An '84 TA gets sneaky....

[L695speed]

I've been on here on and off for a couple years now, and realized...I didn't have anything on the build I'm doing. At least on here. So I'm gonna start one, and copy/paste with dates some things from my build thread on earlythirdgen.com.

First, a quickie background. Dad bought a '77 301 Firebird with a 4 on the floor new in '77. Story was they didn't make a '69 Mach 1 Mustang anymore and that was the closest he could find. Long story short, after 4 wrecks and an attempt to make a fake TA later he scrapped the car. But not before he bought a '78 Espirit with a 305 and an auto. The '77 had a 10th anniversary interior put into it, that was transferred to the '78. He drove that car til '91 when he sold it. Don't know if this car is still around or not, likely isn't. In '90 he bought a '84 Trans Am with T tops, a 5 speed and the L69 engine. Drove the car daily til '94. Drove it mainly in the summers and for fun til 2002 when the engine blew up.

After sitting for 2 years I got tired of seeing it sitting around. Started stripping down the engine. Found it had a massive top end failure with snapped pushrods and all. I swapped for a freebie Caprice motor (I regret doing that looking back) that was a gamble. 500 miles later of nickle and diming and an oil pressure system failure, I decided enough was enough and ripped the whole car to pieces.

Dad passed suddenly in 2008. He never got to see the car run again as I got it running again in the summer of 2009. But I recalled discussion between us about swapping for a 350, and decided to take it one step further. In 2010 as I tore apart the car, plans began to unfold to rebuild the car as a restomod. Retaining the car's factory appearance was important to me, as were the upgrades. The goal here was to have a seemingly stock '84 Trans Am that handled on rails and would run 12s in the 1/4 easy, a simple, fast, great handling street car. I may be slow in transferring images over, but they will come.

[WSex]

sorry for your loss. and hoping to see it around.

[L695speed]

Thank you, for what its worth, I lit off the tires at the graveyard not long after I got it running and despite being in the garage, it will be around. Right now i need hard lines, a couple brake parts, an engine, and those godforsaken front springs to go in. Check all my torque specs when its done and it will be on the road. Saving paint and body for last so it will be looking like crap for awhile...LOL.

Anyway, heres the '77 excuse the Texas plates, Dad was living there for a couple years working in Austin, Texas at the University. He moved back to NJ in '79 I think. He grew up in Bayonne and Jersey City moved around as a kid for a bit too.

http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss158/labrchr/77.jpg

And here is the '84 after I got it running in 2009. The latter two pics are at the Sussex County Farm and Horse Show in 2009. The heater core blew and I didn't have tools to bypass the core. Otherwise I would have driven the car home. Wound up getting towed back.

http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss158/labrchr/IMG_0040.jpg

http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss158/labrchr/IMG_0051.jpg

http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss158/labrchr/IMG_0050.jpg

[L695speed]

And here are a couple sneaks as it is now. We used the garage for storage for years. Due to that, we still have some issues with stuff laying around despite being able to park two cars in it. My Brother's Fiero will be living next to it, for those who want to know, its an 86 GT 3800SC swap and 4 speed manual.

http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss158/labrchr/0142.jpg

http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss158/labrchr/0053.jpg

[1320B4U]

Nice.....and sorry about the pops man.

[maroman88]

great story, sad about ur dad but its great that you're continuing the work!

[L695speed]

Thanks guys, I know some of Dad's friends are thrilled I decided to rebuild the car and keep it. They had some memories of that car as well.

Here is the front suspension as it is now, I need rotors and pads up front as well as hard lines. I already have rubber hoses for it.
http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss158/labrchr/0202.jpg

The rear suspension has been completed since this photo but I still need hard lines, calipers and pads out back. Again already have rubber hoses for it.
http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss158/labrchr/sort1084.jpg

Mocked up the console and so on, looks great. The shifter is a factory one with a Hawks short stick on the T56. The pattern will be replaced by the 6 speed pattern sticker. The other interior change will be the speedo being refaced for 160 MPH. These two changes should be the only changes in the interior. I am shaving the antenna for one that goes in the windshield as well. But the idea here is only those who know what they're looking at will know what is going on here.
http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss158/labrchr/022.jpg
http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss158/labrchr/017.jpg

[L695speed]

Here is what some of the car looked like before I started the modifications...

Note in the first picture, the panhard bar brace bolt rotted and sheared off.
http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss158/labrchr/IMG_0788.jpg
http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss158/labrchr/IMG_0786.jpg

DEAD Shocks
http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss158/labrchr/IMG_0792.jpg

This one is saveable, despite needing floors realistically.
http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss158/labrchr/IMG_0790.jpg

The original dealer sticker still on the car. Reads Cerami Pontiac. I believe was in Rutherford NJ.
http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss158/labrchr/IMG_0679.jpg

[L695speed]

So far, the steering has been replaced for all new parts. Tie rods, center link, idler, the works. Replaced the adjusters with UMI pieces. The A arms have been changed for a set of UMI tubulars as have the rear LCAs. On car adjustable panhard bar from UMI, Koni Yellows, Eibach springs. The brakes have had the original booster, and master cylinder replaced. A 1LE proportioning valve has replaced the iron stock 4 wheel disc unit. Scott Degeer at bigbrakeupgrade.com worked my spindles for LS1 front brakes. Ed Miller provided the backing plates for the 11.6 PBR rear brakes. I'm going to run Raybestos rotors all round with Hawks HPS pads. The 15x7 original wheels have been changed out for 16x8s Formy wheels. Reasoning here is the later Formula wheels to the ignorant or lesser knowledgeable observer will look original to the car. I was fooled myself already once after I put the original center cap on. The rear was left alone drained of old fluid, replaced the rear axles for Mosers. Timken rear seals and bearings were installed as well.

I also put in a factory "wonder bar" from an Iroc Camaro that I got from third gen ranch. A 36mm front sway replaced the stock original WS6 32mm one. The rear sway bar is the original 23mm bar, I'm keeping that as is. Though I may pick up a set of 21, 19 and 24 mm bars to experiment with later on.

Bushings are polys all round. I know of the binding issues people talk about. However, there will be room for playing around with different setups once I get the basic setup done. I'm doing this on a rather tight budget, which explains the 2 years from tear down commencing to its present state. Its almost to the point where I can drive it again, and after seeing how bad it was suspension wise to start with, I can't wait to see what it will do now.

[maroman88]

Cerami was in Paramus on 17 south until just a few years ago when Pontiac went byebye.... its now got a new Prestige Mercedes building on the property

[88WS-6]

You're going to love the adjustable panhard/Eibach springs/Koni yellow combo. That combined with fresh tires and you'll be able to take any turn you want. My GTA was a new car after I did those mods.

[L695speed]

Thanks Matt, I'll take your word for it, you had the same setup in your GTA.

Anyway, here is some more.

Some spring and compressor pics from the attempt....still haven't gotten these bastards in....
http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss158/labrchr/0024.jpg
http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss158/labrchr/0044.jpg
http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss158/labrchr/0034.jpg

And I got the door off, stripped. I'm not gonna worry about the power locks at the moment, I need rivets big enough and the right gun to do the job. If I throw the door in and leave the power locks out for now its not the end of the world. I will however look into at least changing the lock out. I will have to get pics of the new door once I get it on the car. It needs two people or at least a serious assist from a jack or something that can hold the door to get the job done. Once the door is bolted I can get it lined up right, but I need to get the door on the car first.

Here is why I got another door as opposed to fixing this one.
http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss158/labrchr/0064.jpg
http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss158/labrchr/0164.jpg
http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss158/labrchr/0054.jpg
http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss158/labrchr/0113.jpg

AHHH NO DOOR!!!
http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss158/labrchr/0183.jpg
http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss158/labrchr/0193.jpg
http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss158/labrchr/0203.jpg

And just because....
http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss158/labrchr/0033-1.jpg

I know it would have been easier to find a power lock door, but even then, sometimes the actuators are shot. I may wind up getting new ones anyway. I already have the harness so that is one less headache. I already dealt with the rust in the hinge area as it was minor surface stuff, and as for the quarter, I'll get there. It doesn't need to be replaced, but that was early on when I started stripping the paint prior to changing direction to doing the body later. Enjoy.

[L695speed]

Small update...

The new door went on the car thanks to an assist from a stack of car repair manuals. The big fat ones. A Chilton 65-72, a chilton 80-87, 1985 Ford factory service manuals (various ones from the set) stacked up to get the back of the door up, then lined up the holes on the hinges and bolted it in. It needs to be fine tuned for alignment (worst case I will just have to put in new pins) But its useable and operational.

Also I ordered the front rotors. Compared to the stock ones, these things are huge. Put a grin on my face. And they fit perfectly with the caliper in place under the 16 inch formula wheels. In fact they fit like a glove. Now I'll be going through the windshield with a huge grin on my face, because that is how they're supposed to work.

One.
http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss158/labrchr/LS1Brakes1.jpg

Two.
http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss158/labrchr/LS1Brakes2.jpg

Three.
http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss158/labrchr/LS1Brakes3.jpg

I don't have photos of the door yet. But they will come.

However, its going on the back burner again. The daily driver is about to blow its steering rack, and on top of that, the tires I was hoping would last til Fall so I could get new ones for winter didn't. One of them blistered and is down to the cords. However, there is still a chance it will come back to life before the year is out.

[L695speed]

Ok guys, here is a question/poll deal for you. As I honestly don't know which route I want to take.

Should I:
keep the stock spoiler and taillights (may have to replace the taillights due to broken tabs)
Replace the stock spoiler with a later year wraparound one and the taillights with a later year gridded one.
Replace one or the other and keep the stock taillights or wing.
Keep the stock spoiler and lights for show purposes/cruising or when I want the true factory appearance, and get the gridded lights and wraparound spoiler for tracking and driving, switching between the two. Its easy enough to do.

Have at it.

[L695speed]

Well I'm almost done dealing with the daily driver's jealous tantrum. Front end has been rebuilt, including new bearings and a new hub on one side and the rack. Next up will be the timing belt. I may already be severely overdue. Or I may be alright for a bit, but at 215,000 miles I'm not taking chances. It was done at least once. Once that is squared away, I'll start taking steps to make the Trans Am a runner. The car is now a legitimate roller. I got the front springs in and they should be indexed exactly. It saw daylight for the first time in almost 2 years yesterday since I pushed it out for a bit of clean up in the garage.

I've decided I'll just stick with the stock original look at the back end. And on another side note, I drove my brother's Fiero with a stage 3 spec clutch and 3800SC into the garage the other night.... in my book, that thing won't have **** on the TA when I'm done despite my brother's delusions of grandeur. When you gas that thing it didn't scare me like a certain LS1 Vette I drove did.....The TA will be closer to the LS1 Vette.

[1320B4U]

Keep the car's originality w/the spoiler and lights. Only lights i'd upgrade to are off the 91-92 t/a or gta's.

[L695speed]

I discussed it with a few others on the early third gen boards and it makes sense. Due to the fragility of the taillights I'll stick with the original look. Spoiler has the issue of the wrap arounds cost a fortune in fiberglass form and its a bitch to find good ones in NJ.

Now....what shall I get next?

[1320B4U]

4th gen t/a spoiler doesn't look horrible on 3rd gen birds.

[L695speed]

4th gen t/a spoiler doesn't look horrible on 3rd gen birds.

hahahahaha, I'll see. I got the daily going in for the timing belt on Thursday. I would love to get the Trans Am running though. So when I said "what shall I get next?" I was referring to my list of needs to get this thing running and street worthy. Chances are I'll stick with the original spoiler. After all, the car was intended to appear stock at first glance. Sucks because all the money I put into the daily (not to mention struts needing to be done) I could have gotten an intake, a motor, a set of rear calipers and been oh so close to having fun....

[L695speed]

Well, for the first time in a lil over two years the car saw daylight. And a year + 2 months ago it was a stripped shell. Not bad for my pathetic budget.

Not far off at all mechanically. Given the funds and a bit of time a running screamer by summer's end is certainly feasible. Not sure how the police will react to a no hood car though.
http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss158/labrchr/002.jpg

http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss158/labrchr/003.jpg

Took this one to compare to the old pics with the shot shocks and the old springs. I know its definitely dropped.
http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss158/labrchr/004-1.jpg

[L695speed]

This one is still being worked on but it went from the front line to the reserve. Since I picked up Matt's GTA I've been going full out on that. Have the motor out of the car and the block is getting tanked and cleaned, with new cam bearings and freeze/oil plugs put in. Once I get it back it will be an all out run to get it back in the car and running. If the GTA project blows up in my face, I may keep the block to build the 84 up.

[//<86TA>\\]

This one is still being worked on but it went from the front line to the reserve. Since I picked up Matt's GTA I've been going full out on that. Have the motor out of the car and the block is getting tanked and cleaned, with new cam bearings and freeze/oil plugs put in. Once I get it back it will be an all out run to get it back in the car and running. If the GTA project blows up in my face, I may keep the block to build the 84 up.


so did you find out what was wrong with matts engine? Just curious

[L695speed]

so did you find out what was wrong with matts engine? Just curious

I thought I told you via PM already, must have never been sent. LOL. The mains and crank were destroyed. Grooved to hell, then the wreckage of that decided to make a trip to the cam, and did the same thing to the cam. I could wiggle the rod cap on number one significantly, and at least two others may have been on the way too. But there were no spun bearings, and no stacked bearings.

I took the block to the machinist, he said the bores were just about perfect, rods were too, the bearings were a lil beat but nothing beyond the normal wear and tear on the rod bearings. The crank was so bad he couldn't even turn it. The cam was a goner too. It needed a rebuild kit, a cam and a crank. I'm not gonna really get into the heads just yet. They were really clean. I know of the issues of rebuilding the bottom end only to have the top end go, but the top of a motor is easily done with the motor in the car. Only thing I may do to the heads may be the valve seals, but I'm not sure about that. There may have been oil and fuel blowby in the pistons due to the knock and the rings not doing their job right. That may be the cause of the smoking. I thought I could smell a hint of fuel in the oil. Which was another reason I had the machinist check the bores.

[88WS-6]

I thought I told you via PM already, must have never been sent. LOL. The mains and crank were destroyed. Grooved to hell, then the wreckage of that decided to make a trip to the cam, and did the same thing to the cam. I could wiggle the rod cap on number one significantly, and at least two others may have been on the way too. But there were no spun bearings, and no stacked bearings.

I took the block to the machinist, he said the bores were just about perfect, rods were too, the bearings were a lil beat but nothing beyond the normal wear and tear on the rod bearings. The crank was so bad he couldn't even turn it. The cam was a goner too. It needed a rebuild kit, a cam and a crank. I'm not gonna really get into the heads just yet. They were really clean. I know of the issues of rebuilding the bottom end only to have the top end go, but the top of a motor is easily done with the motor in the car. Only thing I may do to the heads may be the valve seals, but I'm not sure about that. There may have been oil and fuel blowby in the pistons due to the knock and the rings not doing their job right. That may be the cause of the smoking. I thought I could smell a hint of fuel in the oil. Which was another reason I had the machinist check the bores.


Nice! Actually when I first noticed the knock, the mechanic at STS (who dailys an LS1 Z/28 FWIW) said that he thought the crank had gotten a hairline crack at the back of it and that it was wobbling erratically in the motor, causing the knock. Guess he was right...

[greenformula92]

Nice! Actually when I first noticed the knock, the mechanic at STS (who dailys an LS1 Z/28 FWIW) said that he thought the crank had gotten a hairline crack at the back of it and that it was wobbling erratically in the motor, causing the knock. Guess he was right...

That is actually a problem in early 350 TPI cars. that and Head gaskets

[L695speed]

I got an eagle crank which I had checked. It was perfect. So there should be no problems there. As for the head gaskets, I'm surprised to hear that because of the iron heads to iron block. Most head gasket problems I've heard of and worked on involved aluminum heads. I'll see if I can find a crack in the old crank. Didn't see anything off the bat. But considering the mains were the issue I'd bet there was something else.

[greenformula92]

I got an eagle crank which I had checked. It was perfect. So there should be no problems there. As for the head gaskets, I'm surprised to hear that because of the iron heads to iron block. Most head gasket problems I've heard of and worked on involved aluminum heads. I'll see if I can find a crack in the old crank. Didn't see anything off the bat. But considering the mains were the issue I'd bet there was something else.

The flaw was in the gaskets themselves

[L695speed]

Ah ok, got it. Anyway update on the 88 GTA. Engine is coming back together, LT1 cam is in, lifters, lifter plate, crank, timing chain and gears, pistons/rods. I could put the heads on at this point in fact. I just want to do a bit more cleaning on the heads before I put them on. Still gotta do the front timing cover, rear main seal. But the bottom of the motor just needs an oil pump installed and we're done with that, along with an oil filter adapter and oil pan.

If all goes well, I could be putting it in and have it running this weekend...if I'm lucky. That puts me right in that one month deadline I made for myself. Not bad considering I couldn't do much for at least a week while the block and rods and etc were at the machine shop.

And Note to self...GET A BETTER PISTON RING COMPRESSOR! Parts store ones suck, they work but they make what should be an easy job a pain in the ass....

[88WS-6]

You should make a separate thread for the GTA

[L695speed]

You should make a separate thread for the GTA

I will....when I get around to it, just put in in here for now for those who already asked or commented in it. I'm guessing I'll find out sooner rather than later if this blows up in my face eh Matt? lol.

[88WS-6]

I'm just saying that it's such an awesome car that it deserves its own thread.


You better not blow it up. I did that once already.

[L695speed]

I'm just saying that it's such an awesome car that it deserves its own thread.


You better not blow it up. I did that once already.
You'll see a thread eventually, and when you do you'll have to excuse the tools and parts on the floor as the table filled up.

As for blowing it up, I'm really hoping I don't. But as they say "Build it, blow it up, rebuild it, repeat". LMAO! I've done everything by the book keeping it as clean as I can....tough in a garage that one's brother just throws **** around in... Lubed everything that needs to be lubed and everything. We'll see how it goes. I got a motor that should have been scrapped from the start to run with the 84 so I should be able to get a clean block with new parts in there to run without issues. If something goes wrong....well more practice for me....

[L695speed]

The car is pretty much on the back burner. I may do some little things like removing the cracked broken moulding around the T top glass. I also have a block and other misc parts to build the stroker. Right now the block is just sitting in the car to keep it out of the way. I'm hoping that a few things go my way on the job front. There is a lead I'm hoping works out in Florida, that if it goes through I'll be down there and bringing the car with me. The other deal I'm working on is me and a friend are thinking of opening a restoration shop near where he is out in Minnesota. He despises working at the toyota dealer he is working at now, and wants to get back into the older car game. We were discussing how we could get our name out if we did it, and this car and his 71 T bird are among the options to do as a finished example of our work that we could take to shows. Either way, once I get some decent money coming in this one will be done fairly quick. Only difference is, if we open that shop, this car will have a complete paint job as well. Whereas if I go to florida it may be some time still before its painted.