Perfect Condition! 1 Owner! 40K Miles! '98 TransAm! But needs thousands in repairs!

[@CarWizard]

Don't forget to check out ​⁠​⁠​⁠Mrs. Wizard’s channel to hear the history of my shop, Omega Auto Clinic: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hqqupWesg9iAjac

[@vernerulmet2290]

So in essence you could say that the engine and transmission needed to be rebuilt with all the same parts but just put in new seals and it would be good to go

[@REDBIRD-95]

That TA is beautiful😊 I recently sold my 95 Bird as it sat more than I drove it, AC compressor was on it's way out, plus a few other things that would have cost a lot to repair properly. I just couldn't let her waste away sitting forever so I made the difficult decision to sell her so someone else could get some enjoyment out of her.

[@philippe_durel]

There are a couple of things to know about these V8 F-Body cars. Some lines of the HVAC are discontinued and unobtainable, same with the weatherstrips, and quite some other parts. It's impossible to mount quality tires on the 16" wheels, but, there's a solution if you use 17" wheels from Corvette C5 (C5 standard front wheels, exact same offset, bore etc...) or custom 17" wheels, and you keep the original wheels in case you sell the car in the future, and then you can mount the excellent Bridgestone Turanza T005 245-45 R17 95W.

[@Boycott_Wendys]

My daily driver is a 1983 S10 Blazer. This thing is practically brand new 😊

[@meorme6603]

I take my 98' mustang gt out for a spin once a week. After 3 years of driving suddenly a misfire in cyl 1. Did a complete tune up . Still wasn't able to find he problem with the misfire. Turns out pcm fuse kept blowing, I followed the wires to a short in the wire harmess to the pcm. The harness was on back top part of the engine touching a hose. As it got warm it was sending a signal to the fuel i jector to stay open and I was flooding that cylinder with fuel. After fuel smell for couple weeks, it turned into a burnt oil smell from too much blow by. I finally zip tied the wires up and away from that hose, changed the pcv valve, and my problem was fixed.

[@1986krazy]

I can hear Alex from LSC drooling from here! 😂 That car is a beauty

[@larryfromwisconsin9970]

Don't say that is from 25 years ago because for me 1998 was just yesterday.

[@jonathanbardunias1889]

I wasn’t even born yet 😅

[@teddyrascal6305]

Denial is the first stage of grieving... its ok brother. Big hug hahahaha

[@Matt-nw2pt]

I was 9😂

[@devilcharger]

@@jonathanbardunias1889 I was not old enough to drive in 1998 but I sure as hell remember this car. the 2002 is my all time favorite.

[@boogitybear2283]

1998 was a fun year. The Home Run Chase and Michael Jordan Bulls winning their 6th Championship. Even Chicago was a much better city unlike today.

[@valengreymoon5623]

These are hardly seen anymore, and aside from the leaks, the cosmetic condition is excellent. I'd say it's worth putting the money into.

[@knurlgnar24]

No kidding. Well worth the money to make right. That thing is a gem!

[@ihsyed786]

A thing of beauty. Seen a few here on long Island (ny)

[@craigbraswell4269]

My wife's first car was this cars twin (but with an automatic trans) same color too. We still own and drive it, although I have made MANY repairs throughout the years we've been married. It's am amazing car and is he baby. I'm sure that if the car went, so would I! Haha!

[@ryans413]

All those leaks are going to cost over 10k to fix. Most will be labour costs you got transmission and engine leaks struts and diff leaks all the hoses and gaskets will have to be replaced and with the gaskets that involves taking the engine apart or completely removing the engine to do it. Plus even if the car looks good all the parts on the car are over 20 years old once you start taking things apart you could possibly break something else. It’s a risk for sure

[@rockfordhx2768]

In Michigan I see those trans am everyday there a dime a dozen over here there too common everybody and their mother has one cause there dirt cheap here u can get one between 3k and 8k for a real clean one with t tops

[@brianbarrows8632]

I'm a firm believer in keeping cars exercised and make an effort to drive every car we own at least once per calendar week just to keep things moving. I have an '87 Porsche 944 with 204k miles on it and it's our go-to road trip car. I do the majority of the work myself but I periodically drop in on my mechanic to let him know I'm still alive (he hasn't touched the car since 2012 when he converted the AC to R134a). He's a well-respected Porsche guy and insists that the reason my 944 is so reliable is because I drive it. As of this comment, I put over 4k miles on it over the last year and the only repair it needed was a replacement voltage regulator. The downside is that it does have a lot of dings, stone chips, and so on. I just call that "patina" and remember that my favorite view of the car is from the driver's seat. Sure, it's not Honda or Toyota reliability but it's easy enough to keep going. They just need exercise and upkeep on their maintenance schedule (which, to be fair, is a bit more than what Hondas or Toyotas require...).

[@johnfoster7602]

My late mother's 1999 Honda Civic with 48000 was leaking from the main seal all over the driveway and garage. My 2013 Camaro with 41k and 2007 Solstice with 24k are dry as a bone. Hondas and Toyotas are not all perfect. I won't even mention the 2009 Corolla we had that's was a POS.

[@glennhansel9411]

@@johnfoster7602 my 2000 civic has 190k miles and has no leaks of any kind. all original seals. Have owned many GM and many Toyotas. Toyota wins hands down in reliability and refinement. GMs are rougher around the edges. Build quality in Toyota is higher than GM, although Toyota has had issues over the past 20 years than during their golden age of the 80s and 90s, GM has more issues. GM is decent but definitely need more unscheduled maintenance. Glad the main seals are fine on yours.

[@timbrown9731]

Oh, and window regulators

[@weswest8666]

I remember driving my sisters 944 it was a 86.5 I believe, it would leak oil, power steering fluid non stop to where we kept sponges on the belly pan to soak it up, I don’t recommend this approach because it caught fire lol. Went thru three steering racks they all leaked. My dad got the car at a salvage yard, the previous owner didn’t believe it needed timing belt and tensioner maintenance as noted (very often in the manual) so it needed a head job due to bent valves. Ran great for several years just leaked a ton.

[@Daryl-S]

Thank you for sharing. I'm a firm believer in driving them also!

[@michaelbaka4777]

I inherited a '73 Buick Limited from my Dad. He had put it in the garage and left it for at least 25-30 years. When I got it, I saw it only had about 16k miles. I thought "Sweet! I'll just have to service it and good to go!!!" Hahaha, foolish me. But it wasn't too bad, a few gaskets and fluid changes, new radiator, belts and hoses, and a fresh battery. This car has been unbelievable; I take her out every chance I get! Yeah, she sits for the winter [about 4 months], but every spring she's good to go. Cars, like humans, need to be exercised to remain in good shape. Thanks for the video, Wizard!!!

[@ihsyed786]

That trans-am is a beauty

[@dagamer667]

Yeah, on the outside. But all fucked up on the inside!

[@Pradozj22]

Looks like he tried lemon juice for the first time

[@Summit2012]

My old 98 Trans AM is currently in the care of my father-in-law. Under 50k miles on it. He won an award at a local car show last weekend.

[@Julian-do7bv]

I honestly think this is one of the best looking cars ever built I wish Pontiac was still around they made some really awesome vehicles

[@666cemetaryslut]

Theres no market left for Pontiac because cars are dead. At best we'd get an Equinox or something with Pontiac badges on it.

[@ryans413]

@@666cemetaryslutcars are not dead plus Pontiac made more then just cars they made vans and SUVs as well. What made Pontiac stand out was there design their cars looked so different from all the other brands and if they we’re still around today there be people buying cars. Hell Pontiac found a way to put a V8 in a front wheel drive car it’s stuff like that is why so many people loved Pontiac

[@christophertaylor9100]

They were really being very creative with design right before they died as a company, its sad. I mean the internals were not great but they sure looked good

[@ryans413]

@@christophertaylor9100 the company didn’t die they were doing very well it was GM that killed the devision because GM had its own money issues and the government bailed them out. GM made the wrong move cutting Oldsmobile , Saturn and Pontiac

[@Julian-do7bv]

@ryans413 I wish Saab and Pontiac was still around pre GM Saab that is

[@Rayvisin]

My 02 z28 has 192k miles. Zero leaks. Runs like new. Fully maintained since new. Cool thing is. The maintenance only is $4500 over a 20 year period

[@repro7780]

I had an 89 IROC 5.7 that I drove all the time. I sold it with 152K on it. Zero leaks that I can remember. I don't get it. You have a beautiful car like this and really never drive it?? How is that fun? They were made to drive, so drive it!

[@JamesBraun-o5t]

I have a 2000 WS6 with 43K on her. I bought her new and have been keeping her moving just enough to prevent these kinds of problems. The rear strip of body panel behind the T-tops is bubbling just a bit and the nylon gears in the headlights are starting to go. Otherwise, she is holding up fairly well.

[@Someguy6571]

The gears in the Head lights go because the motor is cheaply put on and over time the tabs will loosen allowing the motor to wobble. This causes the steel worm gear to chew up the headlight gear. But since the headlight only uses 180 degrees of the gear you could just flip it to the other part. Or just buy a new one.

[@HankseyHill]

"It has the original wiper fluid" has to be the strangest flex for a car owner I've ever heard.

[@rfdsdf1]

I have a 2002 black ws6 trans am I bought 7 years ago with 13k miles, it now sits at just above 20k miles. Age repairs are a thing, however I will say being proactive with maintenance and repairs will save you from almost everything being a real problem.

[@geraldscott4302]

That does happen, but not every time. A few months ago I bought a like new 2007 Mercury Grand Marquis from the original owner, with only 36,000 miles on it. I am a retired mechanic myself, but I don't have access to a hydraulic lift. I took it to someone who knows what they are doing and we checked it out together. We could not find anything wrong with it. The oil and transmission fluid looked brand new. That can be a bad sign. Sometimes people put new fluids in a car to make it look like it has been maintained. But that was not the case here. There were no leaks, not even any oily spots on the bottom. Tires were new, and so was the belt. Only thing I found was the windshield wipers needed replacing. A couple of very minor scratches on the outside, the inside was immaculate. This is my fifth Panther car, and I have worked on thousands of them. I know them inside and out. I drove it a couple thousand miles before changing the fluids to see if what was in the car got dirty. It didn't. If the oil had not been changed in a long time, that new oil would be black in a few hundred miles. I have now had the car for 3 1/2 months, put almost 4,000 miles on it, and it doesn't leak a drop of anything. At 200,000 miles I'm going to replace all the timing components. I'm going to get 400,000 miles out of this car. How do spark plugs wear out in 40,000 miles? I have put 100,000 miles on spark plugs before. Mostly on Ford 4.6L 2 valve engines. They worked fine. No misfire codes, and the gaps were just a hair off. I think I would wait on the engine, transmission, and pinion shaft oil seals, drive the car several thousand miles, change everything every couple thousand miles, make sure to keep it full, and see if some of those leaks slow down quite a bit. I've seen it happen.

[@elev8j10]

Keeping a race horse in the barn forever isn't the best idea. In high school for graduation I got to drive my uncles 99 firehawk. Definitely a fun drive and fond memory.

[@Joel-ew1zm]

That's funny, the day I graduated, my mom came down from out of state with her boyfriend at the time. He scooped me up in his 98 trans am ws6. He had done some work on the motor and had claimed it was 700 HP. To this day I have no idea if he was honest or not but the Butt Dyno indicated he wasn't exaggerating too much

[@citizenblue]

Hands down my favorite American sports car. The team that sculpted that created a beauty!

[@RonTimmonsM1]

I worked at the Budd factory where they made the doors for these and the Camaro. We got dealer pricing which is the only reason I got a job there lol... I bought one brand new and drove it two years sold it with 23k miles on it.

[@Jay-qn1cs]

I bought a 1986 Datsun from the auction. Started right up.

[@humpy936]

AT-205 liquid seal repair can work wonders, it’s an extremely easy cost-effective way to regenerate old rubber, of course sometimes the seals are too far gone, but the stuff works wonders at times. Two large drip pans, some kitty litter, and replacement fluids in the garage are a much cheaper fix.😊 I also liked the look of those cars back in the day but I knew they were junk and never bothered with them, I sure wish I never sold my 1967 Pontiac Firebird convertible, I still kick myself in the ass for that.😢

[@nickkalister6291]

I've had great luck buying high mileage used cars. the key is SERVICE HISTORY!! I just bought a subaru forester XT with 160K miles on it and drove it from CA to MN with no problems . . . 'cause I had service records and knew exactly what needed to be done after purchase to make a long trip :)

[@firebird5288]

I own a loaded, stock, garage queen 1998 Y87 Firebird, red, t-tops, chrome rims, LSD Posi, dual exhaust, Trans Am suspension, steering rack, with gray graphite leather interior like this Trans Am. Interior is 10 out of 10. The paint is a 9 out of 10. Luckily, the guy who owned my Firebird kept it in a climate controlled garage and only drove it on nice summer days. In the past 6 years it's had maybe 2,000 miles put on it. It currently has 88,440 miles but since it sits often it does need a new oil pan gasket as it leaks. So yeah you're absolutely right. Not the greatest for cars to sit. This 98 TA is beautiful. Man I love 98-02 Firebirds and TAs.

[@MeadowFarmer]

New car smell is the plastics "off gassing" volatile organic compounds, VOCs. The process continues as a vehicle ages even though the smell isn't detectable. This is why seals dry out. Oxygen in the atmosphere also contributes to the degradation. When the vehicle sits oil isn't coating the seals so the VOCs escape at a higher rate and oxygen has more access to the seals. There are seal conditioners like AT 205 reseal that can help maintain a car's seals and rubber body parts.

[@mrgmc6314]

I'm 42 and this is one of my dream cars ... preferably a ws6 model but that body got all the right curves in all the right places !!!

[@briantruck2284]

4 seat Corvette

[@matthewharlowehrscyclespor668]

One of the biggest issues that comes to our business is "recommisioning" 50 - 60 year old motorcycles with low mileage that have had a long slumber in grandpa's garage or basement. Seals, dry pivots, delaminated brake shoes, coked up oil passages, green carbs, rust in fuel tanks, seized brake hydraulics.... the list goes on. Some of these pristine bikes can eat up 50 - 60 hours of time. We discuss issues that must be addressed prior to starting work. I just mentioned on Mrs Wizards channel the paperwork that must be signed prior to starting work. Many of these bikes are categorized as heritage bikes. Original owner or original family owned. That Pontiac is absolutely stunning. Great video CW. BTW. We are still searching for AV stands. Thanks again for the tip. It is highly appreciated. Be good. Remain safe. Wish you a Deluxe week.

[@RetroCaptain]

When I was young, a mechanic relative told me (in a discussion of antique auto show and shine swap meets) "You can always spot the GMs...look for the separate puddle under the transmission the engine the steering box and differential". Another relative had an always stored not moving low miles early 50s Chevy. It looked like new inside. For years the floor was clean under it. Then one day.. I noticed that puddles had formed under the differential and steering... It was never driven it was always only parked. Ive seen rubber mounts turn to mush as well or just plain drop off. The cement let go after 25 years. Sealed Bearings grease is past its prime and becomes dry almost a glue. Then the squealing begins.

[@Cheeseburgerperson141]

I love these cars. My 2002 been a daily for 5 years. I’m pretty much driving it to the ground. I’m happy to own my dream car. Bought when it had 98k and now it’s about to hit 145K

[@FWDSUXARSE]

Sounds similar to my story. Bought mine in 2015 with 97,000 miles. Just turned 150,000 miles a week ago. Was my daily until last year when I bought a winter / work car. Even with winter tires living in the Midwest, undercarriage is still clean since I regularly cleaned undercarriage. Now in winter it only gets driven every few weeks when roads are clear and no snow or salt. It's getting antique (extended use plates) and I've done numerous upgrades to it and there will be more upgrades done by me next year. Long term goals. Glad to hear that you're enjoying yours as much as I enjoy mine!

[@Cheeseburgerperson141]

@@FWDSUXARSE glad to hear yours too dude. You don’t really see these types of cars that much anymore. I do my best to take care of mines making sure no leaks and fluid levels are good.

[@FWDSUXARSE]

@@Cheeseburgerperson141 That's the best thing you can do is just continue to keep doing the maintenance like you have been. They are solid cars for the most part. Rear ends are weak on them and they can develop dash and door panel cracks but then again our cars are a couple decades old. 😊

[@oonwing]

My retired mechanic, the guy that took over his shop, Scotty Kilmer, Project Farm, and you. ARE WHO I LISTEN TO!!

[@jeffzekas]

The worst thing you can do with a classic car is let it sit and never drive it. Guy down the street was selling a Fiat 124 Spyder classic, he had it sitting in his garage for six years, the tires, the belts, the hoses, everything was bad, perfect car, but not drivable until all the fluids and rubber parts were replaced.

[@FWDSUXARSE]

Mine gets driven (same year T/A as in this video) turned 150k last weekend. I drive it only in fair weather now, but it gets put through the paces. I don't always baby it, but I take good care of it, so I do all of the maintenance religiously and do all of my own repairs and do preventative maintenance. If I see something starting to fail, it gets replaced immediately. I'm getting antique plates for it in a couple of months (extended use) and I'll be doing more upgrades as time goes on. I'm the second owner and bought it with 97k back in 2015. It'll leave my hands when I pass away but until then, I'm going to enjoy it.

[@gorkyd7912]

Nah the worst thing you can do with it is wrap it around a tree. But still, you're right, so I don't really pay attention to the number of miles on the car because its only loosely correlated with quality.

[@97delkron]

truth! i bought a 92 roadmaster last year that was all original down to tires with 46,000 miles. awesome condition. broke down on me first 2 times i drove it. not cars fault. was 31 yr old parts that let go once i started driving it again. took me 2 solid months of work replacing old parts to make it reliable after sitting for so long. but it is a sweetheart now. 17,000 miles later and is reliable as a claw hammer. one thing though... i wouldn't use full synthetic oil in something that is old and been sitting. it will start pissing oil from seals. i switched back to conventional 15/40 and quit leaking (rear main). awesome car... i drive every day and don't even want to drive my 19 silverado.

[@drblue5819]

Had the same problem with my 01 Firebird I bought in 2015. A little bit of love and some money I've put over a 100000 miles on mine daily drive it to day. Love my bird.

[@jerkygutts8386]

Changing the fuel pump is always fun.

[@Jay-bw3fl]

Man this is so true. Everybody gets so caught up on low mileage and it just isn’t the most important thing. Once a vehicle is over 15 years old A well maintained car driven average miles yearly is usually more reliable than one driven barely at all. Not only are all the drivetrain seals and gaskets going to leak on the low mileage ride but all the rubber window seals and rubber hoses will be dried out, the tires will need replaced and chances are you’re going to need a fuel pump and alternator before long. And on top of all that the plastics will probably be much more brittle than a vehicle that has been driven.

[@groundzero270]

Had this exact model in 1998. Such a great car!

[@MintyFreshTurds]

I have accepted that every old car has a never ending "To-Do" list at all times. I don't stress out anymore trying to knock that list down to zero.

[@FWDSUXARSE]

Same here. I own the same year Trans Am as shown in the video. I do upgrades when I have time. It'll be a neverending project but I'll enjoy the ride and when I have the time I'll have fun doing it!

[@jpete3027666]

Yep exactly. Our newest car is a 2013 and oldest is a 2004. I know about that neverending list!

[@someguyto4675]

Thats amazing. You dont find too many of these around anymore.

[@johng.4959]

Great testament to the owner! Great job keeping this bird going! Beautiful example. Yes, things, parts, paint,... everything ages and deteriorates. Kudos to the owner and the Wizard! 👍

[@jeffrobodine8579]

I bought an original one owner 1976 Chevrolet Monte Carlo last year with only 14,500 miles. The 74 year old lady that sold it to me said her Father bought it brand new. It has been sitting in her recently deceased 96 year old Mother's garage since 1994. It is a fully loaded original that is mint in and out (except for the rubber door and trunk seals) and still smell almost new inside. I have put about 500 miles so far and have had to replace the master brake cylinder, A/C compressor, all fluids, belts and wiper refills. Still no leaks and it starts, runs and drives well. I still want to change the (like new) 30 year old Good Year Tiempo tires and convert it to dual exhaust catalyst delete, I just need to find an original pre 1974 GM A body trans crossmember.

[@andyboyko2766]

My wife's 2002 C5 has just over 27,000 miles, zero leaks no gasket weeping. She does drive it but at least 60 miles per outing. It's rare being a ragtop with a manual transmission blue/black. From your video, I see the issue, but perhaps not all garage queens experience the dried gasket issue. Great videos.

[@Superkid778]

Not a WS6 but with the hood… same as my 1998 TA… beautiful car

[@paullorenz7135]

I spotted this as well

[@mikeh6564]

Was this a one off option in 98 to get the ram air package without the WS.6 package?

[@Superkid778]

@@mikeh6564 as far as I know you could only get the Ram air package with the ws6 package.. I just bought an oem Ram air hood and added it to my 98 TA… awesomeness

[@shanedoink]

@@mikeh6564you could go back to the dealer and purchase the hood and higher lid base - OR - an aftermarket hood (saving some big $$). It wouldn’t be a one off. A TA still looks amazing with or without it.

[@travisbrown2459]

My dad has an 02’ anniversary trans am and it’s got 1,500mi on it. I tell him all the time he needs to drive it !!

[@tomgaddis5020]

As a 20 year master tech my opinion is that cars have the same leaks at the same age regardless of miles. The leaks will come no matter the condition of the body. It’s just easier to repair low mileage leaks.

[@CarWizard]

Disagree. Rear main seals and valve cover gaskets that are regularly bathed in oil from normal engine running, seem to last a long time. Undriven cars have the seals literally dry out and crack. There are many cars on the road with over 200,000 miles and zero leaks. The opposite is always true on garage queens. Everything leaks.

[@amarsta]

Hmm... we will have to send this to arbitration ⚖️👨‍⚖️

[@HowardJrFord]

That's why people that know what they are doing take precautions while keeping their classic cars stored . They don't just park them without touching them for years .

[@SuperSnakePlissken]

Best looking hood ever in automotive history. The Ram Air nostrils are a thing of muscle beauty.

[@chuckcts-v3460]

I had a 2000 WS6 TA, Ram Air, it would get 22 mpg @ 80 mph. Great car, put over 100,000 miles on it before I sold it. Only things it needed was, tires, oil, battery, brakes, nothing else while I owned it.

[@thebigpicture2032]

Same but mine was a convertible. Sold it when my son got his license. Combo of LS1 and a six speed manual can get a new driver in trouble quickly.

[@warrenjay51]

Maaaaaaan!!.. I always wanted this Trans-Am!!... And still do wish I could afford one!..

[@philhamilton8731]

The Wizard, of course, is 100% correct. I looked at a 1993 Z28 that had 5600 original miles on it that needed more engine work than it was worth (to me). I ended up buying a 1995 that had been driven 50k miles but was a one owner example that was meticulously maintained and came with all of the service records. It was truly someone's "baby" and it was only traded in because he had a difficult time getting in and out of it due to his age. The best part? It was about $5k less than the '93, was almost as flawless, and was in perfect driving condition. Sometimes older cars that have sat a long time aren't worth what you have to put into them, unless you are talking about a really special or rare piece.

[@tonysteppan8495]

So true! You have to think, is it going to be a keeper, or a flip 6 months from when you started putting it back on the road. The car I bought was low mileage but same story. I knew this when I bought it. So, ya make a list of all replacement Items, and pad that by $ 2,000. in service work that you may not be able to perform. Now your somewhat close to. Is it a Keeper? I know that I'll never see what I put into it, and the next person if I sell it will get the benefit of All the service work done to make it safe and pretty much worry free when driven. A 34-year-old car that has had more love then most 5-year-old cars. Yup you really need to think before you leap onto that dream car. Nice to hear the Wizard explain the real world of owning your dream car. CHEERS

[@juki6377]

similar deal with hybrids, well priuses at least, batteries dont like sitting being inactive, so often a higher mileage car will be healthier than one the same age that has been sitting in a garage or just doing short trips

[@tacomas9602]

The secret is finding a vehicle between 50 and like 100k miles with paperwork. It's the sweet spot. Buy a 25k mile vehicle new or old you could be in way too deep or buy a 300k mile tacoma like me and go just as broke.

[@matthewmoore757]

A few years back, I bought a Gen 4 Camaro, 1998 model, the First year of the Catfish front-end with the round headlights. It was Garage kept. Nice car, Very first time i drove it, i went about 20 miles and i pulled over at a gas station, and i saw coolant just flowing out from under the car like a river. The water-pump had failed. It was just flowing out of the weep hole just as fast as it could go. Luckily a new water pump for that car was only $27 bucks from the local auto parts store. Another reason why those old GM cars make good project cars. Parts are dirt cheap and easy to find. Anyways, after a few more months the rear leaf spring collapsed. All the rubber bushings and things had rotted away. A few months after that, the fuel pump failed. It was just one failure after another. Cars are meant to be driven. They aren't meant to sit forever. Driving a car to little, is just as bad, if not worse, than driving it to much. However, If you are keeping a car in storage, every few months, drag it out of storage and put silicone spray on all the rubber parts. Also start the engine, let the fluids circulate. Put it up on blocks and put it into gear. Just whatever you can do, to get the fluid circulating. Run it for about 15 to 20 mins and then put her away from another few months. You could unplug the odometer so you don't rack up miles while just running it on blocks. The govt will tell you, that counts as tempering. However In this scenario, I don't think it's dishonest, The car didn't actually go anywhere, and letting the parts spin and get some fluids circulating, is better for it, than just letting it sit and rot out from under itself. So i'd give it a pass. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Doing these things will help the car. Even if you want to store it and not drive it, you need to put the car through these cycles and also keep all your rubber parts treated if you want it to last.

[@kendallsmith1458]

good advice

[@brentyancich]

F Body dreams ! I love to see guys like Larry of Ammo detail examples like this . Mostly detailing the undercarriage

[@HypocriticYT]

These cars are easy to work on and are not expensive. Stock up on regular parts like callipers etc. as they are getting older 😊

[@stevengreco8961]

What a beautiful Trans Am!

[@nunya2814]

Working on an 87 mustang gt currently, similar story to this trans am, only 43k original miles and the owner wants to keep it road worthy and plans to drive it regularly. It needed a clutch, flywheel, rear main seal, oil pan, all new suspension bushings intake and valve cover gasket replacement and ac system work. The interior and body are nearly perfect, all vin tags match and the red interior is still red. I love it when people take care of these cars how they should be.

[@bubbabetter1234]

David, if you see this check the lower control arms at the rearmost bushings. There was a known problem with them. They are easy to replace but due to the design they failed early. Its the ones that have a vertical bolt throgh a bushing that is kinda in the shape of a hockey puck. They tear apart.

[@3.2Carrera]

I agree with the wizard 100%. Better leave the garage queens as they are and pass it on to the next lover of stationary objects. The problem with places like BaT is extreme value placed on mint low mileage examples and then getting blindsided by the cost of repairs to even drive it. I'm into air cooled 911's and see this all the time with someone paying all the money and then getting hit with another 15-20k on a car that was supposedly mint. I pulled Carrera 3.2 out of a 15 year hibernation a couple years ago from a disabled friend's garage and every countless o ring, gasket, seal, and rubber oil line was leaking, weeping, or misting oil once the car was started. It was like the Exxon Valdez.

[@CarWizard]

I try alot to explain this to people looking to purchase low mile mint cars. They always look at me like Im crazy. But not long after they buy their low mile dream car, I always get to hear “I guess you were right”

[@garysmith4538]

My favorite car and it's great to see one in immaculate condition

[@martinhiner2059]

Everyone has a neighbor that can do it cheaper. Never fixes the root problem. Love your channel, keep it up!

[@keithgreen9009]

I'm 100 with your comments here . I've got 8 year old vw with 70,000 miles and those rubber and plastic components are just starting to look tired so I'm just working my way through the important stuff . Just done a complete break component change because it's just wear and tear

[@MrJayrock620]

Another thing to watch out for is vacuum leaks on older GM cars. A lot of them still used vacuum operated HVAC controls well into the 2000’s. It’s also smart to just go ahead and replace the PCV valve too so you don’t flood those lines with oil

[@ryans413]

I own a 2004 Pontiac Grand Am everything is vacuum controlled I’ve had no issues but the PVC valve I had to replace it failed and was covered in oil way to much oil.

[@tacomas9602]

A little oil might actually help the system last longer but probably eats the rubber so....I do wonder tho.

[@Shattered_Instance]

Happy to see a 98 Transam on the channel. I have one of these in my garage. Currently ripped apart being rebuilt. 6.0L LQ4 etc.

[@Mrnicguy00]

I love these 3rd, 4th gen Firebird's/Camaro's. Grew up in a '86 T/A manual. Then my mom bought a '90 Camaro off the line. Took my driver's test (in '95) in a '94 Camaro (V6 auto). Then got a '94 Z28 manual. Drove the wheel's off that and got a '12 5th gen (V6 manual). Traded that in on my dream; '15 1SS manual, Z28 trim but not a 7.0 and touched up to 525Hp/ 525Trq. My mom has an '02 T/A WS6, 6 spd (bone stock) w/100K miles (need's some love mom... lol) but very solid. Keep it up WEezard (as Hoovie would say lol)! Love the content from you and Mrs. WEezard lol.

[@TheRacerRich]

I remember my dad taking us to test drive one of these and when the salesman opened the door of the brand new WS6 the weatherstripping fell off the car lol.

[@dj2000lbs]

When I worked at a Porsche dealership I was a porter and I would run into examples of Porsches that sat for over 30 years and these cars needed everything

[@Creaturesburgh]

My dad has a 25th Anniversary Trans Am. My old man has had it since before I was born and I’m 21 years old. He still uses it as his daily driver. It looks just as pristine as this one, so it brings me memories back of being in the cramped back in a road trip haha. It’s funny that you mention the car had a plastic bag, because I distinctly remember my dad one day spending hours trying to figure out why it was running hot. It had a plastic bag as well.

[@Ghost63123]

In my eyes, the fact that it is six-speed manual gearbox is a big plus. Beautiful!!!!

[@clintonflynn815]

Please… get Mrs. Wizard her own channel!

[@knurlgnar24]

The last car I bought sat in a humid storage shed for 10 years before I got it. I had to do some repairs but in my experience it really isn't a problem for cars to have not been driven in a long time. Just know that you'll have to do some work on them and you'll be fine. The stuff you'll have to do is FAR less expensive than buying something than is rusted out or worn out. Well worth it.

[@knurlgnar24]

Followup: The car is a 1988 and has ORIGINAL brake hoses. I was going to replace them but they are absolutely perfect looking, just like new. I replaced the factory original belt and hoses but they looked absolutely perfect still. In hindsight I wish I had left well enough alone and just changed fluids. I see this same thing often - usually if the OEM part looks good and checks out you're better off leaving it alone even if it's 30 years old. By the mid 80's they put it dang good stuff from the factory. The 70's? Yeah, not so much.

[@kendallsmith1458]

Own a 1993 Chevy G20 4.3l. Pushing 300K and never leaves a drop in my driveway. I store it in the winter but it's a daily driver. Freak of Industry. I look down and Wizard is pushin' a million subs!

[@welshrarebit9238]

This Gen of Camaro and Firebird were made in Quebec,Canada

[@AmandaHugenkiss2915]

Cars definitely need to be driven at least a little. Take the thing out on the weekend and enjoy it! I just don't understand people who but a car like this and hide it away. 30 years later the thing has like 50 miles on it. Whether i had a TA or a Ferrari, I'd be driving it and enjoying it.

[@kalashnikov1343]

I love this generation of Pontiac Firebird.

[@iabarrera]

The TA has so much sentimental value to me. It was my 1st car in HS (Non WS6) and yes I got into lots of trouble with it, lol. One day I'll have one again!! 🦅

[@josephdavis4201]

Lost my license in my Dad's Firebird. They are trouble magnets.

[@REDBIRD-95]

@@josephdavis4201 I've had my share of speeding tickets in my 95 Bird😜

[@FWDSUXARSE]

​@@josephdavis4201I've gotten 2 tickets in the 7 years I've owned mine. One for squealing tires (took it out for gas in the spring with the snow tires still on it, that's very easy to spin tires in warm weather with those tires, cop didn't understand what I was telling him but doesn't matter) and another for going 11 over maybe 4 years ago. Other than that, never had an issue.

[@jonsingle1614]

The plugs came from the factory gapped at 060.....then GM changed the gap to 045 Those gaskets deteriorate...so the leaks....ask me how i know Those pinion seals ALWAYS leak If the owner wants to sell.....be glad to take it off his hands

[@281crane]

👍🏿# 3.7k+ thank you for this video. I have a 2k2 T/A WS6 6MT 54k miles that i bought in 2K5. I will definitely drive it more after seeing this.

[@tonybrown6775]

I worked at a Pontiac Buick dealership on the Southside of Indianapolis when they first came out.

[@berndm9743]

I owned a 2001 Trans Am WS6 automatic and it was an awesome car. Drove it for 13 years and the ONLY issue I EVER had was the driver's side window regulator went bad. That's it. Mine was used regularly so the seals never dried out. The car never leaked a drop of any kind of fluid. Sadly it was totaled in 2017 and we ended it with a brand new 2017 Mustang GT 5.0 Coyote V8 which would have easily blown the WS6 off the road in any situation.

[@TheHiroCameron]

Yep my 97 cobra sat a lot so sometime when I finally drove it around the rear main seal would start to leak, so don’t let them sit for a year without driving them around.

[@scottimusgarrett15]

The schnoz on that thing looks like five different designers worked on it. GIGANTIC panel gaps and weird holes. Very well taken care of, but these will never be classics. Thanks, Mr. and Mrs. Wizard! Have a good week! 🤘❤️🙂🇨🇦

[@georgebettiol8338]

Agree - certainly not a fan of the front end - although I prefer it to the latest 'cartoonish type' BMW fronts - now they must be an acquired taste.

[@FWDSUXARSE]

​@@georgebettiol8338Not for everyone but I love mine.

[@FWDSUXARSE]

It's not for everyone and I get that and respect that, but look at prices for these within the past 4 years. They are rising in value. I didn't buy mine to be a museum piece or a collectable though. I bought it to enjoy it and drive it. Don't care if it's a collector car or not. Cars are a terrible investment for the most part. The people who buy them as a financial investment I'll never understand and they are probably horrified that I'd daily a car like mine or any other old school / collectible car. They are cars that are meant to be driven. If I want to collect something because it looks nice, it's not going to be a car that sits in a garage and never gets driven. 😂

[@scottimusgarrett15]

@@FWDSUXARSE that's true. One person's dream is another's garbage bucket, and vice versa. I shouldn't be so judgemental.✌️❤️🙂🇨🇦

[@Schizz_Popinov]

Not a fan of red cars for the most part but this TA looks amazing. Most are ragged out at this point but this one just needs a little tlc.

[@volvo09]

Yeah, that's a car i'd own in red. Very clean car, nice interior even though it's cheap late 90's GM.

[@Rose.Of.Hizaki]

red adds extra 50BHP

[@ryans413]

10k dollar TLC

[@saph_films_390]

I bought a '95 Trans Am with 31500 miles on it. I've been driving it quite a bit now it has 44000 miles. I put 12500 miles on the car in the 3 years I've owned it because cars like that one are designed to have fun. But I take good care of it and it hasn't leaked once.

[@johnfranklin5277]

I have 338.000 miles on my 94 Trans Am. I bought it NEW . Engine never been touched, still runs like new

[@W1se0ldg33zer]

There was a barn find video of a '74 SD Trans Am - was sitting in a barn for a long long time and had very low miles on it. The whole thing was rotted - anything that was cloth, rubber, wires - everything. They make some kind of preservative spray you can coat everything with to stop the rot and since that car was so rare in original condition they decided to do that instead of trying to get it to driving condition.

[@TubeBrowser2]

Just bought a 97 Trans Am manual with 34,500 miles. No leaks. Mint condition green. Dig it.

[@williamtorp2817]

When it is being worked on, you might as well replace the harmonic balancer. If all the seals & rubber is bad on the rest of the car so is the damper.

[@1mlb704]

This is my dream car, been in love with these since I was a little kid. Hopefully one day I can find (and afford) one like this

[@Celician83]

My mom's 91 Ford Probe GL only has 80k miles on it, but it leaks from EVERYWHERE! It was inherited from her mother, which was inherited from my mom's uncle. And, just like you said, even though it was garage kept most of its life, on the way home to NC from Ohio, the clearcoat was literally peeling off in sheets! Where it didn't peel off, it's got plus shaped cracks everywhere! Where it was parked before we got it after a snow storm and not cleaned, the floorpan rusted completely through at the rear jack points, and every metal brake line had to be replaced, because the Z-bar undercoat cracked and allowed salt from the road to get up under it. We replaced struts, tie rods, coolant, brake fluid, calipers, oil pan gasket, valve cover gasket, oil/filter, water pump, radiator, radiator hoses, heater core hoses, just about every vacuum line, spark plugs, wires, alternator, distributor cap, and now the rack needs replaced, and since it has sat again, we do not even crank it in fear the original timing belt will shred! Door seals are starting to leak, windshield seals starting to leak, tail lights fil up with water and short out, fog lights had to be completely rewired cause they shorted out and the wiring fried, having an old car can be a REAL BASKET CASE!

[@amarsta]

🤯

[@jessieharbinjr.6589]

I bought a 1985 Oldsmobile years ago from an elderly persons estate with only 55k miles. Had to sink lots of money into it for bushings, carb rebuilt, vacuum lines, etc. Beautiful car! But everything under the sun was leaking on it when I started driving it. Did the same with a Lincoln Town Car a few years back, that I got from an elderly man as well.

[@themadnomad5361]

I wished I lived near you because I am having problems with my Ford E350 5.4, I am getting code P1000 which says that the onboard diagnostics hasn’t completed and that I need to do more driving but I have driven over 3000 Miles since I first seen this code and took it to a mechanic and was told that I needed a Crankcase Position Sensor and was replaced and didn’t fix anything, now I am looking for someone who can properly diagnose my Van, I know you could fix it.

[@keithhults8986]

The problems are much bigger when buying a used low hour power boat that's salt water cooled, and spent a few seasons being run only on Memorial day weekend, 4th of July and labor day weekend, then sat in storage a few years. The corrosion eats the engine from inside outward. It ends with being towed back to the dock for reblocking the old engine, or buying a complete new engine. I never had any of my boats towed. I reblocked 4 V8 pleasurecraft, indmar, and mercruiser, 2 blown OMC V4 blocks, serviced my Volvo DP drive and Merc Bravo2, and saved a bloody fortune doing all the mechanics myself. Just like the Wizards Chris-Craft. Only men like him can make the old boat pay back with pleasure, without going broke on big repairs.

[@jpete3027666]

These were absolutely beautiful, much better looking than the Camaros from those years. It’s a shame GM got rid of Pontiac. They made awesome cars for DECADES!

[@prestonedmonds4128]

Having just returned home from the Trans Am Nationals I'm loving this content. I want to own this car.

[@adotintheshark4848]

those radios are a double-DIN size. Pretty common for car makers to use that size in the day, especially Ford and GM. And every Pontiac from those days used reddish orange backlighting in their instruments, gray controls and switches, and gray interiors-gray all over!

[@GrimesGarage]

Din.5 on this era.

[@AeroGuy07]

My grandpa did this with 2 Aston Martins. A 71 DBS V8 and a 79 DBS V8. The older he got the less he drove them and he wouldn't let anyone else drive them. Every now and then he'd spend a few grand(late 80s/early 90s money) and get one of them running, then he'd park it and not drive it, and restart the process. He sold them in the late 90s for $20k each, non running. The only undesirable thing about them is that they automatics.

[@Andys_Auto]

Car wizard ain't bs'ing. I have a 69 continental with 82k miles and it needs an incredible amount of work because it has sat for so long

[@romanshleyfer2793]

I don’t think it’s a ws6 trans am. Ram air hood was added. It has 16” rims and no ws6 badge on the rear under the tail light. Beautiful car. Just surprised that each low miles and changed hood. Let me know if I’m wrong. The driver side door sticker should have a ws6 code

[@Greggvh]

The hood prop was a big clue also. As soon as he did that after saying all original I was like umm nope. My 98s hood still pops open almost as good as the day I bought it in 97.

[@briancrook6564]

Also WS6s had hurst shifters. I didnt catch the hood prop though, nice catch

[@christopherlaflam6383]

Nothing like driving a t top Trans Am. I bought mine in new in 92 and still enjoy it. V8 torque, baby....and that sound....

[@928Porscheman]

So beautiful! I want it.😍 GM cars seem to leak from everywhere. I sold my 2002 Cadillac Escalade last year because every gasket and seal needed replacing. I made it to 195k miles though.

[@christopherkraft1327]

Hey Wizard, I just watched Mrs Wizards video, congratulations on your success!!! You & Mrs Wizard are a true testiment that hard work & persistence pays off!!! You guys have come along way!! I wish you continued success!!! 👍👍🙂

[@W1se0ldg33zer]

The other issue you get is all the bushings in the suspension rot out - and the brake lines. Fuel lines.

[@robertf.hanleyjr.1635]

This just showed up today on Facebook, and it reflects some very common automotive errors: 1. Get a pre-purchase inspection (PPI), so that you know what you are getting into. 2. For a garage queen, with a long-term owner, insist on the maintenance and repair record. 3. Assuming that because a car shows well means that it was maintained well is an false and sometime fatal assumption. 4. These cars need to be driven, to keep the seals moist. Let the seals sit and they WILL leak. No surprise here. 5. These cars were relatively easy to maintain. They love regular, clean fluids and filters. I like that the owner wanted to get the mechanical seals replaced, and then get the secondary maintenance, like the rear shocks done a little later. As things are fixed and they drive the car, things will pop up. Fix them over time, say 6 months, and this car should be back in great shape. And regardless of the ongoing miles, I'd have it serviced twice a year, including a thorough inspection, to catch and address matters while they are still small.

[@cardo1111]

The Gen 4 Trans Ams are a lot nicer than their Camaro brethren. The pop-up headlights and the high back bucket seats make a big difference.

[@glennbeadshaw727]

Friend of mine inherited his grandfather's truck and I warned him that the first thing he needs to do is change all the fluids and the rubber hoses because that truck has been sitting for 15 years well he had quite happily jumped in it and driven it around for a week and sure enough as clean as the oil looked over the years it had turned acidic and had pitted everything it was in contact with😊

[@dbmabe]

It's awesome to see Wizard's channel nearing 1 million subscribers!!

[@barrya.6212]

The only cosmetic flaw is the lumpy passenger air bag cover.. 6:02