Driving Excitement...85 Trans Am Project. New Plan as of 5/3

[SSEiMan01]

And it IS a project. Over the past two years and some months, I have worked to make this car what it will be someday. It has indeed come a long way, though now some work needs to be re-done to look good again. This is the car I just took back from the body guy since he did the car no good in almost a year of sitting outside. Now as a result, I need to replace all the underhood chrome pieces, and a side view mirror. I have a very long list of maintenance items to be done still, but it runs like a top with the motor I put in it. It is a work in progress, so excuse the bad looks. I replaced the radio pod today, since I was tired of having half of my radio supported by a zip-tie.

This was an orphan car, it was very close to what nobody wanted to buy. The saving grace, NO RUST! To avoid it, I POR-15'd it last year.
I paid a small amount of money for it, and put lots into it. The things that had been done to this car in the past were stupid and wrong. Since taking possession, I not only have to fix things that break, but also what is wrong, and try to make it my own at the same time. There are a couple videos posted that show the exhaust while driving and my custom sequential turn signals in the rear. Driving it around the past couple days, I've remembered why I bought it, saved it, and love it.

Also, I hate the wheels it has on it at the moment. I just don't want the wheels I have to put on it to get damaged with body work. The Year One Snowflakes are what will be on the car when all is said and done. The 20 slots will hit a scrap heap. vvv Snowflakes



Without further adieu, here is The Red Demon.
This is a project thread, I will update with progression as it happens. It will be slow though.






















^ (Dirty)


Pop-up headlights that work FTW!



Click these next four for video:





Sequential turn signals.







Broke...




Old one...Broken


New one installed

[ga93sle]

I like it! I even have kinda a softspot for the 20 slots... I knew a guy that had a set on a black T/A that bodystyle, and they looked really nice. Is the paint gonna be the same as the car in the first picture?

[SSEiMan01]

That is my car Chris...lol

The car will be Crystal Red metallic, AKA Vette/Caddy Extra cost color. With ground effects painted Galaxy Silver. It will be a stock scheme, but with modern day metallic colors. Originally back in 85 this car was the darker red with silver ground effects. 20 slots are ok I guess, but these arent in great shape, and Snowflakes=WINNING!

EDIT: This is CRM. Also comes on other cars now too, Cruze etc.

[nos4blood70]

That car is a beast. I always love seeing the hood open cause you never expect to find that under there.

Can't wait for the progress to begin.

[SSEiMan01]

That car is a beast. I always love seeing the hood open cause you never expect to find that under there.

Can't wait for the progress to begin.

I think I'm going to get some estimates this week, maybe start on body work myself. It would at least look ok in primer for now. I can open the headlights, but the hood needs to be trimmed at the cowel to be able to use the wipers.

[DCJREDLINE]

I am partial to the WS6 20slots myself. The deeper dish of them just sets the car off. BEAUTIFUL car man!!! Wish my paint on my 89 was that nice!!! DDAAAUUUMMMMMNNN

[ga93sle]

Haha, my baaad. It won't be a fade like that, though?

[SSEiMan01]

Oh gawd no.. I hated that paint from the instant I saw that car on CL when I bought it.

[GoldenBullet]

Nice. Are the sequential turn signals stock?

[clm2112]

Good Luck! While you have a lot of work ahead of you, I've seen worse. The fiberglass hood is going to be an issue. From the photos it looks like it is warped (the gaps at the headlights.) Might want to remove the hood stops in the corners to see if it will settle in line with the headlight openings. Mirrors will be easy to find.

I also like the Aero alloys over the snowflakes, though the later TA crosslaces are my favorites.

[SSEiMan01]

Matt, No the STS was a custom setup made by a member of another forum. I installed that over a year ago. Normally only the inner two lights are turn signals. I had to install a dual filament socket in the outer most to make it turn/brake. Then wire it all into the box the guy made me. He only made a few of them, all sold to TGO members. I was lucky enough to be able to snag one.

Curt, The hood is actually aluminum. Thanks for the luck wishes, with this car's track record, I'll need it.

[clm2112]

Curt, The hood is actually aluminum.

No kidding! I presumed it was an aftermarket Fiberglass one (with the nostrils on it, looked like one from US Body ) Who made it?

[SSEiMan01]

Hawks third gen parts is where I got it, I'll look who made it up when I get home and let you know. Hawks is out of GA iirc.

[Jrs3800]

Will that thing sounds really good for a 305... Seems pretty quick too...

[SSEiMan01]

Everyone thinks its a 350, that cam helps a ton. Makes power across the whole band from about 2k rpm to redline.

[clm2112]

Hawks third gen parts is where I got it, I'll look who made it up when I get home and let you know. Hawks is out of GA iirc.

Cool, I've done business with Hawks before (while converting the Camaro from AT to M5). Haven't been back to his online site in a while since the Camaro is hibernating in PA since last year.

[SSEiMan01]

Doesn't say who makes it, safe to assume Hawks?

http://www.hawksthirdgenparts.com/fireb ... stock.aspx

[SSEiMan01]

Well, I actually got one of the drive-ability issues fixed today. Since I converted this car from EFI to Carb, the PCM does nothing anymore. So, as a result, I had no TCC lockup. I had gotten a kit to control TCC lockup without the PCM from B&M a while back. Finally got around to installing it today. So nice to have TCC lockup again.

All I need to do ASAP to be able to drive this car regularly long distances is:
- Steering box
- Accessory Trans cooler
- Front brakes
- Starter #6 for this car. (The stock starter is not enough to crank this motor effectively. Until I can afford an MSD gear reduced starter, Lifetime warranty FTW!) I plan to do this Wednesday after I finish an observation.

Lots more things on the list, but these are the most critical, and the ones that keep me from taking it anywhere far.

Crappy cell phone pics



Control unit for the TCC lockup, mounted to the driver's footwell hush panel.


I'm starting to fall back in love with this car. And the looks it gets on a nice day when all the neighborhood kids (and parents) are outside.

[clm2112]

If you need a gear reduction starter, look at one from an 4th gen LT1. If you have a 153t flexplate and a straight starter bolt pattern, then the LT1 starter will fit. If raiding from a JY, get the support bracket from the back of the starter too...IIRC the LT1 starter is physically smaller as well, more like an aftermarket mini-starter.

[SSEiMan01]

I'll have to look into that Curt, Thanks.