Sue & I drove to Flagstaff this morning to look at an 87 TC parts car. The Craigslist pics made it look like it was white, but it turned out to be light blue.
(http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j430/ronelias/87%20Regatta%20Blue%20Turbo%20Coupe/TCloadingontiltbedrear_zpsdedb3673.jpg) (http://s1085.photobucket.com/user/ronelias/media/87%20Regatta%20Blue%20Turbo%20Coupe/TCloadingontiltbedrear_zpsdedb3673.jpg.html)
The under-hood pic looked like it may have overheated & sprayed antifreeze/ rusty water all over the engine compartment.
The rusty looking stuff turned out to be nothing more than red dust all over the top of the engine etc. I was able to turn the crank with no problem so it definitely isn't frozen.
(http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j430/ronelias/87%20Regatta%20Blue%20Turbo%20Coupe/IMG_7259_zpse3a05898.jpg) (http://s1085.photobucket.com/user/ronelias/media/87%20Regatta%20Blue%20Turbo%20Coupe/IMG_7259_zpse3a05898.jpg.html)
The car was last registered in 2004 & has sat outdoors since then, with at least 5 1/2 years of those years parked in an outdoor storage unit, where it was auctioned last week for non-payment.
The story that I got was that before the divorce, the man screwed up this car, which was in her name, so she couldn't drive it anymore. As you can see below he was a real crowbar & heavy hammer mechanic.
(http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j430/ronelias/87%20Regatta%20Blue%20Turbo%20Coupe/IMG_7243_zpscf80a923.jpg) (http://s1085.photobucket.com/user/ronelias/media/87%20Regatta%20Blue%20Turbo%20Coupe/IMG_7243_zpscf80a923.jpg.html)
I have determined that this car is probably beyond restoring, so I will be using various parts from it, but will have lots of good leftover parts to sell later.
Ron
Sweet score
I can't open those pictures. It redirects me to some freewebproxy site :(
x3
There small but they pop up for me
Guys, I am having lots of problems with photobucket & had to try to use some other off-brand site that is .
Sorry about that.........I think I have that situation fixed. Please try to open again & let me know if you have problems. I tried another upload site.
Ron
Are you going to fix this car, or take it apart?
I have a T/C steering column from my 86' I won't be needing/using. I can send you the ignition switch assembly if you decide to restore it.
I bought it to swap some parts to the 88 that I bought recently.
At this point I need to see if I can get the engine started and see if it drives before I make any rash decisions. If the motor does run & it will go down the road, I may clean it up, put the parts on it that are missing, & then sell it.
I want to see if I can get it started before I buy any parts for it.
If it will go down the road with not too much expense, I definitely may be interested in that switch assembly. How much do you want for it?
I have to admit, I have never tackled anything quite like this before.
Ron
I may be interested in a few interior pieces if you decide to part it out. You should save it if you can though. Who would do that to the ignition switch & think it would turn out well?
That's the sad part... It turned out EXACTLY how he planned... He couldn't have the car, so he made it so his wife couldn't either. These situations usually end up with the car getting crushed, so at least it didn't happen that way this time
I've had to do that to a few 80's-90's GM cars the key likes to get stuck in the ignition .... Bring out the BFH and use a flat head for a key lmfao ..... Lets just say its a interesting story when you get pulled over lol
HELP!!
Since that ignition switch is just hanging by the collar & is no longer attached to the mechanism that is activated to turn the power on, do any of you have any idea how I might get it activated so I can check to see if the car will start, or at least crank?
I also want to see if the climate control switches, the radio, the electric antenna, ride, fuel, etc all work, if I can get that ignition switch to the on position somehow.
Ron
A week has passed & nobody with an idea how to crank/start this car without an ignition switch?
Ron
Blkbrd88 pm me your addy an i'll send that assembly to you.
Pull the actual igntion switch off the column and slide the swtch part around until you see some activity thats the only trick that i know
Ron, I sent you a pm. Call me please.
Package sent Ron
Received today, Thanks.
Ron
Not a problem, glad to help. Again I'm sorry to took so long. Hope it helps you get it started.
John
PM sent too
Ron, I sent the refund finally.
John
That color TC is rare. look it up. i had a 87 that color, and if i remember the only made a handful. wish i kept that one.
You did get the refund, right?
well dang it,,, for the record....... and late is better than never.
look on the bottom of the steering column...
there is a rod that goes down into a light tan & aluminum housing thingy which is the ignition switch.
slide the bar one click forward that that will be run
slide the bar one click back and that will be accy
slide the bar one click forward then press further forward and that will be start.
we at he cassity house need a turn signal assembly if you can spare it.
sorry for the late response !
PM me your address and I'll get it out to you. :-)
Yep, sorry for the delay....haven't had internet service for more than a month.
Thanks for the info, I will try that tomorrow & let you know the results.
Ron
I possibly have a whole steering column for a TC, but I can't say for sure, 100%. I can check wednesday though. Would it be easier to swap a column into it? It's a PITA to get to the bolt on the steering shaft, but other than that, it's 4 nuts under the dash and the wiring connectors.
If you want my cell to text info back and forth, PM me and I'll respond. :)
If thunder doesn't have a TC steering column, I have one It'd be wiling to let go. It's been in the corner of the garage for a while, it'd like to see someone use it.
Thanks for the offers for a steering column guys. You might post a shipped to 85022 price just in case, but right now I plan to sell this car instead of parting it.
Because of lack of space I have to sell a couple of our cars. Since this one has the rare Light Regatta Blue exterior color, automatic trans, and has 0 rust, I hate to rob any parts from it when it can be a nice project car for someone who wants a rare Auto TC.
Ron
Jcassity.........I bought an ignition switch(the little $10.00 item that controls almost everything from the steering column)
I tried what you & my brother said.
The car engine turned over about twice then fired, & ran like a clock. It also pulled its own weight forward & backward when I put the trans in drive & reverse.
Thanks for the tip.
Ron