View Full Version : My Trans am project car....
Just got back home after a day out to weston super mare to collect my new project car.
The car:
1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans am 6.6litre V8
(crappy phone pic in the pouring rain too)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v609/DannyW/27052007.jpg
Work needed
Bodywork:
New rear floor pans due to severe rust
New rear chassis legs to be fitted due to rust
New mirrors (due to vandalism)
New side vent (vandalism again)
Repairs to hood scoop (bloody vandals!)
Paint touch-up around vandal damage
Suspension:
New leaf springs and rears shocks to be fitted (parts were included with the car)
Engine:
New fuel pump needs fitting (included with the car)
Possibly new fuel lines
Interior:
New carpet
Retrim on front seats
New speakers and possibly new stereo
First job is to give the car a thorough clean as it's been sat outside for a while in the elements so is fairly mucky, then i need to assess all the damaged areas the look at the welding that needs doing.
I'll update this thread (if anyone cares) as i go along.
cheers!
I'm interested mate, looks cool mate, bet it sounds sweet..
Mind me asking how much you paid for it, PM if you like.
thanks, i'm sure it sounds good but ive not heard it run yet due to a knackered battery, it's got 2 side exit exhausts though with no silencers so i'm sure it's a little raw.
RobSheffield
27-05-07, 19:11
Looks sweet even in the rain!
flukey-lukey
27-05-07, 19:21
oh I like! keep posting updates please :)
Awesome. Be good to see how this turns out, i love these cars.
:Popcorn:
I like these motor's. A guy I work with has had five Trans Ams, I think four of them have been 79's though, with one 78 which is the same shape as yours, all 6.6's. He's always buying an selling bits for them. His latest one is a black n gold 79 special edition, lovely car :) .
I like these motor's. A guy I work with has had five Trans Ams, I think four of them have been 79's though, with one 78 which is the same shape as yours, all 6.6's. He's always buying an selling bits for them. His latest one is a black n gold 79 special edition, lovely car :) .
Cool, would you mind asking him if he has any mirrors or sidevents for a gen2 like mine? would save me buying from stateside.
cheers.
Gaz Walker
27-05-07, 19:44
Thats cool. Can't wait to see it restored :)
supra matt
27-05-07, 19:45
nice mate Once its done Give (Jaime p a call as i think the bandit needs his car back ), AS his sup is dead LOL
Cool, would you mind asking him if he has any mirrors or sidevents for a gen2 like mine? would save me buying from stateside.
cheers.
No worries mate, i'll see if I can get a couple of his contacts phone numbers for you too. I'll pm you them if I can. ;)
No worries mate, i'll see if I can get a couple of his contacts phone numbers for you too. I'll pm you them if I can. ;)
thanks mate.
That is so cool! I bet that sounds the dogges bolloques!
I am SOOO jealous!
I nearly bought a 455 bullnose project a few years ago (it was only £4k), but decided it was too much work. (Trans Am's really suffer from chassis rot). Would really love a big US muscle car to work on in the spare time....
Please, please, please keep a thread on here with the progress. I'd love to see how it works out for you.
I am SOOO jealous!
I nearly bought a 455 bullnose project a few years ago (it was only £4k), but decided it was too much work. (Trans Am's really suffer from chassis rot). Would really love a big US muscle car to work on in the spare time....
Please, please, please keep a thread on here with the progress. I'd love to see how it works out for you.
Thanks mate, yeah i'm planning on keeping this thread running as a kind of diary with photos and stuff.
It's lots and lots of work but i'm looking forward to it to be honest.
Cool :) Hope you don't mind me asking, but how much did it set you back?
toyotasuprauk
27-05-07, 22:53
My mate used to have one of these in Mint condition. I think it was a manual if I remember rightly. Only went out in it a few times but it got loads of looks!
Quick update. Purchased a migwelder the other day, work should commence this weekend dependent on the weather, first job will be changing the fuel pump and getting the car running, then onto the welding :)
johnnyknox
30-05-07, 23:29
lol Danny, I can't keep up with you mate!! :blink:
You need to steal JamieP's avatar now and grow a tash ;)
What are you planning on doing for the chassic work? IIRC they're a unibody design, are you going to remove the front clip and work from there?
SUPRALOOPY
30-05-07, 23:39
Good luck.. Just remember the more you delve the more you find..
Subscribed out of interest and pity..LOL
Good luck.. Just remember the more you delve the more you find..
Subscribed out of interest and pity..LOL
Not the best thing to hear from a classic car restorer :D (Though I don't know one that would say any different!)
Looks like it could be fun:Popcorn: nice car
hi danny nice car mate.when searching for parts you might want to take a look at classic american mag,or join the american auto club.you can find them on the net.AAC UK.good luck mate look forward to seeing the end result.
We want something like that too, missus wants a C4 vette, but I'd prefer a Barracuda. Trouble is by the time I can afford one they'll probably all be in the scrappers.
I remember the first time I went to the States, these had just come out. (1977). I thought they looked amazing and bought a model of one. (I was 11 years old then)
Good luck with it. Ultimate Spares of America (http://www.ultimatespares.co.uk/) do a lot of stuff for these cars - all the panels etc are still available - even floor pans AFAIK! (Their website isn't up to much, so probably best phone them!) Service parts are cheap as chips - even though we're talking big block.
If you need any more info or ideas on where to get parts, give me a shout.
What are you planning on doing for the chassic work? IIRC they're a unibody design, are you going to remove the front clip and work from there?
It's just 1 of the rear chassis legs that need replacing, its an easy job by the looks of it. Rear suspension needs taking off to do it which is ok as i have all new rear suspension to re-fit.
Thread resurrection, i saw one of these today and this thread popped into my head, did you restore this in the end?:)
DannoSupra
30-04-08, 21:36
Ohh you Bi*ch... i'de love to get my hands on 'Trigger'
Good luck bud.. keep us posted! I'de love to see the end result, and hear her!
out of all the yanks this is one of those love them or hate them versions and sorry im on the marmite fence here as i hate them
the bandit did a god job making then something there not but its still a trans am which for me isnt too nice or pretty but im into the muscle side of things like dodge darts and chargers etc
but still a good project to work on and it keeps another yank on the road so let us know how it did or did not turn out
matt
Beautiful Car. A true piece of history and a real muscle car. Hope you will do most of the work yourself and drive it around lots. It's the sort of thing I would have loved to have bought. Don't change those lovely wheels.
out of all the yanks this is one of those love them or hate them versions and sorry im on the marmite fence here as i hate them
the bandit did a god job making then something there not but its still a trans am which for me isnt too nice or pretty but im into the muscle side of things like dodge darts and chargers etc
but still a good project to work on and it keeps another yank on the road so let us know how it did or did not turn out
matt
Interesting, what have you owned of these Matt? I've not personally owned any old yank muscle, but a early stang, later charger or challenger are on the 'to die for' list :D
And to Danny, lets have an update fella ;)
ive owned many yanks in my time but no as you i would love a charger or challenger but as i said its not my fave american motor tbh the trans am
ive put pics up of my f150 on here and ive also been around yanks all my life as my dad started the custom show at doncaster with cliff moore which is now run by ripspeed and at donny race course
anything else you need to know you nosey bugger lol
Sorry, only just seen this thread.
Turns out the car was a complete lemon, it was a cat C write off, which the previous owner (a member on here) reckons he knew nothing about, even though the claim went through whilst he owned the car :taped:
Also turns out it wasn't even a real trans am anyway, just a regular firebird with an engine swap, but they hadn't upraded the cooling system, or the suspension to handle the extra power.
So i ended up flogging it on to an american car collector for a MASSIVE loss. He said he would probably end up breaking it as it was in a bad state.
Oh well, you live and learn, just another reason not to trust people based on face value i suppose.
What a nightmare, thats really annoyed me :( Sorry to hear that you lost out and such a shame to see what could have been a nice car busted up. PM on it's way...
RobSheffield
08-05-08, 22:39
Not good to hear
I hope Darryls PM is about what i think it may be.....
What a nightmare, thats really annoyed me :( Sorry to hear that you lost out and such a shame to see what could have been a nice car busted up. PM on it's way...
Cheers. Replied.
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