Another new guy checking in

[79TARon]

Hello everyone. My name is Ron and I have been restoring a 1979 Trans Am that has been in my family since 1980. My mother drove the car until 1990 at which time the transmission was leaking. My father said he would get to it but since he had his own business at the time couldn't get around to it. In 1999 he decided to show my nephew (14) how to work on cars. As they were rebuilding the transmission, my father suffered a heart attack and the car sat once again. My nephew got involved with drugs and decided he would work on the car with his friends. They ended up cutting every wire, brake line and transmission line in the engine compartment. Any bolt that they couldn't get off with pliers, they beat with a hammer. My father was very upset when he found out what my nephew had done. My mother called me in 2001 and asked me to see if I could find a junk yard to take the car. She was very sad to let it go. I told her to let me buy it and I would see if I could fix it up a bit. I have been working on it since. Unfortunately my mother passed away in 2004 so she didn't get to see the car on the road, but it sure brought a smile to my fathers face when I drove it over to his apartment.
I tried to restore the car as close to original as possible, although its not a trailer queen by any means. I still have more work to do and I hope to get the suspension re-worked and that is why I am here. Hopefully I can pick up some ideas and suggestions from you all.

Sorry for the long winded introduction.

[philbay]

Nice car and a beautiful story. Im probably close to your dads age and all the problems which you spoke were in my life as well. I can appreciate all the work you did and only hope that my boys would have done that for me. I really think they would. Well good luck and you found the right place for honest and unselfish help.. phil

[Ralph LoGrasso]

Welcome to the site, Ron.

[b-man]

Welcome.

Beautiful T/A, looks like you've done a lot of hard work on it. Sure looks show-worthy to me. Keeping the car mostly original with suspension upgrades is a great way to go, enjoy your T/A!