My 1979 Trans AM

[wa2fastcamaro]

Well I have had this 79 Trans AM for roughly 3 years now. Its been a on and off project for some time, but mainly off since it keeps pissing me off.

Progress was supposed to be made to it this summer, but with my crappy luck that didn't happen due to a oil pump failure. Fired it up this spring after last years winter storage and no oil pressure. Since I was at wits end with it I let it sit and was practically trying to give it away so I wouldn't have to see it again. Was planning on having Rick Carlson from Automotive Specialties redo the motor for me, but that didn't happen just because I couldn't quite afford to have him do the work.

Well through my boss I met another guy who builds drag cars locally and we got to talking, and since he's a good friend of my boss, I get a break on having him fix my car for me. Planning on dropping it off Monday and it will stay in his shop for about 3-4 months while we figure it out.

Has a 403 Olds big block in it already. Was rebuild 2K ago by someone who didn't quite know what they were doing (hence premature oil pump failure). Plus it has a cam so big in it that at idle it has very little vacuum and sounds like a drag car, only problem with that is the motor wasn't built to handle the cam and hurt the power big time. Plan on rebuilding the motor again and setting it up right, something that has maybe 350hp and can still run pump gas and be driven. Probably going to end up building the tranny too and putting low gears in the rear end, since these cars had highway gears factory.

Just figured I would share one of my projects, and get opinions and ideas of what I should or shouldn't do from the very few guys this project applies to on this forum.

Also trying to decide on what color scheme I should go with, as I hate the burgundy and its a crappy paint job. But with a 99% rust free and fairly straight body it will be a easy repaint. Maybe White or Gold.

Mike
.

[GarageAlchemist]

a really nice gold or bronze would look great on that car i think Mike. I didnt know if you had sold this or not, but im glad you didn't, thats a sweet car.

[Grr]

for the cam i would go with the 268H, it sound really mean but will cruise with really low gears. My bro built one years ago with ported heads and performer RPM intake, 650 holley and 268H cam headers and duals. It was a mid 13s car with a TH400 and 2.73 gears. Z31 and I put that motor into a 81 Grand prix diesel, since its already olds powered. That car had 2.29s in the rear, the lowest gearset ever made i think. and it would cruise at 60 no problem, around 1300rpm, and would rock the car pretty hard from the TQ. Also dont go any bigger than that on the cam. We tried a 305H once cause it was free and the motor would barely run, and had no torque. with the setup mentioned above it made about 410hp, and had 450+ft-lbs from 2500-4500. I suggest a good strong turbo 350 or 400, whatever you have, and 2.73s in the back with a 22-2400 stall. That should do mid-low 13s pretty easy, and step up to the RPM Air-Gap manifold.
Gary

[wa2fastcamaro]

I figured I would post a update. I brought it over to a shop called Blair Automotive on main behind checker right after starting this thread. He finally got the motor pulled this week and ripped apart. My engine problems with the car were all related to the motor being assembled wrong.

When I went over to check thing out, he's like you better sit down, and the told me 4 of the pistons were in backwards, scored the hell out of the cylinder walls and destroyed a few of the bearings, broke the oil pump shaft, and bent push rods. I basically have to start over, I guess so much for trying to fix it cheap. Needs to be bored out, crank needs to be ground, need pistons, cam, lifters, and push rods.

Hopefully will have the motor done and in within the next couple months, if depending on how much money I have to spare. After the motor is done, its going to the body shop to be reworked and straightened out, I am going to paint it myself but rather pay a pro to prep it.

Mike

[ichibankilla]

10-4 Bandit, this is the Snowman. You got a smokey coming up on your back door.

[wa2fastcamaro]

well since my 403 is junk, I am putting one of these in instead.

[Grr]

good idea, need any help just ask
Gary

[MisterCMK]

wa2fastcamaro;201139 wrote:
well since my 403 is junk, I am putting one of these in instead.

Hey, I've got one of those and a Trans Am apart in my garage.

Should be a cool project. Keep us up to date on it.

[nonamekid]

That looks like a cool project. Should turn some heads when your done.

[tqisking]

Why dont you put a pontiac in it? Got a 428 I will sell you

[tqisking]

Not to mention the wiring mess that comes with the LS1 swap....ask me how I know;)

[Krazy_Kling]

its gonna look beautiful if its done right this time. for the paint job i know a freind that has a 75 trans am and he recently repainted it like a bullet silver, it turns heads no matter where you go. im not saying gold or bronze wont look bad either. either way man its gonna look great! good luck:icon_salut:

[Parker]

tqisking;207449 wrote:
Not to mention the wiring mess that comes with the LS1 swap....ask me how I know;)
how do you know?

i really dont care

[tqisking]

Parker;207612 wrote:
i really dont care

Then I wont tell you

[Grr]

tqisking;207449 wrote:
Not to mention the wiring mess that comes with the LS1 swap....ask me how I know;)

shit, thats nothing any decent mechanic cant take care of, i know as well

[MisterCMK]

I know things as well

[Grr]

Bullshit!

[tqisking]

Never said it could not be done just said it will be a mess.....

Is it me or is this site terribly judgemental?

[wa2fastcamaro]

Geez, didn't see until now you guys brought my thread back. I got a lot of plans but little money, so not sure what all I am going to do. My plans drastically changed this past weekend when I purchased a 81 Trans Am "Special Edition" Turbo Trans Am Body. Basically looks just like the bandit car, black, t-tops, tan interior, loaded. But it was just the tub, no suspension or drive train. Good thing is the interior was all there and mint, body is 100% rust free and really straight.

SO when I get a little most cash together and get my current project done, I am going to start on this new one. Planning on using the suspension, rear end and front clip from my 79 for it, and a 383 stroker and th350 tranny.

I still may do the LS1 swap, but I need to actually purchase the motor from my dad before I can use it, and since I baught this new car and been working on my fiero a lot, I spent a huge chunk of the money I was going to use to put the LS1 in.

Although I took on more work it will be nicer in the end and I'll get the car I wanted. I always wanted a Bandit Trans Am, and now I can build one, finding a rust free t-top body was hard though.

Probally be summer before I start it though, got lots of things to do and I really need to get my fiero on the road and running first, as its been dead in my garage for 9 months now, and half ripped apart. Now only if I can get the rest of my parts back from powdercoating. :rolleyes:

[wa2fastcamaro]

tqisking;207858 wrote:
Never said it could not be done just said it will be a mess.....

Is it me or is this site terribly judgemental?

Also the LS1 swap is one of the easiest I think, someone make mounts for my car, painless makes the harness, and I know someone that can retune the computer for me, seems easy enough to me. The most work to me would be running the fuel system and ac system.