So I guess this is my Trans Am build thread now...

[Rusty Nail]

70 series tires or bust!

 

[RecklessWOT]

Not sure if this 400 is built or not, but it's definitely been out of the car and prettied up recently. I'll have to check to see which casting it is. Not even 100% sure what year it is yet. All I know is it's definitely a Pontiac 400, which is what I wanted

so upon further investigation the block is a 988 casting (which is good news) and from a later '73/ early '74 (date code march 29 1973), not sure what car. The heads appear to be 5C heads from '75, which are basic smog heads and nothing fancy, though could be worse. I have no idea if they're decked down at all or if its stock compression, have no idea if there's a cam or not. I have no idea how many miles are on the engine, or if it was ever built or rebuilt. I can tell it was out of the car and painted recently (might have been years ago, but it hasn't been run barely at all because I could smell paint was still cooking when I ran it last night.

 

[RecklessWOT]

That piece of crap edelbrock on top of it not only looks terrible, but is also tuned really sh!tty. I think the secondaries are opening up way too early or it's just jetted too big, the thing likes to stumble then shoot a 2' flame out the carb before it revvs up after any quick stab of the throttle whether under load or not. There's not a single wire connected to anything that isn't directly engine related. No gauges or lights work, there's 4 miles of old wire harness balled up in the trunk, unlabeled of course (gonna be so much fun... nope). Glove box isn't attached yet so I can't find the RPO codes, but from what the VIN tells me it is a real trans am, was a 301 turbo car (thank god that's gone) and was built in Norwood, OH

 

[Goldie Driver]

That piece of crap edelbrock on top of it not only looks terrible, but is also tuned really sh!tty. I think the secondaries are opening up way too early or it's just jetted too big, the thing likes to stumble then shoot a 2' flame out the carb before it revvs up after any quick stab of the throttle whether under load or not. There's not a single wire connected to anything that isn't directly engine related. No gauges or lights work, there's 4 miles of old wire harness balled up in the trunk, unlabeled of course (gonna be so much fun... nope). Glove box isn't attached yet so I can't find the RPO codes, but from what the VIN tells me it is a real trans am, was a 301 turbo car (thank god that's gone) and was built in Norwood, OH

Never owned a 301 Turbo, but test drove a used 81, I think.

Wasn't bad, but not a V8.

400 is way more betta, and the oil filter points basically down, which is more my style than that Furd sideways shiat.

 

[RecklessWOT]

I was told the transmission bled like a stuck pig and only barely moved around if you added fluid. Well last night for the hell of it I fired it up and tried to see if it goes into gear. 1st and reverse are very strong, did some burnouts in the driveway and farted it around the culdesac a few times. Didn't slip at all, but have no idea if it goes into higher gears never got it over 10-20 mph, maybe the 1-2 shift is a mess or something? The cross member and output shaft seal area are damp, but not a single drop hit the ground.

 

[RecklessWOT]

Never owned a 301 Turbo, but test drove a used 81, I think.

Wasn't bad, but not a V8.

400 is way more betta, and the oil filter points basically down, which is more my style than that Furd sideways shiat.

hah yeah. Normally I'd agree, it does point straight down but the headers on this thing make a filter change look tricky... Also the starter is wrapped in heat blanket, we'll see if that helps at all lol

 

[bucket]

That looks like it was a real nice find!

 

[Rusty Nail]

I recently met or re-met a Turbo TransAm Collector guy the last time I was hanging out with Gary Camaro , named Rod Something or Other. I think he said he had fourteen Turbo Trans Ams?

 

[Goldie Driver]

I recently met or re-met a Turbo TransAm Collector guy the last time I was hanging out with Gary Camaro , named Rod Something or Other. I think he said he had fourteen Turbo Trans Ams?

Well, if they are 2nd gens, kind of rare birds ...

Yeah, pun intended.

There was a 80 Special Pace Car Edition I really liked.

Iffin this link works, picture 4.

That Time Pontiac Turbocharged the Trans Am

We take a look back at Pontiac’s mid-’70s solution to tightening emissions standards—one we’re familiar with today, for the same reasons: turbochargers.

www.motortrend.com

 

[RecklessWOT]

That looks like it was a real nice find!

Thanks, I like to think so too. Yeah the bodywork could've been done a little better, but the bones are great and the price was right. Plus I'd like to know what someone in their right mind was doing painting it silver anyway, maybe cloning a 10th anniversary? (probably just trying to hide quick bodywork, surprised it's not white). Either way the car is going black and gold, so that gives me a chance to fix any grievances with hastily done bodywork. All the hard parts are done already at least. Then there is just a LOT of assembly to be done. But it's worth it IMO. I've wanted one of these since the early 90s damnit, it's gonna happen. I'm not even that upset about getting rid of some of my other sh!t

 

[RecklessWOT]

I recently met or re-met a Turbo TransAm Collector guy the last time I was hanging out with Gary Camaro , named Rod Something or Other. I think he said he had fourteen Turbo Trans Ams?

I know a guy that's had 14 of these things, but they were all 77-81, and the turbo ones were just bought as body donors for wrecked 400/455 cars. Dude has a Ram Air IV in his basement that was briefly installed in a 79 he owned before some a$$hat sideswiped him into a bridge embankment, I am gonna try with every ounce of my soul to get that engine from him...

 

[78C10BigTen]

I like it but strongly prefer the 77 TA better lol

 

[RecklessWOT]

I like it but strongly prefer the 77 TA better lol

The car very well may well end up with a '77/'78 nose on it, we'll see how ambitious I get

 

[78C10BigTen]

The car very well may well end up with a '77/'78 nose on it, we'll see how ambitious I get

BANONE!

 

[WFO]

I like it but strongly prefer the 77 TA better lol

I'll take a 73 with a SD 455.

I saw a 69 TA on a trailer a few months ago. Only the 2nd one I've ever seen in person.
I've always liked the 1970 Firebird Formula 400 too.