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A little back story I've owned an 86 T/A WS6 5SPD T-top for a little over a year now with the intention to restore/resto-mod it. Garage space kept me from doing that. So we moved into a new house a few weeks ago I started taking pieces off and the further I got the more Rot I found. I knew the floors needed to be done but i found the inside window frame was rotting removed the t bar section and lots of rust there, Inside rear fender wells we under coated over. Long story short I was debating on whether I should try to save it or just move on. So i just happen to be looking at local adds and this car popped up.1985 Trans-am Black and gold(or chestnut for the purist) T-top Auto non WS6 Price was high In my opinion and didnt have the options i was looking for but i kept my eye on it over a few weeks. Then the seller dropped his price and i was suddenly interested and made a deal.
What I know from the History was it was a Southern US car from Florida or around there (Cant remember right now working night shift). It was imported into Canada and owned for 17 years by an elderly Gentleman who only drove it on sunny Sundays and then parked it. Then was bought by someone who got it running again he rebuilt the carb, fuel pump, ect. and also replaced lots of parts hood and truck shocks. spent about 3000 buck all together with the receipts that came with the car and Registared it with PHS. but he never drove it in 2 years (he contacted me over face book to give me the history) then he sold it to the person I bought it off of whole only had it 2 months( he really didnt know anything about the car or cars in general).
The good - 50000 original Miles or 80000KM for us canadians - virtually rust free - interior is near mint. 9 bolt 3.27 rear end ,Cross Lace wheels
The Bad - Its had a repaint at some point (but it is factory black and gold)plus the elderly Fellow used it as a lumber storage bench after he parked it so its all scratched to s**t some really deep - needs a driver door handle replaced - radio is missing. but all things that can be fixed. Its an AUTO
Not sure what way im going to go with it yet. Do i Swap the 5psd and Rear discs off my other car or fix it all and leave it original. That is my delema
The really important thing is that it's not rusting too badly. In the pictures, I only see the usual surface rust.
That said; What does your ultimate thirdgen look like, in your mind? What does the thirdgen that would satisfy your thirdgen-desires look, and perform like?
I realized, some time ago, that even though I have had several thirdgens over the years, some of which were very heavily modified, I never had one that was perfect. I am in the process of building that car now ('89 GTA) . It won't be cheap, or easy, or soon, but I'll have exactly what I want. I would only keep the car"original" if that's truly what your dream car is.
DR.K.
like the blue letter tires! lazy tire shop guys - love the body style if you want to do manual swap move up to T-56 6 speed I'll be watching along on this
The really important thing is that it's not rusting too badly. In the pictures, I only see the usual surface rust.
That said; What does your ultimate thirdgen look like, in your mind? What does the thirdgen that would satisfy your thirdgen-desires look, and perform like?
I realized, some time ago, that even though I have had several thirdgens over the years, some of which were very heavily modified, I never had one that was perfect. I am in the process of building that car now ('89 GTA) . It won't be cheap, or easy, or soon, but I'll have exactly what I want. I would only keep the car"original" if that's truly what your dream car is.
DR.K.
Ultimate car would be a nice pro touring vibe like the one in this pic. I even have a set of the same corvette wheels that came with the 86. See my 86 was going to be that car I had everything planned out except for the engine I wanted. there was not much original left and i wouldn't feel bad about modifying it but the further I dug the more rot I found. This 85 though was to clean to pass up and the purist in me says it would be a shame to modify such a nice original car and just fix the things that need to be addressed and take care of that surface rust and drive it as is as a low mile survivor. The only thing that would Bother me is that its an Automatic just couldn't find a clean manual Trans car in my area
like the blue letter tires! lazy tire shop guys - love the body style if you want to do manual swap move up to T-56 6 speed I'll be watching along on this
LOL yeah even the previous owner was to Lazy to remove it. I've thought about the T56 swap but I have a good T5 ready to go out of my other car. As I replied to another comment my dilemma is this car is a nice low mile original survivor. I would love a pro touring Trans Am but the purist in me says it be a shame to modify such a nice original car and just address the issues with this one and enjoy it as is. Think i'm going to have to sit down with a bottle of Jack and stare at it for a while and make a decision which way i want to go LOL
Just saw your post, that's a cool Trans Am, I love the color combo and wheels. its your car so do what you want but I would feel the same way as you about going pro-touring on such a clean original car...its a tough decision. You could always clean it up/fix the little stuff and try re-selling to find the pro-touring car you like.
LOL yeah even the previous owner was to Lazy to remove it. I've thought about the T56 swap but I have a good T5 ready to go out of my other car. As I replied to another comment my dilemma is this car is a nice low mile original survivor. I would love a pro touring Trans Am but the purist in me says it be a shame to modify such a nice original car and just address the issues with this one and enjoy it as is. Think i'm going to have to sit down with a bottle of Jack and stare at it for a while and make a decision which way i want to go LOL
That's actually the way I'm going with my '89 GTA (Pro-touring). I had a car that was close ('90 RS), but wasn't quite right. I bought my GTA missing all the things I would remove: engine, trans, seats, carpet, rear spoiler, wheels. The body is complete, otherwise. The only thing that's missing, that I want to put back are the GTA-specific door panels. I'm a big fan of the crosslace wheels, so I'm glad they were already gone. It's like the car was meant for me.
DR.K.
I bought my GTA missing all the things I would remove: engine, trans, seats, carpet, rear spoiler, wheels. The body is complete, otherwise. The only thing that's missing, that I want to put back are the GTA-specific door panels. I'm a big fan of the crosslace wheels, so I'm glad they were already gone. It's like the car was meant for me.
DR.K.
That is the best way to do a car if you want to heavily modify it plus you are also saving another Thirdgen from the crusher on top of that.
I'm a purist....big time....and I'll give you my $.02
For me, that car would all depend on the quality of the repaint. A really good, professional body shop paint job where everything was disassembled, etc and I would probably leave it alone.
If it has a cheaper repaint with flaws, etc, I would build the car the way you want it. You said that it has areas that need repainted again... A high quality, professional paint job is really expensive. That money could go towards other mods, etc if you can live with paint that's not perfect.
From the info that you've given us....I would say make it the way you want it. It looks like you have a super solid foundation to start with, and you'd have a killer pro touring car that would last a very long time.
Oh, and I love the black/gold T/A's. Awesome car!!
That is the best way to do a car if you want to heavily modify it plus you are also saving another Thirdgen from the crusher on top of that.
That's how I looked at it. Plus, it's a GTA, which I've always wanted. I like their plain look, compared to the T/A's.
I am only a purist when it comes to the body of a thirdgen. I've seen some widebody conversions that I like, but think most of the body kits for these cars look terrible. I think the thirdgen (Both, firebird and Camaro) are one of the most beautiful car bodies ever. But that's what Pro-touring is all about. You do a few subtle mods to the body and interior, everything else is pretty much"Racecar".
DR.K.
I'm a purist....big time....and I'll give you my $.02
For me, that car would all depend on the quality of the repaint. A really good, professional body shop paint job where everything was disassembled, etc and I would probably leave it alone.
If it has a cheaper repaint with flaws, etc, I would build the car the way you want it. You said that it has areas that need repainted again... A high quality, professional paint job is really expensive. That money could go towards other mods, etc if you can live with paint that's not perfect.
From the info that you've given us....I would say make it the way you want it. It looks like you have a super solid foundation to start with, and you'd have a killer pro touring car that would last a very long time.
Oh, and I love the black/gold T/A's. Awesome car!!
Thanks I liked the Black and Gold too. yes the repaint wasn't that great of quality there are some runs on the gold and i think the hood is still original but been used as a lumber storage bench really did a number on it. I think I'm going to build the car I wanted the 86 to be before all the rot was found.
Originally Posted by drknow90rs_ss@y
That's how I looked at it. Plus, it's a GTA, which I've always wanted. I like their plain look, compared to the T/A's.
I am only a purist when it comes to the body of a thirdgen. I've seen some widebody conversions that I like, but think most of the body kits for these cars look terrible. I think the thirdgen (Both, firebird and Camaro) are one of the most beautiful car bodies ever. But that's what Pro-touring is all about. You do a few subtle mods to the body and interior, everything else is pretty much"Racecar".
DR.K.
I have to agree with you here not much I would change about exterior of these cars. some modern wheels and suspension and you have a fantastic package IMO
Last edited by kenferrell; 07-12-2020 at 09:00 PM.
Just for Fun Here is my 86 WS6 5spd that I was going to use for the build until i found all the Rot that was hidden probably going to be a parts car now. And also the inspiration behind the build is also below. minus the $10K rims and tow hook
07-10-2020, 02:26 AM
lazy tire shop guys - love the body style if you want to do manual swap move up to T-56 6 speed I'll be watching along on this 
