Hitman's Pontiac Trans Am Forum

Trans Am Photos => Trans Am Photos => Topic started by: LilSki on December 07, 2009, 12:47:55 AM

Title: My 79 TA
Post by: LilSki on December 07, 2009, 12:47:55 AM
I just realized I have never posted over hear. So I figured I would start off with some pics of my love affair.

For those who do not know it is a 79 with 77 nose, 468, M-21, Hotchkis TVS, and 3:42 gear. Still not done as I still need to fit the wheel flares. I decided to spend the last few good days this fall fine tuning the mechanical side of things. This winter will see subframe connectors, g-braces, tubular upper and lower control arms from PTFB.   

Just a little cruise vid
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXum_ZuzDUY

Another one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNxsrwAuOqM

(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y300/LilSKi/Trans%20Am%20Resto/Photos/IMG_0640.jpg)

(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y300/LilSKi/Trans%20Am%20Resto/Photos/IMG_0642.jpg)

(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y300/LilSKi/Trans%20Am%20Resto/Photos/IMG_0641.jpg)

(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y300/LilSKi/Trans%20Am%20Resto/Photos/IMG_0624.jpg)

(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y300/LilSKi/Trans%20Am%20Resto/Photos/IMG_0628.jpg)

(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y300/LilSKi/Trans%20Am%20Resto/Photos/IMG_0629.jpg)

(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y300/LilSKi/Trans%20Am%20Resto/Photos/014.jpg)

(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y300/LilSKi/Trans%20Am%20Resto/Photos/021.jpg)

(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y300/LilSKi/Trans%20Am%20Resto/First%20Show/IMG_0585.jpg)

Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: firebird79_00 on December 07, 2009, 01:01:08 AM
very cool nice bird, im also planning on swapping out my 79 nose for a 77-78 nose. looks a lot sharper i think. welcome to 78ta
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: Anderson0741 on December 07, 2009, 01:11:19 AM
I love the 79-81 tail lights. Car looks great.
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: HOLLANDER on December 07, 2009, 04:07:09 AM
looks very nice,I see that you have 17" rims ,may I ask you what tires you run . do you have stock suspension ?
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: LilSki on December 07, 2009, 08:30:09 AM
Hey thanks guys!

The tires are 255/45 R17 on all 4 corners. The springs are all Hotchkis but the front control arms are still stock or now. The front is still higher than I want it to be so I will probably end up cutting the front coils a tad. But I am going to wait until I get the tubulars in there as it may may change it even more.
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: Jolley_Man666 on December 07, 2009, 08:58:36 AM
You have a very nice T/A. I really like the 17" YO rims
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: Rarebird on December 07, 2009, 11:25:52 AM
my question is where did you find the shifter ball??? btw.. good looking ride and welcome to the site.
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: KellzBird on December 07, 2009, 11:44:17 AM
nice, I see you have manual vents in the interior, is that factory or did you install after an AC delete?
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: LilSki on December 07, 2009, 12:30:38 PM
Yeah the car is/was an AC car and I have the AC delete box on the firewall. As for the vents I just like the look of them better and like the function of being able to open each side. The top knob does nothing though as I still have the AC ducts behind the dash. I bought the panels new from Ames.

The shifter knob my father bought for me at a car show this past summer. There was a guy/vendor there selling them. I think my father mentioned he had a couple different pontiac/firebird/trans am knobs. I will look when I get home as I still have the sheet that came with it and will see if there is a website on it. It is a nice size ball and really fits well in your palm.
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: blue81ta on December 07, 2009, 04:05:38 PM
Very nice looking Bird inside and out. 8)  Great pics, thanks for posting.
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: jphillips3333 on December 07, 2009, 06:08:30 PM
Nice - what's in that 468?
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: LilSki on December 07, 2009, 09:16:05 PM
The shifter knob I found out was a local guy who sells, maybe even makes, them. I have an email address and phone # I can give out so PM me if you are interested.

The 468 and car consists of:
-'69 Pontiac 428 block now 468 ci
-Steel Eagle Crank
-Forged H beam eagle rods
-Srp pistons
-Comp cams XR288HR-10 hydraulic roller 236/242 @.050 and .520/.540 lift
-Harland Sharp 1.6 Rockers
-KRE 85 cc heads
-Edelbrock performer RPM intake
-Holley 870 street avenger carb
-Doug's coated headers
-Pypes 2.5" Stainless exhaust
-Mallory Billet Distributor
-Hayes Billet Steel flywheel
-Centerforce 11" clutch
-Muncie M-21 32 spline
-3:42 gears out back
-Hotchkis TVS Suspension with tubular upper and lower control arms on the way
-Year One 17x9 Snowflakes
-4 Wheel Disc (Factory setup for now)

I think that is it....

I have plans for possible fuel injection and will probably be installing a Tremec 5spd with 3:73 gears next year.

(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y300/LilSKi/Trans%20Am%20Resto/IMG_5369.jpg)
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: RainMan on December 07, 2009, 10:25:04 PM
Hey Kevin thats one beautiful T/A you built there . I really like your mods,looks like you do some nice work
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: Kevin on December 07, 2009, 10:26:40 PM
This is probably one of the coolest cars on the site. You and that other guy with the pro touring 76 t/a are neck and neck for baddest ride on the forum in my book.


Here's the other guys http://www.78ta.com/smf/index.php?topic=17007.0  . You guys both have the two coolest cars on here in my opinion.
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: RainMan on December 07, 2009, 10:31:57 PM
Just watched your second video ,love that exhaust sound! Wish mine sounded like that . I was trying to make out the tach ,I think you were under 4500 rpm?
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: LilSki on December 07, 2009, 11:28:02 PM
Yeah I'm really happy how the exhaust came out sound wise. It is pretty quiet when cruisin but it gets loud in a hurry. As far as RPM I took a guess as I wasn't really looking lol. This car still kind of scares me a bit so I just hold on for dear life when I get into it a little. But looking at it again it does look more like 4000 RPM in 1st and then like 4300 in 2nd. I'm still taking it easy on the car until I get the subframe connectors and g-braces in there.

As far as being as bad as that 76, I don't know about that. That thing looks pretty serious!

The weather around here is pretty much yelling at me to put the car away for the winter so I won't be able to get any more video until spring. As everything finishes breaking in and I get more comfortable with the car the videos should get more interesting. I hope to get it up to an autocross next summer!

Oh a little side note on the color. I went back and forth between a red or blue for over a year. What sold me on blue was RainMan's edited sig picture. I wanted something dark and deep so I went with Admiralty Blue from the 74 model year.
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: Nexus on December 08, 2009, 12:06:53 AM
I like it. I will have a similar theme to mine. 79 chasis, 78 nose, blacked out tailights, but I want to try and incorprate a 72 tail dressing. It will just be a cruiser to start off with because the 301 I have for it has very few km's on it after it was rebuild.

I noticed you don't have the wheel flares. Left off on purpose?
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: LilSki on December 08, 2009, 09:55:20 AM
Left them off as I got lazy. I need to make new metal mounts for them as they were all rotted off. They are all painted along wigh the front spoiler I just need to take the time to fit them. Along with the rest of the stuff they are on my winter to-do list!
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: Nexus on December 08, 2009, 10:38:43 AM
Ahh the to do list!!!

Mine is very long  lol
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: Rascal on December 08, 2009, 12:39:21 PM
That's a beautiful car and love the sound. I really need to put headers on my car.
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: ronnie on December 08, 2009, 09:34:18 PM
no hood bird? still waiting for one or have you decided against it? if your goin to put one on i would suggest a grey bird to go with the wheels. great work, the car looks awesome!
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: LilSki on December 08, 2009, 10:09:32 PM
No hood bird yet. Still need to wet sand to kill some minor orange peel. I will probably be going with the black/blue/light blue graphics with the 73-78 hood bird. I haven't bought them yet as I told myself I would not buy anything for the car until after the holidays.
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: Frode_skj on December 09, 2009, 05:34:52 AM
Looks awesome:) Is there a lot of work to replace the 79 front end with a 77-78?
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: LilSki on December 09, 2009, 11:20:59 AM
No not at all. You just have to have everything from a 77/78 car. The main bumper structure is different along with some of the brackets are different. Otherwise the core support and fenders are all the same.
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: HarleyMo on December 18, 2009, 10:47:06 AM
Lilski

The car looks Great!! I have a 1979 base firebird that is the same nocture blue color.  Id like to do the same thing with the 77/78 nose.  How hard was it ? Does it bolt right on?  Line up correctly with the 79 hood lines etc.  I really like the look.  Good job on your car, hope mine eventually turns out as nice.  Its been sitting for 10 years, was my mothers, she bought it when I was 16 and I drooled over it through my teen years, finally snatched it way from her.  165,000 miles on it, body is in good shape, normal rust spots at the corner of panels and one door.  Dead 301 in it, I think it slipped the timing belt on the worn gear teeth.  Didnt feel like tearing it apart, going to drop in a "real" motor 400 or 455.  Reading all the pontiac forums for tips, info etc.  Great resources.

Again, really nice looking car

Harley

**Note, guess I should read page 2 before posting, see that you got this question asked above
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: LilSki on December 18, 2009, 12:15:25 PM
Haha yeah I'm guilty of that too. I get excited about the initial post and I end up asking a question or making a comment that had already been posted on another page.

I actually painted my car Admiralty Blue from the 74 model year but it is very close to Nocturne Blue. My car was black when I got it but it really was a Nocturne car originally. Either way they are both very cool colors! I'm happy to say that not one person has said "you should have painted it black" as they like the color so much.

Sounds like you have a great project on your hands! Be sure to post up some pics when you get a chance!

Again thanks everyone for all the comments!
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: Nexus on December 19, 2009, 12:08:53 AM
Although black is my favorite, it is over rated as far as I'm concerned. Some of the nicest T/A's ive seen were not black. The problem with black is that it seems like thats the only colour people want to paint their car, so you don't get any variety.

JMO though!

like a lot of others on this website, the car looks great and I still say it should be car of a month in 2010, oh say January or February ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: LilSki on December 24, 2009, 10:08:24 AM
like a lot of others on this website, the car looks great and I still say it should be car of a month in 2010, oh say January or February ;D ;D ;D

I don't know if it is worthy of that but thanks for the compliment!

Oh and don't get me wrong black looks awesome. But I like to be different which is one of the reasons I like Pontiac to begin with. I can't even say it is because black is hard to clean either as my color blue shows dust just as bad as black does. I just prefer a little variety.
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: Nexus on December 24, 2009, 11:49:34 AM
Me too

I like things that are just slightly different from the norm

Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: kjkjkcjkcj on December 24, 2009, 07:12:50 PM
wow that car looks great. nice job on it.
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: Tdub on January 04, 2010, 10:42:10 AM
Cool car, I like the interior.
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: LilSki on February 06, 2010, 11:55:49 PM
Weeell I've been spending some time putting the finishing touches on my TA. I fixed my backup lights, cleaned up my stereo head unit install, and today I installed the front spoilers. I thought the pics would come out better than they did but I guess there was less light than I thought and I forgot to put the flash up. But here are some shots of the front end.

Note: I can't seem to fix that drivers side high beam. It always wants to droop like that.

(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y300/LilSKi/Trans%20Am%20Resto/Photos/001.jpg)

(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y300/LilSKi/Trans%20Am%20Resto/Photos/002.jpg)

(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y300/LilSKi/Trans%20Am%20Resto/Photos/003.jpg)

(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y300/LilSKi/Trans%20Am%20Resto/Photos/005.jpg)

(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y300/LilSKi/Trans%20Am%20Resto/Photos/010.jpg)

(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y300/LilSKi/Trans%20Am%20Resto/Photos/011.jpg)
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: Nexus on February 06, 2010, 11:58:31 PM
Nice Job Kevin

Love that colour
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: kjkjkcjkcj on February 07, 2010, 12:14:33 AM
wow she looks great i love the color.  you plannin on puttin a bird on it. what color bird if you are?
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: LilSki on February 07, 2010, 12:33:26 AM
Thanks! I will be buying this kit from Hitman shortly!

http://www.78ta.com/store/product.php?productid=16230&cat=106&page=1
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: Gunner on February 07, 2010, 01:27:58 AM
I 78 front end on the 79 REALLY looks sharp. Are you planning on putting the decals back on the the car, or are you going to leave it as is?

Gunner
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: LilSki on February 07, 2010, 06:07:14 PM
Yeah it will be getting a full blue decal kit from Hitman this spring.
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: RainMan on February 07, 2010, 06:55:46 PM
Good job Kevin ,I can't wait to see the bird on . I think its going to look just awesome on a dark color like that (http://chevytruckworld.tenmagazines.com/forums/images/thumb.gif)
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: Gunner on February 08, 2010, 06:03:51 AM
Yeah it will be getting a full blue decal kit from Hitman this spring.

We MUST...........MUST..............Have pics when you get her completely up to speed. Be advised, that I plan on SHAMELESSLY stealing your ideas for my car ;D

Gunner
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: Nexus on February 08, 2010, 02:47:00 PM
lol...that's funny...don't feel any shame...I too will end up with something that has similar ideas...don't think it can really be avoided
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: LilSki on February 08, 2010, 04:15:21 PM
COPY CATS!!  ;D

I can't take credit for anything really. I've spent hours scouring photos of what people have done to their cars and put together a car that looks relatively stock on the cover but will pin you in the seat on command. The only thing I dislike thus far is the front seats. I love how they look and they are pretty comfortable, but they don't hold you in the seat at all in corners. If I ever end up taking this car up to the autocross I will have to install a race seat on the drivers side.
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: jphillips3333 on February 08, 2010, 06:57:57 PM
Spoliers look great bub ... 
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: TAZ on February 08, 2010, 07:45:02 PM
That dark metallic blue is one of my favorite Pontiac colors (my GTP daily driver is the same color).

She's really coming to life with her spoilers on now, and your choice of the '73 blue/light blue/black hood bird is gonna JUMP off that hood!

I eagerly anticipate pics of the finished result with the decals in place.
GREAT looking car.
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: kev 190164 on February 16, 2010, 05:07:29 PM
the trans am look lovly. i have a 79 and just got a 77/78 front cone. was it an easy job to fit also did the spoilers need any modifacation. i was told the spoilers from my 79 will not fit  with the 77/78 cone. cheers kev
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: LilSki on February 16, 2010, 08:39:02 PM
The nose has really nothing to do with 79-81 spoilers. They mount to the fender, and the lower spoiler mounts to the core support.

See this thread about what is needed to do the swap. As long as you have everything it is very easy.

http://www.78ta.com/smf/index.php?topic=20717.0
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: pat on February 16, 2010, 10:18:23 PM
i love the color it is almost the same as what i painted my s10
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: LilSki on March 08, 2010, 11:27:50 PM
OK here are some more I snapped yesterday.

(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y300/LilSKi/Trans%20Am%20Resto/Photos/004.jpg)

My Dad's car was out as well so I snapped a few of it. This car has slowly become our project over the years.
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y300/LilSKi/Trans%20Am%20Resto/Photos/008.jpg)

(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y300/LilSKi/Trans%20Am%20Resto/Photos/009.jpg)

(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y300/LilSKi/Trans%20Am%20Resto/Photos/010-1.jpg)

(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y300/LilSKi/Trans%20Am%20Resto/Photos/013.jpg)

This happened later in the afternoon and I had to take a shot. I should have opened the other garage door as my brothers 76 is in there.
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y300/LilSKi/Trans%20Am%20Resto/Photos/018-1.jpg)

(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y300/LilSKi/Trans%20Am%20Resto/Photos/021-1.jpg)

I was too lazy to walk down the hill but that is my Brother's G8.
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y300/LilSKi/Trans%20Am%20Resto/Photos/019.jpg)

Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: Nexus on March 09, 2010, 08:48:34 AM
Wow your dads car looks mint!!!

I like it a lot

Your car looks complete now but i have to say i was getting used to the flareless look ;D
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: blue81ta on March 09, 2010, 11:58:53 AM
Nics pics. That blue color on your T/A looks great in the sunshine. 8)

Your Dad's T/A is very nice too. Great color combo. 8)
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: Frode_skj on March 10, 2010, 05:44:27 AM
Only needs a hoodbird on your car now ;) see if you can get some pictures of all 3 T\A's together? ^^
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: LilSki on March 10, 2010, 09:57:03 AM
Yeah this summer we will be sure to get some shots of all 3 cars. I am in the process of building my Brother's new 400 for his 76, so his car is in pieces at the moment. Plus it is painted blue at the moment and he wants to go back to black/gold to put it back to the 50th Aniv. LE that it is.

My dad's car was originally a black 301/TH350 TA. He got tired of keeping it clean so he decided to paint it silver 15 years ago. When he first got it the 301 blew the rear main so he got a 79 W72 400 for it. We have slowly been cleaning the car up with all new seat covers, carpet, interior plastics, etc. The next big project will be to pull and rebuild the engine/tranny. Oh it was also a Canadian car with the speedo in kilometers and the owners manual is in french.
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: Nexus on March 10, 2010, 11:07:29 AM
owners manual in french?

Must have come from Quebec. That's the only place i'm aware of that forces stuff like that to be in french.
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: Tony79WS6 on March 10, 2010, 03:25:00 PM
Hey, your dad's car looks a lot like mine! Yours isn't so shabby either. ;) I've been pondering a switch to the 77-78 nose myself. Nice cars!!!
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: kev 190164 on March 11, 2010, 03:24:23 AM
i have the 77/78 cone to fit to my 79 trans am.  but will the metal bumper from a 79 that sits behind the the cone still fit behind the 77/78 cone. cheers kev
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: Nexus on March 11, 2010, 08:12:14 AM
NO...you need the proper bumper...it is shaped different
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: LilSki on March 11, 2010, 08:28:19 AM
Correct you need everything from a 77/78. Check out this link as I posted a few pics of what is needed.

http://www.78ta.com/smf/index.php?topic=20717.0
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: Gunner on March 13, 2010, 10:17:36 PM
Get your Dad on this site IMMEDIATELY. With a ride like that, he's a PRIME candidate to be corrupeted - er - greeted by the folks here  ;D

Gunner
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: LilSki on March 16, 2010, 02:15:31 PM
HAHA yeah that's not going to happen. My father is not exactly "one" with computers, and I don't have enough patience to teach him lol. I will tell him you guys approve of his TA ;)
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: CT Bird Fan on March 18, 2010, 07:20:07 AM
I've always said I am not much of one for nose swaps, but when I look at your T/A, I am tempted to do it to my Esprit!

It looks awesome, and I really love that color! I can't wait to see it with the decals on it!! 8)
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: LilSki on March 22, 2010, 09:24:27 PM
Yeah my dad was dead set against it at first. But he has come around and thinks it looks good. I thought it may look weird with the rear bumper profile not matching but I hardly notice it and I'm pretty OCD.

To be honest the only reason there isn't a 79 nose on the car is because my best 79 nose is pretty badly warped. And I had this perfect 77 nose in my basement looking for a home. And I had all the parts to do it so I did.

Thanks again for all the compliments!
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: RainMan on March 22, 2010, 10:50:08 PM
Hey thats pretty cool that your dad is into T/A's to .Nice T/A he has there also .
Did you have any success trying to graph a bird on your's? 
I dabbled a little and it didn't come out to well lol . Kinda looks like a ghost bird if anything

(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i54/GMC_Guy/004.jpg)
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: LilSki on March 23, 2010, 02:03:59 PM
Haha yeah I gave up as I couldn't get it to do what i wanted. You made out 100x better than my feeble attempt! I can do 3D modeling but photoshop has never been on my good side lol.
Title: Re: My 79 TA
Post by: Frode_skj on March 24, 2010, 06:30:23 AM
I wish I could do photoshop :( Looking forward to seeing the complete collection you guys got ;) Nice with good family values :P ^^