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#1
07-12-2014, 04:05 PM
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Just purchased 74 455 TA
Now that restoration of my 69 Lemans vert has been finished for a few years I've been itching for another car. But this time I decided to buy one that was already restored. I just dropped the hammer on purchase of this 74 455 TA. Its been a long time since I owned a FB and this is my first venture into the second gen.
Its also the first time that I bought a car sight-unseen. I would be very surprised if if met all of my "standards" and I figure I'll end up spending some time getting it to my liking. But the rare blue/red factory color combo really caught my eye when I saw it. And being an HPP cover car how bad could it be? When I read the article and found out that the restoration project actually began here in Augusta by another Ga Tech grad I figured it was destiny. It will be a few weeks before I actually see what I bought. Everyone cross your fingers for me... 
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1969 Lemans vert, matador red, 462 CI, 3.07 12-bolt posi 1974 455 TA, admiralty blue/red interior HPP "cover car" - sold "The best way to show a car is to drive it" |
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#2
07-12-2014, 04:19 PM
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Nice.
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#3
07-12-2014, 05:02 PM
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Very nice! I love the odd color combination cars. Better yet, it's a 74.
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#4
07-12-2014, 05:04 PM
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Had a '74 myself. The '74s are great cars and have spectacular potential. If mine had had that red interior, I'd probably still have it!
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Greg Reid Palmetto, Georgia |
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#5
07-12-2014, 07:15 PM
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TA's any year have gotten extremely rare around here. Until the Atlanta BOPC I hadn't seen one for years- not even at local shows. So hunting down a really nice local 74 455 with a color scheme that I like was just an impossible challenge. But admit it, I will be biting my nails for a few weeks going this route.
Greg, got agree on the potential. But hoping that it looks as good as it does in the pics, and that it runs good enough in its mostly "original" numbers-matching form to make me happy. I keep telling myself I really don't need another car that is as strong as the Lemans... but we will see. And hoping maybe it will surprise me.
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1969 Lemans vert, matador red, 462 CI, 3.07 12-bolt posi 1974 455 TA, admiralty blue/red interior HPP "cover car" - sold "The best way to show a car is to drive it" |
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#6
07-12-2014, 10:29 PM
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Congrats. Our 74s are the ones that people either love or hate. I hale all your expectations are met.
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12.84 @ 106.89 with street radials. 12.63 @ 108.39 on drag radials. |
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#7
07-13-2014, 08:15 AM
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Awesome - looked at the pictures of that one myself the other day. I'm a fan of admiralty blue and it's definitely unique with that red interior.
Seems a lot of the 74's you see for sale have pretty shoddy restorations, but that one looks pretty good. Looks like an aftermarket trans cooler and intake? Look forward to your first impressions when the car finally arrives.
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Peter 1974 Trans Am, 400 4-speed, 3.42 rear. 
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#8
07-13-2014, 12:24 PM
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The magazine article gives good hints as to the original engine build/setup but there have been some changes since and I will have to sort it out when it gets here. One of the changes is a Holley FI system which is why it has the aftermarket manifold. But the original Q-jet and manifold are part of the deal so I could easily swap it out if not happy with the FI. And as long as the block is solid then swapping heads, cam, etc. is easy enough.
Based on the video the engine sounds healthy and it looks like it should run OK as is. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=nLamuaqMJdo Yes, noticed the trans cooler too. And the amp in the trunk. Looks to me like lots of money has been put into the car, but we will see if it was spent in all the right places. Getting the combination right is always the trick. The article also says that the original rear was fitted with a 3.73 gear. If so that would have to go. What rear end did the 74 455 cars come with? http://www.highperformancepontiac.co...tiac_trans_am/
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1969 Lemans vert, matador red, 462 CI, 3.07 12-bolt posi 1974 455 TA, admiralty blue/red interior HPP "cover car" - sold "The best way to show a car is to drive it" |
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#9
07-13-2014, 12:37 PM
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3.42:1. Oops, 455/auto is 3.08:1.
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#10
07-13-2014, 12:41 PM
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Quote:
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Peter 1974 Trans Am, 400 4-speed, 3.42 rear.
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#11
07-13-2014, 12:47 PM
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Was there another option for non-ac cars? I could have sworn that mine had a 3.23 rear in it...
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Greg Reid Palmetto, Georgia |
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#12
07-13-2014, 12:48 PM
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Quote:
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#13
07-13-2014, 12:49 PM
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Quote:
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#14
07-13-2014, 12:50 PM
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Either way, I will want something like a 3.08 or 3.23 in order to go down the highway with it. This should be an 8.5, right? I never had one of those. Where are the carrier breaks?
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1969 Lemans vert, matador red, 462 CI, 3.07 12-bolt posi 1974 455 TA, admiralty blue/red interior HPP "cover car" - sold "The best way to show a car is to drive it" |
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#15
07-13-2014, 04:48 PM
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I guess mine had the 3.08. At any rate, it was a very enjoyable combo for highway driving. Right around 2500 rpm at 70mph or so as I recall.
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Greg Reid Palmetto, Georgia |
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#16
07-13-2014, 05:30 PM
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Cool! I put 3.08's in my '74 4-spd and the combo works very well in my opinion. It should be a nice driver with an auto and 3.08's, a road trip car with some legs. You should be able to push the upper end of the speedo with 3.08's.
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Uneasyrider “To find yourself, think for yourself.” ― Socrates “The unexamined life is not worth living.” ― Socrates “Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something.” ― Plato |
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#17
07-13-2014, 05:57 PM
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Quote:
The 2-series carrier fits 2.41 & 2.56, the 3-series fits 2.73 and numerically higher. |
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#18
07-13-2014, 06:57 PM
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That's good news. I took a quick look and parts, gearsets are easy to come by. So free to do whatever I want without much hassle. The 3.07 12-bolt that I put in my 455 Lemans is perfect, so hoping that there are 3.08's back in the TA now.
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1969 Lemans vert, matador red, 462 CI, 3.07 12-bolt posi 1974 455 TA, admiralty blue/red interior HPP "cover car" - sold "The best way to show a car is to drive it" |
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#19
07-13-2014, 07:15 PM
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I went from a 3:08 to a 3:42 and hated it on the highway. But then I stuck a 4L80e transmission in mine so I'm now happy with the 3:42 gears.
I remember seeing it in HPP. I like the blue with red guts combination. And tasteful modifications will only enhance your enjoyment when you drive the car. Give us an update when it arrives.
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12.84 @ 106.89 with street radials. 12.63 @ 108.39 on drag radials. |
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#20
07-13-2014, 09:26 PM
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Quote from HPP>"Both the rearend and code-PZ Turbo-400 transmission are original to the car. The Safe-T-Track rear came with 3.08 gears (code GYG) since the T/A has A/C, but it now has a set of 3.73 gears, and the transmission was rebuilt with a shift kit. " << End quote.
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"The Future Belongs to those who are STILL Willing to get their Hands Dirty" .. my Grandfather |
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