may have found a new F-body....
 

1986 Trans Am - 83K miles
Rebuilt 350
Richmond 5-spd
Flowmaster exhaust
Accel ignition system
Cowl hood
Blackouts
and some other minor stuff...

and a stupid paintjob.....purple/black. the front half is purple, and back half is black. It's nicely done, no body damage or missing paint. I just don't like the color scheme.


The car is in really good condition. not a scratch on it....no visible damage if it ever was in an accident.

now here's the killer....he wants $3,895 for it. I don't think it's worth that much. What do you guys think?

is the 350 built and what year is the t-5 set up from?

i ask about the tranny because i believe '86 woudl predate when they started putting the strong tremec units in f-bodies(from memory, someone correct me if i am wrong)

see if the guy has receipts for the engine rebuild. preferably some specs on it too. would hate to see you buy a car and have it be a time bomb.

what rear and suspension is in it? be nice if he did something there too, but i doubt it. most people build a motor and skip making it handle/hook.

if the motor is in good shape and it has good clutch feel it sounds like it could be a nice fast car. i think 3900 is a little steep. i would think something around 3250 would be closer to market price.

later
tim

why are you wasting money on a third gen when all you want to do is make a wicked ls1?

I'm not sure what year the trans is from...i'm pretty sure it's an aftermarket piece though. as for the rear and suspension, i have no clue. I just saw the car in a parking lot with a "for sale" sign on it. I'll call the guy tomorrow and find out the rest of the details.

I was just looking on Kelly Blue Book, and a '92 T/A with a 5.7L and a 5-spd (which never existed from the factory), as well as a few common options i tacked on, in good condition, came out to $3,910. This guy is definitely asking a little too much. he's probably just seeing what kinda offers he's gonna get. I might be able to get down to 3 grand if I haggle enough.

because some people like to start with project cars that weigh less than 3700lbs :)

later
tim

the project camaro won't be an LS1.... :wink:

i meant 4th gen...w/e you know what im talkin about

heheh yeah i got your drift.

If you were looking into a BBC 572, might I suggest a rolling chassis in excellent shape, and work with that. The price is ok, I paid $1,600 cash for my '86 with 140K miles, bone stock. :Dispenses Two Cents: :P

if i can find a rolling 4th gen chassis.....

If you woulda caught me two months ago, a Junkyard by my house brought in a green 95 or 96 FB 6banger with a blown trans and minor rear end damage. Was 50% stripped within a day, and it was gone within two days :( It was abused, but coulda been cheap.

If you want, I'll keep my eyes peeled for a good rolling chassis. :-D

well, the project won't be taking place for a year or so, so there's plenty of time.

Re: may have found a new F-body....
 

87 is when the world class T5 started, so NJSPEEDER is correct about that. But if it has an aftermarket trans, that's a non issue.

I'd definitely get the vin and run a carfax before you'd even consider buying something like that first off. The fact that it doesn't have a scratch on it and doesn't look like it's been hit mean absolutely nothing when you're talking about a car that's been repainted. You'll definitely want to make sure the mileage is legit as well.

But in terms of the price in general, i'd want receipts and specific specs on the engine before I'd even consider that price. I'd definitely want to get the car up on jackstands and check things out from the bottom as well. The fact is, the car is modified to a point where it really doesn't hold any value more than the sum of it's parts in my book. If you don't know what you're looking at either, you might want to take a friend along who knows their ****. If the guy is full of ****, and it's the original engine with a couple things done to it, and the stock T5 trans, it wouldn't be the first time something tried to pass **** off as aftermarket. I've seen countless examples of people passing off 305's as 350's.

Other things i'd look for would be evidence of hidden rust or accident damage, if it was an auto car originally, and whether or not it was a hack install, how professional the engine install was, any leaks, what rear is in it and what gearset (you'd probably be smart to compile and print out a giant list of rpo codes in case the rpo sticker is in the car), etc. Obviously how well the car runs and drives is key too.

As for the suspension, i'd expect that it would most likely be a 15" wheel car, so it's not going to have the best stuff, unless the guy changed them.

the 86's never came with 350's, it seems. so if it is indeed a 350, it is not the original engine.

no ****...its also a 5 speed, no 3rd gens had a 5 speed with a 350. both were most likely swapped, or its a carbed 305 or something.

that is correct, no 350's in 86, and also no 350/5 speed ever. Except for rumors of a handful of promo/prototype cars, but the odds of this being one of them are probably up there with winning the lottery.

my point was - just because the guy says it's a 350 doesn't mean it actually is. make sure you don't get had, especially because the only thing that would make that car worth well over 3 grand is the upgraded drivetrain.

exactly.

I'd go look at it, get some casting numbers off the block and when you get home run them. I'd also test drive the car to make sure it isn't some clapped out turd. Then, if it's a decent car, talk the guy down to less than 3g's. Flash $2800 cash at him and he'll probably take it.

you can buy my camaro if you want, show quality and fast as **** hehe

Why not look at dodge ne-ons?

ill give ya 20 bucks for it...along with my soul and my car

lol

hmmm....how's $5 sound? that's all i have in my pocket right now.

if you ever sell that car i will stab you in the eye. then i will :ban: you from the entire interweb. hehe

later
tim

nah i wouldnt sell it, if i EVER did it'd have to get pieced out id never get my money for it no where near what i put into it.