i have an 88 non turbo automatic, i have had since 1995, but it has not run since 1998. it has been in my garage. i have always wanted to fix it, i think i can finally afford to do major custom jobs. is it worth rebuilding the engine, setting it up for a turbo, and setting up the transmission for a 5 speed. lots of money, but i am willing to do it, because it was my first car
or am i better off just buying one that is already a 5 speed turbo? thanx, i need help because i am new to this.

 

Not worth the money to rebuild it and convert to 5 speed. Very expensive. If in the end, you want turbo, then save up for a TurboII. It will save you all the headaches, money, and trouble.

Otherwise, if you don't really want a turbo, I'd get another NA with manual tranny.

 

I know all about wanting to hang on to your first car.
I still have my 79 firebird parked out back collecting dust and rust! But I will never part with it, way to many good high school memories If your not to attached to the car sell it for a few hundred and keep your eye out for a killer deal on a TII not worth trying to convert to much time and money not to mettion headache's

 

i think you get that car running then sell it, or part out the car and make some money that way, that would prolly be ur best way to go, there would be no money lost.

it would be way to much money to make that car turbo, u would have to build up the engine for it and the tranny. buy a t2

 

i know its not worth from the money point of view, the thing is if i part with it, i probably wont get another one i mean the whole point of fixing this one up is because its already mine, if i get rid of it, it solves my problem of this extra car i have lying around. i guess i really do want to fix it?

 

We can't be a judge since the sentimental value is all your hangin on to. To us, you have $500 as is or a few thousand parted out.
Bad idea to fix it.

 

Yep, take some pictures of it for memories and sell her and get a T2!
Good luck/skill!

 

thanx a lot

 

Man I think that every TII in Nor Cal has been either wreked or sold out of state.. They are IMPOSSIBLE to find.. Esp an s5..

 

Totally agree! When I was looking to get an RX7, I wanted a TII, but all they had were NA's so I just bought one. Then I see like 3-4 TII's for sale within the past 2-3 months driving me nuts. Oh well, just sold my NA and I have a TII lined up for me as soon as the guy gets back from vacation.

Oh, if you're interested, theres a guy selling a different black '87 TII with 93K miles for $3,900 in the Contra Costa area. You can probably talk him down a little.