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I'm looking for another firebird to play with. I'm interested in this 78 Formula. It has a little bit of rust as shown in these pics, but overall looks like a pretty solid little car for it's age and location (OHIO). Sounds like it was a seasonal car and garaged for the most part. Here's the link to the auction and additional pics of the rust areas.
Here's the auction link & the other spot:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...sPageName=WDVW
Dang! There is a T/A exactly like that one in my neighborhood. And I mean exactly like that!! Same hood, paint job, rims, and everything else. The only rust on this one is one is the roof and that's cuase it's been sitting out in this guys front yard uncovered for a very long time! I guess that means this one is a '78 too then.
Well good luck with it! It is definitely a sharp car!
yeah what he said Oh Boy for a minit I thought that was one of the birds I use to own had check .It wasn't but It was cancering in the same place my did down on the bottom I ended up replacing the hole quarter panel I would shy away but on the other hand that formula is other wise a nise looking car you might want a body person check it out and see how much damage there is dam jeri what is this I use to have three bird at one time Im down to one It still up in wasington this summer I got go after it
John, you're a nut. lol.
Alrighty then, here's the REAL question. I'm waffling on changing up the Bird i've got which is why i've been looking a bit at some that aren't as pretty as mine...I love Dave Severenson's quote..."Anybody can restore a classic, takes a man to cut one up."
I bought the T/A right where you suggested Techie...it came from New Mexico. The dry climate is exactly why I bought one there. I really wanted to start with a good base...and I paid a bit too much for her ha ha! I bought the T/A fully intending to really make it mine...custom everything. But now that i've had her for awhile...and i've played around with ideas...well, lol, i'm not sure i'm "man" enough to change her up much.
Have you guys ever gotten nervous about changing up an unmolested car? Have you had reservations or doubts about doing it? How did you get over it?
A good thing you could do, if you can go see the car, do a bondo nock test around the heavy rust area's on the car, and also, in the door openings, on the bottom corners, rear and front, they tend to rust there, which it seems that's where the car needs work. Also, take a computer hard drive magnet, carfully, hold it a few inches from the metal surface, hold it and move it around tightly in your hand, if the magnet lets up, that's bondo in that spot. DO NOT let go of the magnet, you will find yourself paying the owner for dent removal because it will snap at the metal and could very well den't it because they are very very strong. Also, don't hold them near TV's or computer monitors ( CRT monitors ) without a degausse function, it will permanently magnatize it and will show multi color around the edges but, it's fun ( turns entire screen into a rainbow whail still showing the picture ) as long as the tv or monitor has a degausse function. The function can be reconized with the humm heard 1ce the appliance is turned on, that discharges magnatism and static electricity.
every one but once you get in to it the butterflys go away and then anticipation sets in :p :D :LOL:Quote:
Originally posted by Jerilynne1965
John, you're a nut. lol.
Alrighty then, here's the REAL question. I'm waffling on changing up the Bird i've got which is why i've been looking a bit at some that aren't as pretty as mine...I love Dave Severenson's quote..."Anybody can restore a classic, takes a man to cut one up."
I bought the T/A right where you suggested Techie...it came from New Mexico. The dry climate is exactly why I bought one there. I really wanted to start with a good base...and I paid a bit too much for her ha ha! I bought the T/A fully intending to really make it mine...custom everything. But now that i've had her for awhile...and i've played around with ideas...well, lol, i'm not sure i'm "man" enough to change her up much.
Have you guys ever gotten nervous about changing up an unmolested car? Have you had reservations or doubts about doing it? How did you get over it?
Think of how many '81 T/A T tops with the turbo 301 there are, unmolested or restored, making 1 custom won't hurt.Quote:
Originally posted by Jerilynne1965
John, you're a nut. lol.
Alrighty then, here's the REAL question. I'm waffling on changing up the Bird i've got which is why i've been looking a bit at some that aren't as pretty as mine...I love Dave Severenson's quote..."Anybody can restore a classic, takes a man to cut one up."
I bought the T/A right where you suggested Techie...it came from New Mexico. The dry climate is exactly why I bought one there. I really wanted to start with a good base...and I paid a bit too much for her ha ha! I bought the T/A fully intending to really make it mine...custom everything. But now that i've had her for awhile...and i've played around with ideas...well, lol, i'm not sure i'm "man" enough to change her up much.
Have you guys ever gotten nervous about changing up an unmolested car? Have you had reservations or doubts about doing it? How did you get over it?
If that's the only rust on the car then you can buy new replacement metal or the rocker panels and 1/4 panels there. I would check it out in person though, I looked at over 20 cars here and wen't back to look at most of them twice and the first time it looked alright and then I went back again and looked over it again and better and noticed way more than it looked before.
Matt...ha ha...I guess that's the thing...the 301 Turbo doesn't get any respect...and...well...I suppose that it shouldn't from a performance standpoint because the thing is a freaking Boat ANCHOR lol! However, there's this part of me that's wondering...ok, 10 years from now, will it (the turbo t/a) be more interesting because it was an experiment or will the 403 ALWAYS be where it's at for an original unmolested T/A? I just can't imagine that there are very many Turbo T/A's left like mine...only 2000 made...blah blah blah...so...how do you decide what is chopping up material and what's best left unmolested? That...is the question. ha ha!
Denny ~ Funny you mention the pencil & paper...I actually have done drawings...& i've got samples and notebooks full of rims, paint, flames, (i'm actually playing with the avatar you made me for my hood bird), fabrics, engine info etc...I'm not sure I would actually play with the build/body of the car...I've never seen it done with a second gen T/A...but i'm open to new ideas ha ha! ;)
John...too bad you mentioned the snowshoes idea...now i'm gonna weigh 400 lbs...ha ha! I'm totally addicted...who would have thought, hot chocolate, whipped cream and peppermint schnapps!!! Seriously...absolutely yummy...i've got you to thank...lol...thanks! (hey, it's my thread, i can hijack it can't i?) :rolleyes: :p
If ur real affraid of doing anything, keep the 301 on a stand in the garage and don't do anything to the car that cannot be reversed. You could upgrade the 301's turbo if you wanted. 2000 T/A 301 T tops cars were made, probably about 50% of that number remains on the road in stock form, the rest are probably ither been destroyed ( in crashes, sent threw the crusher or other ) and the rest are customized in some way.
Glad you like them they kinda warmed ya up didn't they yep them some good stuff hey went and dug these photos of my brid I have up north I stll have to do get I really have way to many toys:LOL: :LOL: :LOL:
I was kinda thinkin that too...an with what Denny is thinkin about gettin a parts car so I can save my original parts...lol...but now that i'm actually saying that out loud...i'd basically be using the frame of my current car & storing the makings of almost an entire T/A "just in case" I want to put it back to it's original state...Now that I actually say it/write it...it sounds a little insane/impractical/paranoid ha ha...I know that there are actually wierdo's like me out there that WANT a 301 Turbo engine to stick in thier otherwise perfect T/A...why? I have no idea b/c it's slow...and if MINE ever blew...I would not find another one to replace it...OK, I just gotta get past the 1st cut right?Quote:
Originally posted by Matt167
If ur real affraid of doing anything, keep the 301 on a stand in the garage and don't do anything to the car that cannot be reversed. You could upgrade the 301's turbo if you wanted. 2000 T/A 301 T tops cars were made, probably about 50% of that number remains on the road in stock form, the rest are probably ither been destroyed ( in crashes, sent threw the crusher or other ) and the rest are customized in some way.
What's a logical order to work in when you want to change up a car completely...interior, engine, paint...uh, is suspension or frame a consideration? anything i should be thinking about there?
Super nice T/A John! Was that an 80 or 81? Was it a Turbo? I don't see a shaker...nice Cragars too ha ha! So 80's!!!!
hey jeri post a good side to front pic and what color and I can see what I can come up with on your T/A with photoshop
NO Fair!!!! You should have a limit! lol!!! Jeff says I can only have 1 ha ha!!!
Ok, so i've got another question for you...see the nose on your T/A...that's what mine looks like...An what I REALLY like is the nose on the 78's...it looks like it's growling ha ha! So I really would like to play Frankenstein and put a different nose on my 81...is that a bad idea?
Jeri, you really don't need to speed a lot to get a good project car. Because every Studebaker I've ever seen in Michigan is a rust bucket, I found one on Auto Trader that was in Lake Tahoe, CA. I'd look in the Southeast or Southwest. If you are looking for something to paint, a P.O.S. car shouldn't be that hard to find.
My Daytona (rolling chassis, no engine or trans) only cost me $880 plus the cost to go out and pick it up. I was able to bring the car back with a Ford Ranger and a tow dolly.
After seeing the ad in the Auto Trader, I contacted him and had some pictures of it e-mailed to me. I was happy with what I saw and we negotiated a purchase price. When I requested the pictures, I specifically requested pictures of the floors and rocker panels.
If you get a roller, you can put in any engine and transmission package you want. Get a base Firebird or an Esprite and I'm sure it'll be dirt cheap and you won't feel bad cutting it up.
Collector Car Trader
It's a 81 well what happen to the shaker um um ya see It's kinda like this I was just cruzing along this road one night at a pretty good click when I all of a sudden I thought I was at K-mart cause I saw the blue lite special in my rear view and they said I was alluding well that what that green paper said :LOL: :LOL: :LOL: and you can probably guess the rest of the story Oh ya I had to relace the hood with a stocker the T/A hood to much money had to pay big fine:( :rolleyes: :LOL: :LOL:Quote:
Originally posted by Jerilynne1965
Super nice T/A John! Was that an 80 or 81? Was it a Turbo? I don't see a shaker...nice Cragars too ha ha! So 80's!!!!
80's :confused: I was running cragar SS's in the 70's :3dSMILE:Quote:
Originally posted by Jerilynne1965
Super nice T/A John! Was that an 80 or 81? Was it a Turbo? I don't see a shaker...nice Cragars too ha ha! So 80's!!!!
As for the rust, I will agree with tech, and as much as yours is unmolested and most 2nd gen birds are still affordable I'd put the "turbo" up and try out everything you've been thinking of on another one. :toocool:
Question....."Why were the turbo lights put on that car" ?
Answer........"So you could tell the turbo was working" :LOL: :LOL:
sorry but I test test drove a new one and was disappointed to say the least, and I had the money to buy one :CRY:
Hey Jeri.......Don't buy that 'bird you posted a pic. of, someone has done an improper repair to it that I can see already, and more is to be found I'm positive.
I'm not sure this will do it...but here ya go John...
'78 Firebird Roller
This is outside Detroit. You might want check it out. $850
Oooopppssss! I forgot to attatch pics...here ya go...hey Viking, Swifster, Biskit...thanks! Denney...yep, got it covered...
John, i'm interested in doing it black with a "ghost flame" bird OR a version of my "jeri's bird" which i've attatched to this post...I've been looking at versions of black with say a midnight blue or purple or even green in it...what do ya think?
Swifster...my world has obviously been severely limited by EBAY ha ha...thanks for looking...i'm gonna call them!
Biskit...I have no idea how you know that...but I appreciate it anyway! Smooch! ;)
Ha Ha! That's a good one! So, i'm looking at this 77 Bird with no motor or tranny that Swifter~Tom posted from Collector Car Trader...it's about 3 hours from me...i'm gonna give them a call an see if they still have it. I would like to lessen the chances of making the drive for nothing...(Jeff's gonna kill me!)Quote:
Originally posted by viking
80's :confused: I was running cragar SS's in the 70's :3dSMILE:
As for the rust, I will agree with tech, and as much as yours is unmolested and most 2nd gen birds are still affordable I'd put the "turbo" up and try out everything you've been thinking of on another one. :toocool:
Question....."Why were the turbo lights put on that car" ?
Answer........"So you could tell the turbo was working" :LOL: :LOL:
sorry but I test test drove a new one and was disappointed to say the least, and I had the money to buy one :CRY:
What QUESTIONS should I ask them??? Other than the obvious...can ya send additional pics, is there any rust, has it been wrecked, what's the VIN, Interior condition/useable parts etc....
Quote:
Originally posted by Jerilynne1965
John, you're a nut. lol.
Have you guys ever gotten nervous about changing up an unmolested car? Have you had reservations or doubts about doing it? How did you get over it?
When I first got my sub our plan was going to throw a motor in it and it was gonna be my car when I turned 16, but turned out the car was a rust bucket. Do I ever regret cutting the car up? Hell nope. Was it a very rare car on top of that? Yeap. Did I really actually go through 3 cars to get the chop right, fixing my mistakes, etc. You betcha. Was it a whole lot of fun, yeap.
If you don't cut it up, someone just is going to down the road. Rust only gets worse. Do what you want, build that picture you have in your head.
Okay I should of wated for a color Oh well here the frist
Hey John your a gem!!! That hot pinky red is kinda cool...an how bout those rims! I'm thinkin' something like Centerline Auto Drag Satins or Polish...check it out...whaddaya think?
Hey John nice PS, but pick one exhaust system or the other :confused:Quote:
Originally posted by john gemmer
Okay I should of wated for a color Oh well here the frist
hurray I just made 1000 post **) **) Okay jeri got your im put I will work on it tonight Probably wont post it till tomorrow
I like It let me see what i can do:p :D :toocool:Quote:
Originally posted by Jerilynne1965
Hey John your a gem!!! That hot pinky red is kinda cool...an how bout those rims! I'm thinkin' something like Centerline Auto Drag Satins or Polish...check it out...whaddaya think?
Oh come on now :LOL: :LOL: I said it was in the rough :LOL: :LOL: :LOL:Quote:
Originally posted by viking
Hey John nice PS, but pick one exhaust system or the other :confused:
I know its a little late in the game, but I saw you mention the 403 a while back. If the TA your looking at has the towing package, dont throw the motor too far. It has been rumored that some of the 403s had solid mains in the trans-ams. If you find it does, I Will Personally drive across 1/2 the country to get that motor!:D
Hey Jeri, I know that from looking at the pic. you posted and 31 years of shooting paint with cert.'s up the wazoo.
That firebird logo you have would look sweet airbrushed onto your hood if you made it large enough for the wings to sweep thru half the doors and up on the roof to the head.
I agree...that would look incredible...pretty much what I was thinkin...Denny reworked that pic for me....somebody posted this pic a few months ago and I saved it because I liked the flames (hadn't seen any like em b4)...I think something like this would work for my bird...
How much rust is too much,well look at my pics in the gallery.Depends on how much repair u can and would like to do?2 floorboards 2 rocker panels 2 inner rockers and 2 inner cowel pieces only cost me 200 bucks. removin the roof and alot of labor but it can be done!I dont want togo that indepth again and the next project I get will be as rust free as possible!but it can be done just depends on what tickles ur fancy!!and by the way rust dont tickle me fancy anymore.This truck was almost given to me because of rust ,many said it was beyond hope!Hoooah more american iron saved
Ok, so Shawnlee has convinced me with pics....a BIG caution on the rust...ha ha...I wouldn't want to have to go through what you have on the truck...geez...you had/have your work cut out for ya there...More power to ya...but i'm convinced that I DON'T want to do that! I don't wanna find any Frankenstein patches over rust in the floor after I pull seats or carpet...yuk-a-doodie...I'm all for some elbow grease...but that doesn't look like fun at all. :rolleyes: :p
well jeri here's a green and gold one I'm still working on a purple one I had to take my wife to hospital this morring bad migrain ben there since 230 am and I is tired need sleep :p
WOW! You're good John!!! How'd you get a Turbo T/A at that angle for the pic? I hadn't actually thought of a two tone...I was thinkin of black paint with gold or green or midnite blue flecks in it...but I kinda like the two tone too...it's a cool look!
Hey, i'm sorry about your wife being so sick! Migranes are nasty buggers...I've been fightin something called "cluster headaches" for a couple of years, i'm just about ready to try the preventative meds...but they can be so strong & nasty with side effects too. Hope she was able to get some relief & you some sleep! Thinkin of ya! Jeri