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 Dirty Bird -85 T/A 
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Joined: Wed Jul 09, 2008 9:16 pm
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Location: Mississauga
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Post Dirty Bird -85 T/A
I needed something decently reliable and cost effective as a "leave behind car" when I am driving press-cars (for my part-time gig). I toyed with the idea of a 10-15 year old regular car, but just couldn't get my head around the concept of putting money into something that will always be worthless. So in keeping with my "break-even or better" approach to transportation I sourced this Trans Am

It's an 85 T/A, 305 V8 4bbl (LG4 - I think), auto. It only has 132,000km and I bought it off the second owner, a 74 year old lady who had owned it since 1989. The car was her baby and she claims that she never, ever took it out in inclement weather. That does show as the body and underside are ridiculously rust free. The paint is filthy from sitting in a dirty old garage, but it'll come up nicely. The interior is on the rough side, she was a smoker so there's ash and dirt everywhere, dash is cracked and things inside just generally need attention.

I just got it on Sunday and it was freezing out so I didn't play around with the car much at all. Mechanically, the thing starts almost instantly (even stone cold at -10C) and runs really well. The v8 pulls hard and the tranny feel tight. I am pretty sure it needs struts and mounts because it's kinda "crunchy" sounding when turning at low speeds or on sharp bumps. Brakes are a little soft, so i think they either need to be bled or the master cylinder is weak; I was very pleasantly surprised to discover that the car has 4-wheel disc brakes. Other than those two things the only other noteworthy issue that I am aware of is the exterior lighting....it's a disaster, headlight motors are not working properly, none of the parking lights work, and signals are intermittent; I suspect bad grounds and/or fuses.

I am completely out of indoor storage/work space, so I won't do anything until the weather warms up, then I'll get the mechanical stuff done so I can get it safetied and on the road. Then I'll deal with the cosmetics.

Here's some pics from Sunday:

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Tue Jan 27, 2015 1:00 pm
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Joined: Sun May 13, 2007 10:48 am
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Post Re: Dirty Bird -85 T/A
Sweet ride! I daily'd an 84 Z 305 auto for years, loved that car. With 165/65/15 Nokia Hakepelittas on there that thing would drive through deep snow with ease. Unreal how good it was in the winter actually. Damn fun too

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1987 IROC ww 99 LS1,TR224/112, STG2 heads ported by American Speed, P Gold springs, LS6 intake, SVO 30's, Ported TB, Comp Cromo Push rods, Katech Rod bolts, LS6 oil pump, T56, SW LT's, 8.8 hybrid rear 3.73, 275/40/17 MT ET streets, lots more
12.1 @ 112 mph 1.69 60'

89 R7U 1LE Players Challenge car all stock.


Tue Jan 27, 2015 5:39 pm
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Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2014 1:17 pm
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Location: Scarborough
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Post Re: Dirty Bird -85 T/A
Nice find!

Congrats!

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1996 Z-28/SS

Previously - 1996 Z-28, 1989 Pontiac GTA, 1985 5.7 IROC Z-28, 1976 Camaro LT, 1974 Trans Am 455HO, 1974 Z-28, 1967 Firebird Sprint,
1967 Camaro 230 cu-in 140-hp "Blue Flame" straight six with a 2-speed powerglide.


Thu Jan 29, 2015 4:45 pm
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Joined: Wed Jul 09, 2008 9:16 pm
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Location: Mississauga
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Post Re: Dirty Bird -85 T/A
Thanks guys :)
The 96 has a good set of Blizzaks on it and it's a tank in the snow. If I end up using this T/A in the winter i have a set of ZQ8 rims off my Sonoma with some GoodYear Ultra Grips on them that I'll probably run. Personally, I prefer rwd in the snow, so my only issue with driving f-bodies in the winter is the salt!


Fri Jan 30, 2015 12:22 am
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Location: Mississauga
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Post Re: Dirty Bird -85 T/A
So I got this thing tidied up and on the road. Been driving it for the last few weeks and it’s proving to be a really nice reliable and comfortable driver. Only took a few hundred bucks worth of parts to get it working right again:
-Rebuilt the calipers
-New brake flex lines
-New master cylinder
-Sway bar links
-Sway bar bushings
-Power window motor
-Bunch of bulbs
I spent some time fixing a bunch of wiring too.

Cosmetically all I’ve done so far is buff out the paint and give the interior a quick cleaning. I bought some charcoal 4th gen seats which I still need to install. I also still need to steam clean the carpets, and reupholster the headliner.

Put about 600kms on it thus far and the thing is really running great, no strange noises or anything which I was expecting for a 30 year old car. It has sprung a power steering fluid leak from the pump just this week, but I have a new pump that I’ll swap in this weekend and hopefully get that taken care of.

Amazing the amount of looks and compliments this car gets…I’ve been commuting to work in it, leaving West Mississauga at 6:30am and driving into midtown Toronto. All sorts of people getting pretty excited over an old Bird 


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Tue Apr 28, 2015 2:21 pm
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Post Re: Dirty Bird -85 T/A
WOW that thing cleaned up real nice! Looking good!

Jay


Wed Apr 29, 2015 6:02 am
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Post Re: Dirty Bird -85 T/A
It looks beautiful!

So umm... When's the super-charger being installed? 8)

Just kidding... maybe

_________________
1996 Z-28/SS

Previously - 1996 Z-28, 1989 Pontiac GTA, 1985 5.7 IROC Z-28, 1976 Camaro LT, 1974 Trans Am 455HO, 1974 Z-28, 1967 Firebird Sprint,
1967 Camaro 230 cu-in 140-hp "Blue Flame" straight six with a 2-speed powerglide.


Wed Apr 29, 2015 10:12 am
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Post Re: Dirty Bird -85 T/A
Looks really good. I kick myself for getting rid of my GTA.

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1996 Camaro Z28
2010 Camaro 2SS
1994 Corvette Z07


Wed Apr 29, 2015 7:38 pm
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Location: Mississauga
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Post Re: Dirty Bird -85 T/A
Thanks guys, I am pretty pleased with it :)


Wed Apr 29, 2015 10:21 pm
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Post Re: Dirty Bird -85 T/A
WOW looks great!

I hear ya re the gawkers. Third gens have really begun to stand out as a classic car now. Crazy to think it feels like yesterday all the cruiser guys were trying to "ban" us third gen guys. 78 and older signs.... lmao.

_________________
1987 IROC ww 99 LS1,TR224/112, STG2 heads ported by American Speed, P Gold springs, LS6 intake, SVO 30's, Ported TB, Comp Cromo Push rods, Katech Rod bolts, LS6 oil pump, T56, SW LT's, 8.8 hybrid rear 3.73, 275/40/17 MT ET streets, lots more
12.1 @ 112 mph 1.69 60'

89 R7U 1LE Players Challenge car all stock.


Thu Apr 30, 2015 10:11 am
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