixed that.

it sounds like the engine and transmission are clapped out.

I started from the same point. I had the transmission serviced at $800, but I got the engine machined and rebuilt it myself. Next time I will buy a crate engine with all the ancilaries, and control system for around $5000, and get the high horse power unit.

The problem with the rebuild is not the mechanical parts but the ancillaries and the control sysytem, because they were all clapped out too. All the electric control system were worn or failed, also out of data so they had all the original problems which have been fixed over the last 20 years or so.

I spent hours finding and fixing the faults and the cost of the restoration grew with it. I did the work for oher reasons, but I would never do it to save money, because you can buy a nearly new Camaro for the same cost as a good restoration.

 

I'm trying to save money, but I'm willing to wait longer and spend extra if it'll come out a lot better in the end. So you think I should just go with a new crate and move from there? I'd really like to avoid that kind of up front cost, especially b/c it'll mean that I'll have to wait a year or two before I can start taking it places other than work or around the block. I'm a lil wary of taking it out of town right now, b/c although it hasn't broken down or done anything too bad on the highway yet, I'd hate for it to decide to while I'm a couple hundred miles from home.

 

I rebuilt the engine myself, because I wanted to, but you will still need a lot of tools and time. The machining and main parts to rebuild the engine came to about $1500, but I also replaced all the ancillaries at about $400 basically so I could get reliability but at a price.

Engine, transmission overhaul, anciilaries, new sensors etc came to about $3500. It wont be cheap and it takes time. It has to be something you really want to do and are prepared to pay for. I really enjoy doing it which is the only reason to do it really. You wont get your money back on anything you do.