Cascade Crew

Magman · Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 9:26 pm Post subject: Picked up an 88 GTA

Picked up an 88 GTA yesterday for me and my boy to fix up. Red ext, grey interior, T-tops, 305TPI, Auto. It has a loud engine knock, doesn't sound like a bearing but more like something in the head (valve/lifter). Anyway, took a definate price cut for the engine work but after I got it home and on stands, I found much more. More damage that is. The underside of this thing looks as if it outran the cops through a field, heck maybe even a dry river bed. I found some hairline cracks at the rear of the front subframe, at the tranny tunnel. The doors both rub the GFX in the front corner. Heck, here's some pics. What do ya think, repairable or parts car?

Magman · Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 9:30 pm Post subject:

Just realized I didn't show the good photo.

GREG DAVIDSON · Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 9:33 pm Post subject:

ouch ! dam thats pretty bad for me it would be a parts car i've seen plenty more on craigslist if you have a trailer if the subs messed up i wouldnt dink with it , man looks can be decieving

batcave · Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 9:41 pm Post subject:

looks are decieving hate to say it but it looks like a parts car got a front sub frame if you need it free minus a few parts if you want to put it together

blue89 · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 7:05 am Post subject:

Ouch man. Does it look like the driveline broke off and did the tranny bump damage? Not good if it doesn't. And are the door pins trashed or are the doors tight in their hinges?

Magman · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 7:20 am Post subject:

The door hinges both need replaced, end of door has 1-1.5" slop. That's originally why I thought the doors rubbed the GFX. Along with the typical fender bulge from jacking at the fender mount.

No proof that the driveline broke off. It all looks original and intact. There are small cracks in the floorpan at the end of the subframe where the subframe meets the body.

Can't this just be pulled straight then weld the cracks? Longest crack is 2", about four cracks total, 2 per side. Damn... I really didn't want to part another 3rd GEN! This would have been a sweet ride when I got through with it!

redlava · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 7:28 am Post subject:

My car was originally stolen and I found a crack in my sub frame. My vote is just have the crack welded up.

blue89 · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 7:46 am Post subject:

I second that notion. As long as the frame is straight I'd just weld the cracks and drive it. Its a clean'ish looking ride, if it doesn't work out just sell it off complete. Those creases around the driveline worry me though. I think it would be worth it to have a frame shop check it out before you put any faith into it.

Your driveway looks familiar, did I buy a headliner from you a while ago when I drove my black LT1 car down?

Magman · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 7:50 am Post subject:

Why yes, you did! It's too bad too, this one needs a headliner! Laughing

91RSVert · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 7:56 am Post subject:

My subframe has 1 crack in it. Right around the f-ing gas line to so I havent done anything with it.

Looks like a driveshaft may have come loose and hit the floor? Whatever happened was along time ago. How long had the previous owner had it?

:edit: Can anyone run a carfax for the man to see if it has been in any reported wrecks.

blue89 · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 8:20 am Post subject:

I can run a carfax since i have a year of unlimited lookups. I'll see if I still have that headliner. My ttops leaked bad but I could never find where it came from so I never put it in. If I still have its yours.

Magman · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 7:51 pm Post subject:

Had the car checked out this evening by a collision tech (friend of family). The subframe is not bent. As explained to me, it looks as if the car ran over a cement barrier (the kind in a parking lot) and bent the body panels just behind the fenders as the car came down. It can be straightened to realign the GFX/fender with some work. The trans was pushed into the tunnel and caused the damage there as the car continued over the obstacle. He recommended to remove the fenders/GFX, straighten the body panels, weld the cracks and all should be fine. I'll keep my fingers crossed! 88 GTA resto is soon to be underway!

GREG DAVIDSON · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 8:00 pm Post subject:

cool good to hear theres going to be another b.a. ta on the road good luck on the build !

Twilightoptics · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 8:20 pm Post subject:

Looks reparable or just livable to me. I've seen way worse on way nicer cars as far as floor pans and such goes. I'd get some SFC's in there and call it good. Any cracks in the floor that might leak water I'd weld up and throw some rustoleum on it.

Now if it's going to be a showcar... yeah that's probably more work than it's worth but I still wouldn't make it a parts car.

These cars are dropping like flies already without the likes of us scrapping them or turning them in for parts.

Magman · Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2008 11:06 pm Post subject:

Well, it's official, it's a parts car. After jacking the car up the doors would no longer open. I found some front end damage to the pass fender support, and a-pillar. After running some plumb lines, the pass side is 3/4 inch shorter than the drivers side bumper to bumper Shocked

. I could only get the doors open after I jacked up the trans crossmember, this car is flexin! I gotta recoup my 1200 I invested in it, so check out my new ad soon to be posted in the classifieds.

In search of another third gen...

cameron7710 · Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2008 11:09 pm Post subject: