Opinions Wanted..

[kwiktsi]

I picked up a tta with 116k a couple of months ago needing some extensive work. Drivers quarter was destroyed, drivers fender whooped, needs paint, interior and the motor needs work- my fault for being too excited to drive it to give it a good once over and didn't notice the vacuum line off the fuel pressure regulator..

It has a larger turbo (not sure which one as the previous owner thought it was stock...), 2800 stall, 50# injectors and has a holley hp efi system already installed. Far from a virgin. I am keeping the holley and go fast goodies in it and probably modding it further, I'm just torn on what to do with it from there. Part of me wants to just recondition paint and such to original condition and have a nice cruiser BUT the other part of me wants to fill and smooth the engine bay, install a tubular k member, frame connectors, maybe mini tub it, etc. and just make it a really nice street/strip/show car.

I'm just concerned with going so far that it actually further devalues the car. At least where it is now, going back to stock isn't impossible. Any thoughts here? I fully believe in the "it is your car, do as you please" mentality, but dont want to screw myself in the long run if I decide to sell it. I figure once done (assuming k member and all), I'll be into it for about $14k with new interior, paint, rebuild, and parts mentioned above, so it wont be too bad either way. Sorry for the rambling, just overtired and thinking out loud. Any opinions would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[[email protected]]

I was in the same boat for the better part of 10 years as my car sat apart in storage waiting for direction. I'm glad I didn't build the car with high horsepower as I originally desired because I would've really devalued the car. Tons of grocery getters are running 11's and low 12's out of the box so to build mine to go that fast will require extensive mods. For this reason I decided it will be more enjoyable to return the car to stock and appreciate it for the collector piece it was intended to be. On the flip side if you like to stand out and make things your own then you should go ahead and personalize your TTA. Best of luck.

 

[TTA984]

I thought about building it more, but I decided to go with a more stock look, you go to a bunch of shows and get the crowds opinion and learn from that. Especially the ones that know the TTA!

 

[kwiktsi]

Very clean looking! See, I knew something was off with my brake booster vacuum line- I have the gn vacuum block without the booster vac fitting and then there is an npt barbed fitting tapped into the dog house where my brakes get their vacuum from. Knew it didn't look right lol.

The only reason I don't mind modding this one is because it is/was so far gone. Stock harness is cut up for the holley install, quarter was creamed, both fenders are tweaked, needs leather and carpet, etc. I would not be returning it to stock any time soon, I will be modding it- I am a speed freak, but if I don't weld up all the holes in the engine bay and smooth it out, put frame connectors in it, mini tub it, etc., going back to stock will always be some parts and wire swapping away. Going that far, it would take a lot to ever make it stock again. I'm just wondering if done right, it still may add to the value- albeit narrow the potential market.

 

[kwiktsi]

Some pics from when I got it until now. I cut the quarter from a donor car and installed it a few weeks ago. Was going to just paint it and leave it alone but with the motor hurt now, I'm pulling that and that's why it's staring to snowball into doing the engine bay and such. Also doesn't help that whoever has had their hands in it before for body work and such were hacks, no two of the same bolt anywhere, bolts missing, etc. At least I pulled all the front end nuts, bolts and washers from the parts car I got the quarter off of!

 

[kidsixpack]

With the condition and the mileage I'd mod the heck out of it! it would be a fun car that you wouldn't have to worry about.
KID

 

[kwiktsi]

That's kind of what I'm thinking. It will definitely be very nice when done regardless of its current condition. I guess I'm just torn on the more irreversible mods like welding up all the holes in the engine bay and smoothing it all out.

I knew no matter what I got, I'd be modding it somewhat anyway, that's why I passed on the low mileage cars and just went this route. I do all my own work, so it's only time- which seems pretty scarce these days, but that's another story lol.

Lol, I keep telling my wife (who liked my last one 15 years ago but has been spoiled by all the new cars since and has no interest in them anymore) that I'm going to build a KITT clone out of it, it's driving her nuts!

 

[TeeTopZ]

Mod away. It's a high mileage car that won't be all original anyway with the body damage. Make it fast and enjoy it.

 

[kwiktsi]

Probably what I'll end up doing. Build thread will be coming shortly... Not going to be a huge budget resto mod, but will still be a nice car when done. Paint, interior, weatherstripping, etc. will all be new and clean, probably going with the 17" replica wheels, etc..

 

[kidsixpack]

There is a similar (mileage) car listed for sale in the classified section. Might give you an idea of what to expect. I'm assuming that your car has a clean title when it comes to value.
KID

 

[kidsixpack]

I see that you addressed some irreversible mods. When it comes to resale these kinds of mods will make or break a sale. To me tubs and fire wall mods cross over to race car territory.
All this is just my two cents.
KID

 

[kwiktsi]

I see that you addressed some irreversible mods. When it comes to resale these kinds of mods will make or break a sale. To me tubs and fire wall mods cross over to race car territory.
All this is just my two cents.
KID

Yeah, those were my biggest concern is if I mini tubbed it, installed frame connectors and welded all the holes/smoothed the engine bay. I'm not concerned with modding it, it will retain ac and such (the one in the for sale section doesn't appear to have ac but is a pretty bad ass car). The factory harness is cut out and it has the holley wired in, but even that is reversible with little effort. It is the "no going back now" mods that I'm stressing over. It doesn't have them done at the moment, but I am strongly considering at least doing the engine bay to make it nice and pretty under there. 80s gm engine bays aren't the most attractive from the factory lol.

Yes, clean title and pretty solid car to start with, just had the quarter panel damage, which as you can se, I've already replaced.