Trans am GTA - $4500 (Darien wi)

[DynoDave]

Trans am GTA - $4500 (Darien wi)

I'm no expert, but this looks like a DEAL to me.



https://rockford.craigslist.org/cto/...521269455.html

[MikeM]

Sorry guys, this one’s sold. I pick it up Friday.

[DynoDave]

Wow! Congratulations! Looked like a sweet deal to me.

[MikeM]

Not bad. Car itself is very nice. Hood has some damage from a broken zipper on one of those storage “tents” people use when they don’t have room in the garage, and the rear wing is pretty rough. The rest of the body and interior is excellent though. Unfortunately, way back several years ago, the previous owner blew up the original motor so it has a replacement 5.7 out of an 88GTA. It ran great for the 14years the person I bought it from had it but it’s running rough now. Chasing that down and then after I get it running well again, need a new wing and off to the body shop and then it should be ready to go.

[DynoDave]

The wing is certainly a common failure. Too bad about the hood. Always disappointing when you are trying to do the right thing to protect the car, and end up with damage. Sounds like you got a great deal.

[JonBlake]

Originally Posted by MikeM

Not bad. Car itself is very nice. Hood has some damage from a broken zipper on one of those storage “tents” people use when they don’t have room in the garage, and the rear wing is pretty rough. The rest of the body and interior is excellent though. Unfortunately, way back several years ago, the previous owner blew up the original motor so it has a replacement 5.7 out of an 88GTA. It ran great for the 14years the person I bought it from had it but it’s running rough now. Chasing that down and then after I get it running well again, need a new wing and off to the body shop and then it should be ready to go.

Running rough could be caused by many different things. Maybe all it needs is a good thorough tune-up (plugs, wires, cap, rotor), fuel filter replacement, vacuum leak fix, etc. Once you get her you can do the appropriate inspection in determining what's the deal.

How did you know it doesn't have the original engine? Did the previous owner tell you or was there some other way that you found out?

The thought just dawned on me since we're talking about tune-up. Timing gun, do they even make those anymore?

[MikeM]

Owner was very honest. He told me right away that the motor was replaced roughy 17 years ago, before he got it. Pretty good guy.

The car was running fine last summer but when he fired it up to get it out to sell it, it started running rough, won’t idle and backfires through the intake. He had already replaced the wires and plugs. I checked the fuel psi and I am getting 40psi with the key on and when running. Don’t think its a fuel issue. I replaced the MAF already, no change. The battery was weak so i had to charge it yesterday. With the battery charged and the charger still on it, the car ran better - not perfect, but better. When I pulled the charger off the car slowly started running worse as the battery went down again. Gauge shows a healthy 12.5 or so volts so thinking a bad battery or voltage regulator. Didn’t think a bad voltage regulator or battery would make it run bad but??? Going to put a battery and alternator in it and see what happens.

[JonBlake]

Originally Posted by MikeM

Owner was very honest. He told me right away that the motor was replaced roughy 17 years ago, before he got it. Pretty good guy.

The car was running fine last summer but when he fired it up to get it out to sell it, it started running rough, won’t idle and backfires through the intake. He had already replaced the wires and plugs. I checked the fuel psi and I am getting 40psi with the key on and when running. Don’t think its a fuel issue. I replaced the MAF already, no change. The battery was weak so i had to charge it yesterday. With the battery charged and the charger still on it, the car ran better - not perfect, but better. When I pulled the charger off the car slowly started running worse as the battery went down again. Gauge shows a healthy 12.5 or so volts so thinking a bad battery or voltage regulator. Didn’t think a bad voltage regulator or battery would make it run bad but??? Going to put a battery and alternator in it and see what happens.

Backfiring sounds like bad timing, or wires not in correct firing order. Good luck with it. Doesn't sound like it's that big of a problem, just something isn't exactly correct on it.

In regards to the engine replacement, probably not a big deal in regards to value. Seems these cars really don't have a numbers matching value to them.

[JAlvarado]

Mine sounded like it backfired at intake (pre-fired). Would not idle at less than 1000 rpms. Had code 44. No vacuum leaks from any line. Dumb thing I did was to leave the passenger side runner bolts finger tight when I replaced gaskets on 88 5.7. Once i torqued them, no code 44, no backfiring and was able to set idle to 450 in diag and 600 in drive.

[MikeM]

Guys - I half-heartedly put the car up for sale yesterday. I was really looking for a black one when this one popped up. I bought this one but of course, now a black one pops up that I'd prefer. So, I put this one up for sale. I bought it for $4500 and have put roughly $1600 into it so far. It's running and driving well now. Still needs the hood and wing taken care of. It will only be for sale until the black one sells. If that one sells, I keep this one. Sounds convoluted but that's the only reason I'd sell this one. I'm needing $6,500 out of this one to make the deal happen on the other one. If not, I just keep this one - which is OK too.