Hitman's Pontiac Trans Am Forum

General => Hobbies and Interests => Topic started by: Nexus on October 29, 2011, 09:44:15 PM

Title: My 88 T/A
Post by: Nexus on October 29, 2011, 09:44:15 PM
So this is what I now have instaed of the Fiero!!

It is deffinatley a project but a little time putting the interior back togehter, fixing the hack job on the wiring system, and putting new head gaskets in it I think will go a long ways to being road worthy again.

The body is really solid but the paint isn't nearly as nice as the guy led me to believe but it is just a daily driver for now so I'll adress that after I get it road worthy.

The rims look to be off a 2nd gen Camaro, and I would like to get the lace wheels for it again.
other things will be to rebuild the air conditioning system, maybe next winter.

I'm also thinking of using my SBC shaker that I have laying around and putting that on the car but we'll see about that!!

Here are some pics:

(http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt192/Nexus_wfo/88%20Trans%20Am%20Project/P1070419.jpg)

(http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt192/Nexus_wfo/88%20Trans%20Am%20Project/P1070420.jpg)

(http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt192/Nexus_wfo/88%20Trans%20Am%20Project/P1070421.jpg)

(http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt192/Nexus_wfo/88%20Trans%20Am%20Project/P1070422.jpg)

(http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt192/Nexus_wfo/88%20Trans%20Am%20Project/P1070424.jpg)

(http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt192/Nexus_wfo/88%20Trans%20Am%20Project/P1070426.jpg)


I forgot to take pictures after I unloaded the car and got it put into the garage but next time I go there, I will take some of the interior.

the interior needs lots of help but I will get it assebled again and see what's missing...nothing special there



Title: Re: My 88 T/A
Post by: 4SPEED on October 29, 2011, 11:27:42 PM
thats a sharp looking bird bro..  congrats.
Title: Re: My 88 T/A
Post by: 80indy on October 30, 2011, 02:01:03 AM
Congrats, Looks like a nice solid car. Keep posting pics as things move along. I agree...lose the Camaro rims a.s.a.p.!
Title: Re: My 88 T/A
Post by: 89flyboy on October 30, 2011, 10:20:59 AM
Nice GTA I love the hoods on them. Hey Charlie I found a steal of a deal on a parts car, as mine needs a ton of work to. If you need parts LMK,
Josh
Title: Re: My 88 T/A
Post by: Nexus on October 30, 2011, 10:59:13 AM
Nice GTA I love the hoods on them. Hey Charlie I found a steal of a deal on a parts car, as mine needs a ton of work to. If you need parts LMK,
Josh

Right on...thanks dude!!
Title: Re: My 88 T/A
Post by: crazyd_wv on October 30, 2011, 11:14:14 AM
Looks good.  I'm starting to take a likeing to rd gens lately, been seeing some nice ones.
Title: Re: My 88 T/A
Post by: Nexus on October 30, 2011, 03:18:06 PM
It should make a nice driver until my 2nd gen is back together!!

We shall see I guess!!

Thanks for all the compliments everyone!!
Title: Re: My 88 T/A
Post by: 89flyboy on October 30, 2011, 06:52:57 PM
Hey Charlie I lost my parts car the guy texted me and said he sold it today but still if you need parts lmk if I don't have them I can most likely find them.
Title: Re: My 88 T/A
Post by: Nexus on October 30, 2011, 09:43:27 PM
Cool!!!

Thanx
Title: Re: My 88 T/A
Post by: banditalex on November 03, 2011, 11:42:05 AM
looks nice!
Title: Re: My 88 T/A
Post by: Nexus on November 03, 2011, 01:38:40 PM
looks nice!

thanks...haven't had time to go play with it and get more pics!!

Title: Re: My 88 T/A
Post by: z.goddard on November 11, 2011, 07:09:43 PM
OOOH thats hopefully gonna be my next car.. A third gen of some sort anyways.
Title: Re: My 88 T/A
Post by: Nexus on November 11, 2011, 08:24:48 PM
I look forward to driving it around next season...

I still haven't had the oportunity to divulge in the "new toy" playing yet.

Dropped it off and ran...getting anxious to start on it...still need to take more pictures of it too
Title: Re: My 88 T/A
Post by: 78&89TA on November 12, 2011, 12:35:45 AM
Looks cool , I have had a 3rd gen for over 20 years now , currently have a 89 GTA that I bought in '94 and love it , just sent a aero wing fiberglass spoiler to the paint shop , took the original rubber one off, much much lighter than original.  Good luck with yours !!
Title: Re: My 88 T/A
Post by: LilSki on November 12, 2011, 12:50:23 AM
Haha yeah I got the wrong pistons for my hatch and got the ones for a GTA and I only have the straight spoiler. My rear hatch flies up so fast you would think it would fly off the car. That GTA spoiler must be heavy!


Title: Re: My 88 T/A
Post by: 78&89TA on November 12, 2011, 01:26:55 AM
Haha yeah I got the wrong pistons for my hatch and got the ones for a GTA and I only have the straight spoiler. My rear hatch flies up so fast you would think it would fly off the car. That GTA spoiler must be heavy!

That's funny :) and yeah the wrap around aero spoilers are super heavy , I still have the original rear hatch shocks on and they were in need of replacing but with the fiberglass spoiler they will last much longer.


Title: Re: My 88 T/A
Post by: Nexus on November 13, 2011, 01:58:54 AM
Looks cool , I have had a 3rd gen for over 20 years now , currently have a 89 GTA that I bought in '94 and love it , just sent a aero wing fiberglass spoiler to the paint shop , took the original rubber one off, much much lighter than original.  Good luck with yours !!

Thanks!!!

I'm torn between the aero wing or the standard spoiler...I like both...depends what I do with the car I guess

I'm also looking at picking up a 400 SBC for it...buddy of mine has just the block and wants $100.00 for it

seems worth getting at that price!!

I'm in no hurry to build it so I can gather parts over time and put something together later on... just need to pickle the block until then!!
Title: Re: My 88 T/A
Post by: Nexus on November 20, 2011, 03:42:03 AM
400 block out after some good advice!!!

here is what I was up to on Saturday!!

went and did some work on the car today with my boy. It is at my grandparaents place.

(http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt192/Nexus_wfo/88%20Trans%20Am%20Project/P1070468.jpg)

I had Rohen pull the wheels off, and while he did that, I was able to pull the drums off, with little effort, and give them an inspection. You can see the black paint still on the metal parts of the shoes

(http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt192/Nexus_wfo/88%20Trans%20Am%20Project/P1070469.jpg)

Shot of the under carriage up and to the rear

(http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt192/Nexus_wfo/88%20Trans%20Am%20Project/P1070471.jpg)

Front passanger

(http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt192/Nexus_wfo/88%20Trans%20Am%20Project/P1070479.jpg)

(http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt192/Nexus_wfo/88%20Trans%20Am%20Project/P1070481.jpg)

(http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt192/Nexus_wfo/88%20Trans%20Am%20Project/P1070478.jpg)

(http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt192/Nexus_wfo/88%20Trans%20Am%20Project/P1070483.jpg)

(http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt192/Nexus_wfo/88%20Trans%20Am%20Project/P1070484.jpg)

Rohen removing headlight assembly

(http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt192/Nexus_wfo/88%20Trans%20Am%20Project/P1070485.jpg)

Headlight pot is mint

(http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt192/Nexus_wfo/88%20Trans%20Am%20Project/P1070486.jpg)

(http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt192/Nexus_wfo/88%20Trans%20Am%20Project/P1070488.jpg)

(http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt192/Nexus_wfo/88%20Trans%20Am%20Project/P1070489.jpg)

Motor taken apart

(http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt192/Nexus_wfo/88%20Trans%20Am%20Project/P1070490.jpg)

crumbles mess inside motor assembly

(http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt192/Nexus_wfo/88%20Trans%20Am%20Project/P1070492.jpg)

(http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt192/Nexus_wfo/88%20Trans%20Am%20Project/P1070494.jpg)

kind of an odd picture but down in the crushed rock is a tiny ball bearing that goes inside the motor assembly...needle in a hay stack...solution...

(http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt192/Nexus_wfo/88%20Trans%20Am%20Project/P1070496.jpg)

Big magnet

(http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt192/Nexus_wfo/88%20Trans%20Am%20Project/P1070497.jpg)

lookey what I found!!

(http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt192/Nexus_wfo/88%20Trans%20Am%20Project/P1070498.jpg)

(http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt192/Nexus_wfo/88%20Trans%20Am%20Project/P1070509.jpg)
Title: Re: My 88 T/A
Post by: grenggli on November 21, 2011, 01:17:50 AM
My next project I have is a 88 GTA t-top 305 tpi 5spd restore.  Now if I can find the money for working on it with three kids in college and one getting married this next summer.  Good luck on yours!

Greg
Title: Re: My 88 T/A
Post by: Nexus on November 21, 2011, 10:23:23 AM
ooh...that's going to be a busy year for ya!!!
Title: Re: My 88 T/A
Post by: 78&89TA on November 21, 2011, 11:53:46 AM
I just fixed both my headlight motors , all the bushings were shot like yours. They work perfect now :)
I still have a set of the original Gatorback  tires in my garage , they were the rear tires and are shot ,  I just can't part with them :D
Title: Re: My 88 T/A
Post by: Nexus on November 21, 2011, 12:16:15 PM
lol...I know what you mean when you get attached to things!!

Well yesterday I had done some research as to what people were doing to fix the bushing idea, and  I come across an idea I thought was pretty ingenious, and cheap, we shall see how it holds up to regular use!!

what I did was find the large size glue gun stick I had lying around the house, cut them to size, and put everything back together...I manualy went through the cycle and voila, it worked!!

I just need to put it back on the car and test it out!!!!
Title: Re: My 88 T/A
Post by: 78&89TA on November 21, 2011, 01:40:38 PM
Thats good idea , Ive seen people use  rubber pieces , I bought a kit for 25 that took care of it.
Title: Re: My 88 T/A
Post by: Nexus on April 30, 2012, 11:33:12 PM
So just a quick update on whats going on with this thing.

I fixed the:
headlight motor
wiper motor
fog lights
door poppers
passanger seat rail
Hi/Low beam switch
removed the flex plate (looking for a replacement as we speak)
spent $300.00 on a nice set of wheels that won't work for my car
picked up the PMD seats for it but they need restoring
picked up new chrome air cleaner assembly

waiting on:
flex plate (12.85"...153 tooth I think is what I was told it needs to be)
remove and reinstal heads and intake/replace gaskets
instal temp driver seat
reinstall door panels
instal a set of wheels
bring it in to see what it needs to pass mechanical
Title: Re: My 88 T/A
Post by: Nexus on July 16, 2012, 05:11:06 AM
Since my last post, I have

Installed a new flexplate and put all that back together
Installed chrome air cleaner
installed center console
Installed door panels
reinstalled the taillights
Installed what interior panels I have
Installed the GTA wheels
And Sunday morning I managed to get it running and drove it around the block several times

My son I were pretty happy about that

I still have to find a drivers seat for it
Adjust the drivers window
and get the horn working
Title: Re: My 88 T/A
Post by: NWW-79 T/A on July 16, 2012, 07:04:50 AM
Good work. Third gens are cool in their own way. You should post some more pictures :)
Title: Re: My 88 T/A
Post by: Nexus on July 26, 2012, 04:57:09 AM
Well I am having no luck finding a drivers seat around here so I decided to go ahead with my last rest option and mount the passenger seat on the drivers side.

I also tested the power seat mechanism and temporarily have mounted it in the car to give me mobility.

All this is just in place until I get the PMD seats restored.

I still need to come up with arm rests, door handle pockets and rebuild the door panels...the interior is rough but that doesn't bother me.

When I was done with the seat, my son and I took the car out for a good drive and I'm really pleased with how it ran

In the next few days I am going to get the temporary permit put on it and get it home...shortly after that i will get the mechanical put on it

I do have some pictures coming but I am having trouble finding the time to sit in front of my computer
Title: Re: My 88 T/A
Post by: Nexus on July 26, 2012, 07:13:06 AM
alright so here is an update on the photo department and one video

rims I scored for it

(http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt192/Nexus_wfo/88%20Trans%20Am%20Project/P1080522.jpg)

(http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt192/Nexus_wfo/88%20Trans%20Am%20Project/P1080523.jpg)

center caps I already had from a previous screw up about 10 years ago

(http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt192/Nexus_wfo/88%20Trans%20Am%20Project/P1080524.jpg)

(http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt192/Nexus_wfo/88%20Trans%20Am%20Project/P1080526.jpg)

(http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt192/Nexus_wfo/88%20Trans%20Am%20Project/P1080527.jpg)

I want to play with the carbon fiber on the interior

(http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt192/Nexus_wfo/88%20Trans%20Am%20Project/BcVLKg2kKGrHqEOKjsEq4D8J3-BK16IzMdIg_12.jpg)

(http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt192/Nexus_wfo/88%20Trans%20Am%20Project/2012-06-02_12-27-10_46.jpg)

(http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt192/Nexus_wfo/88%20Trans%20Am%20Project/2012-06-02_12-26-29_820.jpg)

(http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt192/Nexus_wfo/88%20Trans%20Am%20Project/th_2012-07-15_11-33-29_167.jpg) (http://s611.photobucket.com/albums/tt192/Nexus_wfo/88%20Trans%20Am%20Project/?action=view&current=2012-07-15_11-33-29_167.mp4)

(http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt192/Nexus_wfo/88%20Trans%20Am%20Project/2012-07-22_14-57-48_815.jpg)

(http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt192/Nexus_wfo/88%20Trans%20Am%20Project/2012-07-22_14-58-21_939.jpg)

(http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt192/Nexus_wfo/88%20Trans%20Am%20Project/2012-07-22_14-58-51_808.jpg)

(http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt192/Nexus_wfo/88%20Trans%20Am%20Project/2012-07-22_14-59-14_36.jpg)

that's all I have for now but I will update the thread when I have done something new

Title: Re: My 88 T/A
Post by: Nexus on September 09, 2012, 09:42:23 PM
I haven't had time to do anything to the car lately but I was able to get it liscenced and on the road

fall seems to be coming early this year around here so I'm not sure how much more time I'll have to enjoy it

At least it will be ready to go next spring
Title: Re: My 88 T/A
Post by: 4saken on September 10, 2012, 11:00:40 AM
Nice bird. My very first Trans am was a 85. I love this car. I was already hacked on before I bought it, but I didn;t care I finally got a bird! ;D It had the original engine out of it and instead had a 350 vortec out of a 99 surburban in it. very fun car, lots of torque! I have only rebuilt the tranny and replaced the clutches with kelvar cluches. I also put on a 97 ram air hood on it and briefly painted it all balck instead of the two tone blue/gray it was. I will professionly pain it sometime in the next five years. I also have a 79 Trans Am that is going in the shop this Feb. So since picking that one up I parked the 85 and it sat for about a year in my drive way. Just yesterday I went in there and pumped the pedal three times and turned the key and he came to life instantly. I was so happy. I realized just how much I missed him. See I use the 79 for my summer/fall car and the 85 for spring/winter. Surprisingly enough the 85 will get thru just about any snow drift I point him to. Very fun car and has never let me down. Glad to be driving him again. Good luck on yours and keep them photos coming. 8)
Title: Re: My 88 T/A
Post by: LilSki on September 19, 2012, 02:46:29 PM
Fall does seem to have snuck up on us this year. I haven't had much time to work on my 85 as I have been working on getting my 79 going again before winter hits. But I still drive it nearly everyday and I have already put 6000 miles on it this summer. They really are a great car to drive. the other day we went to visit some family and we decided to take the 85. Once you get that thing up to 65 and get it in 6th gear with the cruise control it pretty much drives itself. We took the tops off on the way home and I'm pretty sure I had a smile on my face the whole time.

I wish my 85 look half as good as your 88 but I hope to get some fresh paint on it before next spring. Glad you got it on the road and was able to enjoy it a bit this year!
Title: Re: My 88 T/A
Post by: Nexus on October 19, 2012, 05:50:53 PM
I decided that I wanted to make some changes to the lighting in my car. The stock lighting was dim at best and some of it looked orange, some of it looks  white all of it looks bad...imo
So I started with the gear selector setup...mine didn't work at all...as it turned out it was just a bad bulb.
First thing I did was remove the center console plate and remove the white housing
then I seperated the lens from the housing using an exacto knife, cleaned everything up and was ready to start modifying.
First thing I did was line the inside of the housing with reflective tape...don't know if it's necessary but it seemed like a good idea

(http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt192/Nexus_wfo/88%20Trans%20Am%20Project/P1090501.jpg)

I cut the light bulb socket out of the car and removed the brass connections from the body of the socket. This left me just the plastic housing
I then got one Blue LED from the package I found at Wall Mart...yes I said Wall Mart...I was just as shocked when I found them there
I pulled the wires through the housing and then with some automotive Goop I glued them in place

(http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt192/Nexus_wfo/88%20Trans%20Am%20Project/P1090502.jpg)

Next I took a piece of aluminum foil tape and wraped the end and under side of the bulb so that it reflects straight up...I put the socket in place first to determine what side was up inside the housing.

(http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt192/Nexus_wfo/88%20Trans%20Am%20Project/P1090503.jpg)

next thing I did was to trace the lens on a piece of paper using my exacto knife so that I would get that white frosty background look

(http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt192/Nexus_wfo/88%20Trans%20Am%20Project/P1090504.jpg)

I used small dabs of the auto Goop to glue the lens back in place and this is what the final look ended up being

(http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt192/Nexus_wfo/88%20Trans%20Am%20Project/P1090505.jpg)

(http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt192/Nexus_wfo/88%20Trans%20Am%20Project/P1090506.jpg)

this can obviously be done with any colour you choose...it's simple and easy...you just have to be careful removeing the lens. I suggest having a backup one just incase.
 
Cheers