Topic: 1979 Trans Am Coupe Rebuild

[rpguitarrepair]

Got it on the ground!



Looking to get a stall cleaned out tomorrow and get it back inside before the rain hits.

[79taman]

looking very very nice, great work on this bird...

[NWW-79 T/A]

Love the rallys

[rpguitarrepair]

Love the rallys

Yeah, they're ok, but I have a set of snowflakes I think I will put on after it is painted, though.

[rpguitarrepair]

Working on getting the body primered before it gets too cold. We've had some nice weather in GA.
Grinding the orange Maaco paint off, along with the original Mayan red lacquer.




Got the body prepped and ready for the epoxy primer; I always seem to have plenty of spectators, helpers, and jesters:




I had a 72 hour window to get the first coat of 2K applied. Fortunately I was able to get back to it in about 40 hours:



Today it was about 65 degrees, so I pulled the hood out and blasted the rust off of the edges.

[rpguitarrepair]

I'm finally getting back to it. Note the makeshift spray booth in the garage (just for priming).








I actually blasted the cracks and crevices but didn't get any pics due to low light. If it ever stops raining in GA I'll have some primed pics, hopefully soon.

[Jaysen]

Looking good!  I wish I could go this far with my project.  1. Don't have a sandblaster or paint gun setup.  2. My home owners association would flip their lids.  In a few years, I hope to retire and move into a country home where I can do whatever I want.

[rpguitarrepair]

Thanks! I grew up at the old home place in the pics; that's where my folks live. After 6 years of having an HOA tell me what to do, I decided to build a house on the family property. When I was a kid this old  barn garage was the local hangout for my dad's buddies, and still a great place to make a mess! I was hoping to prime this weekend, but there's rain in the forecast again...

[rpguitarrepair]

Trying to make progress though it seems to rain every weekend... Here is what I found when I started disassembling the rear bumper for powdercoating/ conditioning: water snake...

The old bumper (bought a reman)

Header panel disassembly...

At any rate, the bolts on the header panel had to be cut to get the thing apart when disassembling the front clip. I plan to have the header panel powder coated, but I had to drill out these bolts. Can I just weld in replacement bolts here? Has anyone else ran into this?

[Grand73Am]

Reminds me of the old saying, "if it'd been a snake, it'd have bit you". Wait, it was a snake! Strange place for it to hang out.

But, welding in new bolts seems like the way to go there.

[rpguitarrepair]

Thanks Steve!

[rpguitarrepair]

I'm back in the saddle. Working three jobs, a crappy winter, and raising a family has taken a toll on progress, but I have the bodywork completed (all but block-sanding the 2K primer) and the engine in the chassis.





http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q563/doubleclutch1970/1979%20TA%20Rebuild/null_zpsfe4435fe.jpg



403 - KB aluminum pistons (9.5:1), balanced rotating assembly; ported heads with 2.11 int/ 1.71 exh, divider added at siamesed ports, egr blocked at heads; edelbrock performer; Ram Air exhaust manifolds; Engle 0.500" lift cam; MSD distributor w/ control box/ rev limiter. Painted to match car which will be painted in 2014 GM Super Red.



I'll get some more pics up this weekend. I've started hanging the accessories on the engine, but I'm having a time with all of these spacers. I've seen some pics on the net of the alternator/ ps pump bracket assembly, but I don't see specific direction where the spacers are concerned. Any advice there would be appreciated. I may have to come look at Grand73Am's car for reference!

[Grand73Am]

You'd be welcome to visit. This thread at TAC, which is probably here too somewhere, might show you what you need to know:  http://transamcountry.com/community/index.php?topic=39790.0

[T/A Kid]

Your project is looking good, and you and your family seem to be enjoying it along the way, that's a good combination!

[rpguitarrepair]

You'd be welcome to visit. This thread at TAC, which is probably here too somewhere, might show you what you need to know:  http://transamcountry.com/community/index.php?topic=39790.0

That's what I used but my pressure ps line is hitting the block. I'm missing something somewhere. There's a guy locally that has a '79 403 car that is supposed to swing by this afternoon and let me peek at it for reference. I also got a Classic Air kit to install hopefully today.


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