DD9TransAmGTA

iTrader: (1)

So about 3 years ago I got a 87' GTA that was going to be my first car. I'm 17 now and have gained a lot more knowledge now and I'm ready to get this project done! I ended up getting a Formula that was wrecked, but much nicer. So I fixed it up and made it my own. Now that i'm pretty satisfied(ok thats a lie) with the way it is now I'm going to get going on my GTA again. It's quite an odd car and I wish I knew the history on it. To sum it up it's a 1987 built in October of 1986 so it's equipped with the DD9 Paddle Mirrors. It's fairly rare with the Flame red exterior and Carmine Red interior. The car was first registered with 5,000 miles on it already??? I also tried to contact the GM archives to get anything possible on it as far as history and they said the Vin number isn't in the database??? Kinda odd and I'm so curious to know why......But anyways I'd do anything just to be able to drive it now, but it needs everything replaced pretty much lol. So currently I'm stripping the car so I can have it media blasted since theres a little rust and corrosion here and there. It sat outside for 7 years with leaking weatherstrips before I got it. God knows how long it had sat before then too......I have a LS engine for it that will most likely end up in it. Here is some pictures of it, the pictures of the car together is 3 years ago when I first got it, the rest are all the way up to now.

Heres the first time I laid eyes on her, a 14 year old kids dream......

And a rear shot, I didn't care how ugly it looked, I couldn't sleep for about a month cause all I did was think it about it

The Previous owner threw parts in the interior and the original seats were missing

Ahhh out of the elements finally in a nice cozy garage


And for anyone who cares here is my 88' Formula I built at 16/17, it was hit in the left front, knocking engine, and made a 4th gen spoiler fit

DD9TransAmGTA

iTrader: (1)

So here we go, in my messy garage on the frame rack

Taking the bumper off

Needs new quarter panels, 2 new fenders, and passenger door. I already have another hood for it. (Thanks Tony, lol)

Took the front clip off, surprisingly the front bumper is reuseable

An odd rot hole where the tail lights and quarter panel meet

Side shot!

Tracked down a set of Carmine red GTA seats for it!

1986 iroc z28

looks like a well optioned car. Cant wait to see more progress. What are the specs on the ls you have?

DD9TransAmGTA

iTrader: (1)

I believe it's a 5.3 from a 2004 or 2005 Tahoe, aluminum head, iron block I believe. Stock is 295 HP and around 330 Ft lbs of torque. Not sure how carried away I want to get with it right now but definitely going with different heads and cam for sure. I planned on Turbo but we will see.

DD9TransAmGTA

iTrader: (1)

Forgot to also mention I started taking the rest of the ground effects off. The previous owner was gonna leave half them on and paint the car black? Then it sat for 7 years.....

DynoDave43

iTrader: (11)

You did a great job with that Formula. I look forward to following your progress on this one.

DD9TransAmGTA

iTrader: (1)

I forgot to take pictures tonight so I will try and post some tomorrow, but I got all the ground effects off tonight and got the mirrors off. I was pretty happy that the gaskets are all still in fairly good shape and lord knows if i would ever be able to find another set of those gaskets for paddle mirrors. Anyways the passenger door is ready to come off. I got a red 87' iroc-z door for it from my parts car. I really need a 85-90 trans am parts car cause some of my ground effects need replaced and I need a spare interior in better shape to dye back to carmine red. Its hard to find a decently clean roller/parts car in illinois

ZsTransAm

Those are pretty unusual mirrors, whats the story behind those?

DD9TransAmGTA

iTrader: (1)

Im a little rusty on my knowledge about them but as far as I know its estimated that the first 50-200 Trans Am GTA's got those mirrors. It was RPO code DD9, they were put on the GTA's to give them a more european styling like the porsches. If you look at 80's porsches they have very similar mirrors. But in January of 1987 they had a shortage of the mirrors I believe and cancelled them so the rest of the GTA's got regular aero mirrors RPO code DG7. The paddle mirrors were only used on export cars from there on i believe. So its a pretty rare find, most people dont like them but im a fan of them cause they are different and unusual.

DD9TransAmGTA

iTrader: (1)

So heres more pics of all the ground effects and mirrors off. Also took the t top bar off today. Windshield is coming out next


Rust spots I found along the door under the molding. Looks like I need a drivers door also.


The front of the door also has a nice rust patch

So lucky I had to rot under the t top bar! It should clean up nice

T top bar is toast.....I like the C&C t tops way better on my Formula

pjeverson

I too will follow your project. I just put an 87 GTA back on the road after it was in a garage for the past 17 years, Fortunately all I had to do was put in a new battery! Car has 10, 400 original miles.

1986 iroc z28

[QUOTE=DD9TransAmGTA;5777484]So heres more pics of all the ground effects and mirrors off. Also took the t top bar off today. Windshield is coming out next


Rust spots I found along the door under the molding. Looks like I need a drivers door also.


The front of the door also has a nice rust patch



Not to hijack your thread, but i have a perfect set of rust free damage free power doors for cheap located in Bloomington with your name written all over them lol Pm me if your interested.

GTA Centurion

Great job so far on your GTA. It's going to be worth all the hard work when it's done. Just picked up an '87 myself a few months back, so I know how much fun they are. Best of luck on your restoration!

jamon8

iTrader: (3)

do they even make quarter panels for our cars

DD9TransAmGTA

iTrader: (1)

I know classic industries does, but it doesn't come with the sail panel.