79 TA, not a restoration

[Thumpin455]

There are other more valuable TA/Formula cars to restore, this one is a low option 403 auto with 2.41 gears, no AC, and manual windows. So right now this isnt getting restored, but I have been aching to have a hotrod to drive in the short summers up here. The 98 is fun, but it just isnt the same as a 2nd gen or a GTO. The Goats need too much work, and they deserve more than just a quick build like this, so this TA is the one for the summer. This summer.

Picked up this TA for cheap from a friend. It has some rust and nastiness, but it runs and drives just not well. So rather than do a complete ground up rebuild, its going to get repaired, made presentable, and driven. About the only thing that will cost money is some primer and paint. It would be nice to get this build done for less than $500 and have it look decent. Doing the work yourself means it can be done cheap. Eventually it will be used for some fuel testing and cruising, and it might be the car in which my daughter learns to drive.

So yesterday I started sanding on it to find out how bad the quarters are, whomever did the body work before was either an idiot or in a huge hurry. Crawling under it to check out the subframe rust my friend told me about, I found some scary holes. Its a good thing I know my way around a welder. You may not agree with how it is done, or that it isnt a full on restoration, but it will be done so the car is safe to drive and isnt cobbled together like some chimps suffering from ADHD while tweaked out on meth did it (like it is now). Consider it a fun cruiser that I wont mind parking anywhere, or driving long distances, it wont win shows, but it will handle much better than it did before. First order of business is to get it safe and plug some rust holes.

The goal is to have it drivable by June 1 this year, with fresh paint and lots of cleaning.



Subframe nightmare:


snot covered wish patches under the back seats:



Under the quarters:



Another halfa$$ patch in the floor, and the hole in the drivers side:



The well detailed 403, a.k.a mosquito fumigator

[xtrme_ta]

I hate to tell you this but that cars not worth fixing. That rear frame should in no way be cobbled together. That metal in the floor above it provides allot of the support. Thats spring looks about ready to come up through the floor.
Thats the rear frame not the subframe. The subframes up front.
You need to completely replace that section of the floor and the frame rail or the car will not be safe to drive.
I would use that car for a parts car only.

[Rick]

I have to admit that I was shaken when I saw that rear frame rail.  Can it be fixed so it's safe?  Yeah, but it's going to be a lot of work.  Unless there simply are NO Firebirds around, like xtrme_ta says that would be a parts car.  Given what you're after (stated goal for project), I'd try to find another car (maybe non-TA) with a sound rear frame and just swap over the TA parts (fenders, hood, etc.).  It'd be cheaper and a lot less work in the end.

[kentuckyyeti]

I have to admit that I was shaken when I saw that rear frame rail.  Can it be fixed so it's safe?  Yeah, but it's going to be a lot of work.  Unless there simply are NO Firebirds around, like xtrme_ta says that would be a parts car.  Given what you're after (stated goal for project), I'd try to find another car (maybe non-TA) with a sound rear frame and just swap over the TA parts (fenders, hood, etc.).  It'd be cheaper and a lot less work in the end.

No pun intended, Rick? 

[sinister76ta]

Wow, that's sure cobbled together in the rear. That seat must have popped up on the previous owner beore that awfull patch job. That will be a lot of work, but it is doable, if you have mad metal fabbing skills. 

[10Seconds]

Well, I think it can be built, frame rails and floors can be replaced, heck I did it on mine.  I used the CE formed frame rails and build the entire rear suspension out of the car and then fitted it back in.

See?



Then:



Just make sure you get everything lined up right. 

If you have more time to mess with fabricating it than money to buy a different project, just give it a go. 

But like they said, its not really safe if you just are planning to put a bandaid on the problem.

[xtrme_ta]

10Seconds I think you missed his post where he wants to do this project for less than $500.
I don't see it happening with the rear frame like that.

[Hell Bandit]

WOW !!! i thought mine was bad . Its F.U.B.A.R Bigtime !!! best to look for a clean shell .

[Thumpin455]

Dont think I am nuts quite yet, or just some kid with a rusty TA and big dreams.

I have 9 2nd gens.. Yep 9 of them. This one has the worst rot under the car, the 74 has the worst everywhere else. I have other shells that are in decent shape, and nobody else would consider rebuilding this one but me. You should see how bad the Mustang at the other end of the shop is if you think this is bad, of course it wasnt the Mustangs rails either. Other birds are 71,72,74,77,and five 79s. One 79 is a Formula the rest are TAs.

Yes I have some fab skills, it isnt terribly difficult to make new stuff. It wont be cobbled together, but it sure wont be a resto with a new store bought rail back there. After looking at how much it needs replaced, I figured subframe connectors welded through the floor, and rebuilding most of the rail. I will cut back the rail until I find decent metal. If I dont, well I can tub it and it wont bother me a bit, or just simply rebuild the entire rear end.

I have a pile of mild steel, a welder, and enough sheet of varied thicknesses to rebuild it. It wont be pretty underneath, but it will be strong. Tomorrow will be warmer than today, so I will pull the rear, springs, and the fuel tank, then start cutting and pasting. I'll take pics and post them up in here, and I dont consider my labor as a cost, since its good therapy for me to do the work, and I enjoy it. Rebuilding junk is fun to me, even if I never get my money back out of it, it is still fun and enjoyable. The paint supplies I need for it will be around $300 for primer and the color coat.

I just finished the 67 Cougar's paint work this week, I had to make body parts for that one since nobody repops them. It came out ok considering the budget it was painted on. Doing the labor yourself makes for much cheaper rebuilds, the only thing I farm out is machine work and alignments, and the only reason is I dont have the equipment to do them.

So can I make it within the budget and have it look presentable for less than $1000 total? Only time will tell...

Yes I am crazy.

[Thumpin455]

Oh yeah and a 98 Formula, and a bunch of Fords...

[taman76]

I am with you on this.  Any decent welder can put this car back together.  I have seen people start with much worse and end up with museum pieces.  It will just take a lot of work and some time.

[JNO]

By looking at the rest of the car you would not think the frame would be rust like that! 
I will go against the grain and say this car can be fixed, as long as you have plenty of time. (and a bit of money)

[xtrme_ta]

Any car can be fixed. But at a budget of $500 as you first stated would not be possible.

[taman76]

It would be nice to get this build done for less than $500 and have it look decent.

Don't know if his budget is 500, but he said it would be nice if it can be done for that.  I think that is a bit lower than he will need.

If he has the metal, and has the time, and even has the paint and supplies already, maybe he can do it for 500 bucks.  But that assumes he has pretty much everything now.  Again, just getting it on the road, not restoring it.

[LeighP]

Go for it....if you can weld and like to fabricate, then Yeehaa!!!!! You found Fun City!