If I got a Trans Am for a project car (mid to late eighties project cars are all over the place) And let's say it needed a lot of work. And I buy it for $400 (That should give you an idea of condition)

How much would it cost to just get it running?
How much would it cost if the Engine and Transmission need to be rebuilt? What about just the engine?

Sorry for all the questions, I'm just excited I have a friend of my sisters to help me with all the work for free. He loves cars, so this is almost like a gift to him restoring my car

 

http://carcraft.com/projectbuild/116_0506_tpi/


This one didn't take much

 

If it's a car you want, going to keep, not need for a daily driver, and like to learn/rebuild things yourself then go for it. Don't plan on getting your money back out of it when you sell it though

 

I plan on restoring it this Winter actually. I figure yeah, it will cost a lot. And I will spend probably a lot more than it's worth. But in the long run, I have an awesome car that I know inside and out! I could keep saving for a better T/A, but this way is a lot funner. Plus, no matter what car I get. It's going to have problems. Might as well make it a kick *** car right?

 

That's about as logical as the following question:

"If I took a piece of rope and cut it, how long would it be?"

 

I always use "How long is a piece of string?"

 

I'll get more info then

 

Don't get upset


Here's a few reasons why...engine rebuild could cost anyhere from $800 to $8K, depending on your plans with it, tranny from $500 to 2K...

Kind of tough to even ballpark an answer.

 

Wo Sure hope it isn't THAT bad. Would it be that bad if the car currently runs? New crate engines seem expensive to me.

http://www.fbodymotorsports.com/inc/...?v=1&pid=10328

Not a good idea to go for used parts on this one either... Quite a bit of money

 

That's why it's usually best to find one in good shape, then go from there...unless one you have has some sentimental value.

I/e I bought my IROCZ new in '89, heck, I doubt the bluebook on it is as much as the paint job going on the winter. I have no isuues spending whatever it takes to make it look or do what I want, regardless of the resale value of it.

Flip side is I bought a '91RS a month or so, it could use some stuff, but my only concern is it runs well for my nephew, if he wants to totally restore it, and dump 10K into it, I'll understand that as well.

 

Hmmm, I'm willing to spend w/e it takes to get a T/A in RUNNING condition. Cosmetic things don't bug me. So long as it's a Trans Am, and it's dependable transportation (And the rust isn't so bad it doesn't pass safety inspection)

Interior means nothing to me really, seat covers will cover that.

 

Good deal, my best advice would be to find a car in good shape first...I know you don't care about what it looks like, but that chick giving you the eye...most definitely does.

The difference between a good condition 3rdgen and a pig, is way less that what it will cost you to make the pig in good condition.

So start with a good foundation, no rust, good interior, etc...then get into the mechanics of it.


Leave the rust repaitr/total resto, etc to the guys building '40 Fords for show...there's too many good 3rdgen F-Bodies out there at a sweet price to have to do rust/interior/etc with.

Know what I mean?

 

The way I see it, if it has rust, save it from the wrecking yard. It saddens me to see GTA's and Z's sittign in the yard rusting away.

 

I totally forgot about girls

All the girls who see my dream car call it ugly

I'll do what you said, and get one that LOOKS nice and work on mechanics.

Thanks for the advice, Epro.

 

trust me don't worry about the girls, if they're that shallow they're not worth a **** in a bucket. My firebird looks rough, but it runs oh so sweet. There's an amount of satisfaction that comes from handing someone their hind end in a car that looks this crap.

 

At the, um, presribed age, I'd rather be handing them their rear, while grabbing some hiney.

 

I guess looks vs performance is something could be debated forever

 

You could settle the debate in you case real easy. Do you want booty or boogie?

 

Well, I have been through a few serious projects in the last 4 years and I have found that money will get you out of any situation, good or bad.

As for my T/A. I bought it for 400 bones and in my opinion it was in fair shape. It was a one owner car untill the owner died and left it to his very un mechanical son who let it sit and just wanted to get rid of it, not his thing. Needed a new starter to run. It has a bit of rust most of which I have already contained but no body damage and the only problem with the interior is faded carpet but not one stain can be found. Seems his dad took fairly good care. I pulled the motor and rebuilt it. So far I have about $1,900 including what I paid for the car and I'm still driving it around with a grey primer hood and a few areas else where of primer. I still need to paint it. It's not a daily driver but its fun to work on. My first GM product.

 

To each their own, as I always say. Good to hear that another f-body has escaped the bone yard.

 

Awesome story

I hope my project will show that every IROC-Z and GTA you see in a junkyard can be saved!

 

Think of it this way. Evaluate how much money to restore the body to a resonable shape. Mainly no rust. Then look at how much a 3rd gen in good shape will cost. That will tell you what you need to do in that regard. In the meantime, put your $$$ into the drive train because you can bolt that in something else.

My camaro's body is in bad shape. It doesn't look bad but the underside and quarters are eaten up with rust the cost of repair would net a very nice 3rd gen ($3k-4k). Needless to say I will be in the market for a rolling chassis here in a couple of years.

Besides, no one can tell when you drive by them and all they see are your taillights.

As far as the engine part goes. I will have about $2500 into the motor when it is all said and done. that includes brand new vortec heads. That is a budget build including new exhaust.

 

What kind of work would it be if I did all the body work myself?

 

]What kind of work (As in how much would I have to learn) would it be if I did all the body work myself?

 

That just depends on what body work needs to be done and what skills you have and what level they are at. Let's take me for example. I can't weld. I could learn, but it would take me a long time to gain the skills necessary to be able to weld in quarter panels. With that in mind I would have to pay someone to have it done right. I could do the floor pans and patch a few holes as well, but that would require invenstment into a welder and still more practice time. Sanding the body and primering is easy and it takes little time and investment to accomplish that.

I think this still falls under the rope comment. You won't know what level of restoration needs to be done until you look at your own vehicle. If it is a good solid body, then you can dispurse your money how you see fit (paint or motor). If it is anything like mine, invest in your engine and transmission and wait to get a good body with a bad motor or something on the cheap. One of the strut towers is rusting in mine just to give you an idea.

 

Right on, I have no prior experience... So yeah

 

Restoring a rust bucket (correctly) is a very time consuming project..it's worth it when you're done, but think of all the months/years it sit waiting to be driven.

There's soooooo many thirdgens that don't need rust repair that be be had for less than a grand, and put you sooooo far ahead of the game so you just concentrate on the drivetrain and suspension....Ya know, unbolt things and bolot things back on....

Leave the bodywork to those with a classic car that is hard to find...no use wasting your youth on being a bodyman (although there's nothing wrong in it as a career), but look to enjoy your ride as soon as you can.

 

In Nova Scotia, a grand MIGHT get you a rusty Cavalier

I have 380 subway stamps, the guy stopped caring about the car. I hope he'll just take those if he's a nice guy and nothing else.

I just want to save another Trans Am from the junkyard. And the way I see it, the more work I put into it, the more I'll love it when I'm driving it.

 

that's the idea

 

The only time a bit of money can add sentiment value to something in my view.

 

A garage i worked at many years ago had a pretty shrewd salesman. He said "never buy a car that needs bodywork and mechanical work, just one or the other".
Good advice if your buying and selling, but for the average person looking to do a car for themselves, i'd say its hard to find one not needing both.
For my mind, real rot is the thing to avoid, doors, wings [fenders] the hood and such stuff can be unbolted and thrown away, being replaced fairly easy.
I would'nt want to be buying a car with say, a rotted firewall, if its rusty there, its probably bad elsewhere, and a major repair is looming, likewise one thats been in a smash, unless you know what your looking at.
Mechanical only is my favourite, you can chuck parts, or repair parts, and that does me nicely.

 

I'm buying her tommorow boys! I'll post the pictures tommorow when she's in my driveway I'm finally getting my dream car! I'm off the wall excited