1979 TA hi performance motor

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

Just to get you fully prepped -
Open Shaker vs. Closed Shaker is 2 different worlds completely.

You'll want to find a substitute 77-80 shaker top to cut open - if yours isn't already cut open. I think they might even offer an electric "functional flapper" D-I-Y upgrade for these now ?

[njsteve]

Originally Posted by Baron Von Zeppelin

Just to get you fully prepped -
Open Shaker vs. Closed Shaker is 2 different worlds completely.

You'll want to find a substitute 77-80 shaker top to cut open - if yours isn't already cut open. I think they might even offer an electric "functional flapper" D-I-Y upgrade for these now ?

This is the guy who sells the parts: http://pontiactransamshakers.homestead.com/

I actually used original 70-72 parts for my project since they were easily locate-able in my basement. :-)

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

Originally Posted by njsteve

He built a 461 stroker with 474hp/550 torque off the original 400 engine in his 78 T/A.

Knowing Bob , it didn't seem kosher that he would have used the #'s engine from his low mile Gold Y88 4spd Survivor to do that build .

He didn't use it
He used a donor "garden variety" 400

The original W72 engine is on a stand and tucked away. I pieced together a spare XX block that is stroked, 6X-4 heads with the full SD Performance port and polish job, and an original intake that was also heavily worked and cleaned up by SD.

The carb is a spare with rebuild kit by Cliff, and the distributor is an aftermarket HEI. It was dynoed at Kauffman

The numbers were peak HP of 474 at 5100 rpm and peak torque of 549 at 3600

I think Bob might have went a bit "soft" on the Cam.
HP and peak rpm could have been moved on up - if he had wanted to.
I'm sure he got what he was wanting to get though.

[njsteve]

These days some guys are getting some crazy power with modern roller cams in old Pontiacs. It is truly amazing.

Bob did have to do some parts chasing though - like the spacers for the valve covers to clear the roller rockers...and messing with the A/C brackets so they would clear over the passenger valve cover...and getting the air cleaner plastic elbow to fit without hitting the driver's side valve cover, etc.

Bob and his "youthful ward" are experts at solving problems. In the end it was an amazing result that looks totally stock from the outside.

I'm a cheap old bastard so I went the old school route with the $90 Summit racing cam, forged pistons, ARP rod bolts, and traditional hipo parts. 400 HP and 500 lbs of torque ain't bad for a low budget 455 build.

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

I'm the same way - cheap old bastard / spend thrift.

He went beyond necessary in several areas of his build for that level of power. But thats Bob. And its bulletproof.
And i know he is happy.

That platform could have went around 600hp , possibly more.

400 HP and 500 lbs of torque ain't bad for a low budget 455 build.

a blind squirrel could find that nut with an 068 base cam and JC Whitney re-ring kit
lol- just jabbing with you Steve
But it really is about that easy.

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

Majority of the 4.4.4. cars were basically full option loaded cars in the 10k range with 2 page window stickers.
However, in that respect - the CB and the Pwr Ant. are the 2 things you usually do not see on most of them. Unless they were Silver Tenth Anniversary Editions (TA/TA)

Have only seen 1 Blk/Blk/Blue Birds ... just in internet pictures ... and was maybe even this same car you have now. It was also low miles being offered by a classic car dealer a few years back.

You can buy what we call a "garden variety" 400 core engine pretty cheap usually. $200-500
1972-up Lemans/Grandprix/GTO/Bird base engine
That is what i would do.
And then buy the forged component stroker kit to have around 455cid and approx 450-500hp. 9.2 - 9.7 Comp Ratio

That platform would have less initial investment than the cost of a pair of aluminum heads by themselves.

Then a pair of repo Over-Size RamAir high flow cast iron exhaust manifolds (aka 70 T/A Ram3 units - with Larger than factory outlets) , and a full performance bolt-on exhaust system from PYPES made for those manifolds , with a transverse mounted muffler.
Clean easy install D-I-Y.

Have the heads and intake and exh mans - gasket matched.
Mild clean up and bowl blend on the heads.

Cliff on the carb
Cliff on distributor recalibration
Cliff on the heads and valve/seat cut specs
Cliff on the cam selection
Basically Cliff on everything as far as build parts and recommendations , maybe even assembly.

His build platforms have mostly all already been dyno proven on the HP targets. No guess work. And no confusion with 27 different cam suggestions from interwebbers.

[njsteve]

The Gramma car was the test bed for the installation video of the new Pypes oversized manifolds and exhaust system. It definitely woke the car up. I can honestly say that the Gramma car will leave our '73 SD455 in the dust. I did a little comparison timed sprint of a local on-ramp. The SD455 would get to the end of the short ramp at 50 mph. Gramma hit the same spot at 70 mph.

angry engine sound video clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptAubfuN8N4

install video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6b9nQOYa4Hk

[fortim]

Good info in Steve's thread. For a Trans Am I agree, I would build a '71-72 455 HO, 9.5 to 1, runs on pump gas and cool as a cucumber.

Save the numbers engine for when you sell it.

[9999]

Yes, T/A's in 1981 would have their normal centered Shaker scoop for the normal 301, or the Chevy 305. And just as in 1980, they would get the offset bulge/lights for the 301T.


I find it nuts that anyone in 1980+ that had $10k+ burning a hole in their pocket would even think about getting a new TA versus finding anything in the 1970-72 range, or a 73-74 Super Duty. You could have bought an SD, and restored it to brand new with factory supplied parts for less than 6-7 grand at that time. Or just waited for a low-mileage car to come around.




....ahhh whatever.

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

Thanks 9999, i knew 80 was that way but wasnt sure on 81.

He didn't say if his was Turbo or not, or which hood .
then we'll know


But he did say it was a Bandit Edition
Halfway lead me to think maybe it was a Tbo car

79 is where most of my knowledge stops.
never followed the 301 cars , they were always behind me.