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Project New Bird - 1970 Trans Am build
Well, after buying, driving, & selling a few early 2nd gen F-body's (as well as taking a LONG time to figure out what I really want to do) I have finally decided to pull the trigger & start building my car.
Please welcome: Project New Bird - 1970 Pontiac Trans Am Please sit back & enjoy the show as I take you through my long journey on building my piece of happiness :) http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3100/...df0b59.jpg?v=0 The car: 1970 Pontiac Trans Am (one of 1,339 built) http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3131/...53cb50.jpg?v=0 Color: 2006 Pontiac GTO IBM blue with correct white/black stripe I wanted something a tad bit more blue than the original Lucerne Blue but still wanted to retain an original Pontiac color. The car was originally a white TA with the blue stripe. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3092/...5401b3.jpg?v=0 Engine: 550 HP LS1 (original bottom end from my 2004 GTO) 90MM FAST Throttle Body 90MM FAST Intake 30lb SVO matched Fuel Injectors Texas Speed 5.3 LS heads ported & milled to 59cc 2.02IV/1.575EV (flow 312 cfm @ .600") Double gold Springs w/ Ti Retainers Comp 7.35 Pushrods Frutral F13 Cam 230/232 .595/.585 114* LS6 Ported Oil Pump LS2 Timing Chain 8.5mm MSD Plug Wires NGK TR6 plugs 180* T-Stat 12577901 Cadillac LS1 Oil Pan Aluminum Radiator 70-81 F-body w/ dual fans from a 2004 GTO set to 190* & 195* BPR Plates & Motor Mounts for LS1 Hedman Custom Stepped 1 3/4" --> 1 7/8" Headers w/ 3" collector 2.5" exhaust w/ x-Pipe Walker Dynomax 17276 Transverse muffler Tranny & Rear: 4L60e tranny from my 2004 GTO TransGo HD2 shift kit TCI/Hughes/Derale deep trans pan shift points reprogrammed for 6500 RPM (the rev limiter will be set to 6750 RPM) Vigilante 3200 stall torque converter TCI/Earls trans cooler 8.5" GM 10 bolt posi rebuilt with 3.73 gears ( the original 12 bolt long gone :( TA aluminum gear cover as well as the perches & tubes will be welded up Suspension & Rear End: DSE upper control arms DSE 1 3/8" front Sway Bar DSE solid body bushings 1/2" drop Varishocks front coil over adj. Shocks w/ 550# springs Global West De-alum lower control arm bushings original lower control arms HOTCHKIS 1.5" drop rear leaf spring kit Varishocks Rear adj. shocks PT F-Body sub frame connectors PT F-Body front suspension rebuild kit WS6 box or Lee Eng rebuilt GM quick ratio steering box (12:1) http://www.prowheels.net/wheels/Boost.jpghttp://www.prowheels.net/wheels/Stealth.jpg Wheels, Tires & Brakes: Pro Wheels Stealth or Boost 18" x 8" fronts w/ 4.5" back spacing 18" x 10" rears w/ 5.5" back spacing BFG KDW2 245/40/18 fronts BFG KDW2 295/35/18 rears 13" front D/S corvette rotors w/ LS1 calipers & corvette brackets 12" rear D/S LS1 rotors w/ LS1 calipers using BRP mounts 2004 GTO master cylinder Interior: I will use the complete setup from my 2004 GTO (F & R seats, dash, steering wheel, center console, etc.). The seats will be recovered not to say GTO as well as the dash & gauges. The door panels & trim will be custom made to match. Inside will be covered with Dynamat or equivalent for noise deadening. Sound system: Pioneer AC3 US Amps 4x50 mids/highs (especially since they were hand made here in Gainesville :) US Amps 1x200 sub Seas/Focal mid & highs front Seas/Focal mid & highs rear 2 10" Seas/Focal subs in custom enclosure Escort SRX radar detector Thanks to all who have helped so far as well as the many who still will. This site is a fantastic source of information & inspiration!!! |
Here is a pic of the cowl plate. You can see it was a white car (10/10) over blue (211). I am going to get PHS on it for Christmas.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3265/...43777e.jpg?v=0 As well as a pic of the all important "22887...." :) http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3228/...20707d.jpg?v=0 I know a lot of you will not like this type of build/restoration/modification. Or the fact that I am doing this to a real TA. Had it been a #'s matching car I never would have done it. I found this one stripped with no drivetrain so it was perfect for what I wanted to do. Besides, I still have my #'s matching 73 TA to play with. |
Sounds like it's going to be a sweet build up- but with this crowd you're not going to have alot of fans here since you're customizing a T/A (even though it's with late model GTO parts). I used to dislike LS1 conversions, but after reading up on them I think I could dig a 500 hp Firebird that got 26-28 mpg.
I like either style of rim, but you can get 18 x 9's (5" backspace) with 275/35R18's to fit on the front. Where are you buying the rims from? Geno |
I like it! I started out looking for a T/A to make into a Pro-Touring car, but the car I bought was all there, rust free, and #matching. good luck with the build!
Pat |
So why not get really serious and drop in an L92 or LQ4? Add a mild cam and headers and you have well over 500hp. If you are going to do that to a TA, you might as well do something worth doing. Yes I do own an LS1 and yes I am very impressed by it and others of the type, no I wont be putting LSx engines in my old Pontiacs.
I will however drop one in my C10 shortbox, and it will be a healthy L92/LQ4. |
you rock, great project, that interior looks awesome!
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I like it and if I ever grenade my 455, I will be going LS. Prefer L92/LQ4 or maybe a Kenne bell LS1. You probably will get some flack from some on the board but screw em. Do what you want and be proud of it. From the list of parts you want to use, there is certainly no reason that you will be disappointed.
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I like your idea and having done a couple restorations on 71 t/a,s ,I always get bored with them afterwards when they are all done and sell them,then go look for another project.I get more enjoyment in getting them back to new condition versus driving them,not that I do not enjoy them afterwards.
But I have always wanted to do a custom or protour,whatever you want to call it.Even restored back to stock specs the 71 t/a,s are great,but honestly my 2004 Altima could run circles around it in the handling department.I will be interested how far you really go and your end result and issues discovered in doing your car. One suggestion though,I would go with the new honeycomb wheels avaliable or originals,as it is real neat to have a stock looking car but all modern hardware hidden by original sheetmetal,but you proably have different ideas.Good luck with your project. |
::drool::
Be interesting to see how you get that GTO interior in there... I'd love to do an update on my dash and doorpanels but don't know what I'd do. I'd like to keep some of the original "flavor" of the 2nd gen dash. It would be nice if it integrated into modern type door panels and down into the center console though. It's kind of funny how many people are jumpin' into the Gen3/4 motors now. I remember when I first was tossing the idea around how much flack I got from the peanut gallery. I *think* I might have been the first guy to actually do it on any of the Pontiac boards, at least I'd like to say I started a trend. LOL! |
Ian, you're still perma-banned for your temerity to bespoil a 2nd gen with C-letter power! How'd you hack your way in here ?????? ;~)
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Thank you all very much for the kind words & encouragement!
I thought about new honeycomb wheels but they are big $$$$. I am a vendor for www.prowheels.net so the prices are where I need to be :) VERY good suggestion though! I also thought I would post some pics of the doner car before I start cutting it apart. It is a 2004 GTO with 19000 miles on it. Originally I was going to go with a stroked 400 or 455 with E-Heads. Then I got the quote from Butler. For the price I was going to pay for that alone I bought the entire running GTO ;) http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3225/...2ebe77.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3229/...f86254.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3199/...dab892.jpg?v=0 |
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As for hacking, beware the power of LS1Edit! |
Oh, and as for those wheels, there snot much to be found on the net about them and I only see them available in 7 and 8 inch wide?
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oh no, they are avail from 17x7,8,9,10 then again in 18" & 19" all the way up to 20"x12" & 22" & 24" for the SUV guys :) PM me for good prices on USA made billet 2-3 piece rims!
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Here are my pics I posted a few weeks ago when I got the car back from the blasters. This was the day after Thanksgiving. It took me 2 full days of dusting, vacuuming, prepping, cleaning, mixing, painting, CLEANING UP SPILLED PAINT, looking for a new gun, putting everything away, getting everything back out, vacuuming, prepping, cleaning, mixing, painting, cleaning up, & putting things away for good. I hope you get the idea it was a real P.I.T.A. I think next time I am going to bring my car to Orlando or Jax to get soda blasted & primed all at once (Frank, know any good people to recommend?). I used a local guy here in town that uses a new sponge material that is very easy on the metal & doesn't have any problems associated with it like other media.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3217/...05df53.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3232/...d22db5.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3052/...e66dda.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3149/...3bbcea.jpg?v=0 Day 2 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3133/...ec8eba.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3165/...3ea4a0.jpg?v=0 Next post: start on metal work & GTO tear down :) |
Now that she was all primed over the holiday I can start to work on the metal repair.
1st up is a small piece on the upper 1/4 near the window. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3162/...0fffb2.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3159/...013571.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3106/...4d0580.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3156/...0d0db7.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3036/...4dc3a8.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3099/...07323d.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3155/...1fc4e9.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3048/...84a741.jpg?v=0 It might not be perfect but that's why I have one of the best painters in FL (Chris Dobbs - www.huegenics.com ) doing the final touches :) Up next: smooth the firewall... |
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As far as the project, I think an LS1 in a '70 is waaayyy cool. I have thought about building one for years! You have to bring it to the TA Nats when done. |
cdoggy81,
Wow, that brings back memories. I had to do the exact same area on my window channel. After a little grinding and some more welding, then a little more grinding, it was good enough to have the painter finish. Thanks for the pictures, like I said, they are like porn for some of us. |
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That being said, I still wont be putting one under the hood of any of my pre 81 Pontiacs. Just isnt going to happen. This project looks interesting, and well when its all said and done its still your car. Although I would love to have whats left over from the 04 GTO, I know an L92 will fit in that thing, if it isnt bent too much.. as if I didnt have enough projects already and not near enough money for all of them... |
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Ian read me correctly, C is for Corporate, were i to refer to a Chebby, i'd just type in POS--and no that doesn't stand for Point Of Sale ... C-Doggy, those pics are deja-vu, mine had the same brazed metal over rusty original metal patches in the same places. Your patches match what i did to mine ten years ago to a "T." |
Thanks you guys. I appreciate the encouraging responses!
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Love the project your doing, Have fun it's your car, I use to be a #'s freak and all that but I'm older now and well let's just say Life is to short to worry about it, build it and drive it, My 70 is a Matching # car and I do plan on building it up a little bit but nothing that can't be put back only cuz I have had the car for 22 years and have had my share of fun with it, she's not going anywhere.
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Not a lot done this weekend. Went to PRI show in Orlando instead :) I talked to a lot of really great people in the business (Kyle & Stacy Tucker, Chris Alston, David Butler...) & viewed some great cars (Back in Black (69 camaro conv.), Empty Nest (69 Trans Am), a sweeeet Ford GT, & Velocity which is Air Rides 1968 Camaro). Didn't know "Razor" - the Ring Brother's 69 Camaro would be there. What a treat that car was... All I could say is WOW!!!
There was even a cruise in at Old Town later that night but we got out of dinner too late & made it there just as the cars were rolling out :( I did manager to get some of the GTO interior out before I left though: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3091/...802657.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3129/...a3d728.jpg?v=0 Would have got more done but the *(#@$*$ &^&*# radio would not come out.... Usually coat hangers work great but she was a tricky bieoch & didn't want to come out... Monday I will get a removal tool for it & also start working on smoothing the firewall. |
I still can't get my radio out of the GTO to take apart the rest of the dash so I thought I would work on the firewall. Here is what we got so far:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3248/...c402e2.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3129/...563533.jpg?v=0 I want to thank Mark in California for sending me the cardboard template to make this easier. You rock! http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3211/...ee3518.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3118/...a5baa7.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3194/...470aa2.jpg?v=0 That is all for now. A few more welds & then it is grinder time... :) |
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I'm likin it........and I normally hate everything
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Thank man! :)
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You probably already know this, but here is the tool you need to remove the radio.
http://www.installer.com/item/displa...php?it=86-3528 And here are a couple of pics that may help if you are trying to do it without the tool. http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...iner/radio.jpg http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...Removal_BU.jpg |
Yep, this is what I needed. Thanks for the pics :) It gives a good visual of what I couldn't get to.
I finally got tired of messing with it so I just drilled & cut it out... hehehe!!! |
Here are a few pics of the dash & seats in the car just for reference:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3222/...cc20a2.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3233/...f8ab84.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3107/...6faebd.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3197/...f6e63a.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3263/...502525.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3228/...e2c430.jpg?v=0 |
My new trunk pan came in on Friday so I decided to take a break from the interior mess & work on it. I didn't get too much done b/c it got real windy & was about to rain. I just took my gloves off & was walking inside to get a drink when a big gust of wind blew my sheet metal over on me. I got scratched & cut on several spots but the deepest was on my hand. I got it to stop bleeding & realized I probably needed to get it closed up. Problem is I didn't want to pay $200+ or spend 3 hours in a waiting room to do it... So I looked inside & found my super glue, cleaned it up & sealed it shut. When it was all done it looked like just another scratch :) . I think Monday & will get a tetanus shot just to be safe. I'm sure it has been 10+ years...
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3284/...7bfdfd.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3237/...c09aab.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3284/...4d57e1.jpg?v=0 |
erm, i LOVE the work on your car, but
you BETTER had 'bond' your wound with a bandaid, and perhaps some duckttape over it, then glueing a wound! you should NEVER glue a wound! even better, you should have stitched it!. EVEN better, you should've went to the docter instead of a hospital. or at last: go to a hospital. this could become a very bad wound! very dangerous for infections and blood infection! |
I guess your staple gun wasn't handy?
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Cliffhanger, thanks for the concern. Glue is pretty common here in the US. They use it often in surgery & in situations like mine. It was even used a lot in Vietnam! Where people run into problems is they try to glue the "inside" together which will do nothing but keep it from healing together. I was very careful to pinch it shut then glue the outside only.
Yes, I was out of staples for my gun... :) Did some more metal work last night. I stripped to trunk lining off most of the upper area to see if there was any other surprises waiting for me to address. Sure enough, more repair will be needed... http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3203/...7f9328.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3148/...c86f10.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3288/...1e25f9.jpg?v=0 I had the pan already so I thought I might as well cut the old one out since I didn't have any replacement metal for the other trunk sections. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3127/...f7d536.jpg?v=0 Got REAL TIRED of getting hot sparks going down the back of my neck so on went the blasting hood.... We had a good laugh :) http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3262/...910bd8.jpg?v=0 Still have a bit more trimming to do but you get the idea http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3129/...6ddbc2.jpg?v=0 Again, sorry about the crappy pics but all I has was my phone. More pics & updates to come after Christmas! |
nice to see so much effort in a project (especially this quick).
wish I could do stuff like that myself..... keep us updated, love to see where this goes :cool: |
Thank you very much :)
I will say it is a bit much sometimes to take on for my 1st project but I'm going to make it happen! |
Cdoggy,
Nice battlefield first aid :D- I'll ask my wife to get some surgical grade super glue for you if you like (she's an RN). I've actually had some gnarly rips myself- that stuff is great (but you should still consider stitches if it doesn't close up right). Geno p.s. the GTO interior is going to look sweet in there- keep those pics coming |
Thanks Geno :) BTW, my buddy also said he would get me some dermabond too but I hope I won't need to EVER use it!
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I took a break from my car Friday & helped my friend install his new Billetrides - Ringbros billet hood hinges & SS fasteners on his 1968 FB (he has been helping me with my car so I owed him one). These are the 1st set made & they look so SWEEEEET!!!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3216/...331478.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3284/...82ef70.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3201/...afb503.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3127/...e8c895.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3095/...6b1331.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3261/...52fc12.jpg?v=0 |
So today it was back to work on my car. I trimmed the pan to fit better, prepped the area with ospho & weld through primer, patched the frame rail & welded in the pan:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3286/...97be08.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3095/...103d10.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3266/...d9712e.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3099/...1aa9b2.jpg?v=0 All this & I only managed to catch myself on fire once... Luckily the shirt was draped over my legs during welding so I was able to throw it off quickly :) http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3266/...37cdae.jpg?v=0 |
Cdoggy,
Who's repro trunk pan did you use? I need to change mine out as well. Geno |
I got one from NPD b/c they are 30 min from me & didn't have to pay oversized shipping.
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Started follow'n along.
Looks good. BTY, i keep two tubes of super glue in the tool box...regular and gel ;) |
Thanks Mike. The gel is a good idea as that stuff likes to drip & run all over the place when you don't want it to :)
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Looking pretty nice!
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Thank you John :)
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Got to looking at my rocker panels & as you can see they need to be fixed so..... I got some replacements. Not sure I like the fit that much or is that just the way they come? What do I do with that big bent up piece at the end? Cut it off & bend it up? Not sure what to do here. Any advice?
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3263/...f380e6.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3470/...4de7ea.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3439/...3bd680.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3442/...0e7a9b.jpg?v=0 |
don't cut it off! that's the end of the rocker. look at your 2nd and 3rd pics carefully. the outer wheelhouse will get welded to the tabs to the left of it that are folded to the inside of the rocker and to the backside of that tab at the end. the rear lower edge of the quarter will come down and be welded to the skinny flange that's just past the hole in the rocker. it looks like it got bent in a little during shipping, that last section should continue straight--you need to carefully tweak back out so you don't crease it.
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Pretty sad--a once proud Pontiac turned into a Chevy .
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Exciting project cdoggy81.....It sure is looking good and I look forward to hopefully seeing it at some show/s this summer....Do you plan to go to the "Trans am Nat's" this year ??? if so I'll see you there most likely with my 70 Formula project..
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