I was out cruisin' today and my wife told me about a "Camaro" that she saw at a dealer for like $900.

So we went there and it's an '89 GTA. (No, I didn't smack her ) White w/gray cloth interior, and gold wheels. 102K miles. No T-tops.

It was unlocked so I opened it up. The interior is trashed. Rips, broken counsel lid, diirty as a 80yr old man's undies, etc. So I popped the hood to see the motor.

It looked OK. TPI of course. The sticker was gone, but IIRC didn't all GTA's have the L98? Well just to make sure, I wrote the VIN on my palm and ran it here on the VIN decoder.

Here are the results for your query on: 1g2fw2182kl208xxx
Made in: United States
Manufacturer: General Motors
Make: Pontiac
Carline Code: F-Body
Carline Series: Trans Am, Formula
Body Type: 2 door coupe (hatchback)
Restraint System: Manual belts
Engine Code: 350 ci V8 B2L/L98 (1987-1992)
2 is the CHECK DIGIT
Model Year: 1989
Assembly Plant: Van Nuys
Production Sequence: 208xxx



The body is clean overall. I didn't do a bondo check or anything like that yet. I'll do that if I find time to go there tomorrow and look at it closer. But the skirt on the driver's door is gone, as well as the pieces 'fore & aft'.

And of course I ain't heard it run yet. But my wife says it's been moved from where it was yesterday. SO I KNOW IT RUNS!!!!!

I'm asking this here because, as my sig will tell you, I'm a TBI guy right now. And I've only built carb motors before I bought my 92 RS. So I'm ignorant when it comes to the value and desire of a TPI.

I have always loved the way GTA's look though!!!!! They are sporty, yet classy looking. They just have the kinda look that a downtown NYC lawyer could drive one.

Let me know what to look for as far as TPI problems, and any thing else you can think of.

Thanks,
AJ

 

For under a grand it doesn't sound THAT bad IMO.

 

If I was looking to do a swap to TPI or retro another car, I'd be all over it for 900.00.

Best thing about using it as a donor car, all the wiring, sensors, etc are there for you to pull and use on the donee car.

 

$900.00 isn't bad if it runs ok.

Check the body thats the main thing. motors are nothing without a good body..

-- Joe

 

what car lot is it ! just kidding sounds like a good deal to me!

 

You can sell the TPI part of it for at least half that much on Ebay couldnt you? I think 900 is good

-Bud

 

GTA007, Whats that car of yours run for times??

-- Joe

 

Why do you think I 'X'ed out the last three of the VIN!!!!!!

I was born on a Thursday, but it wasn't last Thursday!!!

I'll look into it.

Kelly Blue Book said in rough condition, through a Private Party sale that it's worth like $2200.

Edmunds said about $1700. So it's like I could make some money, if it ain't too trashed.

AJ

 

sounds like a good deal.. GTAs came with the bigger motors... i have $900 beat though. I found a IROC-Red 87' IROC-Z with a rebuild 305 TPI in it... heads were just redone... new radiator, new alternator, new headers... every option, t-tops.. you name it...... <drumroll> $800. No bull****. go for it... these cars are selling like hot-cakes.

 

GTA,
Dude, where'd you get that cowl hood? It's beautifuL!


BTW, can't go wrong on a $900 GTA

Jon

 

It is an amazing deal, as lon as you're not trying to make money off of it. Cars are NOT good investments

\eof

 

i run 8.52-8.6 in the 1/8 depending on how the cars running that picture came off the net but my car looks just like that.oh, and the hood came from jegs bought it back in 98 it was around $300

 

Tpi units can sell for 400-500 so I don't think it's a bad deal. You should easily be able to make 900$ out of it.

 

Ahh.. I see.. I run about the same e/t for the first 1/8.. around 8.5, 8.6.. I was curious how that car pulled about 7 inches off the ground. The world may never know!

-- Joe

 

Sounds like a steal to me..... You can expect some problems though, at that price. Like the trans.... almost a guarantee that it is going to be fried or almost fried... At the very least you could clean it up and use it as a daily beater....... (be a pretty decent daily driver, all things considered).

 

Very good deal, go for it.

 

Cool. I appreciate all of your help guys.

But you haven't really answered 1 of my questions.

What are some of the things on a TPI that I should make sure work well? As I said, I am totally uneducated when it comes to TPI.

AJ

 

AJ, you're gonna have to treat it the same as you would any engine...i/e does it run smooth? Idle smooth? No SES light, and no SES codes?

The most expensive parts on an '89 would be the MAF sensor and the injectors, but as I mentioned before, if it runs smooth, all is probably okay.

 

OK... Thanks.

It's just untreaded water for me. I didn't know if there was some mystical occurance that would take place, that I may not pay attention to because I'm unfamiliar with TPI.

Cool. I'll try and get there tomorrow.

Thanks again every fellow 3rd gen. owners, and others.

AJ