Post by: kevinlekiller on June 18, 2005, 12:58:00 PM
I dont know much about them but anyways, this is why I came here to ask a few questions.
I found this on a web site for sell ; Its a Firebird 89 automatic, other than that I dont know anything about it. What I want to know is: Does it have a T-Top (I see the top is black so Im guessing yes, but I dont know if its t-top since I also dont know much about these cars.) And I want to know if its a v8 (Im guessing its a v6). The car is 600 can$. Im Aksing you all this since I cant contact the person because its closed for fathers day weekend or something. I also wanted to know what you guys think of these cars and if they are pieces of crap and not worth buying.
The Next one is a 84 Trans Am T-Top with a 305HO v8(Im guessing HO is the better model of the 305) , a 700 4r Transmission(no Idea what it is) and a 3.73 differential.
The car is 1600 can$ and has 204 000km, This would be my ideal car expect for one thing: Is it auto or standard? Its not mentioned.
Both cars dont look top shape but its nothing that cant be fixed I guess.
This post has been edited by kevinlekiller: Jun 18 2005, 07:59 PM
Post by: kevinlekiller on June 18, 2005, 02:09:00 PM
Anyways, Ive looked in to the cars a little bit, this site helped me a litlle :
http://www.thirdgen..../thirdgen.shtml
and z28.com .
The 7004r is automatic, but the t/r / cam / fire that had the 305ho, had usually the manual 5 speed tranny with them. So I guess the guy swapped the tranny. Also some people say the 305ho is crap and some say its very durable so I dont know what to think of these engines, a 350 would be better but Im guessing they must suck gas like hell.
Im not in a hurry so Ill look depper I guess Since this is what I really want:
3rd gen "camaro"(ideally since they are more beatifull to me), t-top, manual , a 350 z-28/iroc(not the convertible crap
) or rs I guess. What I like with these cars is how low to the ground you feel when your sitting. Also they are just fun to be in. Also the t-top is just amazing.Edit: When I say : 3rd gen "camaro"(ideally since they are more beatifull to me)
I mean: The camaro is more beatifull to me(out of the t/a firebird and cam). Has for the most beatifull Id have to say : 1 gen camaro(1969ish)
with the 396 or 454 and red cam covers ; just lovely!
Post by: Rylinkus on June 20, 2005, 06:48:00 PM
Post by: kevinlekiller on June 21, 2005, 10:38:00 AM
QUOTE(Rylinkus @ Jun 21 2005, 02:52 AM)
I'm a big fan of the 3rd gens myself. I wanted the performance so I was looking for a 4th gen. I know decent condition 3rd gens are hard to find and the IROC model seems to jump the price a good deal. BUT a 305 is't that bad. Look for Tuned Port Injection over Throttle Body Injection as it's supposed to be more tunable. The Carbed version get HORRIBLE gas mileage. Think 8-10 MPG. My Camaro pulls in 13-15 MPG cept on the High way. 6th gear saves my ass there. If you have any questions feel free to hit me up. I was helping a friend shop for a 3rd gen just a few months ago and he was lookig for the exact car you are, so I may have some insights.
Thanks for the info , 8-10 mpg ; thats horrible!! The carburated engine must have more power than the injected motor? Ill go and look for a list somewhere and post it.
Lets say I get a carbed engine, is it possible to convert it to injected?(I guess it would cost more then getting a injected engine to begin with since then I would have to chnage computer and some other electrical devices)
I read that the 3g is pretty heavy so that must be why its so slow and has bad mpg.
Can you post the other downsides of the car in your opinion.
Thanks again for the helpfull info.
Post by: ChrisBulla on June 21, 2005, 03:28:00 PM
Post by: Hercules Q Einstein on June 21, 2005, 03:43:00 PM
If it is a 6cyc i would stay away, my brother had the V8 305 (in a camaro) and it was still kinda heavy for that. So the V6 would probably chug.
PS Yes those are T Tops
Post by: Rylinkus on June 21, 2005, 06:46:00 PM
QUOTE(kevinlekiller @ Jun 21 2005, 06:42 PM)
Thanks for the info , 8-10 mpg ; thats horrible!! The carburated engine must have more power than the injected motor? Ill go and look for a list somewhere and post it.
Lets say I get a carbed engine, is it possible to convert it to injected?(I guess it would cost more then getting a injected engine to begin with since then I would have to chnage computer and some other electrical devices)
I read that the 3g is pretty heavy so that must be why its so slow and has bad mpg.
Can you post the other downsides of the car in your opinion.
Thanks again for the helpfull info.
Lets say I get a carbed engine, is it possible to convert it to injected?(I guess it would cost more then getting a injected engine to begin with since then I would have to chnage computer and some other electrical devices)
I read that the 3g is pretty heavy so that must be why its so slow and has bad mpg.
Can you post the other downsides of the car in your opinion.
Thanks again for the helpfull info.
Carbed engines simply arent as effiecient as EFI ones. The gas mileage on the fuel injected 305 is probably around 12-15 mpg. No more or less power. Just different gas mileage. Some people like tuning carbed motors better as theres no electronics to worry about. I'd rather be EFI all the way.
The HP difference between a 350 and 305 is only like 20 hp. Not a HUGE deal. The 350 definately has more potential, but from a starting point both are right around 200 hp. (200 and 220 respectively I think)
The 3 G is pretty heavy and in Stock form the 350 doesnt make dazzling HP numbers. Thats why I opted for a 4th gen when I was Camaro shopping. Granted, It's still RWD. T Tops are cool. And @ 600 bucks if it's running and not a total rust bucket it's probably well worth the fun. I could get 600 bucks worth of enjoyment out of a 5 speed 305 in a few weeks.
Post by: kevinlekiller on June 21, 2005, 07:15:00 PM
I think Ill take my time to shop around , I dont want to buy some crap that I end up spending more fixing then if I would have bought something decent to start with.
Theres a pretty nice camaro with a good price (2995$ canadian) Its a 87 with the best engine for its year (L98 ; 350 with tpi 225 horses and 330 foot pound of torque).
But like you said the 5 Litre is more interesting weight wise since theres only 10 hp difference and 35 torque difference. Its t-top, iroc-z but it is automatic 4 speed overdrive. And it "looks" in good shape(it might be in horible condition).
Anyways I still have lots of searching and money making to do so For now I just want to collect information on the vehicle.
Post by: Rylinkus on June 21, 2005, 07:32:00 PM
Rylinkus13
Post by: thesideinguy on June 21, 2005, 07:53:00 PM
if the white 1 runs, decent its a prety good deal. the 91 tail lights is a dead give away that a litle efford was put into the car.
on to the 84.
those old 84's do have a pep in their step.
i wouldnt consider buying it unless it has a 10 bolt rear end.
the wing looks like its missing wich is a big draw back, and the oridanl hood has been replaced. the 84 TA came with a raised scoop portion on the drivers side.
btw, you can order brass gears to replace the nylon ones in the headlights so they will work again.
i'v been driving T-A's and formulas for quite a wile.
i curently own a Gen 4 Formula. its much quicker than any of my old gen 3's and gen 2's.
but you couldnt ask for an easyer car to work on. and parts are cheap as shit. exept some can kinda be pricey, like those vented fenders on the black T-A.
but what ever you choose to do, GO F-Body!!
Post by: Hercules Q Einstein on June 22, 2005, 08:16:00 AM
Here is a great link that will detail the changes made from year to year on firebirds. Should be of some use.
Post by: kevinlekiller on June 22, 2005, 12:29:00 PM
Post by: Rylinkus on June 22, 2005, 02:22:00 PM
Post by: thesideinguy on June 22, 2005, 03:23:00 PM
QUOTE(Rylinkus @ Jun 22 2005, 01:26 PM)
Same car. Different body styles. Nothing more. I prefer the looks of the 3rd gen, but the speed of the 4th gen, which is why I bought one. But i totally understand the looks thing.
atualy the unibody is the same. its the fenders, hood ,tail lights, and bumper covers that are difrent. and the interior is alitle difrent. on the gen 4 the dors are difrent only becaus the mirror starts on the front fenders.
i'll take a firebird over a comaro any day. dont realy car for them,
but basicaly the same car. just cosmetic difrences.
Post by: Rylinkus on June 22, 2005, 03:40:00 PM
QUOTE(thesideinguy @ Jun 22 2005, 11:27 PM)
atualy the unibody is the same. its the fenders, hood ,tail lights, and bumper covers that are difrent. and the interior is alitle difrent. on the gen 4 the dors are difrent only becaus the mirror starts on the front fenders.
i'll take a firebird over a comaro any day. dont realy car for them,
but basicaly the same car. just cosmetic difrences.
i'll take a firebird over a comaro any day. dont realy car for them,
but basicaly the same car. just cosmetic difrences.
So what part of my post are you trying to correct???
Post by: thesideinguy on June 22, 2005, 05:14:00 PM
F-body.
the bolt on's are difrent.
Post by: StrictPuppet on June 22, 2005, 09:08:00 PM
The T5 5 spd pre1988 is not very strong especially if you make some HP(prolly why you couldnt get a 350 w/ the 5spd).
The cars are getting pretty old now though so you will have to expect a few problems, like sagging doors(damn they are long... and heavy), leaky t-roofs,general interior problems like cracked dashes/door panels/seat tears, rear hatch shocks prolly wont hold up the behemoth glass, hood shocks-same thing.
Definitely avoid the 2.8 v-6, poor motors when they were new, now add couple hundred thousand kilometers(yes i am Canadian)... you can imagine.
Nice thing about that gen is nearly everything is interchangeable( you can swap rear disk brakes from a 92 Iroc onto an 83 Camaro etc....
Typing this out kinda makes me want to go out and buy another one, throw in some subframe connectors, strut brace, 383, 6spd......hmmmm.... the wife would kill me if i bought another car....maybe she wont notice.....hahahaha
Good Luck, and enjoy...
Post by: thesideinguy on June 22, 2005, 09:22:00 PM
QUOTE(StrictPuppet @ Jun 22 2005, 08:19 PM)
I think you will be happy with a 3gen Camaro they are very nice cars. I bought
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Title: Trans-am / Firebird Questions.
Post by: Rylinkus on June 23, 2005, 05:42:00 PM
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Post by: Rylinkus on June 23, 2005, 05:42:00 PM
QUOTE(thesideinguy @ Jun 23 2005, 01:25 AM)
the body styles are the same.
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Title: Trans-am / Firebird Questions.
Post by: thesideinguy on June 23, 2005, 08:51:00 PM
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omfg.
they do.
i have done it my self.
they are all f- body's. 4 difrent generations, and all interchangable in its own gen.
the only thing you have to do is either cut on the tail light hole in the body to make a camaro a fire bird , or fil the cut with bondo to make a fire bird a camaro.
the body's other than that tail light hole, is exatly the same. they are interchangable. the only diference in camaro's and fire birds are bolt ons.
peroid.
i have been in f-bodys for 10 years.
heres a good site to do some reaserch if you need it. http://www.thirdgen.org/
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Title: Trans-am / Firebird Questions.
Post by: Rylinkus on June 24, 2005, 02:04:00 PM
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I thought we were saying ALL gen FBodys were interchangable, which they most certainly are not. I could not make my 95Z look like an 87 IROC without a great deal of work. As for between a Firebird/Camaro the differences are mostly cosmetic. I'm not 100% on ALL details. I know in some sister cars there will be slight gearing differences or even different suspension stiffness.
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Title: Trans-am / Firebird Questions.
Post by: thesideinguy on June 24, 2005, 05:05:00 PM
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Title: Trans-am / Firebird Questions.
Post by: Rylinkus on June 25, 2005, 08:23:00 AM
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Post by: thesideinguy on June 23, 2005, 08:51:00 PM
they do.
i have done it my self.
they are all f- body's. 4 difrent generations, and all interchangable in its own gen.
the only thing you have to do is either cut on the tail light hole in the body to make a camaro a fire bird , or fil the cut with bondo to make a fire bird a camaro.
the body's other than that tail light hole, is exatly the same. they are interchangable. the only diference in camaro's and fire birds are bolt ons.
peroid.
i have been in f-bodys for 10 years.
heres a good site to do some reaserch if you need it. http://www.thirdgen.org/
Post by: Rylinkus on June 24, 2005, 02:04:00 PM
I thought we were saying ALL gen FBodys were interchangable, which they most certainly are not. I could not make my 95Z look like an 87 IROC without a great deal of work. As for between a Firebird/Camaro the differences are mostly cosmetic. I'm not 100% on ALL details. I know in some sister cars there will be slight gearing differences or even different suspension stiffness.
Post by: thesideinguy on June 24, 2005, 05:05:00 PM
Post by: Rylinkus on June 25, 2005, 08:23:00 AM
QUOTE(thesideinguy @ Jun 25 2005, 01:16 AM)
sorry about that. and yea i do know your a mod. i've talked with you before.
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Title: Trans-am / Firebird Questions.
Post by: thesideinguy on June 25, 2005, 11:22:00 AM
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Post by: thesideinguy on June 25, 2005, 11:22:00 AM