View Single Post
  #2  
Old 04-10-2018, 12:39 AM
CATBIRD CATBIRD is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 226
Default

1980 TA.....I've got two Firebirds. A 1997 and a 2000. Look for all the things that you would normally check on a 20 year old used car. These cars tend to hold up well if taken care of and ride and handle good. One thing that can be a problem is the doors. The shell is made of fiberglass, and are very heavy with power windows, doors, speakers, and a large piece of glass. Because of the weight and continual use, they tend to crack the fiberglass at the front end where the hinges attach. Continued use by lifting and slamming the door causes the latch to break, the windows to rattle and come off their tracks, and sometimes break the glass. Because the door no longer swings true, the hinge pins wear also. The only known cure is to remove the door, gut it, and reinforce the leading edge of the shell where the hinges attach with steel plates from the inside. A tedious and time consuming job. Any car that you look at, open the door and lift it. If the car lifts with the door, your probably ok. If only the door lifts, take that into consideration......John
Reply With Quote