Opinion on keeping numbers motor.

[1980Esprit]

Hey everyone! Havn`t posted in awhile and decided to get some feedback again. We have a 1980 Indy pace car with number matching 301 Turbo. (Looked at the numbers, motor stamped 2AL141370, VIN 2X87TAL141370) We have all the paper work, 2 build sheets, everything original in drivetrain and body, a bit of rust coming. (Only has new windshield, tires, fluids).

My father and I want to paint it black with the silver eagle and have the silver pinstipe. We are going to be keeping this car for our lifetimes and probably pass the car down the family. I am 16 so I will have it for a long time yet. We have a new Pontiac 406 we are building and were wondering if it would be worth while to keep the 301T. It is leaking like a sieve, coolant, PS fluid, and oil. We do not have anywhere we could store so would have to find someone to store it for us.

If we kept it we would probably do a mild rebuild like new oil pump, water pump, bearings, rings, seals, gaskets and paint. I know the value of these vehicles are starting to go up on these years of TA, and only have 2 years of production for TTA. We are also just going to paint it so we could always change the color back in many years time if we wanted to sell it again (However I doubt it unless the price was right)

What are your opinions?

 

[92 Sunbird LE]

Only 5700 1980 Indy Turbo Trans Ams were built.

I would keep all the original parts somewhere safe and the Engine with oil in the cylinders to preserve the motor.


The 301 Turbo Forged Pistons are no longer available, ( haven't been for years) so they would have to be custom made if the motor needs a rebuild.

Someday the car will be worth a ton of money, with all the original parts.

Haggerty current value : 1980 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Special Ed Y84 Turbo Coupe $16,867

Look what these 2 sold for :

http://www.rkmotorscharlotte.com/sa...ntiac-Firebird-Trans-Am-Turbo-Pace-Car/132960

http://www.rkmotorscharlotte.com/sa...ac-Firebird-Trans-Am-Turbo-Pace-Car/132636#!/

Its your choice ................

Doug in P.R.

 

[92 Sunbird LE]

More Info...............

http://fbodywarehouse.com/registry/1980/1980-pace.html

Price of the Decals alone: http://www.phoenixgraphix.com/transam/1980pc.php

Doug in P.R.

 

[Kevlar]

There may well come a day when you will say one of two things;

1. "If only we had kept the original parts for this, it would be worth a fortune now!"

2. "I'm so glad we kept the original parts for this, it's worth a fortune!"

We live and die by the choices we make. The choices we make today will affect our future.

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[1980Esprit]

That was my instinct but had insisted in getting advice from others as well. I am just stuck on whether or not to change the color of the body. It is going to have to be painted, but unsure if we really wanted the pace car colors. I know we had chose to do black with silver. Interior the same color. I know in time that we could always paint it white again, because the paint is reversible. Selling original parts is not. This car has 90k miles, and not going to be driven on highways a lot. Usually just around the town.

What about replacing body panels? I am sure that all the panels are stamped with the vin number and to be a 100% complete numbers matching car. Our door has rot in the corner but will cut the corner out. Trunk lid has rust on it but probably reskin it to remove any. Will keep turbo rims, however, we have snowflakes on it currently. We were wanting to have a shaker hood on it, but thinking should keep turbo hood.

Any idea for how much the 301T would cost to rebuild? I am sure our 400 is right around 7-8k in parts and machining. All assembly by us except cam bearings.

PS: Our car is an original Canadian car from Lethbridge, Alberta. There was 5700 produced, but if I remember from reading somewhere that there was 500 from Canada sold. (Fairly rare ) Could anyone check if this is true? Or how many from Canada had been sold?


Thanks.
Rylen

 

[Too Fast]

I don't know how many were sold in Canada.

I think you should keep the original engine, but install the Pontiac 406 for way more power and fun then the 301t will give you.

Since it is a pace car, I'd also keep that look, since that is way more rare than the standard shaker hood cars, no matter how much more fun the shakers are visually.

 

[melsg5]

No body panels have VIN numbers.

 

[1980Esprit]

Sorry, I did not mean vin stamped onto panels. I was unsure, but thought they have stamped a serial number of some sort onto the trunk lid, door, etc.. to see if original. If not would it hurt to replace the door, rather than repair the rot? and same for trunk lid. I liked the birds on the turbo hood better.

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[melsg5]

No VINS on trunk lid, door, etc., but there may be decals of various types with bulld info. or tire pressure, etc.

 

[92 Sunbird LE]

http://www.vintagevehicleservices.com/options.html

http://www.gmcanada.com/gm/english/corporate/about/contactus/overview

Doug in P.R.

 

[1980Esprit]

Thanks for the input! I`ll definitely be keeping the motor and everything else. The car has 90k miles, power windows, locks, steering, power antenna, trunk release, block heater, rear window defrost, AC, 3.08, 301T, th350, am/fm radio, audio boost, matching numbers, PHS documentation, 2 build sheets, original dealer decals, window stickers, has original spare tire and jack, 3 owner.

Going to restore it back to original, not going to mess around with anything. Other than motor and rims (Still keep them)

 

[92 Sunbird LE]

Build sheet " should " be on top of the gas tank or in the interior somewhere.

Keep us posted on your Resto progress............and thanks for " saving" it back to original.

( I would of............... plenty of other cars around to hop up)

Doug in P.R.

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[1980Esprit]

Here should be some pictures. I will add me more if it works.

 

[1980Esprit]

Here are some more

 

[1980Esprit]

continued.

 

[1980Esprit]

Picture with the car and truck are both mine. Truck is mine fully, and car is ownership with father but definitely spent money on the car. 1992 Silverado 350 W/323,000 KM. Car at 91,000.

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[melsg5]

Very nice project. The prior owner kept his tuneup records by marking the car! LOL

 

[92 Sunbird LE]

Wow! car was driven hard to be a rare one...... got your work ahead of you.

Truck is like mine ( 90) , just about 100K on mine , keep up with the maintence, it will last to over 300K miles easy on the original drivetrain. One guy got a million miles on his GMT400 . ( thats what the truck series is called)

Great pics , typical GM motor , leaks everywhere......just use Permatex with the gaskets when you rebuild it.

Doug in P.R.

 

[1980Esprit]

Atleast floors are in good shape, no rust... Because of all the oil that has been thrown up onto the floor pans. I`ll see about getting pictures of the mess later today.

 

[1980Esprit]

Here is the undercarriage of the car. Thinking if we are low on oil we know where we could use some lol. Positive way of thinking is that it has stopped a majority of rusting if there had been any from occurring. When spring comes we will wash all underneath. Anything to watch out for? We will cover the distributer and carb to protect from water.