Zabo's 2000 Trans Am 'Phoenix' build thread!

[Zabo]

Update: The worst kind I can make.

This weekend I will be running the final numbers on the car. As it stands, the body guy says that this is becoming a project above any bounds of feasability and that of a fellow shop owner who came down to give his opinion agreed.

That guy had done several F bodies before, and again, like my guy said this was probably the most severe frame damage he'd seen. It may look docile, but when it came down to 'can it be pulled' the real question will be answered monday.

I know when I'm being jerked around by this guy, he's tried it on this project. This was a whole other tone in his voice. I knew this wasn't any BS call of his.

But at this point, we're set to give up the ghost and pull the plug on the car. It's not a money issue (I'm almost bankrupting myself trying to get this thing back), but rather the ability of the vehicle's structure to be repaired.

Worst comes to worst, I pull it monday, and sell off the driveline and what good parts can come off the car. In all I should have enough to pay off the remainder of my loan if that were the case. However, there also belies a quandary in all this:

I will have no available funds to purchase a replacement vehicle, far be it another V8 F-Body.

In the year that I've had this car.. it's almost become like a beloved pet, much like my dogs. To put this Trans Am down would as hard as it was putting down our border collie two years ago.

[shank0668]

Got your message......... :(:(:(
Hoping for the best...

[Revo1]

Tell your guy to work some magic then! Really hopin for some good news on this...

Tell him that me pretty much HAS to fix it- your C5 build thread depends on it.

[CamaroSpike23]

Originally Posted by Zabo

In the year that I've had this car.. it's almost become like a beloved pet, much like my dogs. To put this Trans Am down would be as hard as it was putting down our border collie two years ago.

but you still did it. trust me, I know the feeling of loving a car as more than just another possession and having to die a little inside when you have to let it go.

but, time goes on. there will be more cars, none will be that one, but at the end of the day, you can start all over again.



speaking of which.... pm enroute

[Zabo]

Originally Posted by CamaroSpike23

but you still did it. trust me, I know the feeling of loving a car as more than just another possession and having to die a little inside when you have to let it go.

but, time goes on. there will be more cars, none will be that one, but at the end of the day, you can start all over again.



speaking of which.... pm enroute

Yeah, speaking of which the GTA discussed there and in other threads was sold yesterday afternoon. I wasn't the buyer.

However we found a new way around the problem with the floor and quarter panel. Turns out it creased toward the weld, but didn't cross it. It also stayed away from the welds on the floor from the side of the unibody.

Thus, if needed, we could drop 500 into a new floor and just cut out the old one after straightening out what we can. Also got the hinges pretty much locked down. So by the end of the week he thinks most of the major pulling on the rear of the car can begin.

[Revo1]

Originally Posted by Zabo

Yeah, speaking of which the GTA discussed there and in other threads was sold yesterday afternoon. I wasn't the buyer.

However we found a new way around the problem with the floor and quarter panel. Turns out it creased toward the weld, but didn't cross it. It also stayed away from the welds on the floor from the side of the unibody.

Thus, if needed, we could drop 500 into a new floor and just cut out the old one after straightening out what we can. Also got the hinges pretty much locked down. So by the end of the week he thinks most of the major pulling on the rear of the car can begin.

We have faith... When she's all done you should nickname her Jesus.

[Zabo]

Originally Posted by Revo1

We have faith... When she's all done you should nickname her Jesus.

Nah, already picked Phoenix for obvious reasons..

If it were a Camaro I'd probably call it the Jesusmobile.

[Zabo]

Update: Hinges finally came in. So after some chassis measurements the pulling can begin. FINALLY!

[Revo1]

Originally Posted by Zabo

Update: Hinges finally came in. So after some chassis measurements the pulling can begin. FINALLY!

That's good news!!! Keep us posted

[98_Camaro]

Originally Posted by Zabo

Update: Hinges finally came in. So after some chassis measurements the pulling can begin. FINALLY!

[Zabo]

Update: Pulling on the butt is done. Turns out when they straightened the rear frame, they got the floor in the same pull.

The rear frame is straight. To the decimal on the GM design spec sheet.

Now for the front subframe to the pulled a bit and then the body work can start. Not as gory as I thought but made me put a shopping list together.. hopefully I can find some aftermarket trailing arms, sway bar, and tunnel brace since the last is bent. Rear is still off by a half inch.

Oh, and pics on the frame puller.




Where'd my interior go?



Yeah, what was once one door, is now 2?


Weird ass joggle/fold that we aren't sure how it got there or if it's some sort of recess. Note the lack of cracked/peeled undercoat on the underside of the fold.

[Revo1]

Dude these pics are painful, but it's sounding up! Keep the good news comin.

[Zabo]

Update:

8+ hours of work and the rear quarter is ready for welding. Body is lined up and all that's left is to finish work on the front subframe and install the fender/spindle/knuckle mess up front. Then paint.. but here's the kicker.

ETA of rollout on The Phoenix: June 13 - June 18, 2011.

The end is in sight. Knocking on wood and rubbing the pain in my wallet, but my fellow F body comrades.. the light is appearing. And she burns with the flame that beckons The Phoenix.

[Bulldogwinters]

Originally Posted by Zabo

Update:

8+ hours of work and the rear quarter is ready for welding. Body is lined up and all that's left is to finish work on the front subframe and install the fender/spindle/knuckle mess up front. Then paint.. but here's the kicker.

ETA of rollout on The Phoenix: June 13 - June 18, 2011.

The end is in sight. Knocking on wood and rubbing the pain in my wallet, but my fellow F body comrades.. the light is appearing. And she burns with the flame that beckons The Phoenix.

Very close in sight my friend, Glad everything is going so well at this point! I bet you're just itching to have that good ol' LS1 under your foot again