Project 87
I thought for entertainment purposes that I would share the buildup of the latest project car. I had never owned a 3rd. generation f-body before and I happened to be in the right place at the right time, the right mood, had a few extra bucks tucked aside and I found what I thought to be a diamond in the rough. I struck a deal for an amount that I am too embarassed to post. The car initally did look pretty rough.
It is an 87 TransAm, L98 tuned port 350, WS6. It is an unmolested (relatively) car. The powertrain, emission controls, accessories are all there. There are no butchered wires except the radio harness, it's all intact. High mileage (201K), but it runs strong with no shakes, noises or smoke. Actually pulls pretty good for a stocker.
That's the good part.
The bad parts: The rear hatch is a POS. Evidently the rear hatch broke and this one was swapped in place. The hinges are bent, there is rust, it won't line up and the wing is pretty trashed. The wing is a common problem by the way. The A/C looks new but the previous owner removed the belt from the A/C and the air pump. Now on to the paint.
Typical neglected black paint with chips a few dings and scratches. Some will buff out, some stuff won't. Ultimately I think I can save the sides and roof, but the hood and front bumper will likely need a repaint. That is the last thing anyway, the mechanicals need addressing first. The exhaust is kinda funny, I'll elaborate more at a later time. The interior is complete only a couple different colors. , the console is ragged and the list goes on and on.
So... I'll post updates on broken stuff and the repairs. Some of the stuff I haven't told you about is kinda funny, but in the end you will see why I ultimately thought I could save this car from certain death for next to nothing. The butchering process had already begun by the previous owner. A Kid who really didn't know what he was doing and his father who wisely made him sell it before it went too far. He had been trying to sell it for way more than what I paid, we struck a deal under the stipulation that I had to give him a a few days to find another vehicle. He was still driving it. When I talked with his father, he tipped me off that his son kept stalling by pricing the car higher in the hopes that it wouldn't sell. He did say that he had told him that the first offer he got, he better take it or else he wasn't going to help him out on the new purchase. Ah..... dear old dad.
That's how I happen to be in the right place at the right time.
You won't believe some of the stupid stuff I've come across.
It is an 87 TransAm, L98 tuned port 350, WS6. It is an unmolested (relatively) car. The powertrain, emission controls, accessories are all there. There are no butchered wires except the radio harness, it's all intact. High mileage (201K), but it runs strong with no shakes, noises or smoke. Actually pulls pretty good for a stocker.
That's the good part. The bad parts: The rear hatch is a POS. Evidently the rear hatch broke and this one was swapped in place. The hinges are bent, there is rust, it won't line up and the wing is pretty trashed. The wing is a common problem by the way. The A/C looks new but the previous owner removed the belt from the A/C and the air pump. Now on to the paint.
Typical neglected black paint with chips a few dings and scratches. Some will buff out, some stuff won't. Ultimately I think I can save the sides and roof, but the hood and front bumper will likely need a repaint. That is the last thing anyway, the mechanicals need addressing first. The exhaust is kinda funny, I'll elaborate more at a later time. The interior is complete only a couple different colors. , the console is ragged and the list goes on and on. So... I'll post updates on broken stuff and the repairs. Some of the stuff I haven't told you about is kinda funny, but in the end you will see why I ultimately thought I could save this car from certain death for next to nothing. The butchering process had already begun by the previous owner. A Kid who really didn't know what he was doing and his father who wisely made him sell it before it went too far. He had been trying to sell it for way more than what I paid, we struck a deal under the stipulation that I had to give him a a few days to find another vehicle. He was still driving it. When I talked with his father, he tipped me off that his son kept stalling by pricing the car higher in the hopes that it wouldn't sell. He did say that he had told him that the first offer he got, he better take it or else he wasn't going to help him out on the new purchase. Ah..... dear old dad.
That's how I happen to be in the right place at the right time.
You won't believe some of the stupid stuff I've come across.
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