Topic: July 2010 Spotlight - 1978 Trans Am of Christopher Yokley

[Hitman]

This month's Spotlight is honoring a project car and a person that is one of the nicest I've come to know on this forum.  He goes by SoonerTA on here and I've been watching this project for nearly two years now.  This month's Spotlight honors SoonerTA or Christopher Yokley as he is known in real life and his 1978 Trans Am.  He's started on this site just trying to restore his Trans Am and wanting to learn.   He learned a lot  from many of the good folks here and soon became the teacher putting his dash gauges together utilizing LED's.  I only wish I had the chance to meet him.  Here is a picture of his car.  


I'll let him tell us in his own words what how he got started with the Firebird Trans Am:

"When I was 15 my father bought us a 1986 Fiero GT to restore.  He spent nights and weekends teaching me the ins and outs until we had it fully restored.  This started my love for the Pontiac brand.  After I graduated college I knew I wanted a project to work on and call my own.  Looking on the internet I knew I wanted a '77 or '78 model.  I was looking for a car that I could immediately drive, cruse around town and work on when I had time.  About three years ago I found my 1978 Trans Am and bought it.  I drove it a couple times and knew I wanted more power and better handling so I started searching the internet and that’s how I found 78TA.com.  Everyone on the site was very helpful and really seemed to know what they were talking about so I took their suggestions and stated buying parts.  I never intended to take this project as far as I have, at least not yet, but I haven't driven it since.  I just keep ripping things apart, cleaning and rebuilding.  I just figure the parts I was buying were too nice to put in a dirty car.  Ha-ha.  The engine is the last thing on my list, for now, and then I hope to have her back on the road again.  The stock 400 will be stuffed with a cut down 455 crank and should be one fun torque monster to drive when I get done putting it all back together."


Here's the information on his car.
    
VIN:
2W87Z8L

2 = Pontiac
W= Trans Am (75-81)
87= Sport Coupe
Z = 400 (77-79)
8 = 1978
L = Van Nuys, California



Cowl Tag Data
ST78   2FS87  L  
62B  A51W50LW50U  PNT
6D  

ST78 = 1978
2 = Pontiac
F= Firebird
S= Series
87=Body Style
L = Van Nuys, California
62B = Camel Cloth Interior
A51= Bucket Seats
W50L = Solar Gold Lower Paint but he liked the White/Blue combo and it's HIS car!
W50U = Solar Gold Upper Paint  but he liked the White/Blue combo and it's HIS car!
PNT = Paint
6D = Made in the fourth week of June

Here are some pictures of this great project car.





His new AutoMeter Phantom gauges with blue LED's to match the blue decals on his car.





His suspension rebuild.  Before and after with PTFB GT suspension kit and solid body bushings















So let me be the first to Congratulate you Chris on being the Spotlight of the Month from all of us here at 78ta.com.  You earned it buddy.  

[dblhh]

Congratulations, Chris, for being in the Spotlight!
You're doing a great rebuilding job with your T/A!

[Ricky G]

Awsome. I too like the white cars. Looks great. Congrats.

[y88rick]

very well done. congrats on your spotlight sooner, well deserved i may add and oh welcome to the club.

[pointman]

Very nice! Beautiful car, well deserved!

[4SPEED]

congrats bro.  your car has came a long way in the last 2 years.

my vote for this years car of the year is going to be a tough one.  but you know how I feel about white...  

[Sir english firebird]

Congratulations, thats a lovely looking car, im very impressed with the dash and gauges.

[N PRGRES]

Very nice!

[kentuckyyeti]

Congratulations!  Nice car!

[ZachAttack77TA]

GReat ride! COngradulations!

[bobspacin80ta]

Congrats from one white guy to another. lol

[Sir english firebird]

Your White?

[SoonerTA]

Wow...Thanks guys for all the complements!  I was completely shocked when I heard the news from Mike.  Thanks again for all the kind words!

['78 LadyBird]

OH WOW, that is ONE beautiful bird!  CONGRATS on spotlight of the month!!

[limey]

Great pick!  Beautiful TA Chris, congratulations