1978 Trans Am Freshen Up

[andy78TA]

Well last summer I was lucky enough to pick up a 1978 Pontiac Trans Am. I drove it throughout the summer and the fall as the car drives, but it needs a lot of work. The body is good as far as rust issues (the only rust is on the drivers fender) but the car has some dents, a lot of scratches, and the body panels need to be lined up again.

As for the engine, I got it with 53,xxx original miles on it and it now has just over 54,000. The engine is pretty much stock with a performer intake and an edelbrock carb. The engine left a lot to be desired for so starting over the winter break (I am a senior in college) I started to tear the car down.

The first part of this restoration is going to be the engine and drivetrain so that is pretty much all that is being worked on now. I am working on the interior a little bit and the last step will be the paint and body which I am hoping will be sometime this summer.

This whole thing started as what I wanted to be a simple header install... No luck. I broke bolts in both heads, so they came off and got freshened up. Here are some pictures of my escapades so far. These are all in the period of a week)

engine before
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/001-14.jpg
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/002-15.jpg

the beginning of the tear down
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/006-5.jpg
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/005-6.jpg

why I needed to have the heads cleaned, milled, painted, valve job, new guides installed
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/009-4.jpg
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/003-9.jpg

The new and improved heads back from the shop
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/013-4.jpg
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/014-3.jpg

intake manifold before
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/010-4.jpg

intake manifold after being glass beaded, painted, new chrome water neck
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/003-12.jpg
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/015-3.jpg

What this whole thing started for
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/001-11.jpg

putting it back together
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/002-13.jpg
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/015-5.jpg
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/005-10.jpg


and last, my workspace
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/009-5.jpg

I also freshedned up the air cleaner housing and a bunch of brackets with high temp black paint to continue the clean up. I will take more pictures in the coming weeks as the engine gets completed.


The car is not up and running yet as I am back in school but I have spring break coming up in 2 weeks. I plan on having the exhaust completely done and the engine back together during that break so it will be up and running.

[BonzoHansen]

Nice! Get some more engine paint and dab over the head bolts.

[LTb1ow]

Why are there only three primaries for a V8 header?

[Knipps]

Because there are only 3 on the heads. :mrgreen:

[LTb1ow]

Ah yes... my bad..


Looks nice though!

[andy78TA]

Yeah its the type of headers they are. Only 3 tubes :( ha

[T69SS]

What a difference, looking good man.

[andy78TA]

Thanks, and last week I just picked up a 1967 pontiac 400 engine complete from pan to carb for $100. The engine turns but I plan on using this just to learn on, and than maybe later rebuild it into something special ha

[WildBillyT]

FYI- Jim Taylor Engine Service in Phillipsburg is who you may want to talk to regarding building up a Pontiac Engine.

[andy78TA]

Thanks for the tip Bill


Today I ordered a pypes header back exhaust system, new plugs, wires, and some other odds and ends to try to finish up this project. Hopefully I will be up and running in a couple weeks. I'll post some more pictures when I get the goods in ha

[89 Iroc-Z28]

nice resto i had to take the whole top of my engine apart after a bolt snapped so said hey why not

[FASTKNIGHT]

good luck with the resto.... thats 1 of my favorite cars.

[andy78TA]

new exhaust system, plugs, wires, and alternator just came in :) I am all ready to put everything back together next week

[andy78TA]

pictures!!

The first thing I saw when I got home
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/007-10.jpg

opened it up right away

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/008-10.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/009-9.jpg

AND A FREE HAT!

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/012-8.jpg

Here is what the old exhaust looked like that I pulled off a month back

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/001-15.jpg

I don't know if you can see it but the pipe is actually flattened in some parts

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/002-16.jpg

old vs new

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/003-16.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/004-14.jpg

and the trans kickdown stud I needed and new wires

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/010-8.jpg

Thats it for now. Hopefully I will have more pictures next week of the install if all goes well

[BonzoHansen]

I wonder if there is a hat in the big box in my garage. Hmmmmm.

[andy78TA]

haha, I was really excited to see the hat. I don't think I am going to be putting any stickers on my car to advertise but its possible I will wear the hat some days

[Blacdout96]

This thread is worthless without Sound/Video!!!

[siguy]

Yeah its the type of headers they are. Only 3 tubes :( ha


the middle tube shares the exhaust port on those engines

[andy78TA]

This thread is worthless without Sound/Video!!!

I know I know I am sorry, but the car is not running yet and the exhaust is not on. I am hoping that I will have the car running late this week or early next week (spring break) and than provided I can borrow another set of jack stands from someone I will have the exhaust on shortly after. Give me 10 more days!


And yeah the center port is shared. Some of the headers you can get for the car are 4 tube that split off imediately but apparently the 3 tubes are better against gasket blow out. We'll see.

[T69SS]

Gotta love new parts! Post more pictures once they are installed

[LTb1ow]

No cats?:|




:wink: Looks good man!

[WildBillyT]

No cats?:|




:wink: Looks good man!

Regardless of the smiley, since it's a car with regular insepection he will need them, at least in 8/2011.

[andy78TA]

Nope, no cats, I bought the car from a mechanic and he threw in an "inspection" in the price. I plan on having it classic for 2011. Thanks for the comments

[andy78TA]

well after all this work my worst fear has come true, my brand new passenger head gasket is leaking and I can't get it to stop no matter what I do. I will have to find a shop tomorrow and bring it in :(

[79T/A]

Spooky. Were those heads decked at the machine shop? Could be that the block surface needs to be decked too. Real good excuse to pull that motor and make the bottom end as tight as you made the top. Great looking project!

[WildBillyT]

well after all this work my worst fear has come true, my brand new passenger head gasket is leaking and I can't get it to stop no matter what I do. I will have to find a shop tomorrow and bring it in :(

Did you remember the thread sealer on the bolts that go into the water jacket?

[andy78TA]

I was under the impression no bolts go into water jackets in pontiac motors? I did use the dab of oil on each thread to get the correct torque readings though.

[WildBillyT]

I was under the impression no bolts go into water jackets in pontiac motors? I did use the dab of oil on each thread to get the correct torque readings though.

You could be right. My Pontiac engine info is pretty slim.

[andy78TA]

I am currently checking every possible thing to see if the leak is maybe coming from somewhere else. I believe I have ruled out water jacket though. Some info on another forum has got me thinking that no bolts enter water jackets. People keep giving me things to check though and I am doing everything I can. If not Paul over at RPM in hillsborough said he could probably squeeze me in at the end of the week so here is hoping!

[LTb1ow]

Doesn't coolant run through the intake on old motors? Could be leaking there maybe?

[andy78TA]

That was where I originally thought the leak was coming from, but no luck. Everything up there is dry.

[B4C]

did you torque the head bolts in the correct order??

[andy78TA]

yes sir. I checked with a few different people to make sure i did it correct. I finally found a diagram too

[B4C]

ok...did you check the surface of the block with a straight edge and feeler gauge?

[andy78TA]

I did not. I am actually thinking that might be the issue which is why I was going to have a pro look at it. I cleaned the block but I didn't check it with a straight edge. A big oversight on my part I know. I am hoping that maybe it wasn't cleaned completely or something.

[B4C]

Or the block deck is warped...

[andy78TA]

Thats what I am afraid of but I have talked to many many people and the conesensus is that that is not very likely. The car never had any leaks before I took it apart and never had any overheating problems. Also apparently the pontiac cast iron blocks are pretty strong and resist warping more than others. It is still possible as the block is 30+ years old, but I am hoping it will be something simple

[79T/A]

Forgive me if this sounds dumb, but until now, I've never looked at them side by side. Are you sure it's a Pontiac 400 and not an Olds 403?

[WildBillyT]

Forgive me if this sounds dumb, but until now, I've never looked at them side by side. Are you sure it's a Pontiac 400 and not an Olds 403?

Looks like they are 6x heads- aren't they Pontiac only?

[BonzoHansen]

Pontiac heads. It seems big chambers too.

http://www.pontiacstreetperformance.com/psp/6XheadID.html

I thought the 403s started in 79 (all automatic cars) but I could be wrong.

Lots of good info.
http://pontiacstreetperformance.com/psp/techarticles.html

[andy78TA]

yeah it is definately the pontiac motor, not an olds, and yes they are 6x heads. I redid the head gasket but now I have an intake gasket leak. I can't win. New intake gaskets are on the way though.

[andy78TA]

As of 7 PM tonight the car started and ran for about 20-25 minutes. The temperature topped out around 205-210 with a new 195 stat. I am running open headers at the moment just to make sure everything is okay. If the inspection and test drive tomorrow go well I will be putting the exhaust system on tomorrow morning/afternoon

[HardcoreZ28]

Does this mean you solved your leaking coolant issue??

[andy78TA]

For the moment haha, I replaced the head gasket and then had an intake gasket leak so I replaced those. When I first started it it was smoking lightly for about 5-10 minutes but then it seemed all clear. I checked underneith and there were no puddles, but there seemed to be a drop on the oil filter, I am not 100% where it came from though. After driving it yesterday the temp topped out at about 210 and was steady around there with a 195 t-stat. I didn't see any puddles and all the coolant seems to all be in the radiator so I am hoping everything is okay.

[andy78TA]

Here are some new pictures of painting under the hood. I was in a rush so there are not many and they aren't great but I will take more. I also still need to take pictures of the exhaust system but they are clamped on not welded on and I am waiting for the welding so it doesn't look horrible

Before:
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/PICT0227.jpg
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/PICT0228.jpg
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/PICT0229.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/PICT0235-1.jpg
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/PICT0233.jpg


During

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/PICT0234-1.jpg
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/PICT0236-1.jpg
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/PICT0237-1.jpg

After: (More after coming soon!)
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/PICT0238-1.jpg

I will have a lot more and better pictures this weekend since I am hopefully going to Englishtown.

[mtnhopper1]

This has probably been mentioned as some point, but those are some crazy sunroofs. I think that would qualify as a "period correct" modification. Very 1978.

[andy78TA]

Resurecting a thread here... over the past few weeks my car went in to get all the body work done and get painted. I just got it back last week and in a few weeks it will go back to get wet sanded and buffed and than after that over to RVM to get the decals put on... here are a few pictures for anyone interested:

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/023-2.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/026-2.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/027-2.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/0328111638b.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/001-21.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/003-22.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/012-12.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/015-10.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/003-23.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/009-15.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/014-12.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/018-6.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/034-1.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/037-1.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/004-23.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/002-26.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/006-20.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/008-18.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/014-14.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/038-2.jpg

and some parts getting ready

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/033-3.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/036-3.jpg

[maroman88]

coming along nicely!

holy sunroof t-tops

[The Fixer]

Looks great!!!!

[HardcoreZ28]

Looks great so far...nice work.

[BonzoHansen]

Looks really great. Love those t/a turndowns you have ready to go. I have to ask what made you keep those suroofs and not reskin the roof?

[sweetbmxrider]

Paint looks reallll gooood

[V]

ok ill say it... the roof thing was a bad idea.. i know everyones thinking it
really should have changed the roof, lol

the rest came out good

[CHRIS67]

ok ill say it... the roof thing was a bad idea.. i know everyones thinking it
really should have changed the roof, lol

the rest came out good

:nod::nod::nod::nod::nod::nod: Looks great, but that roof :shock:

[andy78TA]

I meant to say RPM customs, get ready hardcore, Im calling you very soon ha...

As for the roofs, they were dealer installed back in 78 and honestly they give me points in some shows. I would rather have T-Tops, but it's a lot of work to weld in new metal and everything there so I decided to just keep it how it is.

Thanks for all the comments!

[HardcoreZ28]

Sounds good man.....give me a shout when you're ready

[andy78TA]

haven' been on in awhile but figured I would give an update. The decals are on thanks to Paul at RPM customs, and I was able to find a matching set of front recaro seats from indiana. New carpet, new gauges, and new engine brackets have been installed also.

For your viewing pleasure

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/010-15.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/PICT0020.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/019-7.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/031-4.jpg

[andy78TA]

some more

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/029-4.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/027-5.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/033-4.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/032-4.jpg

[andy78TA]

the wiring has been cleaned up since the picture this morning. Also installed a new 140 amp alternator by tuff dawg for the sound system :)

[sweetbmxrider]

Def lookin sweet :)

[WildBillyT]

Thought I saw you at Somerville last Friday?

[andy78TA]

yes sir. I try to get there every week if work allows. Next time come say hi if I'm by my car!

[Tale128]

awesome car man, love the hat on the passenger side, I see you wore it lol

[andy78TA]

SPRING UPDATE 2012

Hey guys, haven't been here in awhile but here are some updates:

First off,
I finally bought a midrise lift for my garage. Completely worth the money spent, it makes my life so much easier with a lot of the work

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/PICT0031.jpg

New deep trans pan

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/PICT0039.jpg

new diff cover with bearing support

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/PICT0035.jpg

old trans pan

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/PICT0043.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/PICT0044.jpg

old vs new

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/PICT0046.jpg

installed

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/PICT0047.jpg

axle

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/PICT0050.jpg

new Comp Cam roller rockers

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/PICT0059.jpg

new vs old rockers
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/PICT0069.jpg

new vs old pulleys (underdrive crank)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/PICT0064.jpg

im still waiting for a new water pump, flex fan, and some other parts. More pictures will come up next week!

[maroman88]

those recaros are beautiful

[andy78TA]

thanks man! It took forever to find them but Im glad I have them now. I'll have more pictures up when the car is put back together and cleaned up.

[andy78TA]

some progress:

new water pump and flex fan

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/015-15.jpg

all together just to see how it looks with the new pulley

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/017-10.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/019-8.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/021-7.jpg

new belts and all installed

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/027-6.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc8/belyeodezhdy/026-6.jpg

[Coreylt1]

very nice work!! it looks great