442 Dilemma...maybe?

[crucial118]

Got a dilemma guys. Finally got my 86 running good and looking decent(minus paint and suspension) and a friend of mine came across an 87 442 that he is using as a parts car to finish his 84 Salon project. The car is a t-top(the only reason I'm even considering this), with a set of 5.12 rear gears, I think. The car has on small dent in the door, but other than that is cosmetically perfect. My buddy is taking the rear out, ralley gauges, center console, and hood. No engine or trans in it now. Said I can get the rest for $400 with title.

My dilemma is, A: do I use the fender and other parts to finish my car or do I, B: take everything off my car and transfer it to the 442 and go thru the whole process over again. Engine, trans, rear, seats, hood, gas tank, etc. Keep in mind, I just finished the mechanicals on my car, but I always wanted a t-top cutty. I mean, damn, I would even have to change my signature.

Here are a few pics of the prospect:

 

[pontiacgp]

I'd go for the t-top since it's a 442 and t-top

 

[anakputa]

If the rear frame rails are good and floorboards not rotted, I'd go for it. The 5.12 gears would definitely have to go..If its an 8.50 Rear end, sell it and fund the whole project..

 

[Blake442]

Hard to believe that an '87 442 is a parts car for a run of the mill '84 Calais... What a waste.. I hope you can save it.

 

[86_olds]

i say save the 442 dude just by the euro clip and ttops i would consider my dream car

 

[crucial118]

Hard to believe that an '87 442 is a parts car for a run of the mill '84 Calais... What a waste.. I hope you can save it.

Yeah. His '84 has crazy sentimental value to the guy. The more I look at these pics the more I get more and more interested. Is the front clip interchangeable for my 86 and this 87, cause I like the regular lights and grill better than the euro?

Dudes keepin the rear for his project, I have a 3.73 in my car that I would be puttin back into it.

 

[crucial118]

If the rear frame rails are good and floorboards not rotted, I'd go for it. The 5.12 gears would definitely have to go..If its an 8.50 Rear end, sell it and fund the whole project..

I went by there today to look at the floorboards, cause with t-tops they are known to leak and rot the floor, but there was no rust on the car. They t-top and other weatherstrips looked and felt real good. Not all hard and crumbly. Whoever had the car before him took good care of it.

 

[pontiacgp]

I wouldn't show too much interest or he may hike to price....but I would grab it as soon as you can and then send your buddy off to a shrink...

 

[crucial118]

I think I'm gonna do it, but it was a lot of work gettin and makin the tpi motor work in my car, but hey if I did it once I can do it again. Maybe even faster. Should only take a weekend to pull the motor and trans and transplant them to the new car. Then another weekend to transplant the rear and gas tank. Then the interior pieces would take another weekend. Maybe a months worth of weekend work to get it right.

 

[FE3X CLONE]

It's just a 442. It's not like it's some rare Duesenberg worth $1m. Besides, everything that made the 442 anything "special" is gone. Engine, trans, rear, gauges, etc.