1979 Trans Am Project Car- Frame Rot! What to do? =(

[John]

I recently bought a 1979 Pontiac Trans Am off of Craigs List for $1,000.

Car looked beutiful from the outside, but is a nightmare as far as appearance on the inside. No apolstry, wires for the windows exposed sicne a new center console was put in, and cracked dash.

Engine is a 350 full restored / new (unsure which) with lots of power. It drives great.

Will take a lot of work making it officially "road worthy" including wiring (all console stuff works but has been disconnected), rear tires, reverse lights and also needs brakes replaced and pipes for the exhaust.

Well, my cousin put it up on a lift and the nose sagged a good few inches. Says the front of the frame is rotted through and is very unsafe. Essentially a good pothole could possibly break the front end off, making it a very dangerouse item to have on the road.

So now I am faced with either selling the car, or trying to fix that. It was supposed to be a project, but I keep getting told that this flaw will make it impossible to afford.

So I just wanted to ask if anyone here knew if it would be worth it to keep it. What goes into repairing rot? I know it is expensive, but how expensive?

I am reluctant to just sell it because every time I see a Trans Am for under 2k it is usually missing both the engine and the tranny, while this one seems to have everything mechanically sound.

Oh and for realistic sake, college student on a college budget. Ive wanted a car of this year since I was about seven years old. I would like to keep it, but I also need to be realistic.

Can anyon eout there lend me some good honest advice?

Thanks,

John

[mark]

camaro / fire bird sub frame thats it dont sweat it fix it under 800 bucks

[mark]

by the way my email is [e-mail] oh yea 70-81 maybe camaro and bird frames are the same

[gary]

well does the car have t-tops how good is the body and interior what color is it what color is the body why i ask is that alot of guys are looking for a black interior car now you said it had none so that is a easy fix if its got t-tops it would be a keeper just find a trans am sub frame a camaro would work but it has small block coil springs but you could use yours you can fix it or part it out have fun with it when the funs gone get rid of it

[Bubba]

Go to transamcountry.com or hitman's pontiac transam forum (google it). Plenty of info about restorations on both sites.

[rick Panama City Fla]

I got a 1980 trans am with a solid body,motor and tranny you can have with a spare subframe you need to go in your car for the cost of just a subframe!!!!$1000.00 cash Beat that anywhere!!! And yes you need a subframe. Got a 1978 trans am i have just about restored now. Love the big block 400.I know what you mean about the old muscle cars.

[78 trans am]

keep the car take it all apart learn about them keep all that is good scrap the rest and find a beter body.trust that you will learn alot doing this ,i have two of them and love it ,it will also help you when you look for a new one because you will then know whats good from bad on these cars .

[luigi]

rick Panama City Fla wrote:

I got a 1980 trans am with a solid body,motor and tranny you can have with a spare subframe you need to go in your car for the cost of just a subframe!!!!$1000.00 cash Beat that anywhere!!! And yes you need a subframe. Got a 1978 trans am i have just about restored now. Love the big block 400.I know what you mean about the old muscle cars.

No such thing as a Pontiac "big block" anything. All the same block through 455

[Jim]

Sorry, but the 79 TA did not come with a 350. The automatic transmission version got a 403 built by Oldsmobile. The 4-speed got the Pontiac 400 - I bought mine new in 79 with the 403