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Buying a Turbo Trans Am - need advice.

8289ta

8289ta

Silver Member
Guys - I am new here, and I am hoping someone could help me. I am looking at a car that Duffy's collectibles in Cedar Rapids Iowa is selling. I have put a deposit down on it. I have never bought a car long distance. I am wondering if anybody out there knows where this car came from or has seen it. I do not have the time to take a trip out there, and I live 1100 miles away. If anybody has any info on this car I would appreciate it.
You can PM me and I will get back to you ASAP
Link to website:Duffy's Collectible Cars - 1989 Pontiac Firebird Turbo - Modern Muscle for Sale

Link to Ebay ad:Pontiac : Trans Am: eBay Motors (item 170494494755 end time Jun-12-10 07:08:46 PDT)
 
I know - and he wanted big bucks for it. I don't know if the history report was scaring people away. It changed hands a number of times and is listed as having a minor accident in the front in 1989. I don't think the number should be that low.
I hit him with what I thought it was worth and we made a deal.
I just want to try to get some background on the car if possible.
 
looks like they put a front spoiler on without a cut away for the intercooler shroud. Also looks like the intercooler is bent to an angle, could be the angle of the pic though. All in all looks like a very nice car, good luck!!!
 
Is there any way to get those correct parts?
Do you have any pics of what the spoiler and intercooler shroud should look like? I see what you mean with the shroud hanging down at an angle. I thought maybe the shroud was shot. I never gave any though to the intercooler being bent up.
 
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Looks good. I don't think the front intercooler shroud is an issue. Probably an easy fix. You can get reproductions if needed. Congrats.
 
tta983 said:
vin # has nothing to do with the build #. They were selected at random, to become tta's.
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How do you find out the build number?

I have no problem posting the VIN as it is already on EBAY. It is **********244185
Does anybody know anything about this car?
 
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tta983 said:
vin # has nothing to do with the build #. They were selected at random, to become tta's.
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Not exactly correct...but maybe it was just worded in a strange way.

The build # is determined by the VIN in so much as they are in numeric order. Yes, the TTAs rolled down the production line with all the other Firebirds, TAs, & GTAs but the order the TTAs came out determined their build #. For example, the last six digits of the VIN are the sequence #. The early TTAs were of the 22xxxx sequence, and some of the last TTAs were the 24xxxx sequence. Based on the VIN this was a late production TTA.

I'm sure Jan can chime in here with a better estimation on the actual build #. :cheers:

HTH,
 
8289ta said:
How do you find out the build number?

I have no problem posting the VIN as it is already on EBAY. It is
xxxxxxx244185
Does anybody know anything about this car?
Click to expand...

So you did buy it then? Just so I can update the list I'm keeping ....
 
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Black Shepherds & Turbo's said:
TTA's ROCK!!!

What plans do you have for the vehicle? Car shows? Race? Good luck, :thumbup: Joe
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I don't plan on racing it. Maybe car shows eventually. It is in nice shape and original(hopefully) so I will leave it like that for the most part. I have no objections to modifications that are not obvious such as a chip and maybe a shift kit so it barks the tires. I would like to see what it does in the quarter, maybe once.
 
I didnt plan on modifying mine either. But now I have all kinds of plans for it.You may not need ashift kit. Have you ever driven one of these before. They actually should shift pretty good from factory. A lot whill chirp second under fairly good throttle. Drive it for a while before you start doing anything to and get a good feel for the car. If it doesnt shift hard check the trans fluid. ( you should check all of the fluids regardless). Good luck and let us know what you think of it after you smoke a couple Mustangs:burnrubber:.
 
I have never owned anything with a Buick 3.8. I have been in some Corvettes that can chirp the tires. I hate a mushy transmission.
 
Nick Wise said:
I didnt plan on modifying mine either. But now I have all kinds of plans for it.You may not need ashift kit. Have you ever driven one of these before. They actually should shift pretty good from factory. A lot whill chirp second under fairly good throttle. Drive it for a while before you start doing anything to and get a good feel for the car. If it doesnt shift hard check the trans fluid. ( you should check all of the fluids regardless). Good luck and let us know what you think of it after you smoke a couple Mustangs:burnrubber:.
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+1 When I first bought the TTA... she would chirp the tires from 1st/2nd and wanted to get rubber into 3rd:yes:.

Nick's right... you prolly won't need a shift kit since it's practically brand new. Oh yeah... I said that I would never mod the TTA... now I can spin the drag radials :aggressive:
 
Hopefully all goes well and I get the car. I decided to take a trip to see it. I was concerned about buying a car sight unseen.
 
8289ta said:
I have never owned anything with a Buick 3.8. I have been in some Corvettes that can chirp the tires. I hate a mushy transmission.
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The transmission in my 40k mile TTA is definately not mushy. It shifts much better than my 2 year old Corvette.
 
:whs: I never had a problem chirping the tires into 2nd...it would spin them! The car has a lot of torque when the boost builds up so be prepared to input some steering on the 1st to 2nd shift...especially if the tires are old.

And speaking of old tires if you plan on driving the car that would be one of the first things I'd replace. Not only for traction but for safety.
 
I bought the car. It was in nice shape. You guys were right. It will break the tires loose shifting into second.
 
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Rodimus_Prime said:
if your modded you will need tranny mods believe me, i just roasted mine
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X 1000000 :bye1:

Once you start adding HP to the 20+ old transmission... you WILL need a rebuild.

My BUILT trans is my favorite part about my TTA. Well, ... ALKY rules!:worthy:
 
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