Need someone to reproduce complete Hurst Lightning Rod shifter kits for early 80s Oldsmobile Hurst/Olds cars. These could also be used in ALL Gbody cars - but especially a good mod to replace the lousy shifter in 1984-87 Grand Nationals to insure positive manual shifts. ... View more

His life as a 60s midlife swinger.did him in. But in other ways, he was quite an interesting person. ... View more

My impression of the saga is that a LOT of money was poorly spent. I've read other books on the topic that spending millions on Lotus and Colin Chapman did nothing to advance the Delorean program. Probably had some interesting parties in europe for the elite is all. I don't think a turbo DMC was doomed from the start technically. Yes, better lubricants always help. But Mobil 1 oil was commonly available back then. I started using it in 1979 in my Corvette. No need to water cool the turbo bearing. Recall that Buick used oil cooling very successfully in turboBuicks manufactured in the late 1980s. That wasn't really new of course, just the first thing that came to mind. ... View more

I enjoy modifying my cars (fuel injected and carbureted, turbo and NA). But I left the 1986 Trans Am (305 V8 with electronic quadrajet) that I bought from my sister in 1996 completely stock. It's driveability is very good even with 130K miles on it. This is admittedly a wimpy car, but there are no coughs, bogs, sags or hesitation regardless of weather conditions. Drives like new. The cleanliness and consistency of today's fuels (developed for and mandated for fuel injected cars) has extended the life of my carb and engine. Some may recall early 80s fuel injected cars that experienced lots of trouble due to dirt in the fuel back then. I will also give a hat tip to Ray Bohacz who reinforced the factory recommended quadrajet starting procedure: push accelerator pedal down twice slowly, let off slow, then crank. Always works for me! A light touch of the key lights it off like a champ. Couldn't ask for better driveability. Factory 2.73 gears with TH700-R4 delivers 25 mpg highway - much better than my friend's late model, much heavier, fuel injected Mustangs and Chargers! ... View more

It's probably time to change the old, rock hard as glass tires. ... View more

Certainly not more valuable to me. In 1992 the "smash mouth" front bumper change was so ugly that buyers were having dealerships retrofit brand new cars with the previous design! But that's fine that the 1989 TTA is underappreciated - if that is indeed the case. Makes it easier to get one when you want it. ... View more

MSRP for a 1989 20th Anniversary Trans Am Indy Pace car was $33,000 for comparison. ... View more

The GN was not only "really something" for it's time, it's also "really something" today and will continue to be far out into the future. About every other time I drive my 87 GN and stop at a traffic intersection, some guy in a pickup truck or service vehicle rolls down their window to yell "NICE CAR". People in luxury (!) cars stop and similarly yell: "NICE CAR" - then they add: "DO YOU WANT TO SELL IT"? Kids on bicycles yell: "I like your car"! An elderly woman in a grocery store parking lot stared at my car for a while, then asked me: "What kind of car is that"? So yes it was "really something" for it's time, but in my experience it's pretty much "timeless".  Few other cars attract so much attention.  None I've ever owned at least... ... View more

Would like to see a review of a base model with no options. ... View more

Keep in mind that real life street can include interstates. ... View more

I read"with detachable plastic body panels".  That's what I wanted when I bought my 1985 Fiero GT so that I could take them all off and rustproof the heck out of the space frame.  But no, they are glued together.  They are about as "detachable" as the panels on a corvette (and they aren't of course).  So I drove the car through 14 years and 160,000 miles of Michigan winters - and the engine cradle, sunroof support structure,  brake and fuel lines all rusted pretty badly.  Can't complain.  A Camaro or Firebird would have rusted out much faster.  Sold it.  Then drove a Chevy lumina van (with plastic panels of course).  ... View more

According to Wikipedia the S code engine is listed as having 500 cubic inches of displacement in 1975. ... View more

I don't think that they were underpowered compared to what else was available.  In 1987 I owned an '85 GT with a 4 speed and V6 AND a 1986 Pontiac 305 Trans Am with the 305 carb engine and 700-R4 automatic.  Took both to Lapeer International Raceway on the same day.  The Fiero ran 15.6 @ 87 mph.  The Trans Am ran 15.7 @ 88 mph.  I never had a 5.0 Mustang walk away from my Fiero on the street.  So can we knock off the myth that the Fiero was underpowered?  It was as quick as its contemporaries.  What else can be expected?   ... View more

Put it on a chassis dyno to see if the mods paid off. ... View more

Interesting history, but I don't see much to lament.  The basic shape looks like a C3 Corvette that was on sale just 2 years later without the ugly Pontiac themed bumpers.  Many good Chevrolet powertrain choices were available in the C3. ... View more