Topic: '75 Trans Am (77/79 clone) project, new pics added.

[4speed76]

Looking pretty sweet.

[Bull Dog]

Very Very nice

[Frode_skj]

Coming along nicely

[Nathan_DK]

Time for an update on the project! It's still cold in my garage, but the weather is improving at the moment, which really motivates me to work on the car as much as possible. I would really like to have it ready for spring. I got the engine in, and the Pypes exhaust system is almost done. It fits very nice, I only had to cut out about 1' of pipe just before the mufflers. I still need to figure out, where to place the hangers. I really don't want to put any holes in my floorpan, so I hope I can attach them to the rear sway bar brackets. I like the location of the splitters. It needs to be adjusted a little bit, but I think it looks nice.

Right now, I'm waiting for some parts from Summit, before I can start the engine. I also want to have the brakes finished, before I fire it up. HOPEFULLY it will be running before the end of this month, fingers crossed.

'nough said, now for the pics!

Headers attached with cable ties...



Like a glove!



I like!



Unfortunately, my beautiful Edelbrock Victor air cleaner won't fit under the shaker. The triangle ProFlo air cleaner does, but that one jams the carb choke linkage, and I really don't know if the foam filter element is good enough. Any recommendations on a small, decent looking air cleaner?



Rear drums and exhaust almost there



Exhaust crossover



Working on accesories and wiring...




I'll be back!

[oreobadr]

that LOOKS AMAZING, how much power we talking, and you do some pretty sweet work, I need to drop my new engine in, and why did you drop the headers in before you had the engine in?

[Nathan_DK]

Thanks man! I really don't know about the power, but it should be adequate, with the Lunati Voodoo 60902 cam, 9.4:1 compression ratio and ported heads. I tied the headers in, because they won't go in, without raising the engine, or using brute force and damaging them and the paint. Although the headers look nice (flowtech), one of the collectors exits about 1" lower than the other, which tilt the entire exhaust system a bit. By rotating the mufflers, i managed to get the rest of the system just about level. Good luck with your engine swap!

Jesper

[oreobadr]

I am also using flowtech headers, did you use any gasket sealant? Also how did you keep them in place when you were installing it? I still cant get over the fact on how pretty it is, everything is so perfect haha, truly a great restoration!

[Nathan_DK]

I didn't use any gasket sealant on the headers. I'm hoping that the supplied gaskets won't leak. Using zip ties to keep the headers away from the engine while lowering it in, turned out to be a great idea. Bolting in the headers was no more tricky, than I expected. It did cost me a couple of sliced fingers, though

[Justin]

WOW. This is a cool project. That thing looked rust free. Great looking car.

[Nathan_DK]

OK, so we fired up the 455 for the first time today. I prelubed it with an electric drill on the oil pump shaft, to make sure that the oil pressure was ok, and that it wouldn't run dry for the first seconds. Everything was covered in assembly lube, of course. After some minor problems with the ignition setting and fuel delivery, it started. Well, after about 30 seconds at 1800-2000 RPM, it started misfiring on one cylinder, and we immediately shut it down. We removed the passenger side valve cover, and noticed that some of the rockers were loose. It turned out, that one pushrod had snapped almost in two, and the remaining 15 were bent. The rockers are 1.5, and I found no evidence of pushrod hole interference. I milled the heads .030 to raise compression, but still used the stock pushrods. I guess the stock valve spring shields bottomed out, or the spring retainer hit the valve stem oil seals because of the increased lift, the lunati 60902 cam delivers. I'm gonna start pulling the heads tomorrow to find out. Talk about a setback!

I'll let you know, as soon as I have identified the problem.

/Jesper

[oreobadr]

thats why when u buy a higher lift cam YOU NEED TO BUY HARDENED PUSHRODS

[CT Bird Fan]

Looking good, great work!!

[Yukon Jack]

Awesome project!

[Justin]

Hope everything works out for you. Good luck and keep us posted.

[Nathan_DK]

Thanks, guys!

thats why when u buy a higher lift cam YOU NEED TO BUY HARDENED PUSHRODS

According to Jim Hand, the stock pushrods are hardened, and are strong enough to handle most hydraulic, solid and roller cams. My cam is not that aggressive, so I'm sure I need to find the source of the problem somewhere else. I'll find out, as soon as I receive the valve spring compressor and new Comp Cams Magnum pushrods from Summit.