Topic: 1978 Trans Am - W72 WS6

[Daniel78ta]

Here is a couple pics of my 1978 Trans Am.. W72 / WS6..
Just had the Rims completely refinished, with new lugs, center caps and tires!!

Her history:
I purchased the car in the early spring of 1994 with 51K original miles. I was 17 years old at the time… She now sits with 67K original miles.

After almost 20 years - i look back and I'm very thankful that I did not drive the wheels off the car when i was a teenager!  OR wreck it as a reckless teenage also! Most of the 16K miles i put on it were the first two years of owning it.. 

These days, I'm kicking around the idea of a complete motor and transmission rebuild… then hopefully in 7 to 10 years I might have the money to have it re-painted and all new decals…   Thats an expensive wish list!! 

Dan
cedar falls, ia

[winks79]

Very nice, I have a soft spot for those platinum T/A's. With only 67k on it, what is the reason for an engine and tranny build? Something wrong or do you just not want a stock configuration any more? I have almost 55k on mine, and it runs just as good as a new one, unless it started using oil or losing power I wouldn't touch it. I did have mine repainted for the first time in 2006 though. The paint and decal job will cost more than the engine/tranny rebuild, I can tell you that from experience.

[jonathonar89]

Good stuff, I'm in the platinum w72 crew as well

[Daniel78ta]

Thanks winks79..

Hey your 79 looks pretty good also.  Very clean and new looking! I also have a soft spot for the platinum TAs..

my TA still runs strong! But, I would really like to have the car repainted someday down the road and I would rather have the motor done first. Just incase something bad happens -  like scratches/dents.. Plus, At the moment the front main seal on the transmission is leaking from lack of driving. So, when the transmission comes out I'm going to have the motor done at the same time and beef up the HP a little.

eventually I'd like to have the car look brand new again, inside, outside and under the hood.. Your right about the cost of the repaint - it's going to cost more than the motor and trans rebuild. (7 to 8 thousand)...

Do you have any more pics of your 79 anywhere here on this site? 
Thanks,
Dan

[72blackbird]

Dan,
Beautiful T/A! It's well worth rebuilding/ upgrading the 400, even if you only add 100+ hp and are in the 300-340 hp range. It's also nice to be able to accept an invitation to run hard w/o fear of tossing a rod through your original engine.

Your paint looks pretty nice to me though.

Geno

[winks79]

Dan, some more pics of my car are in this same Trans Am Photos topic. It is listed as 1979 platinum ws6. Here's a link, http://www.78ta.com/HTAF/index.php?topic=31666.0
Thanks,
Chad

[Rocky Rotella]

Dan,

Great looking car!

Can you email me at jamesrotella@cox.net? I have a question I'd like to ask you about photographing it.

[Daniel78ta]

Hey Rocky Rotella..
Thank you!!  e-mail on its way..
by the way - I just ordered both of your books yesterday on building pontiac motors!! 

[Daniel78ta]

winks79 / Chad
thanks for the link - man your car is beautiful.!!!  The paint job and decals look fantastic!
I really like that you pulled that darker grey color out of the bird and painted the shaker that color! it really looks tough like that.  Great looking car Chad.!

[kjkjkcjkcj]

Nice car and welcome to the site.  This place is great and there are a ton of people on here with a vast knowledge of these cars.

[Just Eddie]

Beautiful car and you were lucky to find such a clean survivor in good running condition. Take care of her and enjoy. I wouldn't worry so much about the money on fixing her up because with a great car to start with such as yours, you can save for years and still drive her until the time comes to do the things you want. The paint is going to be costly and there's just no way around that and you don't want to go bargain basement on painting a classic such as yours. The previous owner of my TA, did a el cheapo on my mine bout 20 years ago and it's crap. It's going to cost me more to fix all the mistakes they did, then if they just would have left it alone. I would rather have a faded original paint job then the thick cheap crap they painted my car with.

Anyway, good luck and thanks for posting those pics.

[Daniel78ta]

Thank you KjKj.... This site is wonderful! Lots of great information and great people on here!

[Daniel78ta]

Hey just Eddie - thank you for the kind words..
Yes, I was pretty lucky when I found this car.. The guy I purchased it from was a mechanic here in town. I think he purchased it sometime in 79. He took really good care of it.

There is a really good auto body shop here in town.. And a few months ago I abducted one of the guys to come check out my TA.. After looking it over he told me it does not need any body work. Except the drivers door which has a small bubble starting At the bottom front  - from a leaking window seal.  So I would need a donor door or skin.  And to have it repainted and new decals it will cost between 7 and 8 grand to do it right! They would take it completely apart - so lots of time!

It's a goal.. Hopefully someday I can reach.

That's too bad they did not put the time in to paint your your TA correctly.. Bet it still looks good though - It's a Trans Am! 

Dan

[Blackout]

Ever had some random kid compliment your car at Jim Lind BP?

[Daniel78ta]

Hey Blackout.... Why yes I have.. And it made my day buddy...
Jim Lind has 93 - I like to fill it up with that once in awhile.
Glad to see another Trans Am nut from my hometown on here... 

Do you have a Trans Am also?  Got a link to any photos?