Have I Lost My Mind...

[AfroCreame]

Here's a little history. I was 15 1/2 and my parents and I were looking for cars...this was back in 89. After going over car lot after car lot I finally found the car of my dreams. It was a 1987 White/Tan Trans AM GTA. What fun I had in those days. Well, I moved away to Dallas and stayed there for about 6 years. After those years I got married and moved back to my "hometown". I of course have more money than when I did when I was 16 and one of my goals in life was to find my first car, and restore it! I heard rumors here and there where my car was spotted but I never could find it. I also heard that people have let it sit out for years, with the windows rolled down, and scrapped it for parts here and there. Just a few days ago I was driving by a local mechanic store and I caught a glimpse of a GTA in the corner in my eye. It caught my attention because it was white as was my car. I pulled up behind it...I was in shock...the bumper stickers I put on the back were still there...almost 11 years later! I was horrified at the condition. No transmission, no engine, no dash, well..pretty much nothing besides the body. It looked like hell. I asked the guy how much he wanted NOW and he said "$50.00" and I'll tow it wherever you want in town. I looked at the car, and decided...DAMN RIGHT...here's your cash. Well as of last night, my first...albiet trashed GTA is now in my possesion once again. Here's my dillema. What/how/should I start to restore it? There's so much stuff taken off of it that it would cost a fortune to get it rebuilt piece by piece, trim item by trim item, etc. Has anyone else been in this situation? Is it better to just find another GTA in decent condition to have a source of parts? It's more sentimental than anything. I don't want some other GTA, I want my old car back to it's glory days. I've found a 89 GTA for $3500 is damn good shape...I figured this would be a good source to give some life back to my old car.

[AfroCreame]

Here's another pic

[AfroCreame]

Last one...crying yet?

[DarionIV]

Find yourself a donor car, or scour the junkyards. You should be able to find most parts out of junk yards. Just be careful about what you pick out. As for the body work, a good shop can repair and straighten out much. Some panels may need replacement but many should be fixable.

I know a lot of people might tell you to just scrap the idea but, if the car really has sentimental value, ignore them.

It looks like it will take a lot of time and work, but, when you finish, this car will TRULY be YOURS.


Good luck and have fun with your baby.

[underdave]

there's tons of parts on ebay that could help (people are always parting out their cars on there). just type "trans am gta" in the search box and you'll get about 70 things to check out. good luck.

just be sure to take better care of it than the last guy did.

[Red88GTA]

I have got to jump in here and say my 2 cents.. I can tell you are a little sentimental about the car.. And I can see why.. But I hope you think through this before you begin. You are fixin to spend a ton of money as you know. I too am in the process of restoring a GTA.. One that has a pretty nice interior and for the most part, was untouched. The motor was locked up in it and the body has hail damage. It's going to cost me around 8 grand just to do what I am doing. If you look at yours, it's going to be much more than that. People tell you to look on EBAY and all to find parts. Think about this.. Those aren't new parts, they are slightly wore parts. When you get done, it isn't going to be a perfect car by no means. It will have lots of miscellaneous used parts. This is kinda where I am on my car.. I will have about 8 grand into it and it's still going to be a 125000 mile semi wore out car.. I saw on EBAY a while back someone selling a GTA with 25000 miles on it. I don't know how much would have bought that car, but it was really nice and perfect.. I could have give him 10 grand and that car would be many times nicer than the 8 grand it takes to just get my car looking descent. Do you get my point?

Anyhow, I was excited at first on restoring this car.. Once I got to doing everything, the bills added up FAST and now I can see where my car isn't going to be worth what I got in it (not that I really care, I was wanting to keep it), but I realize it was barely worth restoring.. And it was in much nicer shape than that one. Email me and I can send you a couple pics of where I started. Hope I haven't made any people mad or whatever, but I just want you to be careful. I am seeing about 6000 to get that car back together, and another 3-4 grand to get the body fixed and painted. Not to mention you didn't see how it went together in the beginning to know how everything fit and etc. Ok, I will shut up.. Just wanted to express my opinion after doing mine.

[gtayumiko]

I currently rebuilding JUST my GTA drivetrain. And JUST this costing $3500 so far and I only half way done - granted they say - I only putting new parts from GM on car. I took long look at your pictures. I noticing many things but first and last thing I must tell you....it's will cost you so much. But you want this car and that is good enough and exceptable reasoning for me. So may I make a suggestion? You will benefit so much by purchasing entire car of same year from junk yard...a totalled one or better, purchase used one from someone who is selling one. If you getting wreck from junkyard, just get one with one side with total damage so you have plenty of other good parts on that car. It will be cheap to do it that way. Everyone on e-bay and what not is out for a buck. So you will be paying for the items and extra for human greed. I see entire car going for sale for less then $2000.00. So shop around and you may probably find what you need in one place. If you getting all parts from net, you will be looking for a year plus paying shipping and waiting for parts to come too And you also may deal with someone who is not honest and they may send you something else you do not need or not send you anything back for the money you sending to them.. Hope this helps. But nothing is wrong with wanting to restore car that is special to you. Just think about how you are going to do it. That is my opinion and reasoning for my response.

In 1993,I started to purchase parts for my GTA in planning that some day I would build car from the ground. I purchased so many stuff. Each door costing me $500.00 each - just for new weather strippings, new locks, new side moldings, new upper sill panels, outer window trim (where glass touch door on outside of car), and that piece of plastic that running on bottom of door jam that says "body by fisher". I purchased all new plastic lenses (front and back running lights). I purchased about $4000.00 worth of pieces that sitting in my closets until I get my car repainted in 1998. I also purchase new windshield too. And the paint job costing me a few thousand because my car was in about 44 pieces when I bring it to painter. Now my current project is drivetrain, I spending already $3500.00 and I not done yet. I think by the time I finished I will paid $6000.00 because I need to purchase more parts and my transmissions will costing me $1300.00 to rebuild. So all with paint job restoration and drive train rebuilding, combined will have costing me about $12,000. So it's pretty expensive as you can see. Since 1998, my car no longer daily driver and is kept in storage like some other guys on this webb doing. Sometimes I think maybe I should have invested my money in something that make me money but then again, my luck, I would have invested in Enron and then I would be finding myself posing in Playboy to make money like the female ex-executives of Enron will be doing - It's in the news. Yumiko

[AfroCreame]

Thanks for all the great feedback! Yea, more than likely I'll just buy another GTA for parts. It seems to be a much better choice than finding some parts here and there on ebay and other avenues. At least with a full car I have something to go by, and parts instantly available. I'am looking to spend about $12-$15k on the car. This will hopefully include buying another car, labor, painting, and engine/tranny. I'am not in any big rush as I want to take my time, and it helps to spread it out over time with saving up cash. I was surfing autotrrader.com and ran across I very nice car. It's a 1989 pace car...ya know the one with the v6 turbo? It's for sale for a whopping $23k...but the real kicker...2335 ORIGINAL MILES! Gesh...talk about a great body to rip parts off of...J/K. Here's the URL:

http://www.autotrader.com/findacar/vdetail.jtmpl?car_id=61355598&dealer_id=74851&drive=&certified=n&max_price=&start_year=1987&end_year=1990&address=78666&body_style=&search_type=used&make=PONT&engine=&model=TRANSAM&min_price=&distance=any&fuel=&advcd_on=y&advanced=y&transmission=&doors=&max_mileage=&color=WHITE&car_year=1989&ac_afflt=none


Toys toys toys

[mGiTkAe]

yumiko.... lol

[mGiTkAe]

oh by the way afrocreame welcome to the board..
looks like you have your work cut out for you but it should be fun...
good luck
this is a great board for info btw....
again good luck

[Brett89GTA]

I've never understood why people part out basically straight, repairable cars. A big thumbs up for you to go to bat for this car. As long as you know what you're getting into...lots of time will be spent looking for parts, reconditioning them, etc. As long as you're not in a hurry it should be a great project. People get into trouble when they have unrealistic expectations of how much time it will take. Be patient and do the job right, and the project will be very rewarding. Unfortunately, what I have found with these cars is that they are at a somewhat awkward age in terms of parts support. They are too old for GM to stock many of the parts (although I continue to be surprised by what's still available), but not old enough for the restoration industry to have begun producing parts in volume. I went through the same thing with my '79 T/A several years ago, but the situation is much better now. Remember that some of the parts are not necessarily GTA-specific, and that you may be able to get them from any Firebird or even Camaro.

[Brett89GTA]

One more thing...may I suggest making a list of the parts you will be needing and checking with GM now about buying them? If you wait a year or two and try to buy them when you need them you may find that they are no longer available. In some cases used parts may work fine; but for the others I would check with GM ASAP.

[AfroCreame]

Thanks again. I have just made a deal for a 1989 GTA. I'am supposed to pick that one up next weekend. Yea, I'll definately take my time. I know that the car won't be showroom condition unless I spend a huge sum of money. I'am not looking for showroom, just good condition. I don't plan on ever selling it so whether I would of made or loose money isn't a big deal to me. I have a quick question on interior items. Some of the parts that are "in one piece" on that car has the paint rubbed off of it. The plastic pieces are in good shape, but the gray has worn off. What do you recommend....repainting it? I know of a place online that sells touch up paint for the exterior...but also interior paint. Has anybody is repainted some pieces?

[DarionIV]

Once again I applaud you for restoring a car that means something to you. I am glad you found a good donor car, that makes it sooooooooo much easier.

One thing for everyone to remember, for a lot of us, it isn't about what the car is worth. Heck, I am currently doing the work up to restore a 1982 Indy Pace Car. I know that I'm going to wind up putting more into the car than it will be worth. That's not the point. The idea is that I am restoring a car, putting a piece of myself into it . I know it may sound corny, but if we all just wanted transportation, why do we drive Camaros, Firebirds, Corvettes, Chevelles, Novas, GTOs, etc? I know my brother has put wayyyyyyyy more into his 73 Camaro than it is currently worth, dollar wise, but, like me, the smile that speads across his face when he drives that car, is priceless.

Anyway, happy driving and restoring.

[Brett89GTA]

The key to re-dyeing interior parts is surface preparation. All Armor-All, dirt, etc. must be removed. There are vinyl cleaners available for use before dyeing. Wash the part with soap and warm water (a soap that won't leave a film) and then use the vinyl cleaners per the directions. If the parts are sun damaged forget about repairing them; find something in better shape.

[nblanchard]

Hey AfroCreame... I applaude your venture to restore your old car.. thats awesome!!! Guarantee you can get it in a magazine with a story like yours.

I thought the car had tan interior? The one in the picture has grey...

Anyway... check out e-bay like the others said, lots of stuff there. Another place to look is "Year One" company... they make some repro stuff for our cars. I will try and look for a website

[nblanchard]

Hey AfroCreame... here is the URL.. the stuff is expensive.. but for crucial parts, I would recommend using new parts.. like the console, they always separate, so finding a used one that is in mint condition is rare... mine is even starting to separate, and its garage kept and covered.

here is the URL http://www.yearone.com/welcomepagecomponents/welcome.html

Another thing... I have learned a valuable lesson from you AfroCreame, I am just gonna keep my GTA, instead of what you're doing.. hehe... :D

[AfroCreame]

Thanks for the info? Yea...I did a typo earlier...the interior is gray..both my 87 and the "spare" gta I'll pick up next week. I agree with the posts above..it's not about the money, but the feeling you get from driving a vehicle. Heck, I have my 02 supercrew, and a 02 jaguar...neither will excite me like my GTA. I guess once you have fond memories of a car, the hardwork that you do to it makes it even more sentimental. I've had plenty of cars since my GTA, but I could care less where they are, or where they've been. There's just something about having a GTA for your first car..even if it wasn't new. To a fresh faced 16 year old a first car...especially one that caught attention like a GTA was like being in heaven on wheels. One day when I have a son 14-16 years old, I would like to open a garage and say son...this is your dads first car! Not a replacement, or one like it...THIS IS IT! I doubt I would let him have it at such a young age, but it would be something special. I dunno. I've been a car freak, always have been. Thanks for the prepping tips on the interior pieces. I've stopped using armor all or anything similar for a long time. I just don't like the greasy, dirt catching properties of those things. I just use a wet rag or clean chamois. The first thing I do when I get a new car is to get the windows tinted. Not really for the looks, but it does do wonders protecting the interior. UV wreaks havoc on plastic, cloth, leather, etc.

[nblanchard]

I am starting to use 3M Vinyl cleaner and restore, nice product. I will be keeping my GTA for a long time... Probably get it restored for middle age crisis (long way to go :D ).

Keep us posted man... I would like to see the progress on the car

[gta8857]

hi there,

i am happy you found your lost car!!! i am in the process to find the one i had back in 1988. iwant the car back. no matter what shape its in. i bought it new and love it. dont know why i ever sold it!! i have 88 gta now but its not the same! if anyone reads this who has or knows of my old car let me know. its a 88 black with black leather gta with digital dash. it was sold in the midwest in ankeny iowa. the car had a factory paint flaw on the hood. let me know.

i know how you feel its hard to explaine the feeling to get back your first car.

thanks again.
send me pics after your dream is completed!!!

kevin

[REMOVED USER]

If you half the passion and love I have for my GTA I would do it. when I was 16 I had a Plymouth Conquest TSI and I would love to get that back also. The only thing I would say is try not to pirate a running GTA, there are plenty in junkyards that you could get a hold of. It would just be a shame to take a running all original GTA and strip it.