I must say, I hated the TA today

**79Firebird_99TA** · 04-26-2011, 02:47 PM

This morning I took off in the TA after waiting for the piston slap to stop. Then my check engine light came on with a PO1415 .... it did off after a while. My seatbelt was all twisted and I had to take care of that. I got on the highway and had to hit it to merge into traffic and it had no balls .... as can be read on my thread in the auto transmission section. I could feel a vibration around town which told me that my leaky rear tires which need to be replaced are low on air.

I used to love this car. I hope that I don't continue to hate it and sell it.

**jsmith564`** · 04-26-2011, 03:05 PM

ok..

it's a car with some miles and age. maintain it.

**79Firebird_99TA** · 04-26-2011, 03:09 PM

I do. It has 212,000 miles. My point was all these things were in my face today. Everyone suffers from piston slap, vibrations, leaky tires, the PO1415 .....etc..... even if their cars were maintained.

**Hot head** · 04-26-2011, 03:10 PM

Originally Posted by 79Firebird_99TA

This morning I took off in the TA after waiting for the piston slap to stop. Then my check engine light came on with a PO1415 .... it did off after a while. My seatbelt was all twisted and I had to take care of that. I got on the highway and had to hit it to merge into traffic and it had no balls .... as can be read on my thread in the auto transmission section. I could feel a vibration around town which told me that my leaky rear tires which need to be replaced are low on air.

I used to love this car. I hope that I don't continue to hate it and sell it.

Treat it with some love...It needs you like in the girl needs love in 5th element. Dont let some stupid fucker own it.

TA =

**Thunda** · 04-26-2011, 03:33 PM

Remember what she use to be and slowly build her back. Think about how long she has been good

**ThunderChicken** · 04-26-2011, 03:45 PM

It's probably just time for a rebuild with that kind of mileage. You'd get peanuts for her if you did sell her just because of the mileage... if the body is in good condition and you're willing to do the work, just rebuild her motor.

**79Firebird_99TA** · 04-26-2011, 04:16 PM

Originally Posted by ThunderChicken

It's probably just time for a rebuild with that kind of mileage. You'd get peanuts for her if you did sell her just because of the mileage... if the body is in good condition and you're willing to do the work, just rebuild her motor.

Well actually the motor is still good and doesn't burn any oil. The transmission is newly rebuilt with new stall. The interior is perfect. The body is in great shape.

Maybe it's not that bad afterall.... just a bad day.

***SMWS6TA*** · 04-27-2011, 06:58 AM

Originally Posted by 79Firebird_99TA

Well actually the motor is still good and doesn't burn any oil. The transmission is newly rebuilt with new stall. The interior is perfect. The body is in great shape.

Maybe it's not that bad afterall.... just a bad day.

Has the rear been looked at yet? With the engine solid and a new tranny/stall and those miles I would start to be thinking about that.

When it comes to mine I don't care if I have to put it on a skate board I'm never selling my baby. I regretted selling my 96's Firebird even to this day, I can't think of how painful it would be to depart from my 98 T/A.

**79Firebird_99TA** · 04-27-2011, 07:07 AM

Originally Posted by SMWS6TA

Has the rear been looked at yet? With the engine solid and a new tranny/stall and those miles I would start to be thinking about that.

When it comes to mine I don't care if I have to put it on a skate board I'm never selling my baby. I regretted selling my 96's Firebird even to this day, I can't think of how painful it would be to depart from my 98 T/A.

Yeah .... I had the axles replaced and the diff rebuilt probably 50k ago.

***SMWS6TA*** · 04-27-2011, 07:37 AM

She's just having a bad day....

**KMdef9** · 04-27-2011, 08:30 AM

Originally Posted by 79Firebird_99TA

Well actually the motor is still good and doesn't burn any oil. The transmission is newly rebuilt with new stall. The interior is perfect. The body is in great shape.

Maybe it's not that bad afterall.... just a bad day.

Very well could be. I wouldn't let it get you down, just focus on 1 situation at a time, tackel it and and move one. I have the same issues with my Jeep at times, seems they always come in 3's. Always little annoying things too, nothing major, thankfully.

Some maintenance could be needed that hasn't been noticed yet, bushings, bearings, suspension, etc. Pretty much if it hasn't be replaced by 200k, it's probably about time to. So depending on your free time, start taking a few things apart and examine them for wear, or for just a good cleaning.

**79Firebird_99TA** · 04-27-2011, 08:33 AM

Thanks for the encouraging words all. Truly, I couldn't imagine any other car for my daily driver. It may not seem like it, but I do keep up with the maintenance.... just have had a lot come on at once. I have replaced a lot as she moves in to her "second life".

**LeadFarmer** · 04-27-2011, 11:23 AM

no worries man, I feel the same way about my Z on some days, 2.73s, auto, no stall and a stock motor make me wanna curse sometimes when I'm forced to punch it on the highway. Then I think about how bad an econo box would have it in the same position and I feel much better lol

**sjsingle1** · 04-27-2011, 11:32 AM

i bought my bird for 6k.......i have put at least that much in her since getting her to fix all the wore out......naggy crap that these cars have......my dad says i should sell......i dont think so

**LeadFarmer** · 04-27-2011, 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by sjsingle1

i bought my bird for 6k.......i have put at least that much in her since getting her to fix all the wore out......naggy crap that these cars have......my dad says i should sell......i dont think so

Same position, bought her for 7K w/100k miles. Put atleast that into repairs, don't even wanna think about the cost of added mods, stupid shit keeps breaking, I keep fixing. Everyone in my family thinks I should sell it(partly because of the cost and partly because they can't stand how loud it is).

here's a quick list off the top of my head of what I need to get done.

1.Fix the stupid paint flakes around my license plate, around my fog lights, and passanger lower door panel.
2.Re-apply new hockey stripes due to my slight fuck up when attempting to assure symmetry

3.Get rid of annoying as hell SES code.
4. Fix the stupid notorious F-body lean as best I can
5. Get new rims cuz I can't stand looking at these damn snowflakes and the chips on them anymore.
6. Fix cracked dash cuz I throw a tantrum each time I get in the car and see
it
7. Redo the soldering on the BCM cuz my radio keeps going on and off with no mercy.
8. Get new black tailights cuz the ones I have have a dime-sized-melt- in- spot. The price I pay for not parking in the garage.

fuuuuuuuuuuuu

But I still can't imagine my life without her

**Y2KArcticSS** · 04-27-2011, 12:40 PM

203k on the clock here, just recently stopped DD'ing her due to getting a work truck. Power steering is leaking, header bolts need tightened, she needs a good cleaning (paintjob too really), suspension needs work, needs new tires. BUT, I would be pissed at myself for years to come for selling her....thank God my wife has talked me out of it twice now. Think of all the old guys out there who talk about the cars they wish they had kept. Times are tough, buying and installing parts is getting harder to do, at least for me. Just do what you can, when you can. You will be happy with her again. You'd be surprised the difference in your thinking when you fix even the smallest of issues...especially when the miles get as high as ours. Cheer up!!!

**79Firebird_99TA** · 04-27-2011, 12:56 PM

Yeah ..... today was a better day. I was going to drive my `79 but we've got a chance for tornadoes in ATL and my drive is 33 miles one way. So I drove the TA, she must have known I didn't like her yesterday so today she was on her best behavior. These are the things that need attention:

Swap battery. The gauges are pegging everytime I turn the key on to crank it.

Swap rack as it leaks. I have to top it off around once per month.

Swap dash. It's cracked.

Pull Monsoon and repair LCD backlight and clean optical pickup. The darn thing has trouble reading discs.

Install new tires. Looking to go with the Firestone Oval whatevers.

Suspension. Install shocks/springs? .... lower?

Install airhorn (not necessity). I have a 1 gallon air tank and a 120 psi 12v compressor that will drive 2 100+ db freight train horns.

**whitetrashbird** · 04-27-2011, 02:24 PM

Go price a new car, it'll make you feel better.

Dan

**jsmith564`** · 04-27-2011, 02:46 PM

Originally Posted by 79Firebird_99TA

Yeah ..... today was a better day. I was going to drive my `79 but we've got a chance for tornadoes in ATL and my drive is 33 miles one way. So I drove the TA, she must have known I didn't like her yesterday so today she was on her best behavior. These are the things that need attention:

Swap battery. The gauges are pegging everytime I turn the key on to crank it.

Swap rack as it leaks. I have to top it off around once per month.

Swap dash. It's cracked.

Pull Monsoon and repair LCD backlight and clean optical pickup. The darn thing has trouble reading discs.

Install new tires. Looking to go with the Firestone Oval whatevers.

Suspension. Install shocks/springs? .... lower?

Install airhorn (not necessity). I have a 1 gallon air tank and a 120 psi 12v compressor that will drive 2 100+ db freight train horns.

dude!!! you in atl??? i need some help maybe. are you good with motors and such?

and i tell you what.. i have a rack off my camaro that has 80k miles on it. it did'nt leak, the tie rod ends were bad. so i replaced the whole rack like a dummy.. but it was a bday present from my g/f

**79Firebird_99TA** · 04-27-2011, 04:45 PM

Originally Posted by jsmith564`

dude!!! you in atl??? i need some help maybe. are you good with motors and such?

and i tell you what.. i have a rack off my camaro that has 80k miles on it. it did'nt leak, the tie rod ends were bad. so i replaced the whole rack like a dummy.. but it was a bday present from my g/f

I'm actually in Woodstock but I work in ATL. I'm good with repairs .....etc.... been doing them for 30 years. Time is my problem .... I'm so busy between work and home these days.

FYI - my `79 is going to some old feller in Covington for paint hopefully in a couple of weeks.

What have you got going on?