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I've long wanted a C3 corvette, however they are too expensive, so screw it, I've been looking at alternate cars, right now I've stuck on my childhood dream car, KITT, or rather, the Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am.

I can probably afford one of these in a few months if I save up a bit, it'd be an 80's something model.

Now I am going to have to mod it, if I get one, I'm going to pain it the same color scheme as KARR, and I am going to buy a KITT replica bumper(ofcourse these things won't happen right away).

Anyone here have any experience with Firebirds? Any tips/warnings?

Warning: 5.7L V-8=pure shit stock. mod it quick so it will last longer than 70,000 miles.

My personal favourite car of all time is the 1979 Trans Am, 10th anniversary addition. The best-looking body of the models history, plus an ass-kicking horsepower uppage; course they dont compare to the first-gen ones...

The re-design in the 80's occured in 82 i think, resulting in the model that was used for KITT. Its good and sleek, and is much cheaper to buy, but if your looking for power, they significantly tone down the horsepower. Of course most people wouldnt even be able to take advantage of anything over 300 horses anyway so this is moot for most people. If you want something more affordable, the 80's ones are probably the cheapest and most-availble in the history of the trans am...i see the fucking things everywhere now. But then nothing compares to the sheer joy of cranking up the theme song to KnightRider and driving with the windows down

zombie84 wrote:The re-design in the 80's occured in 82 i think, resulting in the model that was used for KITT. Its good and sleek, and is much cheaper to buy, but if your looking for power, they significantly tone down the horpower. Of course most people wouldnt even be able to take advantage of anything over 300 horses anyway so this is moot for most people. If you want something more affordable, the 80's ones are probably the cheapest and most-availble in the history of the trans am...i see the fucking things everywhere now. But then nothing compares to the sheer joy of cranking up the theme song to KnightRider and driving with the windows down

Around 1985-1986 the horsepower ratings began going up again. My '86 IROC-Z Camaro has 265 horses, and I've heard it can out-accelerate and/or out-run the '86 Vette. I still have yet to test that claim, however, despite my dad having an '86 Vette.

At any rate, if you get an '80s Trans Am or Camaro, get one with Tuned Port Injection (TPI). It gives you a significant power boost over carburetion and throttle body injection; it's basically the same system used on most new performance cars, with some minor differences. The one downside to TPI is that it's completely computer controlled, so you might have to shell out a nice wad of cash for a new computer if the one you get with the car doesn't work properly -- the quality on refurbished engine control computers has been going downhill lately.

Also, keep an eye on the voltages. The sensors and equipment don't like over-voltages; I lost the cold start valve on my Camaro that way. Still need to find a replacement, but in the meantime it's just disconnected.

Chardok wrote:Warning: 5.7L V-8=pure shit stock. mod it quick so it will last longer than 70,000 miles.

What are you talking about? Maintained properly, the smallblock V8s will run for over 100k miles...

Chardok wrote:Warning: 5.7L V-8=pure shit stock. mod it quick so it will last longer than 70,000 miles.

Are those similar to the ones found in camaros of the same years? If so I really doubt that statement.

zombie84 wrote:The re-design in the 80's occured in 82 i think, resulting in the model that was used for KITT. Its good and sleek, and is much cheaper to buy, but if your looking for power, they significantly tone down the horpower. Of course most people wouldnt even be able to take advantage of anything over 300 horses anyway so this is moot for most people. If you want something more affordable, the 80's ones are probably the cheapest and most-availble in the history of the trans am...i see the fucking things everywhere now. But then nothing compares to the sheer joy of cranking up the theme song to KnightRider and driving with the windows down

Any Trans-Am between 1982-1992 will do as long as I can afford it, the bumpers fit on all those models according to those that sell them.

Crayz9000 wrote:

Chardok wrote:Warning: 5.7L V-8=pure shit stock. mod it quick so it will last longer than 70,000 miles.

What are you talking about? Maintained properly, the smallblock V8s will run for over 100k miles...

What about bigblock V8's?

Crayz9000 wrote:At any rate, if you get an '80s Trans Am or Camaro, get one with Tuned Port Injection (TPI). It gives you a significant power boost over carburetion and throttle body injection; it's basically the same system used on most new performance cars, with some minor differences. The one downside to TPI is that it's completely computer controlled, so you might have to shell out a nice wad of cash for a new computer if the one you get with the car doesn't work properly -- the quality on refurbished engine control computers has been going downhill lately.

Yeah well I won't be getting a Camaro, one of my best friends has a Camaro(-89 and he's got TPI on that one as well), my cousin has a -76 Corvette, so I'm going for the Trans-Am, also I think they look nicer than the camaro's when you put the KITT bumper on, though neither stands up to a 'vette(this applies to C3's only in my opinion)

*You want a CJ-7...you want a CJ-7!*

You mean one of these?
http://www.limit4x4.com/shopinfo/images/cj.jpg

No offence but I'd rather continue driving my old 1989 Mazda 626.

I like this one better:

Go Japanese economy car! Whoo Mazda!

The Aliens wrote:Go Japanese economy car! Whoo Mazda!

Mazda? hell no..go Toyota, nice reliable, economic motoring...of cource you do run the risk of dying of boardom at the wheel.

Ok, I've been looking for cars and I might have come across a very good opportunity, I've found a 1989 Trans Am for 8600USD, this is probably not what you americans'd consider cheap, however here it's quite a bargain, here's a picture:


The specs, translating from swedish so it might be a bit 'unconventional':
-305 TPI
-TH 700 Transmission
-Diff
-Targa-top
-AC
-Power windows
-Power Mirrors
-Power Lock
-Moroso chrome valve covers
-Tilt steeringwheel
-GTA rims
-Cruise Control
-Black exterior
-Black interior
-74,564 miles

The seller claims everything is in top condition and he's selling it because he needs money since he's just started a new company that deals in auto parts.

What do you think?

sweeeeeeet. at least on the outside it looks good. Hey, doesnt gas cost around 2 euros a litre in Finland?

Col. Crackpot wrote:sweeeeeeet. at least on the outside it looks good. Hey, doesnt gas cost around 2 euros a litre in Finland?

1.085€

74,000 miles? That is a pretty decent deal for the price you gave. Most of the lower-priced ones you'll find have over 100k miles on them and need a nice bit of overhauling.

1989 was a pretty good year, too. They'd worked a lot of the kinks out compared to the earlier systems (the cold start valve for one; it's not a separate valve on the '89 but rather uses the main injectors).

His Divine Shadow wrote:

Col. Crackpot wrote:sweeeeeeet. at least on the outside it looks good. Hey, doesnt gas cost around 2 euros a litre in Finland?

1.085€

Ouch. It is $0.75 a litre here in Canada. It's even cheaper in the U.S.

Enigma wrote:

His Divine Shadow wrote:

Col. Crackpot wrote:sweeeeeeet. at least on the outside it looks good. Hey, doesnt gas cost around 2 euros a litre in Finland?

1.085€

Ouch. It is $0.75 a litre here in Canada. It's even cheaper in the U.S.

i paid $1.69/gallon yesterday. $14 is good for a week in my car and i drive at least 250 miles a week.

<--- I gotta buy premium for the subaru or it knocks like Janet Jackson. 1.81USD a gallon. bout....11.00 a week. (I fill up once every two weeks, getting about 420 Mi. to a tank

Yeah. Well Chardok i drive like an asshole so thats likely why my gas mileage isn't as good as you. Next to So. Cal, the Northeast is the worst place to drive. we are all red light running, speeding pricks who drive in the breakdown lane and cut you off mercelissly.

Col. Crackpot wrote:Yeah. Well Chardok i drive like an asshole so thats likely why my gas mileage isn't as good as you. Next to So. Cal, the Northeast is the worst place to drive. we are all red light running, speeding pricks who drive in the breakdown lane and cut you off mercelissly.

It's not that I don't WANT to go fast. MY car just WON'T, (know what I mean?)

His Divine Shadow wrote:

Chardok wrote:Warning: 5.7L V-8=pure shit stock. mod it quick so it will last longer than 70,000 miles.

Are those similar to the ones found in camaros of the same years? If so I really doubt that statement.

All you 350 touter must be on crack. Those things eat fucking intake manifold gaskets for breakfast. and the blow rear mains like cheap prostitutes. My advice: Replace the fibre IM Gasket with a semi-metallic and quick. and get high-quality aftermarket oil seals and install them. (While you're at it you may want to just plug the whole motor, since it's going to be out anyway.) unless you LIKE buying a quart of oil every week, or relish the thought of replacing it in a few short years.

(My advice: Fit a baby V-8 in it. 49.L 301 V-8. What a great motor.)

Chardok wrote:All you 350 touter must be on crack. Those things eat fucking intake manifold gaskets for breakfast. and the blow rear mains like cheap prostitutes. My advice: Replace the fibre IM Gasket with a semi-metallic and quick. and get high-quality aftermarket oil seals and install them. (While you're at it you may want to just plug the whole motor, since it's going to be out anyway.) unless you LIKE buying a quart of oil every week, or relish the thought of replacing it in a few short years.

(My advice: Fit a baby V-8 in it. 49.L 301 V-8. What a great motor.)

Look, I've LIVED around Chevy's smallblook V8s my entire life. My dad (who worked as a professional mechanic a number of years ago) basically only uses GM vehicles; we have exactly one Ford product, a 1974 Lincoln, and that's it.

And what I've learned about the GM smallblocks from the 1970s into the early 1990s is that if you build and treat them right, they'll run for many years without much trouble. Sure, if you have a fiber gasket you'll want to replace it with a semi-metallic gasket. But if you built the engine yourself, then WTF was the fiber gasket doing there in the first place?

My point is, if your experience with GM smallblocks is that they eat intake manifold gaskets for breakfsast, then you are either not putting your engine together right or you're abusing it.