Author Topic: 1979 400/4speed WS6 putting back together  (Read 1777 times)

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Offline solargold

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1979 400/4speed WS6 putting back together
« on: January 31, 2011, 09:44:13 AM »
I bought this Solargold 79 in December 2010. Way to good a deal for me to pass up but the catch was it was almost completely disassembled. Boxes and boxes of old parts/new parts, bolts, nuts, screws, etc...... The car has some of it's documentation when sold new and a log history from 1980 with 15K miles and the second owner recorded everything up until 2009 when it was sold to the guy I bought it from. We discovered a complete restoration done in the late 80's: body/paint, motor, transmission, clutch, etc and also every oil change, filter change, brakes and rotor replacements. The car has had 20,000 or so miles since the rebuild and I am hoping it goes back together and fires right up. Car has solid interior floors, cowl and rockers rust proofed but has rust in tail panel, trunk, quarters and door/dog leg areas, though all minor. If it runs and drives we'll fix the rust, if not, back on the market it will go. I have all new interior with the exception of carpet.
http://www.motortopia.com/car-pictures/1979-ws6-w72-27061
L8R G8R

Offline Frode_skj

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Re: 1979 400/4speed WS6 putting back together
« Reply #1 on: January 31, 2011, 12:40:07 PM »
Good luck with it :) Hopefully it will end up in one piece again :)
"79 Trans Am tenth Anniversary Edition"
"81 Turbo Trans Am"
Sad to see that people part out T\A's :( especially saveable ones

Offline rad400

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Re: 1979 400/4speed WS6 putting back together
« Reply #2 on: January 31, 2011, 05:01:14 PM »
Looks good. Good luck.
Conrad
79 Trans am 400 t400 3500 stall #12 heads holley 750 vac carb. Torker II intake 3:73:1 gears 12 bolt rear.

Offline Bayou_Flyer

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Re: 1979 400/4speed WS6 putting back together
« Reply #3 on: January 31, 2011, 11:50:42 PM »
Better keep that logbook up-to-date. With all of that history, you might as well document the aginy and joy you experience in putting her back together! Awesome job!
1975 Formula 350/4spd
1979 T/A, W72/4spd, Black/Red
1971 Firebird, 350/Auto, Red/Blk
1977 Trans Am, W72/4spd, Goldenrod Yellow

Offline stonewall61

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Re: 1979 400/4speed WS6 putting back together
« Reply #4 on: February 04, 2011, 09:29:38 AM »
looks real good! Curious to know what the "good deal" was........ like the pics and nice progress so far.

Offline solargold

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Re: 1979 400/4speed WS6 putting back together
« Reply #5 on: February 09, 2011, 12:42:55 PM »
Got the wiring harness under the dash and wired the engine. Hooked up a new battery and no smoke from the wires. Fired up first turn of the key, now that's luck for me.
L8R G8R

Offline oreobadr

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Re: 1979 400/4speed WS6 putting back together
« Reply #6 on: February 09, 2011, 01:30:19 PM »
how much are you looking to sell it for if it does not run
NOS is like a hot girl with an STD. You want to hit it but you are afraid of what might happen.

Offline solargold

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Re: 1979 400/4speed WS6 putting back together
« Reply #7 on: February 09, 2011, 01:39:52 PM »
how much are you looking to sell it for if it does not run
Since it started plans are to keep putting it back together. Here is a video of the inaugural start up:
http://www.motortopia.com/car-videos/79-alive-4142/
« Last Edit: February 09, 2011, 04:10:34 PM by solargold »
L8R G8R

Offline stonewall61

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Re: 1979 400/4speed WS6 putting back together
« Reply #8 on: February 09, 2011, 05:23:43 PM »
Dang....... that IS some good luck....... if it were mine, it'd spin once and grenade all over the garage floor.... ;-) Still curious as to what range you were in for price........ i know... touchy question, but....................

Offline Bayou_Flyer

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Re: 1979 400/4speed WS6 putting back together
« Reply #9 on: February 09, 2011, 05:27:50 PM »
Dang....... that IS some good luck....... if it were mine, it'd spin once and grenade all over the garage floor.... ;-) Still curious as to what range you were in for price........ i know... touchy question, but....................

Yeah, luck that is well deserved. Congrats on getting her motor running....so to speak! :)
1975 Formula 350/4spd
1979 T/A, W72/4spd, Black/Red
1971 Firebird, 350/Auto, Red/Blk
1977 Trans Am, W72/4spd, Goldenrod Yellow

Offline solargold

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Re: 1979 400/4speed WS6 putting back together
« Reply #10 on: February 09, 2011, 05:52:07 PM »
Dang....... that IS some good luck....... if it were mine, it'd spin once and grenade all over the garage floor.... ;-) Still curious as to what range you were in for price........ i know... touchy question, but....................
Don't let me scare you but I priced it to a guy today at $8500, of course reassembled and all new interior installed. Figuring $7k for a good paint job and with odds and ends will put it at $17-$18 finished which is what I believe is reasonable yet lower than some out there. Don't know what the market will hold but a numbers match 400/4 speed in 79 is fairly rare and price will certainly hold if not increase in time.
L8R G8R