Project X-CLEAN, 1981 Trans Am 2nd Gen, LS2, 6 spd

[oldguy]

This is my first post on this forum. I have been lurking quite a while and the projects and information here are great. Thanks to all.

This is our newest project, a 1981 2nd gen Trans Am.

Let me tell you a story of its acquisition first, then I'll get into the plans and details of the build.

I had been looking for a customer for a clean, unmolested, 2nd gen Trans Am for over a year. As all of you know, rust and accident repair can add 10's of thousands to the build cost. Its always much better to wait and find something clean to start with. This customer wanted to start with a clean, no damage car for this build. As always I browse CL and the bay to see what was is available, call up the seller, hear the stories, then go take a look at them. Most all had some kind previous damage or rust. Couple of months ago I see an add on CL for this one.

The great thing was this one was located about 20 miles from the shop instead of 200. Price he is asking is fair. Says it is a "survivor" with only 64K on the ODO. Heard that before though. I set up the appointment, and drive over to the guys house. Decent neighborhood. When I get there the garage door is down. I ring the bell, guy comes out, tells me a few things about the car and pops the garage door.

Well.... as soon as the door popped open I about s#%t the pants.

Sitting in the garage is this unmolested, original paint, original interior 1981 Trans Am Turbo. I've seen and worked on a lot of cars and MC's and I kid you not, this is one of the finest TA's I have EVER seen in original condition. While the decals were dead and flat, the paint work was in excellent condition. There were a few minor door dings and the front and rear caps could use a respray, however the exterior of this car look 2-3 years old, not 31 years old. Crawled underneath, popped the trunk, all were perfect.

I took a look on the inside. The interior too looks like it just rolled out from Detroit. Not a rip tear or even a smudge on the door panels, carpets were fresh looking and clean too. The only problem inside was the steering column was disassembled, I mean ALL the way, and dropped down. Seems the guy could not get the ignition to work which would allow the car to start and run. This guy really took the column apart too. I think he got in way over his head when he did so. I looked at it for a few minutes in the garage and did get it to crank using the switch, though it wouldn't run.

We negotiated a substantial discount due to the non running status and disassembly and closed the deal for my customer.

Called the roll back, got the car loaded, with us following the wrecker. When we get back to the shop the wrecker drivers dispatch had called and two people had seen the car on the flatbed had called and asked if the car was for sale. Pretty incredible! The buyer did call them back. He was offered a great profit from one buyer right then and could have doubled his purchase price. He did turn down both offers however.

When we got back to the shop, I put the column back together and adjusted the ignition switch. I did get it to crank, but no fire. Back when, 20-30 years ago, somebody installed on of those top of the line viper alarm systems. This is the one where you had to go under the dash and cut and splice the circuits and the alarm acted as the switch. 2 hours later with lots of soldering and re-splicing it was out. Threw out a basketball bunch of alarm wires and controls.

Hit the key and the car fired up after repriming the carb, sweet... We did drive it around for a while and the car was tight and drove great. Everything worked as it should have. Good deal!!

Sorry for the long winded explanation, but I thought it was a pretty good story.

Now for the meat. Here's what I am doing to the car for this customer.

Installing a 2006 LS2 6 speed with 36K from a GTO.
Complete Pro Touring suspension including tubular upper and lower control arms, adjustable performance shocks, new rear leaf springs, solid body mounts, subframe connectors, new brakes, paint and interior. Pretty much the whole car.



Now those few sentences while brief, encompass quite a bit of work, which I'll detail for you as I go. Right now in the build I am at smoothing the firewall and getting ready to bedliner the underside and start reassembly. Paint is yet undecided as he may want to keep the original paint, we shall see ;-).

I'll also detail out motor mounts, accessory drives, frame notch, etc, to show what works and was doesn't.

Here's the pics as the car was delivered the first day. More to come, hope you enjoy.