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Tech / General EngineIs your car making a strange sound or won't start? Thinking of adding power with a new combination? Need other technical information or engine specific advice? Don't see another board for your problem? Post it here!
Buying an '84 trans am that's had multiple owners. I'm still new to this car stuff, so if you guys could help me identify what's missing or been added, I would greatly appreciate it. Tell me if I need to show a different angle or look in certain spots as well.
I'll see if I can get some more pictures later, but for now, could you tell me where I would start cleaning this mess? And what I would need?
First, cover the carburetor and A/C accumulator openings, break out the hot water, soap, brush, and hose to rinse. Clean everything from the radiator support to the firewall, including the underside of the hood.
Next, search out replacement parts for the original air intake system and eliminate the chromed air cleaner/hot air intake system. That could be tougher with a cowl system, but it's worth searching.
Touch-up the rust on the inner fenders/strut towers.
Clean out the coolant overflow reservoir. When you flush/refill the cooling system the reservoir will already be ahead of the game.
Post more photos from different angles. Add some detail about mileage, condition, and known issues.
Took some screenshots from a video of it running, taken within the past couple weeks.
Passenger side.
Driver side. Something is smoking white from around this area
I don't believe this is the oem fan shroud after looking at pictures of it, but I may be wrong
The car supposedly has a rebuilt engine and trans from a couple years ago with around 100k miles each, which lasted the guy a drive from virginia to North carolina until the brakes gave out. Other than that, me and the current owner don't know much about the engine as the previous owner didn't say much.
Last edited by DonFrijole; 12-21-2023 at 07:06 PM.
Reason: Missing details
Honestly, If the body and interior are in a similar condition to the engine compartment I would look for a car that has been less molested. There are cars that are still intact that will cost less than trying to fix this one. So, unless the body and interior are decent just move on. Sorry.
I've posted pictures of the cars body and interior in another thread. https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/memb...ml#post6520023
It doesn't look that bad to me, compared to every other one I've seen in my area at least, but I guess you can be the judge of that.
All depends on where the rust is and how bad-other that that i say it has lots of nice street car potential: general rash,missing parts and mystery small block not a big deal This is a 40yr old project car-like a '55 chevy in 1995...
I think it's pretty salvageable depending what you wanna do. I agree, being the first hacker is ideal. If you looking for a couple of days of work on it and it being ready to drive I'd pass. If you have the time to go through it and figure out what's hacked and have the funds to deal w it then it's a decent car. For me, if it had minimal rust and was straight and bondo accident free I'd be into it. It's more than a roller and needs a quite a bit to be a driver.
I think the biggest thing is what you're down for work wise and what your local emissions requirements are. This car is a perfect candidate for a standalone EFI setup among other fun stuff. But that won't jive w emissions.
I live in NC, so everyone and their grandma has had at least 3 project cars. I think unmolested muscle cars are an extinct species down here. That being said, NC also doesn't have emissions tests, so there's that I guess.
Unless you count me having to fix the squeaking on my charger, this'll be my first one! If only I was born about 10 years earlier, I'd be able to get a decent one for much cheaper
Yea, I could get maybe a power wheels with that kind of money today...
it's not going to stop me from finding a bird to call my own, but man is it disheartening when all I can find are total hackjobs and rust buckets. I'm willing to put in the time and money to fix one up, but I need to find a good one to start out with first.
Just need to get under and check the rust situation-rusty front floor pans decently easy to fix,rusty rockers or rust in or under "frame" members much bigger bother for a novice...Also there could be rust situation involving the T-tops.The subject car is an '84 Trans Am,so very cool When I got my '69 Camaro project car in 1986 for $400,it had rusted floor and trunk pans and was a total "hack job",but a teenager was able to fix it up real decent In the mid-1980s,junky '69 camaros could be found all over-just like thirdgens 10-15 years ago....
Honestly, If the body and interior are in a similar condition to the engine compartment I would look for a car that has been less molested. There are cars that are still intact that will cost less than trying to fix this one. So, unless the body and interior are decent just move on. Sorry.
I should correct myself , If you are dealing with a very tight budget but have the time and a long time line for completion , this could be a good learning project. I think we have all had one or more of those. But you have to get the car cheap and thru your own labor and learning make it right one step at a time. You also need to have a place to store and work on it. Good Luck.
I'm 18, so I have about 10 years before I have to stop making dumb finacial decisions. I work a factory job so I make pretty good money for someone my age, and I don't really have to pay many bills. That leaves me with alot of free money, and a decent amount of time to mess around with this thing. Maybe some people have been looking at this from the point of view of someone wanting a quick and easy fix up job, but that's not really what I was expecting out of this car. What I really wanted to know was if someone with pretty much no experience, and alot of passion, could fix her up given enough time (and help from yall).
I did a project like that at your age. What you will learn is the 10% incomplete and missing parts cost 90% of your time and money to try and bring back to working like it's factory. If that's what you want. That car has a lot of unoriginalage under the hood so it's a minus to the uninitiated because you can't rely on the service manual to tell you what you're looking at.
How good of a candidate that car is for you depends on what your goal is and what your expectations are. Barring any mystery showstopper issues, it would probably be relatively simple to keep it on the road, and annoying to return to showroom stock condition. The best candidate for a new person is a bone stock ride that you can learn to wrench on by doing mostly maintenance and tuneup tasks on, as those are the easiest to perform and get help with. But, if you're going to be a hot rodder type of guy ($$$), you might as well dive in wherever because it's all kinda the same if you're up for doing whatever it takes.
I'm not really looking to hot rod, and I definitely don't have the experience to anyways. I might have to face the facts and keep looking for a better one as apposed to getting this one. In regards to that, I've found an '87 GTA that's been kept in a warehouse. Paint looks rough but interior isn't the worst. Turns over but he hasn't started it. Guy says it's most likely stock, and that the guy he bought it from had some people look over the engine before it was stored. Will update when I get more info.
That's a cool car if it runs. It's much more complete. I'd expect it's to at least start at that price. GTAs are awesome and a lot faster
than the 84 stock but you can easily be in another few grand into the GTA if it doesn't run. On the other hand, if it starts and drives well your cool. Both cars will need their brakes gone through. Buy the time you have the 6k into the 84 you may be pretty happy w it.
better check that one for rust too-looks like it has been stored in about 100% humidity with all that rust/corrosion on the engine...If there was any salt residue before car was placed in the warehouse,that will absorb moisture out of the air and rust ,,,The TPI induction may need a lot of work and new parts before it runs properly and that is if the underlying engine is in good order,Pipe between the MAF and the TB is missing for some reason -possibly to start the engine on starting fluid.With the humidity exposure,likely to be lots of electrical problems.The digital dash is cool,and though i am no expert on those,I think the cluster was made by VDO and is LCD backlit by a couple small halogen bulbs that may need replaced if the displays are dark.A good positive with this car is a 1987 GTA is very cool
That one looks more complete, and appears to be an '87. The interior certainly is a lot more complete. Just check the steel of the body very closely for corrosion.
It might even start with the MAF out of the loop, and if it does run it wouldn't run quite right, but at least would be an indication of condition.
The digital dash is cool (and a rare option), until it doesn't work.
is that the one in Greenville on fb marketplace? looks like it may be saveable but the price is a bit high IMO for the condition its in - would definitely need to get eyeballs on it with the concerning corrosion in the engine bay and mold in the interior. I just picked up an 88 GTA black running and driving no rust in Norfolk for 4k (granted this price was a steal, I probably would have paid 7-8k for it)
that being said Black GTAs are pretty desirable and if this one can be brought back to life it has more value. as others have said digital dash is super cool and adds value if its working correctly, a pain to fix.
let me know if you are near Charlotte I can help you take a look at one if needed,I know the cars pretty well now, i've had 3 TPI firebirds, and fixed just about every little thing on them and I know where to look for rust and problems.
Spare Tire Inflator;
TV Cable;
Headlight Assembly;
Air Intake Duct w/Bellows;
Rear Plenum Trim Extension/Cover;
Rear View Mirror w/Auto Dim;
A duct I can't make out, possibly defroster;
Possibly spare electric fans and motors.
It is the one in Greenville, yes. I'm also looking at an 88 formula up in Pennsylvania. Both are long drives but there's nothing else nearby that looks worth it. And I appreciate the help! I'm closer to Sanford though. I asked the guy with the GTA to get some more pictures, so there will be that for yall whenever he gets the chance.
This is the 88 formula. This one also looks alot better than the '84, and its at 3.5k cuz the guy needs it gone for personal reasons. He says its been family owned and garage kept as well, and close to bone stock. Is this the one?
Guys says it does, if that counts for anything. He's doing the "its a rare combination" thing, because it's a 350 formula ws6 with a factory "borg Warner posi rear". This check out or is it bull?
Last edited by DonFrijole; 12-31-2023 at 10:47 PM.
It's not crazy rare. I think formulas usually have ws6 and the 9 bolt is cool but nothing special for that car. It looks like an average to well optioned out formula. It seems cool and a reasonable price.
Glad to see this one isn't too good to be true so far. The only con is that it's about a 6 hour drive from me, but that's league's better than a fire hazard in the engine bay. I'd also like to thank you guys again for being so helpful to a newbie like me. Hope yall had a fun new years!
A big positive with that '88 formula is it is a hardtop-less parts to be bad and no rainwater seepage problem could also be said less chassis flex,but ALL thirdgens benefit from SFCs and other reinforcements to reduce the inherent chassis flex with these cars.
I would personally be very wary of that 88 formula, the price is "low" but there is lots of red flags to me.... 70k mile garage kept car but covered in heavy scaly rust underneath and on engine components? definitely driven in PA salt... looks like it had shoddy repaint as you can see overspray on the fender liners which are barely attached to the fender. Hood looks to be bent in the corner , seats are not original, dash is cracked which would not happen if it was garage kept. the things the seller is saying just seem very salesman/fake to me. has a maketplace review of him lying about the condition of a vehicle to the buyer. Mismatched tires that are shot, yard full of junky cars (ok we all have a few projects lol) on the plus side the floor pans don't look bad thanks to the undercoating... is it worth 3500? hard to say... if the engine and trans are in perfect running driving condition I would say maybe... but I see lots of issues and I would not trust that seller as far as I could throw him. Patience is key when hunting for the right one of these cars
He did mention that he paid someone to paint it but they did a bad job that he was upset with and that he had to start keeping her outside because he couldn't afford the garage bill pretty early in the conversation, so there's that I guess. I asked him about the rust, and he said the garage wasn't climate controlled. The engine doesn't look that rusty to me though? Maybe I'm looking in the wrong spots. If it's too many red flags I'll keep looking though. I'm just scared that the longer I wait, the less of them there'll be
I live in Connecticut and this is typical for the rust/scale we see here. As long as it's on the suspension and axles it's not concerning. The big deal is the body. Check the floor pans/toe boards and door bottoms. The rust on drivetrain and suspension will occur even if garaged. Once it starts it continues. The rust that starts on my cars un treaded metal drives me crazy. The humidity/temperature and condensation is really annoying. Add that to a car that has seen some road salt at some point and it looks like this. That rust can clean off. But bad paint jobs can also be a sign of bad body work. I'd run a magnet around the bottom of the doors and other spots.
12-21-2023, 03:27 PM
This is a 40yr old project car-like a '55 chevy in 1995... 
