She lives!!!
 

Yep, got the 88TA fired up for the first time today, after 18 months of work. I'm so happy! Smoked a little as it burned off whatever dripped, dropped or dribbled onto the hot spots, but no flames so figured that was a good sign. Still need to set the timing and run the engine through its heat cycle / change of oil. Gonna need help for that, and with my schedule, wont be able to do it before the Nats next weekend unfortunately.

Sorry no pics / video. I was too excited to remember to take any before I shut her down. I finally own a RUNNING Trans Am.

Roadworthy is another story. :razz:

congrats to you. 18 months is a loooong time for your car to be down.

Awesome! its a shame it won't be ready for the Nats. I def want to see that car one day, i miss my old Blue & Silver Trans Am!

So what was wrong with the car?

Good to hear she's finally up and running.

By the way, how's the interior?

Thanks guys.

Interior is good, but not the best. Got it switched to all black, but will need seat covers for the time being. The usual rips have appeared between last summer and this, with me crawling in and out of it.

What finally got it started was a suggestion to check the neutral safety system that is hooked to the shifter. Sure enough, I must have knocked it loose when I swapped center consoles last summer. Slipped it back on, turned the key, and she fired right up. Saved me from having to trace wires all over the place, thank God.

I have a couple questions, but will post those in the right places in the tech section.

Woohoo! I'm psyched!

CONGRATS! i hope to be in the same boat this evening :-D

It's a great feeling to get a fresh motor running for the first time, congrats!

And J0n, you better get rid of that POS Lokar dipstick before you loose the bottom part inside the motor. I've heard of that happening to ~several~ people, and it ain't good! Put the stocker back in, and bend the ***** out of the tube to go around the headers if you need to.