alright, so, im 17, i bought my 85 Trans Am last year off a guy's lawn, where it had been sitting for 2 years. I was aware then that there may have been some problems, but i didnt care because i wanted a Trans Am and it was the right price. A year down the road, and i am seriously concerned with the underbody. I brought it to a mechanic and he said that the underbody was entirely rotted, and there wasn't enough left to even weld to. I really dont want to part with her, so i was wondering if there was anything i could do, such as getting a new floor pan, or sub frame connectors would allow me to keep this car for a long time, since i have some big plans for her. So i guess what i'm asking, is should i cut my losses now and try to sell it, or is there anyway i can save it, thanks

 

Well as many may know what my stand would be on this. I say if you have the money keep it and fix it. If not find some one that is willing to fix it. Just dont junk it. (just trying to save Thirdgen one at a time)

Kevin

 

Hey man I'm 17 and have an 85 TA too. I think you should try to fix up your TA, i'm pretty sure you can get a new floor pan for not too much only installing it would be a bitch for sure, personally i'd buy a good looking floor pan from a junk yard or get a new one and have it installed

 

First thing to do is save your money and buy a welder.

After you have that the rest is just work. Gotta gut the inside of the car and work from there. Its is allot of work but worth it once done.

 

Yeah my 1986 IROC Z has a hole in the floor pan and I am holding on to it and I am gonna get it all done some day. I am not getting rid of the IROC because I know I would not get any money for it, and jet junked or parted out. I just could not let it go since it was my first car.

Kevin

 

Hey man im 17 also and i have a 86 Trans Am with floor board rot and 1/4 panel rot. but i kno sooner or later it will be fixed. but if you really like your car and are attatched to the T/A as i am with mine (even though it isnt too pretty right now) keep it b/c someday it could be a really nice ride!

Jeremy

 

fix the car

 

hey guys, thanks for all the feedback, it is definately reassuring. By no means did i want to get rid of this car, i do love it, i was just wondering if anyone had similar problems and had fixed them, and apparently, this is quite common. I was skeptical, because i went to one shop when i bought it last year to have it saftied, and the mechanic put it up on the hoist, and decided right then he wouldn't safety it due to corrosion, so i had to take it to a more shady mechanic to have it saftied, lol. I'm still wondering if anyone has dealt with issues this extreme, but by everyone's comments, it sounds fixable. Just to put all your minds at rest, by no means is this car going to the junkyard, im going to be at university over the next 4 years, so im going to gut the car, and have it done right over that period. Just one final question though, a few people mentioned a new floor pan. Does anyone know where i could buy one on-line, i live in ontario and the junk yards i quite sparce. Thanks again.

 

It'd DEFINITELY possible to fix. I've got a friend who has an '84 Camaro that he did a V8 conversion with, and the underside of his car was rotted from the front floorpans back behind the rear wheels. He fixed all of it himself with a little mig welder and a bunch of scap body steel. It took him a long time and a lot of patience, but that car is rock f-ing solid now. My only advice to you is not to use used floorpans....either buy new or make your own out of good pieces of rust-free metal. Otherwise, you're only going to be back in the same spot in a few years down the road. If it were me, I'd save the cash and buy new floorpans--especially if it's a car that I wanted to keep for a long, long time.

 

Worst part, it is so common most don't even know. 90% of the crap I found. was not till I pulled the carpet. So much is hidden buy the box framing / uni body. I actually have a stock looking car from the under side. From the inside its was a different story. I just wanted to pull up the back carpet but I ended up gutting the whole thing and found lots of bad stuff that you could only see from the inside. Big problem is our rubber backed carpet and jute padding. it holds moisture forever and the car rust from the inside out.

Lots n lots of images, will take some time to load.

It was just work but was only possible cause of my welder.

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=189093


https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=192017