stolen recovery

O.K., so the 86 is got 215000 miles on her and I went lookin for something newer. Got a really sweet Daytona yellow W/ black rally stripes 91 rs. 5.0 Runs like new.New exaust, brakes, paint, all power, leather,air, t-top, ect.ect. Paid $800. Here's the catch...Stolen recovery. Steering column is destroyed,combo switch too,key lock totally gone. Car starts and drives with a scocket jammed into the place where the keylock used to live. It had an aftermarket alarm system that, after cutting what seemed like a million wires was extricated from the vehicle. I do not know how they overrode the VATS system, but turn the socket and it starts. They had a wire from the alternator to the fuse box that fried the voltage regulator. I removed it and the car still starts but now I need to rebuild the alt. My question is: Can I install an earlier (have a 88 parts car available) steering column and will everything hook up to the 91 harness or do I have to get the 91 part and if so what about the VATS chip since I don't have the original key to test the ohms of the chip that was on it? Or do I really need to stay away from police impound auctions as this car aint worth the trouble?

O.K., so the 86 is got 215000 miles on her and I went lookin for something newer. Got a really sweet Daytona yellow W/ black rally stripes 91 rs. 5.0 Runs like new.New exaust, brakes, paint, all power, leather,air, t-top, ect.ect. Paid $800. Here's the catch...Stolen recovery. Steering column is destroyed,combo switch too,key lock totally gone. Car starts and drives with a scocket jammed into the place where the keylock used to live. It had an aftermarket alarm system that, after cutting what seemed like a million wires was extricated from the vehicle. I do not know how they overrode the VATS system, but turn the socket and it starts. They had a wire from the alternator to the fuse box that fried the voltage regulator. I removed it and the car still starts but now I need to rebuild the alt. My question is: Can I install an earlier (have a 88 parts car available) steering column and will everything hook up to the 91 harness or do I have to get the 91 part and if so what about the VATS chip since I don't have the original key to test the ohms of the chip that was on it? Or do I really need to stay away from police impound auctions as this car aint worth the trouble?
lol that sucks,how many miles did the 91' have?

I'll give you the $800 for it and take her off your hands...Hell I'll even drive to Virginia and pick her up.............LOL

O.K., so the 86 is got 215000 miles on her and I went lookin for something newer. Got a really sweet Daytona yellow W/ black rally stripes 91 rs. 5.0 Runs like new.New exaust, brakes, paint, all power, leather,air, t-top, ect.ect. Paid $800. Here's the catch...Stolen recovery. Steering column is destroyed,combo switch too,key lock totally gone. Car starts and drives with a scocket jammed into the place where the keylock used to live. It had an aftermarket alarm system that, after cutting what seemed like a million wires was extricated from the vehicle. I do not know how they overrode the VATS system, but turn the socket and it starts. They had a wire from the alternator to the fuse box that fried the voltage regulator. I removed it and the car still starts but now I need to rebuild the alt. My question is: Can I install an earlier (have a 88 parts car available) steering column and will everything hook up to the 91 harness or do I have to get the 91 part and if so what about the VATS chip since I don't have the original key to test the ohms of the chip that was on it? Or do I really need to stay away from police impound auctions as this car aint worth the trouble?
Depends, does the security light come on when you go to start? Is the VATS wires still intact?

screw replacin shit, id just keep the socket thing. aint gotta worry about keys or nothin.

but seriously, i think that everything should hook up, dont quote me on that, but i thnk so. also, i fore see you having a problem with the VATS. i have no idea how that would work, as from everything ive heard the VATS is hornry as hell and doesnt like being screwed with (ofcourse i guess thats what its supposed to do)...

Depends, does the security light come on when you go to start? Is the VATS wires still intact?
The security comes on when you turn the "key" to the run position, flashes and goes out and stays out after start-up.

lol that sucks,how many miles did the 91' have?
140,000 miles. Considering I had a Impala with 735,000 and its new owner is still driving her thats just broke in for a chevy...lol. Actually, motor and trans are clean enough to eat off. Looking at the age and condition of the gaskets and freeze plugs the motor and trans look to be recently remanufactured units. Certainly runs like new. I am building a 377ci small block (400 block, 350 crank and rods and pistons makes for a very high reving good top end motor)I may swap in in the future. I have a 383 I built but they are only good for low end torque and low RPM's due to the longer piston travel.

735,000 MILES?!?!?!?! I'm assuming that's not original motor and trans

I'll give you the $800 for it and take her off your hands...Hell I'll even drive to Virginia and pick her up.............LOL
Probably get a nicer one cheaper. I let a 89 Z car w/ a 350 and 5speed get past me at an auction in April. It was siezed from a dope dealer who had it professionally restored ground up. All options. Looked nicer and ran better than it did new. I went to look at another car and didn't realize it was up for bid allready before I got back and it sold for $725. Last month there were 17 3rd gen Firebirds and Camaro's at the auction. Something about dope smokin kids loving those cars, they get nabbed with so much aas a joint and the cops keep the car! Usually I can find at least 2 good ones every month. Check your local towing companies and see if they auction off impounds. Check the police too.You'd be surprised. I have gotten fully loaded late model cars for LESS than 10c on the dollar. Saw a pro-street 96 firebird w/ 830hp at the rear wheels go for $5.600. Got a friend a $32,000 SUV for $4200 and it had 1600 (Yup 1,600) miles on it.

The security comes on when you turn the "key" to the run position, flashes and goes out and stays out after start-up.
Did you check the VATS wires???? I think maybe they broke in and turn the ignition on for 10 minutes then got it to start. VATS will let you start any car if you leave the ignition on for 10 min..

pull the VATS module out of the 88 along with the whole steering column and put em in the 91.

screw replacin shit, id just keep the socket thing. aint gotta worry about keys or nothin.

but seriously, i think that everything should hook up, dont quote me on that, but i thnk so. also, i fore see you having a problem with the VATS. i have no idea how that would work, as from everything ive heard the VATS is hornry as hell and doesnt like being screwed with (ofcourse i guess thats what its supposed to do)...
Well, I be with ya. Problem is I got the car for my other half and she wants it to be right. I have to confess I cant stand 3rd generation f-body cars. But she loves em and I her so I am stuck with em. Only really liked the older ones and my '67 convertable RS and '68 SS were stolen back in '79, totalled, and ended up in a chop shop in bits. Uninsured for theft of course. Man, to have those today for what they are worth now!

i hear ya...

735,000 MILES?!?!?!?! I'm assuming that's not original motor and trans
Sure was. The guy was pissed that the odometer stopped working at 800 and something. Never rebuilt the motor, ran Amsoil synthetic oil in her and changed it every 50,000 miles with a new .5 micron filter every 10,000. Heck, I worked as a mechanis at a cab company for 8 yrs and we had em run 500,000+ all the time with care and proper maintainance.

Did you check the VATS wires???? I think maybe they broke in and turn the ignition on for 10 minutes then got it to start. VATS will let you start any car if you leave the ignition on for 10 min..
Like I said, the security light does what it is supposed to if it had the key in it. It starts right up, so I aint gonna fool with it unless the new key and column change the was it acts. I'll have to get my other shop computer back up as I have Mitchell On Demand repair guide and wiring diagrams on it.

god damn, that sa lotta miles

735,000 MILES?!?!?!?! I'm assuming that's not original motor and trans
O.k. 3 transmissions, 4 rears, tons of front-end parts and 2 fuel systems and a few valve cover gaskets, but no major motor work. Heck. I got a '78 pickup with over a half a million on her now that still puts rubber in the street and hauls my trash to the dump every sunday and will be running long after my neighbors Honda is recycled into soda cans! The '86 Camaro I have has a 2.8 and they were junk new. 200,000 is used up and cam is rattlin its death rattle, but, my wife still drives it to work every day. She actually loves that car, bought it new and the only thing she ever had to do was put a clutch in it at 178,000 miles and I keep it tuned up for her so I guess it don't owe her a thing.

Ya a poor like me ya get good at keepin em runnin....lol Heck, I ride a V.W. powered trike with over 260,000 miles on her. I just pop new ppistons and liners and bearings in her every so often and she keeps the front wheel pointed to the sky.

I gots ta bail, I'll check in again next week and follow the posts. Thanks Guys! I'll let ya know how it turns out, a local scrap yard will sell me a new tilt column with the key and VATS for $125 so I am going over Saturday and get it.

VATS will let you start any car if you leave the ignition on for 10 min..

what!!

i wont call you out cause i dont know if thats correct or not, but i've never heard of that and somehow doubt it

Just a follow up.....It's now months later and the RS has a new steering column. Harder to find one with a key than you would think, had to go 3 states away. Cost me $150 including shipping so not too bad. After installing it the car would not start. VATS reared its ugly head. I found the wires that go up to the key and they were cut. As I was laying there under the dash scratching my head as to how the car had even started when I got it I found a piece of vacuum hose on the floor with some tape on it. I must have knocked it loose installing the steering column. Inside the hose was none other than the chip from the original key! I stuck the wires back in the hose and been driving it like that ever since! P.S. the '86 now has 270,000 and she still goes 40 miles to work every day! I keep hoping that little 2.8 will just hurry up and die, but it refuses!lol
BTW....anyone read these follow-ups?