Was strolling through my "before pics" and ran across these

"Bandit" (2bandit)
07/31/2014 at 23:31 • Filed to: emma

This is what my car looked like before and just after the previous owner sprayed it blurple. I stole a few pics long ago from the previous owners facebook to add to my archive. Their prep work was so much lesser quality than what I did (making me buy most of a new doghouse). On a different note, I took some crazy detailed before pics and it is amazing how much work I've put into the car . I completely forgot that I bought it only had 12 lug nuts of the total 20 it should have had. I also forgot how many dents there really was in the thing. Sadly, three years later, the car is still rolling around on the same tires and wheels because I can't afford new ones.

DISCUSSION (22)

Conan > Bandit
07/31/2014 at 23:33

Wow. Makes me want to step my game up. It really looks like you've done a lot.

Bandit > Conan
07/31/2014 at 23:35

You know what it looks like now right?

Conan > Bandit
07/31/2014 at 23:36

You've put up pics of now before, haven't you? Black and properly gold, right?

Bandit > Conan
07/31/2014 at 23:38

Yes! Just wondering, I didn't recognize your username

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Bandit
07/31/2014 at 23:40

This is an 81, right? What exactly did you do to make it a 78? I've probably read it before but would like to again.

Bandit > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/01/2014 at 00:00

Yep, it's an 81 turbo black and gold special edition... Well, it was at one point. The whole car was properly trashed so I got a relatively clean slate. When doing a change to a 1978 style car, most people just swap the front bumper (cover and steel beam piece) and that's it. In my case I had so much car to restore that I got to do things the harder but better way. Instead of keeping the engine in it (Chevy 350 out of a truck) I built a pontiac 400 as it is the correct engine for the 78 SE. I found all the proper bits of a 78 interior (gauges, seats, dash bits, etc) except the steering wheel as the only one I could find in my price range was out of a 79. I also changed most of the exterior bits to 78 style, the nose and rear spoiler being the important bits. I kept the 1981 style tail lights because I like them. They were a one year only design - they have a bird decal on the fuel door and since mine was a special edition the bird has gold accents. They don't reproduce that part so I find it cool I still have the original. Some people may not like my decision to keep the 81 lights, others may hate that I modified a relatively rare optioned car (only 3200ish 81 SE turbos were built), others don't like the thought of nose swaps. But know what? Screw them. I built the car the way that would make me happy, not someone else.

Bandit > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/01/2014 at 00:00

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Bandit
08/01/2014 at 00:04

Alright, thanks. That's a cool car. I wish I had one but they're probably not the best in the snow.

Bandit > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/01/2014 at 00:10

They aren't too bad. Handled snow better than my 2wd blazer does. If your heater is functioning (vaccine lines!) it is awesome. I drove it every day in the winter in 2012/13 at 5am to swim practice and school. Oh and they are appreciating in value quite steadily.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Bandit
08/01/2014 at 00:12

I figured they are, I won't really be able to afford anything cool until the spring. Damn my younger self for not saving more money. Also where is that? Are you in the Great Lakes region?

Bandit > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/01/2014 at 00:16

Mid northern Indiana area. I saved everything I earned since I was 11 to buy it.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Bandit
08/01/2014 at 00:20

Ah, I'm in Upstate NY, right on Lake Ontario. Winters are cold, long, and windy. Yeah, I probably could've saved more. Luckily my grandfather put $2,000 aside for me. Otherwise I'd only have $630.

Bandit > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/01/2014 at 00:24

Good luck finding a good car man

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Bandit
08/01/2014 at 00:25

Yeah, I plan on getting a job once school starts again so I'll have money once I'm done with drivers ed and have my licence so I can look at cars seriously.

Bandit > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/01/2014 at 00:32

You're what 15ish? Two tips from me, an 18 year old:

One: get a car that suits your needs,that is responsible and reliable, and cheap to insure and fix.

Two: you can choose to disregard tip 1 since you might as well have fun with your life before everything gets too serious with college debt and life. This is the path I took.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Bandit
08/01/2014 at 00:35

16, and yeah, I want something fun and not be bored with driving. I'm also going to try and get as many scholarships as I can.

Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder > Bandit
08/01/2014 at 10:12

I was thinking of painting my car purple. That is a pretty nice colour.

Bandit > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder
08/01/2014 at 10:14

It's not very nice if you get mocked for having a purple car constantly like I did...

Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder > Bandit
08/01/2014 at 10:20

A friend of me keeps telling me to paint it green like the Opel Manta in a famous dutch tv show.

Kinja'd!!!

May I ask how did you paint your car? Did you do it yourself? Was it expensive?

Bandit > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder
08/01/2014 at 10:25

I did all the body work and block sanding myself. I didn't spray the car. Yes it is expensive, today a crappy paint job costs more than $3,000. Mine was around 6k but I only had to pay $3500 because the guy screwed up and had to re do stuff. The paint job cost more than I paid for the car. Check my build thread for pics and stuff. If you have any specific questions, I can answer those

Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder > Bandit
08/01/2014 at 10:37

Oh yes I now remember your posts about troubles with the painting!

There are several shops nearby that can prep+paint for about 1000-1500 euros. Is that not possible? 6k for a paint job seems really high in comparison with what I see around my area.. maybe it is because of the attention to detail needed on the Trans Am.

Bandit > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder
08/01/2014 at 10:52

Well the thing with paint jobs is most of the cost is labor. A paint job is made or broken with how you do your prep work (bodywork, sanding, taping, sanding, removing body panels, sanding, etc). In my area cheap paint jobs (1000-1500ish euro) involve very little prep work and they use very low quality paint all leading to a crappy looking paint job that won't last more than 5 years.