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Hello fellow thridgen fans. My name is Kevin and live just west of Edmonton, AB. About 20 years ago I owned a 1986 Z28, loved it, drove it winter and summer and then sold it before moving to Ontario, looking back I should have kept it and drove to Ontario.
I have drove decent vehicles since but nothing ever felt right and so after a couple months looking online around the province decided on a brown 1983 Z28. I think I got a fair price on it, mechanic says it's old but didn't find anything wrong with it for a safety. It has no heat and the temp guage is wonky and doesn't seem to work so probably a thermostat. The new hood lifts don't work so have to return them, it's a fiberglass hood and got the right ones so am wondering if the ones for the heavier steel hood would work better? It came with a set of winter tires on rims but I found quickly it needs some weight in the back. Read a few comments about not driving it in the winter and I think I may do that but had no issues with my last one in winter but did have a few sand bags in the trunk for extra weight.
I was a little unhappy with not getting a standard but not too much and the colour is brown but surprisingly I'm OK with it. My brother had a brown 79 TA and it was an ugly colour but this is a darker brown. And all the things usually wrong in a Camaro or Firebird interior were fine. The only issues with the interior are a couple cracks in the dash and one in the center cover.
With a few more drives I'm finding it quite rough and have been reading, some say yeah that's the car but I don't recall my last one being so rough. I did drive my cousins 92 Firebird a few times and it was quite rough. Others say oh it shouldn't be rough and do this and this and this... I'm not a mechanic but trust my friend who's a 30+ year mechanic and he suggested driving it a while before putting more money into it and I am going to.
The Canadian section on here doesn't seem too busy but a belated Merry Christmas and a Happy 2021 to all.
*got pics to upload in an edit...
Last edited by DC Kev; 12-28-2020 at 11:57 PM.
Reason: to try and add pictures
Welcome to TGO. Looks like a nice ride, LG4 305 engine I think. These cards ride a little stiff but sometimes the age adds squeaks and rattles that make it seem worse than it might be. I agree, change the stat, likely a good time to flush the coolant unless you have the history on the maintenance. Looks like the nose cone is grey - was it replaced? I agree with your mechanic, run it a bit first. You might find it just needs new struts and shocks. Tires can affect ride sometimes too.
Yes nose cone was replaced, last owner seemed good on replacing things. I don't have money to do much with it and didn't think it needed much. One thing I am undecided on is undercoating. It has some rust but is in very good condition underneath and from what I'm told they clean it and then undercoat. Yes that seals in rust but isn't that better than having it exposed? I've been told/read different things, yes it does, no it doesn't.
[QUOTE=One thing I am undecided on is undercoating. It has some rust but is in very good condition underneath and from what I'm told they clean it and then undercoat. Yes that seals in rust but isn't that better than having it exposed? I've been told/read different things, yes it does, no it doesn't.[/QUOTE]
Don’t put rubberized undercoating over rust, you will likely accelerate the rot and make it worse to repair. Your best bet would be to use a rust paint like POR 15, that stuff actually stops rust in its tracks. Show us some pics of the rust. Just be warned with por 15 if you don’t follow the instructions the results won’t be good. It is a 3 step process and the paint is not cheap but it works.
One thing I am undecided on is undercoating. It has some rust but is in very good condition underneath and from what I'm told they clean it and then undercoat. Yes that seals in rust but isn't that better than having it exposed? I've been told/read different things, yes it does, no it doesn't.
I've never heard of an undercoating place that first cleans the bottom of the car for you, I would get clarification on that and what exactly that means. I think an undercoating like Krown would be a good choice. If it were me I'd pressure wash the under carriage very well and let it dry very well then immediately get it Krown'd. I like to put my daily driver's on a hoist and pressure wash the heck out of them, let them dry in a heated garage overnight, then undercoat. If that is not an option, get as close as you can and get it as dry as possible before undercoating by driving for a while on a dry highway.
Hello fellow thridgen fans. My name is Kevin and live just west of Edmonton, AB. About 20 years ago I owned a 1986 Z28, loved it, drove it winter and summer and then sold it before moving to Ontario, looking back I should have kept it and drove to Ontario.
I have drove decent vehicles since but nothing ever felt right and so after a couple months looking online around the province decided on a brown 1983 Z28. I think I got a fair price on it, mechanic says it's old but didn't find anything wrong with it for a safety. It has no heat and the temp guage is wonky and doesn't seem to work so probably a thermostat. The new hood lifts don't work so have to return them, it's a fiberglass hood and got the right ones so am wondering if the ones for the heavier steel hood would work better? It came with a set of winter tires on rims but I found quickly it needs some weight in the back. Read a few comments about not driving it in the winter and I think I may do that but had no issues with my last one in winter but did have a few sand bags in the trunk for extra weight.
I was a little unhappy with not getting a standard but not too much and the colour is brown but surprisingly I'm OK with it. My brother had a brown 79 TA and it was an ugly colour but this is a darker brown. And all the things usually wrong in a Camaro or Firebird interior were fine. The only issues with the interior are a couple cracks in the dash and one in the center cover.
With a few more drives I'm finding it quite rough and have been reading, some say yeah that's the car but I don't recall my last one being so rough. I did drive my cousins 92 Firebird a few times and it was quite rough. Others say oh it shouldn't be rough and do this and this and this... I'm not a mechanic but trust my friend who's a 30+ year mechanic and he suggested driving it a while before putting more money into it and I am going to.
The Canadian section on here doesn't seem too busy but a belated Merry Christmas and a Happy 2021 to all.
*got pics to upload in an edit...
Sweet ride buddy! Belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year as well! I find my old firebird has squeaks and rattles as well and I do believe the age also adds to it too. It's annoying at times but that's when I crank out the stereo...not sure about the running rough thing as mine runs just fine. Hope you get help here.
I've never heard of an undercoating place that first cleans the bottom of the car for you, I would get clarification on that and what exactly that means. I think an undercoating like Krown would be a good choice. If it were me I'd pressure wash the under carriage very well and let it dry very well then immediately get it Krown'd. I like to put my daily driver's on a hoist and pressure wash the heck out of them, let them dry in a heated garage overnight, then undercoat. If that is not an option, get as close as you can and get it as dry as possible before undercoating by driving for a while on a dry highway.
I checked at one place called Sublime, for $800 they Dry Ice blast the rust away then use a wax sealer they said with a 20 year warranty but I have to bring the car in for an annual inspection and fix up. I thought that sounded great but don't have $800.
Ming Shine in Edmonton explained it to me as a steam pressure wash, then they dry it and apply a "neoprene rubber and petroleum-based undercoating" for $200. They have a great reputation however another post here says not to use a rubber undercoat on any rust.
Sweet ride buddy! Belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year as well! I find my old firebird has squeaks and rattles as well and I do believe the age also adds to it too. It's annoying at times but that's when I crank out the stereo...not sure about the running rough thing as mine runs just fine. Hope you get help here.
3 12 inch JL subs
OK I shouldn't say running rough as the engine runs fine. I should say Driving rough as in not the smoothest ride. The winter tires make it a little worse and new shocks will help I am sure. As for turning up the stereo the last owner put one in about 15 years ago... wasn't mentioned in the ad at all and it had no interior pics so I was a little surprised when I got there and saw it. I will say it put a smile on the face of me and my mechanic but I am not into subwoofers and bass, doesn't go with most of my music.
Hey neighbour. Welcome to TGO. I'm south of Edmonton about 20 minutes from Castrol Raceway.
There's a thread here regarding Edmonton and surrounding area but there's not a lot of action there either. https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/cana...a-members.html
Still with the half dozen locals that have popped up lately, might make for a decent group photo once driving season is back.
Nice to see another addition to the forum.
Say no to any form of rubberized undercoating, ziebart etc. It just holds the moisture to the rust, and while it is hidden that rust is getting worse.
Something like Krown is what you want. I spray my own vehicles with the dominion stuff that smells like cherries. I even spray my T/A with it, and that car doesn't even see a rainy day, never mind being winter driven. I pressure wash before I do it as well. I'm pretty sure it's standard procedure for Krown to pressure wash the bottom first as well. They will warranty the paint on new cars that get sprayed every year.
If this is what a winter driven 3rd gen from AB looks like, I may have to go out there to buy one that isn't winter driven...
Hello skinny z and WTR388,
Yes I'm up for getting together with some other cars for some pics even though my car will be the ugly duckling.
I don't know if my car is a good example of what AB 3rd gens look like, not a winter driven one as the previous owner parked it for winters. I don't think I will be doing too much winter driving. I did lfind Krown oiling and Pro-Tech Seal undercoating & rustproofing listed at G104 in Edmonton and will call them tomorrow for more info.
I went for a drive today and she died on me. I am quite certain it's the fuel pump and so will be doing that, checking the thermostat and probably replacing the heater core. Gotta get all the mechanical stuff done and then the minor body work and paint.
I don't have any good interior pics. Needs a cleaning, only issues I've found are 2 cracks in center of dash and middle compartment cover, the seatbelt holder is broke, and I guess if you want to nitpick the Royal Reserve sticker. No stains, pet hair, rips, cigarette burns that I can see. I think I lucked out but it depends on what you think a good price is. The seller was firm and I felt it was fair so I guess if both parties are happy it's a good deal. Several other cars were more in much worse shape, hell one had the floors rusted out and they were asking more. Anyone in the area knows most ads online are from David T's and I am not going there though the previous owner got the replacement nose, radiator, and t-tops from there.
This car was in need of a home and some tlc so I will chalk it up to fate we found each other.
Hello skinny z and WTR388,
Yes I'm up for getting together with some other cars for some pics even though my car will be the ugly duckling.
Anyone in the area knows most ads online are from David T's and I am not going there...
I wouldn't be too concerned about appearances. I went from a Car of the Month candidate to Joe Dirt in the course of one driving season. Lost the dash pad and windshield over the super cold storage in the first winter. Then the drivers door got crunched courtesy of a runaway mini van. So it is what it is.
Once the new engine is together and a few other details taken care of, I'll be back on the streets and at the track.
Maybe even a parking lot cruise night. But I'll be parked a least 40 feet away.
As for David T's, I've been there a couple of times but have found him to be a little overpriced. Very personable guy though. It is somewhat unfortunate that he kind of monopolizes the F-body market. It took a lot for me to find a reasonable rolling chassis for the next project (or parts as the case may be).
Maybe see you out there.
Some spring pics. I got a quote for $2500 to do the minor rough spots on the rear wheel wells and for the back end paint. I thought that's not to bad so asked how much to do the whole car thinking maybe $6000 but they said $10,000. I think she is staying as is. Had it listed for a couple months for 7500 but no interest, lowered it to $5500 and a few messages but nothing serious. Will likely keep it, am getting a quote for a wrap, either chrome holograph which to me is total 80's shininess. Or something like I mocked up, wrap it in an more original grey colour, maybe have it lighten as it goes up... and a pile of skulls at the bottom. Doing so would really mean I'm keeping it as I doubt my personal tastes would appeal to many and it'd up the cost. Just playing with the idea. Any pile of skull fans out there? ** And any Camaro gatherings planned for the Edmonton area? If I can fill the tank I'd like to get out and see some other Camaros, I see a few on the road, mostly newer ones but saw a beautiful while and red interior late 2nd gen at a tire shop and a all black 2nd gen the other day.
12-28-2020, 11:54 PM
