Barn find, '80 LS Turbo, 1 owner, 35k miles.
03-03-15, 01:38 PM
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Barn find, '80 LS Turbo(?), 1 owner, 35k miles.
Thought id share my latest find.
Bought it as a rolling chassis, from what i was told it was ordered with a turbo from the factory, but i dont have any more info. Couldnt find much about the 12A turbos.
LS trim.
Alabama car, 1 owner. Car has been sitting for 20 years or so, only has 35k miles on it. Little wear from being driven, mostly just from sitting for so long.
Mostly original, exhaust is (i believe) a RB unit.
Big issue is the rust. The hood is pretty bad. The sway bar/steering rack/engine mount area has a good amount of surface rust on it as well. Front bumper area has some rust on it. Started working on grinding the hood, but it rained the next morning and i didnt have the car covered so ill have to go over it again.
Other than the rust, its a clean car. Interior is in great shape, body is straight, not too much i can complain about. Other than what looks like fire damage on the passenger side of the firewall, and on the inside of the hood.
My plan is to swap my street port 13B into the car from my SE. Just have to deal with the rust before i can get to the swap. And i have to find a radiator, a fan assembly, and a few other parts.
Ill be updating with my progress through the swap, havent had time to do much because of work and speedweeks and whatnot.
Bought it as a rolling chassis, from what i was told it was ordered with a turbo from the factory, but i dont have any more info. Couldnt find much about the 12A turbos.
LS trim.
Alabama car, 1 owner. Car has been sitting for 20 years or so, only has 35k miles on it. Little wear from being driven, mostly just from sitting for so long.
Mostly original, exhaust is (i believe) a RB unit.
Big issue is the rust. The hood is pretty bad. The sway bar/steering rack/engine mount area has a good amount of surface rust on it as well. Front bumper area has some rust on it. Started working on grinding the hood, but it rained the next morning and i didnt have the car covered so ill have to go over it again.
Other than the rust, its a clean car. Interior is in great shape, body is straight, not too much i can complain about. Other than what looks like fire damage on the passenger side of the firewall, and on the inside of the hood.
My plan is to swap my street port 13B into the car from my SE. Just have to deal with the rust before i can get to the swap. And i have to find a radiator, a fan assembly, and a few other parts.
Ill be updating with my progress through the swap, havent had time to do much because of work and speedweeks and whatnot.
03-03-15, 02:12 PM
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Are the decals factory? They looked the part, but i wasnt sure if they were just thrown on later.
03-03-15, 03:07 PM
#4
I'm happy you found it and if authentic low miles has lots of potential.
The decals are not factory, I was trying to make a joke about how terrible and amateurish the TURBO stickers were, just like tacking a wing that has zero function just to make the car appears faster - which is why the empty engine bay was so ironically appropriate.
The decals are not factory, I was trying to make a joke about how terrible and amateurish the TURBO stickers were, just like tacking a wing that has zero function just to make the car appears faster - which is why the empty engine bay was so ironically appropriate.
03-03-15, 03:45 PM
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I'm happy you found it and if authentic low miles has lots of potential.
The decals are not factory, I was trying to make a joke about how terrible and amateurish the TURBO stickers were, just like tacking a wing that has zero function just to make the car appears faster - which is why the empty engine bay was so ironically appropriate.
The decals are not factory, I was trying to make a joke about how terrible and amateurish the TURBO stickers were, just like tacking a wing that has zero function just to make the car appears faster - which is why the empty engine bay was so ironically appropriate.
Stickers will be coming off soon, it's on my to do list.
Speed:, Yeah the day I picked it up the PO said he had about 6 people ready to pick it up. Glad I was the first there lol.
03-03-15, 03:48 PM
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there were however several aftermarket turbo kits, and any one of them could have been installed when the car was new, or almost new, this would be really cool...
it is a nice car, and potentially something a bit special
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03-03-15, 04:05 PM
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There was a 12A with a Turbo installed,but like I said I got it with no engine so I have no way of knowing what was on the car.
I was told the turbo failed,and looking at the hood and the firewall it looks like it went out with a bang.
I was told the turbo failed,and looking at the hood and the firewall it looks like it went out with a bang.
03-04-15, 11:58 AM
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I think the white goes really well with the gold rims. Definitely one of my favorite color combos.
Haha, just noticed that. No i didnt.
03-05-15, 12:00 PM
#12
Terrified.
This car will look far better as soon as those Turbo decals are off of it. Great find, especially if the miles are correct on it.
What engine do you intend on putting in it?
What engine do you intend on putting in it?
03-05-15, 05:34 PM
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03-05-15, 06:41 PM
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03-10-15, 01:54 PM
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Nice project. I like the tires; impossible to find RWLs these days.
I don't think that's an RB muffler; the tips look too long to my eye, but it may just be the angle of the photo. The newer mufflers did have longer tips than the older diagonal-cut ones.
I don't think that's an RB muffler; the tips look too long to my eye, but it may just be the angle of the photo. The newer mufflers did have longer tips than the older diagonal-cut ones.
03-10-15, 03:20 PM
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The car isnt with me so i cant take more photos at the moment, but ill get some more of it when i can.
Ive got the exhaust off my SE ill probably end up using anyway, we'll see.
05-12-15, 09:43 PM
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Some good progress. Engine is in the car,still have to order new oil cooler lines and Rad hoses,start on the wiring,seal the fuel tank and finish priming the car.
But it's getting there.
But it's getting there.
05-13-15, 11:00 PM
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Ill probably end up trimming the header and keeping the exhuast thats on the car now. Other than those things I don't have much fabricating to do,should be straight forward
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