1986 Trans Am Hatch Motor Repair! | Starting Off With the Little Things

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[@RonaldFinger]

I may be biased, but I think the 80s theme and voiceover is the way to go 👍🏻 Good work though! Looking forward to more :)

[@lsxmatt]

Awesome, I love you’re doing with the Fiero! I almost pulled the trigger on one with a half finished 3800 swap, but I always wanted a Trans Am. Looking forward to more of your videos as well🤘

[@philllsxga.7737]

Right! Other car videos have stupid hip hop music. hip hop does not belong in do muscle car videos?!

[@mariorowland8342]

@@lsxmatt i like your car, I have an 86 too with an 88 305, the previous owner removed the TPI and put 4 barrel on it ,they also removed the AC components as well, but luckily for me they didn't cut anything. My car runs good but needs bigger rear gears, I have 2.71 ratio.

[@Microjoey02]

I love the gay 80's club music you were playing during your timelapse 😅

[@SoonerDan77]

That's the old Goodwrench 350, they used to sell those motors complete for something like $1100, the right parts would really wake that 350 up.

[@d4ve587]

I love the 80s😚everything rattled back then the good old days 😆👍😜lovin the trans😎

[@squirlesg2228]

No way 😂 only you man, so lucky you got a trans so cheap and it just happens to have a 350 I’m so pumped 👍🏼

[@sparkplug1018]

You do get lucky sometimes. Thought I bought a 350 from a Corvette for my project Camaro from the junkyard. Turned out to be a 383 4 bolt. Every now and then you get lucky.

[@trailerparksupersports]

great video, glad to see 80s gm's becoming more popular, keep up the great work.

[@ghostface9230]

Love this car needs a twin turbo 3.8 liter swap or a 5.7L Tuned Port Injection swap. Baddest engine of the 80s in my opinion.

[@1flynlow]

which one . you mentioned 2.

[@missingremote4388]

TURBO 3800 V-6

[@ghostface9230]

Turbo 6 would be a cool swap.

[@1flynlow]

i'm mid way through a turbo swap on my 3.4 myself. fabbing up the headers now.

[@billybiker5712]

Dude wouldn't be much better if it was tuned port trust me I've had a million of these cars and still have one 91 camaro RS I've restored

[@pjstartv6798]

The hatch motor from my 1986 Trans Am still works and is currently on my 1991 Firebird. When I bought the '91 the hatch motor wasn't working so when it came time to sell the '86 Trans Am I took the hatch motor out of it and put it in the '91. Pretty impressive for an original 36 year old hatch motor.

[@marquesehanley6792]

Awesome find on the block. Don't! Ls swap it! Just pull the engine and stroke it 30 over and then save up and get a procharger and compare this car with the camaro. You'll have tons of videos and can make pros and cons between the two set ups!!

[@philllsxga.7737]

Not to be a jerk but I don't agree with stroking an engine. Bore and higher compression Pistons is where it's at. KZbin why the LS is so good..

[@marquesehanley6792]

Im aware of the potential in a LS but it wouldn't make sense to do it again. He already has one so it's literally going to be a repeat series of the camaro. Do something different, grab people's attention, do what you love and get more views.

[@professionalhater8808]

@DrgnFlys so you're saying put a ls in it?

[@revolutionday1]

Somebody out there has gotta' be making that little gear out of something like CNC-machined brass etc. I found some for the headlight motors in my Firebird, years ago.

[@bdg8967]

I owned an Dark blue and Silver trim '85 TA with a LB9 MPI 5.0 came with a stage 2 chip and fast as hell! I miss it dearly. I had to sell it because my work hours changed and had no place to store it when I moved. I fixed the overheating issue on it and learned a lot about the car. These run factory set at 210-220 degrees for performance reasons, sitting in hot air temps and not moving drove this to over heat and with a couple tweeks it made the electric cooling fan come on sooner so it did do that as bad. Keep up the good work, its a fun car to have.

[@professionalhater8808]

im a ford guy but having graduated in 91 I always sweated the late 80s f bodies. the budget rocket for the f body I recall was the formula 350. no camaro budget 350 . had to spring for the iroc for a 350. its not a ford vs chevy thing for me anymore but a reliving and holding on to my youth thing now. I actually had an 86 iroc 5 spd t top car that had a replacement goodwrench 5.7. had to reluctantly sell it. will find another one someday for beach cruising and shows. great vid..very top gun esq lol

[@icepelt01]

This was rather helpful. I discovered the gear housing for my motor and the little nilon bits along the metal track were shattered in my 1990 Firebird Formula 350.

[@AMOR2001]

Love your videos I’m glad I found someone who makes videos on 3rd gens can’t wait for more

[@Tyler-mb8ce]

This the third gen community I'm all about. Matt, you are doing awesome work. Glad to have your channel to watch. It would be awesome to see a 383 in that sowmday. Also that clicking noise could be the hood bolts.

[@dansanmiguel5750]

I know the feeling when changing the trunk motor: )

[@Dubiels]

What a cool find! Budget 350 build. Done! Voiceover 👍 eighties theme 👍

[@someuser6553]

I was encountered with the exact same problem last night, tried to find the issue but was Not sucessfull. Now After a Bit of research and stumbling across this Video i have found the Solution. Thanks Alot for this Video Greetings from Switzerland

[@tylerjones2]

Love the intro music lol. Puts me in the perfect state of mind to watch work on this 80s beauty. By the way, you should be able to slide out that entire motor assembly to be able to reach that torx bolt you had trouble getting to. That also allows you to grease the slider.

[@gustavocastillo9954]

Check out TimeCop1983 and Miami Nights 1984! They make 80's inspired music

[@po3185]

if i recall correctly i think its a faded version of Nightcall from Kavinsky.

[@gustavocastillo9954]

@@po3185 It sounded a lot like it lol

[@DeerbrookSouthernRR]

I will have one of these one day. I was looking at an IROC but I’m a sucker for flip up lights

[@philipragusa9775]

Nice video, I have a 86 IROC and a 87 T/A both have that same issue with the pull down mechanism. You def. did a good job explaining the repair. Thx

[@tj_gsomething_]

Congratulations on your 5.7L 350. They weren't available in '86. Thanks for the update on the license plate not being the cause of your rattle. I wish it was though because I have no idea what it is. I'll be waiting for your T-top leak fix. Are you doing the stainless replacement cross member?

[@chopper6464]

I literally repaired mine last night. It still worked ok but my plastic sliders were worn out. I was in the process of polishing my taillights last week when I noticed the problem with the hatch. Ordered new sliders from Hawks and fixed it last night. Explains why I would hear a nasty rattle when I hit hard bumps. Works great now and has a nice solid click when I release the hatch now.

[@MrGriffin23]

I don’t comment much, but I do watch your videos. I’ve picked up many tips from you and in building my Procharged Caprice. I’m digging’ the 80’s themed videos. LOL! Nice work man! I’m restoring a Chevelle now. So I’ll be tuned in for more...

[@357Bradley]

I have an 86 Trans Am but mine is the black with gold trim & it's still all original. My carb bogs down when you try to kick down the 4 barrel. It starts & idles great just it don't like it when you try to floor it. I think it needs the secondaries adjusted. The AC compressor was locked up so I deleted the AC but I did it right by unscrewing everything instead of cutting the hoses & I still have all the brackets & bolts. Other than the secondaries, I love driving it!! It feels like you're driving an oversized go-cart. Lol!!!

[@Breaker197]

80s TIMELAPSE! Epic music!

[@marc1al90]

Didn't expect a hatch motor replacement. I needed to replace my hatch motor thanks for the DIY. Thumbs up on that 350 you have in it and 80s music theme.

[@davidbrantley2464]

Thank you for that demonstration of the headlights!

[@KITT089]

That’s awesome!! The 350 has much more potential. Now I know how to fix the motor to seal the hatch. My firebird has always had that problem. Another great video. Thank you!

[@rocksteady8986]

Vortec heads/intake, and a better cam and call it day

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

Blake Berry I have something like that for my Trans Am. Looks almost like stock but... 😁

[@lilmacu23]

The RV stage 2 cam is decent little more power and no for real difference in mpg mor torque for sure.

[@billybiker5712]

Can't put vortec heads on a 305 due to air flow problems with the smaller boar and all you'd be better off to 350 swap it

[@garystellato8453]

I still say holly EFI.

[@jeffredelk9755]

i love this video there are a million vids out there on how to replace it but this is the first ive seen on the insides of the mechanism

[@Justa4banger79]

86 is one and only! 3rd brake light is the give away.

[@rklein20]

Yeah the voiceover with music makes it much easier to watch. I like the humor too.

[@triblackcorvette]

Bought an 87 ta ws6 several years ago same color and everything. Swapping it to a 5.3. hope to see this one swapped soon.

[@hipnoticheadnotic5631]

This video is great. 3rd gens along with Retro Synth music really goes together well. As an owner of a 1991 z28 350 I can't wait to see what you do to this. Glam Rock also goes great with these cars. Maybe some Def Leppard "Hysteria" along some Autumn backroads to make them leaves fly....

[@Jimicruz34]

Great vid. This gave me an idea on how to repair my 87 Cad trunk release also. Appreciate it!

[@arrowguy173]

Beautiful 85! I have a black/gold 82 and had to do the same fix. There is so much plastic used on these cars! lol but they look sharp.

[@greeniembush4106]

You are a great voice over you do explain great on the trans AM i'a thinking about a 1986 Pontiac Firebird to work on thanks you so much I'll keep watching your video.

[@deloreanman14]

Think of how much Whitesnake that custom speaker setup played back in the day...

[@no_handle_required]

I miss my 86. Such good times.

[@Anthony-Webb]

Hell yeah, 80's time lapse for the win

[@danielwoods5605]

I’m soooooo glad your making videos on actually doing Repairs we run into for these 3rd gens. It weird how these cars are so popular gets there’s not enough videos out on the common problems with them, and definitely parts are becoming harder and harder to find. Or they are still quite expensive.. case in point my 87 bird needs a lot of parts for instance, a dashboard. A brand new dashboard is $560 🤣... anyways I’m glad you can along!

[@jonp5760]

Nice car! I had an '87 formula. I LOVE the look of the late 80's firebirds.

[@ronnieromero7604]

Loved the 80s montage music lol

[@Dougbrown55]

Just checked out your channel from a forums post.... i like your content .... and im a third gen enthusiast also ....

[@ronb113]

Love the car and the direction you’re going with it!

[@samcoffey4711]

Love watching these videos. My dad had the exact same car just red with the gray ground effects. Your making me want one now.

[@dominizzy9355]

Thanks for making it budget friendly Matt! I have my 89 Iroc I'm trying to restore and we have similar issues (of Course mines TPI) but above all same issues

[@jonruger]

Pull your heads once you get to that point find out if you have flat top pistons if you do your ready for some good power. A set of refurbished pull your own junk yard vortec heads with the guides cut down wouldn't run you much at all. They are hard to beat without spending 1000+ on aluminum heads that still have to go the machine shop. You can make some good power with that Holley too but if you wanna keep it a small block I recommend an EFI system. Holley, FiTech, or something similar.

[@G-reg313]

Get a set of AFR 195 heads, tpis zz9 cam, hooker headers, holley efi advenger(optional or carb), 372 gears, and a 10 inch 2800 to 3000 stall converter and you will have a really fun car. Oh and by the way the music in the back ground is pretty dope!

[@josuepaz9446]

Loveing this series

[@gearhead1234]

Add a set of Vortec heads, 268h cam, aftermarket eBay HEI distributor.. Like 50 bucks.. And headers.. That should do it. If it were me, I'd toss the Holley and get an edelbrock/AFB style carb. It will take a carb to Vortec specific intake tho. But the China versions work just fine. Lol. As for the air cleaner, pick up a second lid and cut it down, leaving the center part, covering the filter intact. Remove the area from the outer edge of the filter, to the housing. Essentially simply reducing the diameter. This way you have an open element air cleaner or a fully closed housing by simply changing the lid. Thus you can get replacement filters anywhere and still remain stock appearing.

[@skylerkroll8878]

You should put the Quadrajet back on it, if it still had the CCC system.

[@clemmahabir]

Too bad 3rd gens get a bad rap and its one of my favorite body styles they look Awsome both Camaro and Trans Am. After watching you build the Camaro and all the work that went into it I'm thinking you will eventually put and LS motor in the TA 😎. But either way the 5.7 is a definit bonus under the hood and lots can be done with it👍.

[@steveblakley5285]

Vice grips bro, use vice grips to hold the hatch open just it up and clamp them on the shock so it can't slide back in on its self. One trailer park machanic to a nother

[@sherlocksmacker]

I cant believe I haven't found your channel sooner. The content is great keep it up

[@Lucas_Tulic]

Although I hate automatics, I love this cars, as I was a big fan of Knight Rider as a kid here in Argentina in the late 80s. I really looking forward to see what you're going to do to this beautiful vehicle. You've got a new sub! Cheers!

[@KlipschHead281]

Those F bodies were rattle boxes nearly from new, I loved the tail lights when they came out in '85, they were first introduced on the '83 Sunbird and Sunbird Turbo which were also rattle boxes.

[@grumpyoltimer7523]

Ahhh, the magic stick. We have all had one in our trunks at one point.

[@fbodytrinity]

I'm a new subscriber but of the videos of yours that I've seen I am for sure a fan of the new voice over style. I also love your 80's styling to the videos, and think it makes it even more fun to watch. Cant wait to see where this project goes.

[@jenniferhoulihan3538]

Love the voice overs

[@fpaltenhoff86]

Man I love 3rd gen firebirds

[@Mcleod0000]

do a compression test , if its like 150 psi you probably cant do much for a cam unless you get some small chamber heads to bump up the compression . I had a 70s 350 put a 65 cc chamber head and a 327/350 cam , seemed alright .

[@AngelFlores_133]

I am loving this build man, looking forward to seeing what else is in store 👍💪

[@IROCZman15]

there ya go!! just like I said in the other video last week. do a gen 1 scb build... heads cam, a basic efi setup, maybe even a little nitrous. etc. as it sits you will run about 15.9 et but a few thousand dollars in mods you could get mid 13s you already know what to do; the usual 3rd gen upgrades (subframe connectors, suspension mods, wider/stickier rear tires, intake exhaust, heads, cam, shift kit, 3.73 gears, .... etc)

[@patricknicolucci5073]

i owned a 1988 base Firebird with a 6 cyl l bought it of the showroom floor loved that car white with black out trim an louvers.miss that car

[@jordanwiley4582]

12* is basically where you want any gm small block to start for timing at idle. that spec of 0* was for the stock comupter quadrajet setups because the computer had complete control over the timing and fuel mixture. if you changed timing the computer would just compensate and change it back.

[@Corassiam007]

80's montage for the win

[@rognvaldjaegerdandy4340]

I love your videos, and I'm a HUGE fan of the 3rd gens. My dream car is a resto mod Formula 350. That being said, I cringe when you talk about the tires. 225 is the width of the tread, 70, 60, or 50 (whatever) is the sidewall height as a ratio (portion, percentage, etc)of the tread width, and 15, 16, 17, etc is the diameter of the rim it will fit on.

[@c5back9]

I had a similar rattle in a Chevy truck. Turns out it was three empty 5.56 shell casings laying in the defroster vent tray. As the truck moved, they'd bounce and roll around in there making various sounds. Get a small mirror or a bore scope and look down there to see if something might have rolled in it. Hopefully that isnt it because getting stuff out of there is not easy unless it is something a magnet will grab. Unfortunately brass is not.

[@milesczechowski2154]

Perfect video and just in time for me to fix my pulldown motor, most of these cars prolly only need the gear.

[@OldManFrank]

*I hate how much I love these videos...* 😅😀😅😆😇

[@superchile9640]

I’ve found that on most of these the grease that was originally used is dried up. I used lithium grease when I replaced mine too.

[@scottteeselink6251]

Love your videos bud! The music and the voiceover are right on. The blue and silver is one of my favorite color combos. I remember when these cars were new. How long are you planning on keeping it? Keep up the great work!

[@BowyerToBe]

Great video man!! Definitely like the 80s theme lol. Very underrated channel tho!

[@Red-rl1xx]

You might remember me. I subbed to your channel recently. Good update video! Those Trans Ams have always been good looking cars. Like the blue and silver on this one. Looking forward to seeing the finished product!

[@MrJneesy]

i believe the rattle is the speedo cable rattling around in the speedo

[@ricochetey]

No I couldnt notice the high idle the music was to loud! I did enjoy the video have fun.

[@MrTyler1798]

I have the same 350 in my 83 grand prix I did vortec heads from a 96-00 5.7 gmc/chevy truck with a edlebrock Intake and a mild cam elgin E1065P car moves out amazing and very budget friendly I did mine for well under 1000

[@jimmyheavner3988]

I Love that about that year i had a 1996 do that...Only thing i hate about the trans am was the Doors,Hood,Hatch they are so heavy and when the door bushing start wearing out when you open the doors they will drop till eventually your picking up the door to close it...

[@whatsreallygoingon253]

my brother had one of these he put my uncle that dieds built 400 sb with a monster cam edelbrock high rise intake it is still the fastest car ive ever been in it would pull the wheels off on a hard launch

[@expeditionjay]

Just found your channel. Upstate ny! Im originally from central ny, living in VT now.

[@timc8551]

I think engine masters did a budget 350 build if you want to have a looksy for idea's? If you can put vortec heads on it then possibly go that route? I hear they are cheap and when massaged flow quite well

[@jquest43]

That real wing is the same used in kugel-lefevers 308 mph run in 1999 at Bonneville in a 1992 Pontiac trans am. They also had stock side spoilers and stock electric windows.

[@jessecarrasco4276]

My old Camaro had pro comp heads and I forget that cam specs but I wanna say it was the comp xe268. Electric water pump, hei distributor I bought most of it used and it actually ran pretty decent

[@tortminator3675]

All of those gm dashes rattle like that. I daily a 92 GMC Sierra and it rattles like a bastard. Also, I love the music especially the 80’s metal guitar licks 🎸

[@TanCalHan]

The sub box isn’t that bad.. better than most peoples custom installs

[@TorquilMcLeod]

That time lapse music was very montage. Even Rocky had a montage!

[@BenignoBoyz]

Noise could be coming from the dash but I would check under the hood in the center towards the back there is a black hood rest. Slap some grease on it and see if the noise goes away. Worked on my 86 monte carlo ss

[@terrybryant]

Those transmissions had a very hard shift when new. They got better with a few miles but if the engine had any RPM's to it they would give a great big clunk when shifting into gear and when shifting while driving.

[@BobPegram]

I thought that if you got another F body, you would get a 4th gen Firebird, the one that looks fairly good. Waiting to see what you do next. Thanks for turning me on to Joakim Karud's music 8-))

[@jburners20]

I bolted the two piece assembly together and made it a fixed pieces. Just another idea for those who don’t like messing with that motor

[@AmericaBumpertoBumper]

Loving this project. keep it coming.

[@tjgannon3082]

Matt I know you said budget build BUT... a Holy sniper would be an awesome upgrade

[@noo4pass]

Matt, I was commenting about the vice grips when I saw the broom but had to change my comment because you ended up doing exactly that.

[@zachyeager591]

Love that Maui blue got a 89 bird with a 2.8 same color

[@dirtracingfan8742]

I need one of those Milwaukee ratchets in my life

[@nerohendo6593]

Would love to see a collab with you and Regular Car Reviews for the camaro.

[@EssMotorsports]

Suggestions, xe268 cam, vortec heads off craigslist, intake, headers and burn off those new tires!