First time F-body and LS1 Owner!
08-14-2015, 09:13 AM
#1
Teching In
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Reidsville, NC
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
First time F-body and LS1 Owner! Picked up my first F-Body /LS1 car last week. It is a 00 Trans Am, 6 Speed, in Maple Red, with 40k miles on it. The car has been sitting for 7 years, the owner was an older gentleman that had race cars, collectible cars, etc. and this one kind of got put to the side after it was hit in the rear (not hard) and the rear bumper and quarter panel was replaced, the whole car was painted (he has like 3 shops, one of which was a body shop), and was never fully reassembled. Some exterior pieces and alot of the interior pieces needed to be reinstalled. Needless to say, I got a GREAT deal on this car. I have always loved the Trans Ams, but never got a chance to own one. Here is the story for me acquiring this beauty-
I have owned numerous Japanese sports cars, 5 Nissan 240s with swaps, and just recently a 98 3000gt VR4. I drove the VR4 for maybe an entire month out of a year of ownership, it would simply not stay fixed, and it was one thing right after another. I got pretty fed up with the car so I sold it. I started searching craigslist for my next car, either a really clean 300zx with the intentions of doing a twin turbo swap, or finally get the Trans Am I have always wanted. I searched craigslist for a week or so, and stumbled upon a very simple listing - 00 Trans Am, 6 spd, sitting for 7 years, needs TLC. So I give the guy a call, and he tells me all the details with the car.
So I went and looked at the car, and overall it was in good condition, it just needed to be put back together. I looked all around where the rear bumper was replaced to ensure there was no frame damage, and it was all cosmetic, none of the suspension parts, exhaust, etc had been replaced, so that told me it was not in a serious accident. The engine at first wouldn't fire, the fuel pump was not turning on. We finally got it to turn on, and the engine started and ran just fine. So I figured it needed a fuel pump (it turned out all it needed was the relay!) . I offered him 4k, and he accepted! He even delivered the car to my house for me on rollback.
Once I got the car, I started putting it all back together. I got everything for the most part back together, I am waiting for him to give me the rocker panels and the trans am emblems. I put some fresh gas in it (it was parked empty, so no need to fool with draining it). The car fires up every time, and runs super great! I still need to change all the fluids, new tires, and a few light bulbs here and there. Overall, I am VERY happy with my purchase, and I can not wait to drive her! There are a few places on the paint that I will need to buff, where people were not careful around the car and bumped into it, or sat stuff on it, but it seems every spot I find isn't deep, and can be buffed.
My first plans are window tint, SLP Loudmouth exhaust, Superhawk hood, and lowering springs. This is my first V8 car as well, so this should be interesting!!
Is there anything in general that I should know about a car like this that has been sitting? Maybe things that I haven't mentioned that I may have overlooked?
Thanks!!
I have owned numerous Japanese sports cars, 5 Nissan 240s with swaps, and just recently a 98 3000gt VR4. I drove the VR4 for maybe an entire month out of a year of ownership, it would simply not stay fixed, and it was one thing right after another. I got pretty fed up with the car so I sold it. I started searching craigslist for my next car, either a really clean 300zx with the intentions of doing a twin turbo swap, or finally get the Trans Am I have always wanted. I searched craigslist for a week or so, and stumbled upon a very simple listing - 00 Trans Am, 6 spd, sitting for 7 years, needs TLC. So I give the guy a call, and he tells me all the details with the car.
So I went and looked at the car, and overall it was in good condition, it just needed to be put back together. I looked all around where the rear bumper was replaced to ensure there was no frame damage, and it was all cosmetic, none of the suspension parts, exhaust, etc had been replaced, so that told me it was not in a serious accident. The engine at first wouldn't fire, the fuel pump was not turning on. We finally got it to turn on, and the engine started and ran just fine. So I figured it needed a fuel pump (it turned out all it needed was the relay!) . I offered him 4k, and he accepted! He even delivered the car to my house for me on rollback.
Once I got the car, I started putting it all back together. I got everything for the most part back together, I am waiting for him to give me the rocker panels and the trans am emblems. I put some fresh gas in it (it was parked empty, so no need to fool with draining it). The car fires up every time, and runs super great! I still need to change all the fluids, new tires, and a few light bulbs here and there. Overall, I am VERY happy with my purchase, and I can not wait to drive her! There are a few places on the paint that I will need to buff, where people were not careful around the car and bumped into it, or sat stuff on it, but it seems every spot I find isn't deep, and can be buffed.
My first plans are window tint, SLP Loudmouth exhaust, Superhawk hood, and lowering springs. This is my first V8 car as well, so this should be interesting!!
Is there anything in general that I should know about a car like this that has been sitting? Maybe things that I haven't mentioned that I may have overlooked?
Thanks!!
08-15-2015, 07:00 AM
#4
TECH Junkie
Looks sweeeet!!
Sometimes it's easy to overlook the fuel filter so don't forget that easy fix. I personally use HEET (red bottle) to get rid of any condensation in the fuel tank. There is bound to be some in there even if it was empty. My T/A sat quite a bit when I first bought it new and then I took a trip to FL about 5 years later. I let the gas get too low on one stretch and the engine was sputtering and misfiring. It was just water/condensation built up over the years. Since using HEET I have never had an issue again. I would use it twice in my first two fill ups. I did that with my AMC when I bought it and it basically sat for 16 years ( I did drain all the old gas out). I add HEET every 3 months in each car. NC weather has it's extremes as you well know so condensation in the tanks is quite an issue. I've started out on road trips here in the mountains when the temp was in the 40's. By late afternoon it can be 80+. It's not expensive. Auto parts stores have sales but you can also pick up a 4 pack at Walmart for $6.99.
Best of luck with your ride. I really like the color.
Sometimes it's easy to overlook the fuel filter so don't forget that easy fix. I personally use HEET (red bottle) to get rid of any condensation in the fuel tank. There is bound to be some in there even if it was empty. My T/A sat quite a bit when I first bought it new and then I took a trip to FL about 5 years later. I let the gas get too low on one stretch and the engine was sputtering and misfiring. It was just water/condensation built up over the years. Since using HEET I have never had an issue again. I would use it twice in my first two fill ups. I did that with my AMC when I bought it and it basically sat for 16 years ( I did drain all the old gas out). I add HEET every 3 months in each car. NC weather has it's extremes as you well know so condensation in the tanks is quite an issue. I've started out on road trips here in the mountains when the temp was in the 40's. By late afternoon it can be 80+. It's not expensive. Auto parts stores have sales but you can also pick up a 4 pack at Walmart for $6.99.
Best of luck with your ride. I really like the color.
