So, I have littered this forum with posts about different cars I am considering buying, and by now I bet alot of you just want me to pick one and buy it.

The problem is, Im 16, I want a manual with T-tops and I only have $500. Grrr

So, I found this. Its an automatic with a hard top, but the price might be right enough that I buy it any way.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/kit/car/247727899.html

He mentioned valves knocking. Mechanically, I know what that MEANS, what i don't know is how to fix it or cost.

Any one know?

 

$500 won't buy you anything that you can actually drive, you can barely buy a basket case with that, or else you've got horseshoes up your a**.
I would keep saving your money, $500 is far too short.

No, he said the engine is knocking, not the valves. It means the motor is shot. Needs a new one. Also, the howling diff? That's shot too. New bearings aren't going to save that.

It'd need a conservative $1500 to get it running IMHO.

The tires and rims make the car worth $400, i'd buy it myself, to restore as my next project. But since i'm a ways away from it, and not ready for another project yet, it'll have to wait.

 

Alright, I will keep looking and saving. I dont mind a car that isnt currently running, but I would use junkyard style parts to fix it. If Im going to put this much work in though, I want it to be the right car.

 

i bought a motorless 82 v6 for 200$, if you can collect parts and do your own work you can do it cheap but not on 500$, just not enough.

 

Ya, I know, I just want the base for $500 and then Im going to save up for the rest of the parts. Perfect car would be a 350 manual with T-tops.

 

There is no such thing as a 350 stick. Keep dreaming or look for a 2nd or 4th gen.

Only 350 stick 3rd gens are folks who id it themself and most times with a T56 trans that cost $900-$1200 alone. Never gonn get a 350 stick car for under $2000
Unless the motor is shot.

There is all ot of debate but there is a thread somewhere, where a guy proved the reason for this was the 350 stick could not pass CA downshift emmsion rules, and GM don't make it if they can't sell it in all 50 states. So there was only a 305 stick.

Also most of them cars never make it to the public. Soon as someone has one for sale at a good price, a friend or a friends friends buys it.

Dunno how lucky I was to find a black stick Firebird, even being a V6.
Though you can find all you want in an auto.

Cheap stick 3rd gens are like cheap dirt bikes.
They rarley make it in the paper and don't last but a few hrs if they do.

 

that is what i was afraid of....

 

I did that above mentioned swap but I did it with a t-5 from a 305 car, all parts total costed me $250 from the local Pick-A-Part (extra for new pressure plate, throwout and pilot bearing, and friction disc and I used a flywheel off of an old straight 6 that I got for 10 bucks) however I've heard that most places its very hard to find a donor car, luckily you can use the pedals and hydrolics out of a v6 car or 4 cyl and they are pretty easy to come by around me anyway... I had about 5 setups from various f-bodies I tored apart at the same yard. I paid $15 bucks for the pedal setups w/hydrolics included and sold em on ebay for $250 range, so must be hard to get somewhere. If you need a setup name your price and I'll go get 1

 

i got a camaro stick for 100 bucks good body they said it ran 2 years ago it had been sitting i plan to put a v8 in it (305) wanna bore it out to a 350 so it possible i didnt know the people either so dont give up im 16 and have 3 camaros and payed for them my self

 

Kracker, you're going to be in for a rude awakening pretty soon...

 

what do u mean?

 

You can't bore a 305 into a 350. Even if you try all you'll hit is water jackets.

 

GM didnt match the 350 with a stick because the 5 speeds didn't have enough guts to hang with all the torque.

 

$500 Can get you a pretty decent roller.

All you have to do is wait.

Dont even bother trying to find a stick, all you need is just a rachett shifter in the automatic, and its endless fun. Plus the t-5 tranny's are POS. They flex like mad, particularily between gears 2 and 3. A 350, with anymods what so ever will just snap it in half.

The 700-R4 Trannys, can take up to 300 - 350 hp before they start flexing, breaking or anything like that.

If you find a roller, then you can just go to a junkyard, pull a 305 or 350 depending on pricing, and drop it into your car, bolt everything up, and your ready to go.

I spent $1800 on my iroc, but i spent the money on this car for 2 reasons:
I wanted TPI
I Wanted a RUST FREE Car.

I am in canada, so rarely do i find a car that hasnt seen salt, and when they are found, they are expensive. Thus the reason i went down to the states to get mine.
I know forsure a car like mine could be found cheaper, possible with better engine, lower milage, but this car was closer to me, so this is the car i ended up with.

If you wait, you will eventually find the car you want. Im kinda frowning upon a few deals i missed, but thats life.

How you can find the car you want.

Sheldon (fellow 16 year old)

 

Thanks for the info, and although I know that with an automatic you can still have quite a bit of fun, I really want to have a clutch. I found a 79 trans am, needs all new interior, but it looks like it will be pretty sweet once i finish with it.

 

1

 

Well, I had all about forgotten this site, but I got an E-mail informing me that I had a new reply.

I obtained a 1979 Trans Am, with a 400 and a four speed since this topic. It needed and still does need some work, but Im pretty happy

 

Awesome score!
Now get the hell outta here!!

Kidding, awesome Pontiac man, I want a 2nd Gen now!

 

Lol, I found it in horrible shape. I had to put new tires on before i could even drive it, then 5 days after I got the new tires the collar on the harmonic balancer broke, and chunks of it SNAPPED my timing chain, and dropped large chunks of metal fell into the oil pan. Im learning alot with this progect, and I have it moving again, but its got some really bad exhaust leaks, so Im running some new headers and duels, fix the problem and increase power!

It still needs the T-10 rebuilt, but my grandfather (who works at a tranny shop) will be teaching me how.

Then it needs a radio

 

well, i might be returning, my second gen aint working out. Im not looking for a car I just park and forget about, but there are two things that **** me off on my bird.

1. There are no parts for a 400.

2. My father, who i was expecting some help from, HATES this car.

I have had to tow it home three times in three months. If i can get back out of it what i put into it, then i will be THRILLED. Then Im going to buy a third or early fourth gen.

Tell me all the reasons third is better than fourth!

 

you can make a third gen fast, you can't make a 4th gen pretty.


STEEL, are you in the Pacific Northwest? i noticed you posted an add from seattle craigslist. i would start looking for a car you want with an auto, and swap in the manual. i have done it, and there are people in your area that have as well.

you should check out Cascadecrew.org we are a local Pacific Northwest Fbody club and there is a guy on whidbey island right now selling a T-5 from an 87 with all the trimmings. they guys on that sight love to lend advice on projects like this, and if you are supper nice it is possable some of us will drive out to help you work on it. i drove from portland to port orchard to help a guy with an engine swap once.

 

Ya, I live in Washington, pierce county actually. I LOVE the idea of buying an auto and then converting it, but im scared of getting in over my head again. I mean, I have never even pulled a tranny out before... The most extensive maintenance I have done was remove the oil pan from my second gen (while the engine was still in the car) and then after that it leaked.....

I know there are tons of AWSOME third gens out there in my price range, that are exactly what i want, but they all seem to have automatic trannys. Also, I can obtain a rebuilt T-5 increadably cheap because my grandfather has worked at Lakewood transmission for about 25 years or so...

All you guys are always so helpful, that is why I missed this group!

 

Just to clarify, every year between 82 and 92, there was an option for a 305 and manual, however, which years came with a posi, a 305, and four wheel disk.

 

hehe, i got my 87 formula for 800 and ive put 400 in it and still have plenty to go

the previous owner was somewhat of a hack and the previous owner to that was a women.. It isnt a bad car just needs TLC and thats where all the little odds and ends kill you.

my advice.. as everyone else stated get a auto if u want the 350 and also make sure u look at all the common issues with these cars

i LUCKED out.. i didnt even really check myn out and my pinch weld in the front is the only thing near rotted, everything else is surface rust if that.

GOOD LUCK!

 

Steel, someone is looking for a 2nd gen like yours. I dont think you realize what you have. Go to the classified on this site, put in trade your 2nd for a third. You will have your third in no time.

 

good idea!

I will go do that right away.

Thanks

 

i got my car from that area, i would look around country roads lot of people park they're poor third gens in a field and leave them to die. my friend almost picked one up along side a highway for about $100, doesn't run but its a start. I'm 15 and i understand ur problem. but if ur goin to get a car that moves w/ T-tops and a manual u probably goin to end up give up $2000 or more. i got my 1992 Camaro RS v6 w/ a manual for $1800. the paint was oxidized pretty bad. i would go w/ the newer 90-92 thirdgens if u come across them, they got airbags, and powerful engines. good luck

 

well, Im going to be going to boot camp this summer, and then when i get back, assuming I can sell my T/a for $2000 or more, I will have about $4000 to spend on my new car.

I actually prefer carbed, so I will prolly get something a bit older, not sure though, depends on availability.