Topic: Aldo`s 1980 full clone 1977 trans am project

[aldo]

Hey everyone i would like to share my project ,i have done all the work alone by my self,hope you enjoy.


3 years ago the first day i found it.1980 trans am with a 301 pontiac inside.




Then i got it home.

[aldo]

clean black interior.

missing the carpet ,but everything else was there even the original radio,thats works.

[4SPEED]

sweet.   

[aldo]

here are a few more pics,
Small damage ,front bumper all the wat into the door.

the front is low because both springs are broke.

[aldo]

A little of what the inside looked like.im not sure why the carpet was gone ,but it helped when i bought it i could see what the floor looked like.....

[aldo]

more to come

[aldo]

OK first thing i wanted to do was remove the 301 and clean and paint the engine bay.



i have had a few months with the car before i found my engine(pontiac 400),i drove 12 hours to get it.
it needed a refresh so i went full rebuild.


engine and rebuilt transmission th350 ,with a mistake i have to fix i installed a 3500 stall by mistake....anyhow thats another story.

i got the engine in the car ,looks like something again.dont for get this is a clone so i plan to do everything possible to look like a 77.

[aldo]

Next was the rear end ,lights differential and gas tank,all need to be correct 77..





OK the tail pannel was a challange ,i couldnt find anything that wasnt rusted to hell,and repro is out of the question,so i only found the upper section for the lights,and decided to take the plung and try a go at using the 80 tail pannel and fitting the 77 upper pan on it,,,,whats the worst that could happen i thought,i would just have to replace the who thing.

[aldo]

OK so here we go i cut the right rear one to a shap i could use and started to pre cut my 77 tail pannel to fit,

not to forget im doing this all at home and no help.....was a bit worried to mees things up ,but its going well


ok  12 hours later....

welded moded,seam sealed and painted .

[aldo]

now just so you know i had the chance to messure my friend ta to get the correct position were to place the light pannel...
next step was to test the bumper and the lights together.

now nothing is really bolted tight its just laying there but everything worked out well.




more to come if you have intrest....

[Mongo]

Nice work man. This will look nice when finished. Keep it up and POST MORE PICS!

[Justin]

great job. Have you had any prior experience working with cars? What made you want to change the style of year? You did a great job and lots of respect for tackling such a project. Keep up the work and update.

[aldo]

great job. Have you had any prior experience working with cars? What made you want to change the style of year? You did a great job and lots of respect for tackling such a project. Keep up the work and update.

I love them so much from a child i always wanted to build something all on my own,this was the first complete one that im doing ,everything before was tinker toys nothing to this extent,i am a mechanic ,but body work painting and pannel work i never done to much before

[aldo]

Ok so without pics i relized after the lights were on i was not able to use the 80 gas tank because the filler neck was to long and hit the license plate door,and it wouldnt fully close. i thought it would be a good idea to cut the neck and change the length,but after cleanning the tank and some online looking the tanks for a 77 was not too expensive and i went ahead with buying it new.



installed.


next step was rear suspention and differential,i got a posy rear end with original low gears ,i spent the next few days cleaning the under frame area and welding the stabelizer link ends to the frame,they didnt look 100% so i wanted them to be worrie free,seam sealed sertan thinga and painted the under body.

[aldo]

forgot to mention Justin why i got this 1980 and not a 1977,well thats because at the time i found this one were i live there were not many clean 77 around ,and this car was rust proofed and well taking care of ,for the price it was great (more like a steal).