Finally purchased a 74 to restore. Updated 6/12/07
 

Finally located and bought a 1974 TA 400/TH400 numbers matching admiralty blue to restore. Pretty much rust free except passenger rear lower quarter panel and drivers lower. Under car has a nice factory purple-ish/red oxide primer that is in great condition just needs some clean up and I'll use it as it is. It even has the original gm chrome tips. The guy I bought the car from already had most of the body striped down to the metal. He just lost interest in it.
Need some opinions on what to do. The engine block is the original and trans is original but, the engine has 670 heads on it with a edlebrock intake and carb. The distributor is from a 75 455 car. Should I try to locate the correct carb, intake, distributor and heads for it or leave it along. It runs fine I just like haveing the correct items on the car. What you think i should do??? It also has a build date of 11/73. Here are some pictures of the car.
I do know I need several items to make it a complete car. I will have a list of the things i need posted soon so, If anyone has any of these items please feel free to email at transamrip@yahoo.com.

Thanks for your input,
http://webpages.charter.net/1974ta400/1974ta400.html WEB PAGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Bub

TARIP,

Congrats,

I usually try to collect parts before I jump head long into a project. Yes, Find all the correct pieces to complete the engine. Finding the carb should not be too hard....The p/n is 7044274,7044266 depending on application. The Intake is P/N 495106 and exhaust manifolds are 490142/490143 each. You should be able to even get your date codes close to your build date.

The heads are 4x and since it is an an automatic the secondary code is 7h. This can easily be messed up by getting 1h(455) or 4h(2 bbl 400) heads. The 3h heads would work but are really for 4 speed 400's.

My Build date is the same as yours. So it will need a points type dist. I would recommend a replacement dist from say Year One with a pertronix or Crane xr-i conversion. But you know what the plan is.

Let me know if I can help further.......

74 TA
 

Appreciate the info on what I need to find. i thought it would be a good idea to get the original back as close as possible.

I will let you know if i need additional help.

Thanks again Jay,

Bub

Congrats - love the color, and the standard black interior.

7044266 carb here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1974-...96917376QQrdZ1

Congratulations and welcome to the club Bub. I have quite a few parts leftover from a '74 400/auto T/A I bought for parts a while back. It was a December 1973 car and pretty original. I have the carb, distributor, alternator, EGR, some black interior parts and so on. Let me know if you need something, be glad to help.

74
 

Actually, I could use all the parts you mentioned. The only interior part I need is the passenger sail panel. Shoot me a pm on the prices. I am starting to collect as much as I can to put it back as close to original as possible.

Thanks Dick,

Bub

74
 

Actually, I could use all the parts you mentioned. The only interior part I need is the passenger sail panel. Shoot me a pm transamrip@yahoo.com on the prices. I am starting to collect as much as I can to put it back as close to original as possible.

Thanks Dick,

Bub

Congrats on the purchase. As they said, go slow, gather the parts and put your car back to original. That's your best bet on maintaining value with the car.

Looks like you have almost the same car as mine except mine is custom interior, 455 and no air.
Congrats...they are fun cars and not on every row at the cruises.

I may have the heads and exhaust manifolds. I will check the date codes to see if they will work......

74
 

Sounds good. Let me know what you find and shoot me a pm with prices.
transamrip@yahoo.com
Thanks, Bub

74 TA
 

since the car didn't come with original rims am I to assume that the original came with rally II's??? . I can't locate the build sheet anywhere. I've looked behind the rear seat under the front seats on top of the gas tank no luck. Will the phs show what kind of wheels it should have? If rally II's are correct then I will be in the need for a set ofthem with the correct code I believe it is HW???? Help :noidea:

Thanks , bub

The heads that I have are 4x -3h(4 speed) (98cc)with the following Dates:

C 153 March 15th 1973
C 193 March 19th 1973

The Exhaust Manifolds are the Correct 490142/490143 cast's..dates:

C 204 March 20th 1974
F 134 June 13th 1974


So my heads are too early(actually mid-late 73's) and my exhaust manifolds are too late.I am sure you can get closer in dates than this.

On the wheel issue.Most of the PHS Invoices and stickers that I have seen do not show the wheel option. If the optional wheel (Honeycomb) was on the car it would show P85 on the buld sheet if you could find it.Pretty safe to go with the Rally II (HR).

Sorry..Ransom has it right..HM's..Brain fart

HEY MAN!!!!!! Great NEWS!!!! I been MIA for a week or so, so I am glad to hear you found you a 74 Trans Am finally. They are getting harder and harder to find. Great Color too!!!

Only bad thing is now I have to compete with you for parts..LOL. I am pretty much in the parts phase still myself. I have a wall full of parts I have collected. I am pretty slow making progress on my 74 between the kids, work and my 78 Trans Am. I am trying to finish up all the spring house projects to get back to work on my 74...slowly I am getting there.

I am just tickled you found one, I remember how excited I was to finally score a 74.

Thanks, Jay for checking. I'm sure over time i will locate those parts.

Mark, no competing here!!! :D Glad I found one that was just what I was looking for. I to need to finish some remodeling work on the inside the house before I can jump head first in to the car. Looking forward to it and can't wait.

Missed meeting you in Destin for Stars. I was there on Saturday only. I did pass you and your car but, you were in deep conversation with someone and I didn't want to interrupt. I thought I would catch up to you later on after lunch. When we returned you were gone. Catch you next time.

I'll submit more pictures as time goes on. GREAT advice from this forum.

Thanks to all that chimed in on my new purchase.

Bub

Man, I am sorry about that. One thing about shows is that you do get into alot of conversations and sometimes it's hard to get around and meet everyone. Next time just interupt us or join in, it's usually Trans Am related anyway so you can just slide in. Sorry I missed you, because I like talking about 74 T/A's, where most everyone at STARS had 77 or later or some SE.....LOL.

My next big T/A event will be The Nationals....can't wait. Shows are just a blast once you get to meet and know people. Really beats hanging out with my wife's friends husbands who just don't get "The Car" thing, muchless the Trans Am thing.

Your TA would have had code HM Rally II's, if it had no upgrade. Date would have been around 10-19 to 11-07.

I never bought the PHS for my Trans Am...I know...I'll get it eventually...but the PHS on my '68 does state Rally II wheel option.

Hey Mark, 2 hrs left on this 4 speed. It's in Georgia too.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...1475&rd=1&rd=1

Yea I saw that car, 4 speed too.....I think not having a title probably hurt him.