My 1986 Trans AM

VforVIBE · Post by **VforVIBE** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 8:03 am

Soo... I've been trying for a while now to snag a 3rd gen Trans AM, and I finally got it... a 1986 red and silver 305 TPI Trans AM, auto with T-Tops... sick as a dog when I picked it up so no really good pictures yet, but here's what I got....(The gray one is a friends who helped me pick her up)The good:Body is in very good shape with new paintT-TopsRuns strong/ starts up quicklyonly $1500Fan switch with 3 modesNew tiresThe bad/what needs to be done:oilShifter (the current one lifts right off)Hood latchBrakes (thinking a bubble in the break fluid)Interior door handleWeatherstrippingCrappy tint removed/new hatch with spoilerNew windshield and side windowsNew seatsFresh carpettaillightsheat/acDriver's side T-top missing lockNo T-top keysNew rimsDriver's door sags a bitFun stuff:350 crate motorSunset orange metallic paint joblots of other goodiesLo-jack or ViperAnd yes, I still have the Vibe

TONY TAT2 · Post by **TONY TAT2** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 8:10 am

Good price !

lovemyraffe · Post by **lovemyraffe** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 8:46 am

Nice find!

ou.grizzly · Post by **ou.grizzly** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 8:47 am

So when ya coming up to MI and taking me out for a spin in it? As for the drivers door sagging, that is normal with everything that ages, especially when it comes to us humans!

KNINE · Post by **KNINE** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 8:53 am

cptnsolo77 · Post by **cptnsolo77** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 10:19 am

Nice!!! I always thought thosee were one of the best looking american cars to come out the 80s along with the IROC-Z .Great looking factory wheels on that TA.

808 Vibes · Post by **808 Vibes** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 10:33 am

sexay!! Both of them!

star_deceiver · Post by **star_deceiver** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 10:42 am

Very nice, Good price too!!!

BlueCrush · Post by **BlueCrush** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 9:55 pm

As other's have said: Awesome price and it looks great! Keep us updated with the mods you do to it.

kostby · Post by **kostby** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 2:35 am

Nice find!If you enjoy working on older cars, restoration, rehabilitation and upgrading it is a pleasure and a lesson or two in automotive history.If you don't enjoy it, it's expensive agony. A co-worker purchased a repo-ed yellow and black Firebird Formula of that generation in about 1988. I always liked the smooth look of those models.

Whelan · Post by **Whelan** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 4:53 am

The body looks in good shape from what you show us. Should work out well for you. Hoep your enjoyin my cold weather down there.

VforVIBE · Post by **VforVIBE** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 5:13 am

Quote, originally posted by Whelan Â» Hoep your enjoyin my cold weather down there.I have not, thank you very much

KNINE · Post by **KNINE** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 6:57 am

I guess those T-tops will be staying on for a while.You know, that red looks alot like lava red, which happens to be the best Vibe color ever.

VforVIBE · Post by **VforVIBE** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 7:17 am

Quote, originally posted by K-NINE Â»I guess those T-tops will be staying on for a while.You know, that red looks alot like lava red, which happens to be the best Vibe color ever. Haha, it does doesn't it?More pics...Yeah, most defiantly got the key stuck in the lock...Add new locks to the list.

KNINE · Post by **KNINE** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 7:35 am

Awww, it's winking at me. The interior is certainly rough, but the exterior looks pretty good. It looks like you have a good solid foundation to work from. I think you did good. The best part is that you can drive it as you continue to fix it up. I did a frame up restoration once. I'll never do it again. Very rewarding, but it takes sooo long before you can enjoy it. I'd rather buy a driver and improve it as I enjoy it. I wouldn't mind having that car.

VforVIBE · Post by **VforVIBE** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 7:40 am

Quote, originally posted by K-NINE Â»Awww, it's winking at me.yeah, gotta fix that LOL Quote, originally posted by K-NINE Â»I did a frame up restoration once. I'll never do it again. Very rewarding, but it takes sooo long before you can enjoy it. Oh yeah, what was it?

KNINE · Post by **KNINE** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 7:47 am

1963 Impala. I had to sell it after my divorce for financial reasons. I miss that car more than the ex. I happen to like your factory wheels.

VforVIBE · Post by **VforVIBE** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 7:55 am

Quote, originally posted by K-NINE Â»1963 Impala. I had to sell it after my divorce for financial reasons. I miss that car more than the ex. Poor Impala Quote, originally posted by K-NINE Â»I happen to like your factory wheels. I want these... (1985 Trans AM wheels)http://www.firebirdgallery.com...4.jpg

VforVIBE · Post by **VforVIBE** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 5:29 am

NEW PICS!!!!You can follow my progress by clicking the link in my sig.

audiovibe · Post by **audiovibe** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 12:25 pm

V... Seeing your TA brings back some fond memories of my 92 Z-28That car is gonna be great when its back to its original glory.

VforVIBE · Post by **VforVIBE** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 12:34 pm

Quote, originally posted by audiovibe Â»V... Seeing your TA brings back some fond memories of my 92 Z-28That car is gonna be great when its back to its original glory.Haha, it's got a long way to go......It was nice, I took her out for a cruse, so nice.

vibedrivermatt · Post by **vibedrivermatt** » Wed Jan 27, 2010 4:21 am

I really like the look from the front, especially the pop up headlights. The fascia looks really cool on this car. Its great cruising on a sunny day with the t-tops off.

VforVIBE · Post by **VforVIBE** » Wed Jan 27, 2010 8:54 am

Quote, originally posted by vibedrivermatt Â»I really like the look from the front, especially the pop up headlights.I love them too... Currently wishing the driver's side would pop up when I press the button... I have to crank it by hand.Quote, originally posted by vibedrivermatt Â» Its great cruising on a sunny day with the t-tops off. It's so nice, took her out for 20 mins, it was just over too soon.

VforVIBE · Post by **VforVIBE** » Mon May 24, 2010 2:58 am

I know I touched on this earlier, but I wanted to post the full story of why I got my POS T/A..On the Third Gen site, there's a topic that asks why the members got their Third Gens, here's my answer...Quote, originally posted by '85_Tribute Â»I've been meaning to post here for a while, so sorry for the long post...Like others, my story starts with my dad and his new 3rd gen. It was a black 1985 T/A beast with about 480hp. He had all kinds of mod done to it, stealth ram, a 350 replaced the 305, sub frame connectors... He'd take me to Bradenton Motorsports Park every Friday night, I was always disappointed if we missed just one week of the drag strip. I loved watching that car go... (I have some videos of it, I'll have to get it converted and posted up).I have so many memories in that car...I can remember being around the age of 6 or so and being as sick as a dog, my dad drove me around in the T/A going from doctor to doctor trying to get me looked at (I was either too young or not one of their patient).I also remember being in 3rd grade and telling all the boys that my dad's Trans AM could kick their dad's car's butts.My dad use to call me wheel girl, (on the account of I was really too short when I was little to reach anything else) I was in charge of cleaning the wheels every Saturday morning.Then in March of 1999, when the Citrus Park Mall open in Tampa, someone stole my dad's Trans AM... they took it out joy riding, the cops saw them, when to pull them over, but the teens driving the car took off. They decided to go off-roading , and in Knight Rider style, they hit a ditch, went airborne and landed. In landing they twisted the frame, totaling my dad's prize car. The kids got away... I hated them when I was 10 and I still do.(yes, that's me and yes that is a mullet)Ever sense I wanted one of my own, it just fit. I decided to get one when I was passed by a gray Trans AM one morning and I couldn't take the smile off my face... So, about a year of looking I found this POS...Even with the rust holes, crappy wiring, and trap door 'mod', I love this damn car... every time I see it, I smile and that makes it worth it. This is my secret tribute to my dad's '85 T/A.I don't know where my dad's T/A ended up, but I can tell you it wasn't a junk yard... it was bought but one of the guys at the shop where the car use to get work done... maybe I'll see it one day when I take my T/A to Bradenton Speedway.

VforVIBE · Post by **VforVIBE** » Mon May 24, 2010 3:08 am

Well, I've done a bit of work to her over the past few months...SEAFOAM VIDEO!!!!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ALGZmFY4cQTook the interior apart...Found some rust, but all very minor...I haven't done too much recently as I have ran out of money (stupid school) :S but I will be starting up again soon.The car smells so much better after getting rid of the carpet and seats... having a hard time finding good seats, I'll probably just get a decent set and reupholster them.

ramenboy... · Post by **ramenboy...** » Mon May 24, 2010 3:25 am

great write up and cool update, kelly! good to see its coming along slowly but surely. hahah was just about to IM and ask how it was going until i found this thread!

bodhi_tree777 · Post by **bodhi_tree777** » Mon May 24, 2010 3:29 am

Nice work, especially getting in there and taking care of the interior rust while it's minor. Go team 1986

VforVIBE · Post by **VforVIBE** » Mon May 24, 2010 3:35 am

Quote, originally posted by ramenboy... Â»great write up and cool update, kelly! good to see its coming along slowly but surely. hahah was just about to IM and ask how it was going until i found this thread!You see how I did that, read your mind and posted up, lol.Quote, originally posted by bodhi_tree777 Â»Nice work, especially getting in there and taking care of the interior rust while it's minor. Go team 1986 I was so happy to see that the rust was so little, I saw a 87 with rust holes big enough for kids to fall though in the floor boards. I just need to take her to a shop and get them fixed, I found rust in 4 different places: driver's floor pan, passenger's floor pan, T-tops, and back by the tail lights... so bodhi, how's your '86 doing?I think I found the place where I want to take my T/A to for restoration (if they'll let me in)... http://www.bobtotosclassiccars.com/main.html

bodhi_tree777 · Post by **bodhi_tree777** » Mon May 24, 2010 3:50 am

Quote, originally posted by VforVIBE Â».. so bodhi, how's your '86 doing?Just posted an update . Still working out a few quirks but she's been pretty reliable thus far. I'm definitely a couple grand into her at this point

VforVIBE · Post by **VforVIBE** » Mon May 24, 2010 4:05 am

ramenboy... · Post by **ramenboy...** » Mon May 24, 2010 12:25 pm

Quote, originally posted by VforVIBE Â»You see how I did that, read your mind and posted up, lol.hahahaha yeah that was pretty mind bending... but cool. had to swap out the triumph engine for a newer one (that works) with less miles. only two wheels, but that's my project hahahaa. i'll post pics if i remember to take some!anyways, like i said, great job on the trans am

nepvibe04 · Post by **nepvibe04** » Tue May 25, 2010 5:00 am

Looking good for what kind of shap it was in.

tribalman · Post by **tribalman** » Tue May 25, 2010 7:04 pm

v, you are living my dream: trans am and a mullet. good luck with all the work.

lovemyraffe · Post by **lovemyraffe** » Wed May 26, 2010 1:17 am

Quote, originally posted by tribalman Â»v, you are living my dream: trans am and a mullet. good luck with all the work.When did you grow a mullet V? I can't wait to see more of the TA.

VforVIBE · Post by **VforVIBE** » Wed May 26, 2010 4:25 am

Quote, originally posted by lovemyraffe Â»When did you grow a mullet V? I can't wait to see more of the TA.When I was wee little, I had a slight mullet.

KNINE · Post by **KNINE** » Wed May 26, 2010 8:04 am

It was a mini-mullet. You were a cute little kid.Your dad's car was sweet. I like the intake.

VforVIBE · Post by **VforVIBE** » Fri May 28, 2010 2:11 am

Quote, originally posted by K-NINE Â»It was a mini-mullet. You were a cute little kid.Your dad's car was sweet. I like the intake. Yeah, the good ol' Super Ram... he put a lot of good parts in that car... big $$$$$

VforVIBE · Post by **VforVIBE** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 11:59 pm

Sooooo..... got the car running fantastically after the timing was fixed then... the starter went out *doh* at least it did it now and not on my was to or from Georgia. The car is now insured *yay* so I can get my windshield fixed for free *double yay* I Florida. I have to wait for the new started to find out if the fix for the tranny fluid leak has stopped. The interior is 90% in and looking awesome, next is the head unit which I already have and the speakers which I haven't picked up yet... weatherstripping will be here early next week and the new starter will with any luck be here Saturday so that I can put it in Monday (it's dumb they don't deliver on Sunday)... So what I have left to do is...fix the manifold leak, fix the bad ground for the turn signal, put in the weather stripping, fix the windshield, get new wheels, put in the new head unit and speakers, put in the center console and dash, and then replace the door pin...I will get some more pics up soon!

KNINE · Post by **KNINE** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 12:14 am

I can't wait to go for a ride!

VforVIBE · Post by **VforVIBE** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 12:22 am

Quote, originally posted by K-NINE Â»I can't wait to go for a ride! I can see it now... head out the window, tongue hanging out.

VforVIBE · Post by **VforVIBE** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 9:13 am

The car now starts... YAY!!!! And weatherstripping is in... let the fun continue!

bodhi_tree777 · Post by **bodhi_tree777** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 11:52 pm

Quote, originally posted by VforVIBE Â»The car now starts... YAY!!!! And weatherstripping is in... let the fun continue!Awesome, can't wait to see pics of the interior Team 1986 rides again!

ramenboy... · Post by **ramenboy...** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 12:51 am

Awesome, kel!More pics!!!!!!!

cptnsolo77 · Post by **cptnsolo77** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 9:33 am

Great stuff ! After looking at your pics I find it funny how todays trend with black spoke wheels is so popular today.....Pontiac was doing it back in the 80s. I also remember the Buick GNX coming from the factory with black spoked wheels and a polished lip too. What is old is new again just give or take 20 years LOL.

VforVIBE · Post by **VforVIBE** » Sun May 29, 2011 12:44 am

We've come a long way indeed! I was going to sell her... but I just don't have the heart.

KNINE · Post by **KNINE** » Sun May 29, 2011 6:15 am

Quote, originally posted by VforVIBE Â»We've come a long way indeed! I was going to sell her... but I just don't have the heart.Funny how a car can grow on you. It's looking good.

bodhi_tree777 · Post by **bodhi_tree777** » Sun May 29, 2011 8:20 am

Looks excellent, was hoping you'd post an update soon to match mine

lovemyraffe · Post by **lovemyraffe** » Mon May 30, 2011 1:52 am

I love how much progress you've made. DON'T SELL!

VforVIBE · Post by **VforVIBE** » Mon May 30, 2011 2:08 am

Well the Trans AM and I just traveled 920 miles together going to Atlanta and back... and she was a champ, I had no issues what so ever! All that hard work paid off.

DressedInBlack · Post by **DressedInBlack** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 11:22 pm

What's the latest news?!