79 Trans am

[crazy4offroad]

Stock I think the 403 is only rated to 185hp. The few mods you can do like the Olds 350 heads, flat top pistons, better cam, you're not going to net much more than 350hp. They're heavy but have nice torque. It's just my opinion and we all know what those are worth but I would go with the Chevy smallblock, just for the cheaper upgrade parts, readily available bolt-on upgrades like Vortec heads, lighter engine, etc. Unless you want to find a bigblock for it and throw down some serious cash. I remember my mom had a mid-70s Pontiac Gran Prix with the 400 smallblock in it. It was rusted out bad, I mean you couldn't even put groceries in the trunk. A guy came by, can't remember if he had a Firebird or TA, but said the engine was highly sought after and paid a pretty penny for the whole car. Might be a better direction to go in.

 

[Honky Kong jr]

Torque is what you feel the most on a BOP set up.

 

[Swims350]

yea poncho 6.6 aka 400 had 220 hp stock and 403 had 185 or so. I forget torque numbers

 

[Swims350]

not much going on, moved it to the other side of the garage, might move again, need the vette in out of the weather too. I did find a hood, old paint was cracked badly and caused surface rust in alot of the topside, underside not very much. I plan to strip it by hand, rust/paint removal disc, the sponge type things that are really stiff, and treat with rust reformer or whatever it is from summit, goes on purple tunrs black, paintable yadda yadda.

Anyways then prime it with some self etch primer or epoxy.

I ordered a few small parts, nuts for the fuel door, and some outside door handles. Might order new inside handles soon, then after christmas see what kinda cash I got and what I can order. I've been on the hunt for some seat tracks, they aint cheap on ebay. I did find a full set for 150, which aint bad, but I don't have it right now.

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[DoubleDingo]

This is going to be cool car when you get it finished.

 

[Oldrider]

What a project.
Keep us posted.

 

[Crispy]

Got my own 79 project going. At least you have a garage! If you arent looking to make high hp numbers stick with the 403. They are pretty tourqey engines and with a little work you can make decent numbers. Keep up the good work!

The listing below is selling seats. Maybe they have tracks and are willing to ship

https://reading.craigslist.org/pts/d/1979-pontiac-trans-am-parts/6409818010.html

edit
Just looked on car-part.com and saw some listed at junkyards throughout the country. Maybe one of the places can get you set up cheap.

 

[Swims350]

I'll have to check car part.com then

yes no big hp numbers, it came with a 4 cap main girlde and I'm only doing basic stock rebuild, cylinder check, hone, crank mic, bearings, rings, oil pump, timing set, cam/lifters, gaskets. If I come across a set of better olds heads I'd swap to bump up CR, if not then eh. I do want a larger cam I want some noise. Be the same with the 350 build basic stock stuff some ported 305 heads, lopey cam

Curt, @crazy4offroad I been all over charleston recently, over there in poca off of 64 guy has some squarebody stuff and camaro stuff even has a 72 nova. I also went over to south charleston over off kanawha turnpike to get the hood he's got alot of firebirds and trans am, some other old chevys like a laguna dodge power ram charger thing, a vette like the wifes but a lil older notch back style, tons of other stuff I'm forgetting.

 

[Honky Kong jr]

Even stock for stock rebuild that Olds is gonna be more torquey then the SBC.

 

[crazy4offroad]

I'll have to check car part.com then

yes no big hp numbers, it came with a 4 cap main girlde and I'm only doing basic stock rebuild, cylinder check, hone, crank mic, bearings, rings, oil pump, timing set, cam/lifters, gaskets. If I come across a set of better olds heads I'd swap to bump up CR, if not then eh. I do want a larger cam I want some noise. Be the same with the 350 build basic stock stuff some ported 305 heads, lopey cam

Curt, @crazy4offroad I been all over charleston recently, over there in poca off of 64 guy has some squarebody stuff and camaro stuff even has a 72 nova. I also went over to south charleston over off kanawha turnpike to get the hood he's got alot of firebirds and trans am, some other old chevys like a laguna dodge power ram charger thing, a vette like the wifes but a lil older notch back style, tons of other stuff I'm forgetting.

I'd like to have that 72 Nova if it's a fixxer-upper. I had a 70 model and it was my first car. I remember rebuilding the engine at 16 yrs old, and driving it around the neighborhood with no hood. I took the seats out and had to sit on a milk crate to drive it lol. PM me his contact info, or if it's on craigslist shoot me a link. 72 is my birth year and I'd swap him the big truck depending on the condition.

 

[Swims350]

I'd like to have that 72 Nova if it's a fixxer-upper. I had a 70 model and it was my first car. I remember rebuilding the engine at 16 yrs old, and driving it around the neighborhood with no hood. I took the seats out and had to sit on a milk crate to drive it lol. PM me his contact info, or if it's on craigslist shoot me a link. 72 is my birth year and I'd swap him the big truck depending on the condition.

sadly he's not looking to get rid of it he's almost got it done, it's been jambed in a light yellow he has to put glass in, paint outside and then some interior stuff, it's got a tbi 350 thats still tbi

 

[RecklessWOT]

A black '79 trans-am with a red interior? I F-ing hate you lol. That's been my dream car since I was like 9 years old.

She's beautiful! I almost bought one back in high school but my old man told me I couldn't keep a death machine in his driveway. I'd love to find one in that shape for sale (the price of clean ones has exploded in recent years).

Please don't put the 350 in it, the T/A deserves a 400 or at least a 403 olds!

Either way I'm sure it'll be a sweet ride when you're done with her (not that it's not right now)

yea poncho 6.6 aka 400 had 220 hp stock and 403 had 185 or so. I forget torque numbers

Yeah the 403 had a noticeably lower HP figure, but IIRC it had close to 400 ft lbs, equal if not a tad more torque than the 400, so it would really only hurt you on the top end. She'd still pull hard as hell and be a regular old donut factory

 

[CSFJ]

I didn't see if you had the scoop yet, but ran across this a couple minutes ago.

https://flint.craigslist.org/pts/d/pontiac-trans-am-hoop-scoop/6386000428.html

 

[Jrgunn5150]

Cool car, my first car was a 71 Camaro, I really like the 2nd gens.

I'd run the 403, why not? Especially with the price of them steadily rising. Probably better to keep it as is, or as could have been. Looking forward to seeing it finished.

 

[Iowan]

Sweet car! Id say Olds.