What to do? '78 or '87 ?

[_87TA_]

So I'm going to be getting $8K pretty soon and I was going to buy LSx and parts for my '87 TA. BUT while searching craigslist for TA's to salvage from I came across a '78 TA (1 of many dream cars) for $6K. Here is the ad details(pictures atchd):

I am selling a 1978 T/A with a 400 6.6 w/automatic transmision. Only 92536 original miles. Listed below is work that was done last summer. She is street legal and driveable and passed inspection. Does need some cosmetic tlc. Mainly interior and paint. Has straight body with very little deep rust. Only two spots which are the typical bottom front fender. Rear seats are almost perfect condition. Asking $6000. or B/O. Please only serious inquiries. Thank you.

TUNE-UP:
cap
rotor
plugs
wires
all filters incl. oil
all new vaccum lines
EGR Valve
Streering wheel horn kit
All new fluids
BRAKES
Rear drums
Shoes
Hardware
Adj. kit
Wheel cylinders
FRONTS
Calipers
Pads
Rotors
Inner/outer bearings&seals
SWAY BAR LINK KIT& BUSHING KIT
POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE
EXTERIOR DS DOOR HANDLE
NEW CENTER CONSOLE(needsprime and paint to match)
NEW TRUNK SEAL GASKET AND DOOR WEATHER SEALS
HAVE T-TOP GASKETS FOR FISHER T-TOPS. (need to be installed)

NEEDS:
Carpet
Headliner
Stereo system
Front end alignment
Rear main seal

Extras Included:
Additional Brushed Aluminum Dash Face w/ Gauge Rings
Heat/A/C Control Cluster
Gauge Clusters (2clusters = 5 gauges)
T-Top Gaskets/Bags
Owners Manual in Plastic
Chilton Repair/Tune-Up Guide

What would you all recommend?
I email'd the seller asking for more pics and info.

[MyFirstZ]

over him 5,500 and call it a day i love that style as well.

[Blacdout96]

Id go throught the underside of that car with a fine toothed comb before thinking of handing the cashola over, mainly the rear sub frame. my 0.02

[Frosty]

Upgrade the '87. I'm biased though, most 2ndgen's make me want to stab my eyes out with a rusty screwdriver because they're so hideous looking....except a split bumper of course

[Green_Phoenix_LT1]

I vote the '78 if the car is in as good condition as the owner says

[Untamed]

If the 78 only has surface rust that can be removed and dealt with, and the frame is straight, and the major components are there and salvageable and....

Only buy the 78 if it can run and drive today. You will want to drive it while you work on it.

Keep the 87 and enjoy the differences between the two as you drive them.

[_87TA_]

So I got more pics and will post them when off work. The rust is mostly surface rust with 1 maybe 2 holes. Which is fine with me b/c my 87 needs a new drvr floor pan pretty much. I do plan on keeping the 87 no matter what. It does run and drive.

Like I said I will post pics after work 7pm-ish

[7998]

I vote for the 87 and I'm the biggest 2nd Gen fan.
And heres why.
This is how I read the add, Bold is mine.

I am selling a 1978 T/A with a 400 6.6 w/automatic transmision. Only 92536 original milesAtleast thats what the odometer says. Listed below is work that was done last summerBasically I did all the easy things that I could do with the parts bought over the counter at PepBoys. She is street legal and driveable and passed inspection. Does need some cosmetic tlc. Mainly interior and paint Mainly a entire restoration. Has straight body with very little deep rustThe5 year old backyard bondo paint job is still hiding the true story. Only two spots which are the typical bottom front fender. Rear seats are almost perfect condition. Asking $6000. or B/O. Please only serious inquiries Please don't call me to tell me how I must be hi or something . Thank you.

TUNE-UP:
cap $10
rotor $5
plugs $16
wires $40 (Had to have the 8.8mm)
all filters incl. oil $10
all new vaccum lines $10
EGR Valve $5
Streering wheel horn kit $15
All new fluids $25
BRAKES
Rear drums $100
Shoes $20
Hardware $10
Adj. kit $?????
Wheel cylinders $20
FRONTS
Calipers $80
Pads $20
Rotors $80
Inner/outer bearings&seals $30
SWAY BAR LINK KIT& BUSHING KIT $20
POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE $20
EXTERIOR DS DOOR HANDLE $5
NEW CENTER CONSOLE(needsprime and paint to match) $5
NEW TRUNK SEAL GASKET AND DOOR WEATHER SEALS $ Found in trunk
HAVE T-TOP GASKETS FOR FISHER T-TOPS. (need to be installed) $ See above
Grand total for above mini restoration and being generous $546.
$546+$1500 car equals $1946

NEEDS: A whole restoration
Carpet
Headliner
Stereo system
Front end alignment
Rear main seal

Extras Included:
Additional Brushed Aluminum Dash Face w/ Gauge Rings
Heat/A/C Control Cluster
Gauge Clusters (2clusters = 5 gauges)
T-Top Gaskets/Bags
Owners Manual in Plastic
Chilton Repair/Tune-Up Guide
^Total value $5^

I know its not 1995 and 2nd Gen T/A and Formulas are quite collectible but this one seems like a rat and $6-8k buys pretty nice one.
Maybe I'm wrong but I owned quite a few 2nd Gens and while I don't claim to be an expert I will say I am very familar with them.

[_87TA_]

Oh yeah and another reason I'm not too worried about rust is my roommate is ase certified in body repair and knows a bit about it.

[_87TA_]

Originally Posted by 7998

I know its not 1995 and 2nd Gen T/A and Formulas are quite collectible but this one seems like a rat and $6-8k buys pretty nice one.
Maybe I'm wrong but I owned quite a few 2nd Gens and while I don't claim to be an expert I will say I am very familar with them.

I have found others but this is the only reply I've gotten. Do you know of any around, that fit your criteria?

[91chevywt]

The term "Needs an alignment" is something you want to stay away from in a used car. It could literally mean anything. He's probably saying the car doesn't go down the road straight..which could be for a number of reasons including a massive wreck or just worn out tie rod ends. You'd be buying a mystery car. And at $6000 it would be a pretty expensive shot in the dark. Believe me, i'm speaking from experience. I've made this mistake.

It's better to buy an honest car with a little rust and a complete knowledge of its life, instead of buying a car that looks good from 10 feet away and discovering the frame was fixed with bondo. This happened to me on a 2nd gen and I got burned. Learn from my mistake.

[maroman88]

u have ur car and u already no wat it needs, no surprises, mod up that 3rd gen!

[CHRIS67]

I got to say you have to follow your dream or will always regret not doing so, go with the 78 if that is what you like. Maybe you can't do everything you want to fix it up but once it is yours take your time and restore or mod it when you can.

[7998]

Originally Posted by Iceman_TA

I have found others but this is the only reply I've gotten. Do you know of any around, that fit your criteria?

Ebay, patience, and cash is your friend.
By ebay I mean all online classifieds.
If a 77-78 T/A is your dream car there are better examples to be had for the kind of money that guy is asking. That car looks like a $2500 car all day.
It needs body work, a whole interior, the rear main is leaking,etc....
Its real easy to wrap $10k up in a 2nd Gen in body work and interior alone. I would rather not admit on a public forum exactly how I know that.
Screw it I'll show you what a $17,000+ 79 Camaro looks like.


Thats new 1/4's new lowers, new sub-frame, front-end, Z28 springs, paint. interior 100% redone, and it ran high 14's. and thats not including the car itself.

[//<86TA>\\]

i would run away from the 2rd gen really fast, sounds like a potential rust bucket

[_87TA_]

Not to be the ******* or anything but why do people constantly say "run away" "dont bother" "not worth it" then turn around and praise people who do have "rust bucket'd" "almost dead" cars and make them into pieces of work. You have to start somewhere... I'm not downgrading any of yalls responses but i see this a lot. people who talk down bad looking cars, it's quite discouraging... this is how/why so many potential cars get crushed/scraped.


On another note here are the pictures i was sent:
















and to compare it to my current project (87):

[//<86TA>\\]

Originally Posted by Iceman_TA

Not to be the ******* or anything but why do people constantly say "run away" "dont bother" "not worth it" then turn around and praise people who do have "rust bucket'd" "almost dead" cars and make them into pieces of work. You have to start somewhere... I'm not downgrading any of yalls responses but i see this a lot. people who talk down bad looking cars, it's quite discouraging... this is how/why so many potential cars get crushed/scraped.


On another note here are the pictures i was sent:















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i stand by what i said, but its your money. Honestly, you can get a really nice car for 6000, 2nd or 3rd or 4th gen. that 2nd gen look rough for that kind of money

the 87 looks a tad rough too. what the underside of the car look like?

[7998]

Its not that anyone is talking you out of restoring a car. Its just that you posted a $2500 car that someone is asking $6000 and asked if it is worth it.
My opinion and knowledge of what it would take to make that car a winner, no its not worth it. Not to me atleast but thats my opinion and you know what they say about opinions.

You seem set on buying it. Go for it, its not my money. At the end of the day it is worth what someone is willing to pay for it and your willing to pay $6000 for it so I guess thats what its worth. No animosity and good luck.

[1QWIKBIRD]

I would concentrate/focus your efforts (time, money, space, patience) on one project at a time. Having two projects going simultaneously will beat the strongest of people into the ground and you'll end up with 2 projects that suffer. If by some chance you do have the resources to feed 2 beasts, chances are that both will still fall short in one area or another. There's a reason full on restorations/restifications cost so much and take so much time. I'd say pick one and give it 100% of your attention and resources.

I don't know if the price on the 78 is fair or not, but it seems on the high side of things because it really does need a full redo, exterior, interior, suspension and maybe drivetrain? You could easily put another 6K into the 78 even doing a lot of work yourself. And then what happens to the 87? How much time do you really have to pour into these two cars?

Not busting nuts, believe me. The 70 Nova in my sig has been out of paint for 6 or 7 years, suspension is done, motor is done, all it needs is some odds and ends and put the interior in. And I still can't find the time, energy to finish it up. The Firechicken seems to suck the life out of me every chance it gets.

Good Luck with the decision.....but my advice is to pick one.......

[WildBillyT]

Originally Posted by Iceman_TA

Not to be the ******* or anything but why do people constantly say "run away" "dont bother" "not worth it" then turn around and praise people who do have "rust bucket'd" "almost dead" cars and make them into pieces of work. You have to start somewhere... I'm not downgrading any of yalls responses but i see this a lot. people who talk down bad looking cars, it's quite discouraging... this is how/why so many potential cars get crushed/scraped.

Real simple. That car definetly has potential but it is not worth $6000. Sure, the blue paint looks OK but not good enough to stay on the car. So that's out. Plus the drivetrain probably needs a complete freshening. If you are serious about it, buy a spot-rot and carefully use it all over the car. That blue paint could be hiding a lot of flaws covered by bondo and crap work.

[Tru2Chevy]

I wouldn't touch that '78 for the price he's asking.

- Justin

[91chevywt]

Originally Posted by Iceman_TA

Not to be the ******* or anything but why do people constantly say "run away" "dont bother" "not worth it" then turn around and praise people who do have "rust bucket'd" "almost dead" cars and make them into pieces of work. You have to start somewhere... I'm not downgrading any of yalls responses but i see this a lot. people who talk down bad looking cars, it's quite discouraging... this is how/why so many potential cars get crushed/scraped.

Its simple..many of us have gotten into that situation, or know someone who has gotten into that situation. We praise those that fix them up because we understand the rediculous amount of work it takes to make them like new again.

If you found a Z28 camaro, same year, same condition, it would sell for $2-3k or less. You shouldn't have to pay premium price for that, especially in today's economy. It's a buyer's market. Also, all that stuff he listed as a tune up should have no impact on the value of the car.

If you were able to pick up a car for $2000 vs $6000 that extra $4000 could go a long way towards restoration/modification

[TaKid455]

I have a few 78's and a 79 that may interest you all less than 8k.
78's are 4 sp t top cars, 79 is auto. all have 400's except one 78 has a 455 but comes with original #'s 400.
pm for details.

I'll be at the Trans Am nationals in Dayton , OH this week and will return Monday. PM may register to my email.

[_87TA_]

Ok... mind is set.

Sticking with the 87 now, once I have that at least my DD then I might look into a 2nd gen. I appreciate everyones input. I have still yet to find a 2nd gen chaper then $5k in better condition... might in the future though.

Thanks again.

... now I need to find something to do with $8k..... any ideas on that? Will probably start another thread:

[LS1Hawk]

Originally Posted by Iceman_TA

... now I need to find something to do with $8k..... any ideas on that? Will probably start another thread:

How about saving it, put in the bank, etc.