Here is my work in progress 1988 T/A

[svespie]

I bought this car I love to hate quite some time ago. I've struggled with it, loved it, and have an extensive, interesting history with it. After it got hit head on by a Durango piloted by a drunk person, it became time to slowly restore my first project.

Here are some pictures from before the work began:

I had the collision damage repaired by a shop with the help of a donor car. After ward, I disassembled the ground effects and the like to prep the body for paint. Here is what it looked like before being painted.

Once it got painted, I needed to re-assemble it. I don't have any pictures of it fully assembled, but the car looked like this when I towed it home from the paint booth.

Yes, it has a long way to go. I haven't touched the interior and it isn't mechanically where it should be. Details on that to come. Also, this is my first time doing body work, and while it does look decent, it is by no means a "great" job. There are some great cars posted here on motown, so I have quite a bit of motivation to make this car nice again.

 

[Joe]

Looks like a nice car!

 

[svespie]

Mechanically, I have done some work to it. Here is a list of some of it:

Engine:
350 SBC bored 0.30 from 1971 Nova
327 Camel back heads
Mild roller cam
Edelbrock Performer dual plane, air gapped intake
Edelbrock Performer carburetor
The rest of it is pretty much standard. There were some issues with fuel delivery and the like but the internet helped with that.

Transmission:
TH350 with shift kit from the same 1971 Nova.
The converter is the factory converter that came with the Nova.

Driveshaft:
Driveshaft came from 1983 Firebird to fit the shorter TH350.

Rearend:
Factory rearend with 2.73 gear ratio, standard rear (non-limited slip). The suspension was upgraded with sway bar, new springs, tubular rear control arms. Bushings and hardware for all are replaced.

Exhaust:
Flowmast American Thunder 3" exhaust system.

The interior is stripped and it needs a new floorpan! I attempted it but hacked it up. I hope to have some pictures soon (as well as how it looks from outside with the ground effects re-assembled).

Once the floor pan (anyone know how to do this or know where it can be done on the cheap?) is finished, I can convert the interior to black. I have most of the pieces to convert the interior to all black.

I need to change the rearend to something stronger and the list could go on and on. At any rate, she's still a work in progres. Thanks for looking.

 

[svespie]

Looks like a nice car!

Thanks, Joe!

 

[Chris Hansen]

Nice car man! Looks like its coming along nicely!

 

[svespie]

Nice car man! Looks like its coming along nicely!

Thanks, Chris!

 

[svespie]

Here is a picture update. Here are some pics I just took of the floor pan I hacked up. There are six, fairly large pictures so please be patient. I'll comment after each one.

You can see that I attempted to cut out enough metal to just put the whole replacement pan into the car. It's been sitting for a little while so it's rusting. Notice that it doesn't fit well.

It is welded in spots. I went about this in all the wrong way, even though I had what I thought was a good plan of attack. My assessment before making my plan was flawed, so my plan was flawed. I also didn't have all the necessary tools and experience to deal with any hiccups. Oops.

I've decided that I am going to custom fab my own seat brackets, so I don't need a factory style pan. I just need a functional, solid floor. I am hoping to find a shop that can help me with that on the cheap.

Here is a look from the passenger side. As you can see, I jacked up the transmission tunnel and the panels don't fit quite right. I considered just tacking it down well and fiber glassing the repair so it doesn't look all messed up under the carpet. I suppose that is still an option.

I miss driving my car!

The passenger side is rotting, but it is much more solid than the driver's side was. I do still have the untouched replacement pan for the passenger side if it will help the shop that might want to take on the project. The black bar at the bottom of the picture is a sub-frame connector that I would like welded in to the sub-frames and the floor pan.

The trunk needs some real help too, however I would rather get the car drivable first. I can tow it to and from the shop, if necessary.

 

[RED89GTAWSU]

If you need anything I've got a decent amount of parts left from an 89 GTA that I tore apart to part out. I've got a list already made up and was getting ready to post it a few different places. The wife wants me to get these parts movin. If I can help ya with some parts give me a list of needed parts and I'll let ya know what I still have.

 

[cdz28]

Looks good I'd say restore it..

 

[RED89GTAWSU]

some highlighted parts that I have are a set of very nice GTA style gold rims with tires, PERFECT rear seats tan in color, brand new WS6 center caps for the GTA rims, tons of nice interior pieces.....tan in color

 

[xtremewheelz]

RACECAR all the way!

 

[91Notch]

nice

don't see many of those cars around anymore

 

[white out]

Good luck with everything. That color is great for the car.
I can't wait to see it finished.

Nick

 

[82iroc]

nice job on the paint and body work the color is similar to my car put some prostars and m/ts on it and make it a racecar for sure