The long journey begins - 1979 TA

KnightAsylum · 11-07-09, 11:16 PM

Well I finally broke down and decided to treat myself to one of my dream cars - a '79 Trans Am.
Long story short my plan is to build a daily driver.

After a bit of a search I found the one that "spoke to me" so I got it. Although it was built with a 403, it currently had no motor. Overall in good shape, some rust on the bottom of the rear quarters, but fixable, and a dent in the fender on the drivers side. Interior needs work but is all there, and it came with the shaker for the hood, and an extra taillight (for the one that is broken.)

Lots of things to do with it, but I wanted to start with the motor - with the image limits I will wait and post that in the next post.

KnightAsylum · 11-07-09, 11:18 PM

I decided I wanted it to be all Pontiac so I picked up a 400 out of a 78 TA, the previous owner had rebuilt it, and drove with, but could not get 2 of the pistons running right so he pulled it out. It did not come with a carb or intake manifold.
So I bought an engine stand and put it in the garage - started tearing it apart today. Now I have rebuilt a couple of motors before, but that was back in high school, which was in the mid 80's so I am taking lots of pictures and making lots on notes to myself in case I lose track of something. Not sure what I am doing with the motor yet, I want it to be drivable on the street, and in traffic, but with a performance edge (and sound) so I will build it up a bit.

Gee...wonder wish 2 pistons were not getting used, there is one on each side that looks like this...

One bad lifter per side as well (on the bad piston) this one is in much worst shape then the other, which is just dished.

That is it for today - I do not have a wheel puller so I need to grab one before I can get the Balancer off and finish the tear down. I was happy so far, no big surprise issues with engine.

Mr. HARDCORE · 11-08-09, 01:15 AM

Nice ride, man! I look forward to watching your progress. If you need any help with anything, let us know!

sinister76ta · 11-08-09, 04:27 PM

Nice car, good luck with your rebuild.

Have you been thinking about stoking that 400 or just putting some little upgrades in it?

KnightAsylum · 11-08-09, 05:13 PM

Just some performance upgrades.
Based on the Jim Hand book (like many folks)

I am sure I will ask many questions here- it has been far to long since I worked on a car and rebuilt an engine.

mrpontiac65 · 11-08-09, 05:41 PM

Looks like you got a pretty good body to start with and a Pontiac engine.You said you got the Shaker with the car and do you have the base also. The Olds base is taller than the Pontiac version.

KnightAsylum · 11-08-09, 05:46 PM

I do have the original base as well.
So if it the Olds base was taller, does that mean I will need to get a different one for the 400?

mikeb · 11-10-09, 12:41 PM

Both the base and the metal plate under the 403 shaker are different. You'll need a shaker base & lid that came off a trans am with a pontiac engine. The lid of the shaker can easily be removed from the plate, so you can swap the lid if it is in better shape than the one you buy. I bought a cheap junk lid from ebay and got the metal plate off the bottom and reused my original shaker lid.

The 400 swap into an oldsmobird is pretty easy. The trans will bolt right up as will the starter. Back in the day when I did the swap I had to find frame and engine mounts, and drill holes in the frame for the frame mounts. I understand now that there are engine mounts that will bolt up to your existing frame mounts, so that part is easier than it used to be.

Good luck with your project!

KnightAsylum · 11-10-09, 09:26 PM

THANKS!!! Ahh yet another part of the many I will need.
Maybe I can find someone who needs that ones I have at least. Help out someone else since the parts are no good to me.
I knew the motor mounts would likely have to change.
Thanks again for the advice - I can use all I can get.

P.S. My sister lives in McKinney, Tx - small world.

mikeb · 11-10-09, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KnightAsylum

THANKS!!! Ahh yet another part of the many I will need.
Maybe I can find someone who needs that ones I have at least. Help out someone else since the parts are no good to me.
I knew the motor mounts would likely have to change.
Thanks again for the advice - I can use all I can get.

P.S. My sister lives in McKinney, Tx - small world.

Holler if you have any questions. I am no expert but i've been totally thru my 79 and i'm working on restoring another 79 10th annversary for my daughter (I have a thread in this forum about that project), so I do know a few things about the 79 birds. Yes, it is a small world

Mr. HARDCORE · 11-10-09, 10:13 PM

Hold it. Why would you need to drill holes for the frame mounts? These cars came with both engines, so the holes should be there.

poncho1961 · 11-11-09, 01:52 PM

Did the pushrod go all the way through that lifter? What did the cam lobe look like under that one?

Good luck on your project.

sinister76ta · 11-11-09, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A.X.

Hold it. Why would you need to drill holes for the frame mounts? These cars came with both engines, so the holes should be there.

Yeah, the subframe I used in my 77 Esprit came from a 79 T/A, and it already had the holes in it for a Pontiac. Actually the factory had a lot of holes in the frame for different engine motor mounts.

mikeb · 11-11-09, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A.X.

Hold it. Why would you need to drill holes for the frame mounts? These cars came with both engines, so the holes should be there.

Like i said - I did it way back in the day (about 1983). The engine mounts that I used came off of an early model firebird that I found in the junkyard, and they were different than the frame mounts that came on the 403. So I had to drill the holes in the frame to bolt them up. I understand that with the proper parts it's a bolt on deal now (engine bolts directly to existing mounts). So I probably got the wrong mounts, and just made do with what I got.

Bandit · 11-15-09, 02:43 AM

Nice car,i do like Trans Ams in brown

KnightAsylum · 11-15-09, 06:49 PM

Thanks - I plan to have it painted Black (as that is how I always pictured it) but the brown has been growing on me so I don't know - as an added bonus it sure would save me a lot of money on the paint job not to change colors - .

I finally got the Balancer, Timing chain, cam and crank out of the block. Everything is still looking pretty good. Now I have to start spending money on the engine.

I decided to start on the exterior. I pulled off the back lights. One was broken in one section and needed to be replaced but the seller threw in an extra so I already have a replacement. Found a touch of rust and a bee's nest behind the lights but besides that all is good. I pulled the lights apart, cleaned them, and I am putting them back together. They will likely sit on a shelf until after the body/paintwork is all done.

sinister76ta · 11-15-09, 06:52 PM

I like that brown on Trans Ams. I used to not years ago, but after seeing so many people painting their cars to look like "bandits", I've grown to appreciate a lot of other colors.

Chuck · 11-17-09, 04:42 PM

When I pulled the 403 from my 79 the 400 bolted right in with no changing of the motor mounts at all.

Mr. HARDCORE · 11-17-09, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeb

Like i said - I did it way back in the day (about 1983). The engine mounts that I used came off of an early model firebird that I found in the junkyard, and they were different than the frame mounts that came on the 403. So I had to drill the holes in the frame to bolt them up. I understand that with the proper parts it's a bolt on deal now (engine bolts directly to existing mounts). So I probably got the wrong mounts, and just made do with what I got.

Oh, I see what you're saying. Just like the same problem we had with the Cat engine. LOL!

KnightAsylum · 11-28-09, 06:46 PM

Started a little bodywork. The worst part of the body is behind the rear tires, but I don't want to work on that yet, so I started in the back since I had already removed the tail lights - nothing big yet, just looking for issues to deal with (while I go through all the videos on the forum for helpful advice.)
Saw some rust on the downside edge of the fin so I removed it. Not as bad as I feared it could be. I also pulled the old seal from the trunk (it was in bad shape) and there was some rust there as well. All workable I think, but still a pain in the rear, i hit it with some sandpaper to get a better look at the damage.

The rear bumper is going to need a little work as well. It has one deep scratch in it, and it is (I think the clear coat) cracking in many places,not the plastic, or even the paint, but just the top coat.