GrumpyBadger

Hey all,

I'm in Mohave County, out in the sticks. Right now, unfortunately, I don't have a 3rd generation F-body. But I know a wee-bit about them. I'm 30, and of course grew up on "Smokey and the Bandit" and "KnightRider."

My neighbor growing up, up the street still has a gorgeous 1990 Camaro RS T-top in grey. I don't think she's an IROC or anything. Just a happy 5.0 manual. That was one of the first cars I learned how to drive stick in too.

My neighbor down the street...
yep...
1987 Pontiac Trans Am GTA, black with tan interior. He still has that as well. Needless to say I was in F-Body heaven and was bit by the bug rather quickly.

I started to love the El Camino though, and for 10 years, she was my daily driver with a 427 smallblock back when that was unheard of almost. She ran a solid 11 second pass too, with proper tires and some weight in the back

Long story short, I don't have the Elky anymore, and for a time, I took care of a 1979 Trans Am, until I realized I wasn't ready for the responsibility and gave her up to a nicer home.

Now, I'm settled. And just the other day, I was playing Forza3 listening to some "Theory of A Deadman" when their cover of "Midnight Rider" came on... I was bored, and "bought" a new car. It was the 1987 GTA in the game. For S's & G's I decided to soup her up to be comparable to the new 2014 Z28 I got to drive recently. And I was bit by the F-body bug all over again!

now, after seeing the prices, of everything I'm used to from way-back-when on top of the price of a good 3rd-gen T/A... I'm excited. It seems stoopid easy to get 500hp now out of a smallblock

and I care more about the "balance" of the machine than I do the power. My smallblock in my Elky was anything but reliable without me, and it wasn't just 500hp either.

yeah... $65,000 in payments for a 2014 Z28 or thereabouts? and it's computer - everywhere... or I pick up a GTA for the price of a down payment on the Z28 and make "payments" to myself to make her into a gorgeous machine. Fun for Firebird Int'l, Willow Springs, and I may even get another chance at LagunaSECA... who knows? But the best part - 5 or 6sp, EFI, mostly GMPP or derivatives thereof with warranty as well lol

the trick:
I have a 1997 GMC 3500 crewcab 4x4 454 with less than 60K on him. He's a solid truck, but no show-winner, cept with rednecks in the bog and with beer lol and covered in mud. I need to get that truck either sold or traded for my GTA.

anyway, I'm GrumpyBadger - my name is Pat. I have the sickness, and while posting on Facebook, I said "I need to find the Greasemonkey Anonymous group" and lookie-here. I found you guys.

looking forward to meeting everyone if we ever get the chance.

drive safe, be safe, enjoy them cruising down the boulevards or racing at the track

Alex Bebb

well 3rd gens are quite cheap. craigslist is full of them for 3-5k. i got mine not too long ago for 1200 :P (then proceed to put 2k into it) but yea welcome to the fold

if you want mr. 305 made a FB page for us AZ guys. https://www.facebook.com/AZ3RDGEN

Barlow8869

iTrader: (1)

welcome to TGO ... hold out for a rust free car, or it will eat you alive in repair costs, dirve it and have a blast with it, they sure are a lot of fun

GrumpyBadger

hey guys,

thanks for the warm welcome. I "liked" the AZ3Gen facebook page. I'm the guy in the Knights Templar kit lol. I do medieval reenactment.

I definitely know about searching for a rust-free car. I'm thinking I may just need to do a roadtrip eventually out to the Phx area, maybe even further south. Dashpads and T-Top stripping can be replaced, cancer is cancer - and I'm not a body guy! B)

I'm kind of hoping to find some events as well, between SoCal, Vegas, and Phx, there's got to be something. As far as I'm aware, the Pamona Swap Meet and Car Show still doesn't look too kindly on "modern machines" though.

I've waited 27 years, and a decade of that is definitely one to remember. I can wait a wee-bit longer to find the right one. Honestly, a together but rough but straight $2000 car is right up my alley, or I just get a garage queen for quite a bit more. She'll find me.

89' firehawk

iTrader: (6)

Welcome and enjoy the ride sir!!!

DesertFox

American Street Car Series will be having Run to the Coast in Fontana Valentine's day weekend.<---- nevermind they just cancelled... dammit
Ultimate Street Car Association will have it's inaugural event at Laguna Seca The weekend of March 14th.
Good Times.....