84 Trans Am conversion/mod
 

Another one of my projects that i have going on. This is the second of the three thirdgens I own. Im converting it to an 84 exterior cause i personally thats my favorite looking. Though many dont approve Im using this 87 GTA :facepalm: as my start point cause i received on a trade as a gutted shell.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-T...016_144836.jpg

This is the end result im going for. but with a nice powerplant and a manual transmission.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-a...ta_0029_LG.jpg

Previous owner put some sort of rubberized coating on the interior so i will leave it alone for the time being. the body for the most part is straight. and relatively rust free. Im gonna be using Tan gta interior plastics and 84 recaro seats.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-o...-30_16-49-34_1

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-S...o/IMG_6671.JPG

Nice job so far john. The recaro seats will be a pretty penny to get redone but worth it.

I could only complain about you using that car if it was all there and a 350 car. But since its gutted already its a perfect start for a new build. So I say build a way. Should be real nice when its done

Gonna go a different route with my spoiler and use this shorted wrap around made by wings west. A lot cheaper than a brand new full size one too.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/--...304_141036.jpg
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-X...304_141318.jpg

Finally got an 82-84 nose that is an excellent shape. Took me forever to find an OEM one.
Anyone know the best way to remove the factory decals?

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-U...-45-13_511.jpg

Font end is almost completely stripped for blasting.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-9...-45-29_859.jpg

I have never found a good way to remove stickers from urethane. Biggest thing I will say is avoid heat or anything that will put excessive heat into the material. Once it warps there is no getting it back.

You may wanna ask on Thirdgen.org. Since removing the factory graphics is a popular thing to do I'm sure someone has figured out a reasonable solution.

try 3m decal & woodgrain remover

http://www.amazon.com/3M-08908-Woodg.../dp/B000PENLSE

Engine for the GTA has been aquired. 6.0 with 65k miles. Heads rebuilt and fresh cam bearings with hone. Looking forward to putting this one together. Dont mind the green that will be the first thing to go.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/iF...Y=w528-h937-no

I think the fact that you have an engine block in your passenger seat is kind of awesome. Better put on its seat belt.

Seeing that I had a 6hr drive home from my job to my house in NJ there was no way i would even risk having the block go fling forward if i stopped short.

Safety First lol

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/do...0=w960-h770-no

Got my longtubes, Racing innovation 1 3/4 LS headers for thirdgens. These are a little bigger than the ones on my 92 as the others were from the first run of headers.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/xk...=w1024-h576-no

would anyone happen to know of a reputable machine shop that i can send my crank to?

Got windsor machine, bammann machining near ya

nice project. quick question. Did you get that car from another board member here who may have bought it from my younger brother about 6 years ago? My brother bought an 87 GTA when he was 15 and never got it on the street because he bought a 93 Trans Am in the meantime and used that as his project. THe 87 was boogered up and slapped together by a mechanic named Mark in Hillisde or Irvington Nj and was a real pile. It was originally a red car that the guy painted black (a poor job of it) and had a grey interior which was trashed and the digital gauge setup. He claims it had a 350 in it, but it definitely DID have a 700R4 auto. The wiring was a mess allover too so my brother sold it cheap, and I want to think my memory serves me right.. that it was to a member on here of some sort... maybe If not, my bad.. but I had always been curious about that cars fate

Hey John,

I have been using 3M pads to take the decals off of mine. Seems to work ok. Though I put that project on hold. Good to see you've made some progress since I saw you. I slapped the taillight into the GTA. It looks better than tape and plastic.

I do have a good question for you... WHERE ARE YOU FINDING THESE 6.0s? LOL. You need to hook me up with one. I am looking for my own car lol.

thats interesting cause this car was originally red. When i got it from my friend down the road it had a black interior. was pretty clean actually. the wiring isnt too bad as ive hooked up a power probe to get everything to work. so far things work but the radio is hacked. My friend got it from someone in PA who frequently gets these cars.

hey nice to hear from ya man. These motors are literally everywhere. there are a few locally in the junkyards as well. Im very active on some of the LS pages and TGO and these do pop up. I jumped when i saw a good deal. Let me know and ill try to help you out.

I'll let you know for sure. I'm definitely after one, just gotta take care of a few things first. Chances are I'll be hunting over the winter for one. But keep an eye out anyway, if you find one let me know, and if I have the funding to throw at getting it, we'll see what I do.

So two LS powered third gens... The blue one is an auto, is this one going to be the same?

This one will be manual. gotta change things up lol

When you get it done, I'll start the clock on how long it is, before you rip the auto out of the other car. lol.

Nah i wont rip it out. That car is a daily. Been dailying it for 4 years now. And currently I work in VA so its good for my commute. doing about 800 miles a week driving back and forth on weekends. Currently get 22 mpg with it so i have no complaints.

Ok, fair enough, I've been daily driving a manual for the past 6 years. So for me, it is second nature, and every time I get in an auto, I have to make a special effort, not to slam the clutch. Sometimes it happens with predicibly hilarious results; such as hitting the left side of the brake pedal and going through the windshield. What are you doing in VA that you're living down there for the week? Just wondering.

Currently working as an engineer on the MV Cape Ray. a ship stationed in norfolk. Its a Mon-fri job.

https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...54&oe=564155CC