[165th]

I thought it would be fun to start a TATA forum here on the '77-81 Trans Am Tech. Anything Tenth Anniversay related will be game.

There are always questions floating around that are specific to the TATA such as carpet manufacturers, stiping and decal details and interior dyes color options that hopefully when answered will provide a good resource for forum members and owners.

Also, we should have plenty of pictures!

[165th]

One topic that is well documented on the '79TATA 4spd's is that they received L78 W72 engines from the 1978 model year. These engines were held back by Pontiac specifically for the anniversary 4spd cars. No W72 engines were built in 1979.

My car was built in February 1979.

I have been documenting date codes, inspection marks etc. and have determined the engine was probably built in June of 1978. The carb date code is much later than the engine cast codes so I'm curious when the castings had stopped for the W72 motors. The engine was completed 8 months before the car was built substantiating the fact the motor was held specifically for the car.

Here are some interesting date codes on this engine:
Block K087 Nov. 08 '77
Dr. Head K237 Nov. 23 '77
Pass. Head L087 Dec 8 '77
Intake H037 Aug 3, 77
Water pump E248 May 24 '78
Carb 1538 153rd day of '78 or June 3, '78

In the head date code picture note the blue overspray on the valve cover and the 1stQ date on the spark plug wires.

The other pictures identify some great inspection decals and part no. decals. Note the marking on the original fuel line insulation and the original foam ring around the air cleaner.

[2manyT/A'S]

LOVE to to see the detail pics of the unmolested "survivor" cars.
Can we see some more,especially of the booster,master,prop valve area.( I like looking at "factory rust!)
I think you were tuned into our heater hose clamp thread,last month?
Can you give us the "lowdown" on your 10th?
Towers vs. Silver Seals - Van Nuys or Norwood?

[2manyT/A'S]

I'd be OK with this one in MY garage!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...212940227&rd=1

["QUICK-SILVER"]

2many, I wouldn't mind having it for a back up myself. Did you notice they said it had cruise. I did not see any cruise parts under the hood. Picture underneath looked like pre 74 cross member, hump on both sides for duals.
A friend of mine's 10th T/A has all the cruise parts under the hood, speedo cable through cruise box, vaccum lines, wireing, even got right turn signal lever. It does not have pot on motor. Iv'e checked the vin and it is a 4 speed car, something ain't right.
Mine is not all original but I do have everything to put it back. Can't help but wonder how many of the 4 speed cars are left.

Anyone know about odd ball engine codes and special rear gears on these cars? Something about the first so many made or real pace car models maybe.

Quick-Silver for a reason

[2manyT/A'S]

Originally Posted by QUICK-SILVER

2many, I wouldn't mind having it for a back up myself. Did you notice they said it had cruise. I did not see any cruise parts under the hood. Picture underneath looked like pre 74 cross member, hump on both sides for duals.


Quick-Silver for a reason

Auction seems to have disappeared?
Looks like Ebay pulled it. Wonder why?

FYI: As I recall,ALL second gen trans crossmembers are double hump style.

70-74 & 75-81 DON'T interchange.

[165th]

Quicksilver, yes, we are all wondering why everyone takes an interest in your vin no? Maybe because it has an 'X' in it? Can you share the vin. no with us? Also, let's see some pic's of your car!

The Daytona 500 was held on February 18, 1979, so all of the pace cars would have been built before that (at least the one's at the show!). Maybe they continued to produce pace car replica's beyond the race date, it would be nice to know.

W72Bandit 140323 Jan. 19 '79 One of the earliest TATA vin. no's known.
Mine 150328 Feb. 21 '79

Does anyone know of a 10th registry?

[roysgoats]

Great idea for a TATA forum! Here is my question. I have a 79 TATA that i am having a little paintwork done on it and am replacing some decals and pinstripes. I order pinstripe roll from Phoenix graphics and noticed the black portion is wider than the red. On my car most of the pinstrioing is the same thickness. Is it correct to use the pinstripes with the Black thicker than the red on all areas of the car? If this is the case then I am guessing that when my car was painted in the past someone used rolls of red and black that were incorrect. Thanks in advance for your repsonse.

[165th]

2manyT/A's this is a Norwood car. It has Silver Seal worm gears on all 4 heater hose connections. The radiator hoses of course are tower clamps on all 4, with the upper radiator clamp clocked at 2pm (if you facing the car).

Here's a pic of the rust, I mean brake booster and bracket. The red smear on the booster is a paint daub I think, but it's not your typical enamel, it's more of a stain so to speak. There is also a very small blue paint daub barely visible in one picture. The paper sticker on the wiring harness to the proportioner is a W.

The carb picture is great. The part number on the vacuum bracket, and the inspecton mark 'N' and ' - ' on the butterfly is unbelievable considering fuel and fumes pass this way.

Roysgoats, the stripes are different thicknesses. The black is approximately .25" and the red is .13". I'd be curious to know what thickness the Phoenix Graphix stripes are?

Quicksilver, that's a great question about the pace cars. I thought they would have been geared high for the track? Hopefully someone will chime in.

'Restoring' this car will be a lot of work. I'm going to be refreshing all of the parts, but without repainting, replating or replacing. It should look the same when done just neat and tidy. It's tedious and meticulous work as I'm already finding out, but very rewarding.

[68ragtop]

Love the foam element over the air filter. I'll bet 99% of those dissapeared after the first tune up.

The car pretty much confirms that the prop valve bracket had no paint. Heck I doubt it was even treaded steel. No way the hinge springs look that good & a painted bracket rusts up like that. Maybe some cars had them painted, but not this one.



Nice car!

["QUICK-SILVER"]

I was wondering if this site would take off or not. I dont know what it is, people either love these cars or just dont care. Iv'e had mine 25 years it's a pretty nice car. Got so many ISCA first in class trophies and jackets got burnt out and quit showing.
Really am curious about rear gears. I changed mine to 3.73 a long time ago. Ended up trading original gears for dual exhaust, that was a mistake. When I got ready to put taller gears back in I couldn't find any. I had all the numbers and ratios written down, it was a 3.5? something. Pontiac dealer checked the numbers for me, good numbers but not availible. Original install only, limited purchase and production, none to be had. The replacement, even under warranty would have been 3.23. I do not have the original part numbers any more but would love to have them. They were lost in a fire.
This is why I was asking about pace car and gear info. A couple of times Iv'e ran into other 10th owners with really nice cars wanting to trade and give boot (lots). They always looked at my vin and had fits. They never would say why.
Still wonder how many 10th 4 speeds left. I know for us the less the better.

[W72-Bandit]

The rear gears for all 79 400/4spd cars were 3:23's. I've never had to look for a set so not sure how hard they are to find.
As for your VIN, is it low or high for 10th production?
I had a 400 10th a few years ago that was built on Jan 3rd, lowest VIN for a 10th I have ever seen......140323.

[mzbk2l]

I have a spare in the trunk of my TATA that has been powdercoated a shade similar to the original. I like it enough that I'm considering doing the four that are on the car, as well.

(I know.... not very original, but it's one of those personal touches that is subtle and not-so-easy to detect.)

[mzbk2l]

Love that green-tinted carpet!

[Mr W72]

Final castings of the 400-cid engines was during Thanksgiving week 1977. Unfinished blocks were stockpiled for use during 1978-79 model years. It appears final assembled engines were done around June/July 1978 for the 1979 model year.

[165th]

Mr. W72, thanks! This information is in keeping with the cast date codes that I listed in Post #2 on this thread (page 1).

That's quite a history these W72 engines had finding their way into these cars. From Fall '77 cast dates to Summer '78 engine builds, to Jan-April '79 installs. In addition to the planning that went into this strategy, storage, potential for parts robbing (borrowing) and logistics to integrate the stored motors into the cars must have been somewhat challenging.

Looking back on it, that's pretty cool indeed.

[bankbook]

I have a TATA 4speed in the middle of a unibody out restoration and I think that a forum woulb be very beneficial.

[2manyT/A'S]

SWEET!
What's that "white stuff" all over it?
Such a NICE car. It's a real shame about the "incorrect" radio knobs.

[formula400]

Well i guess i have to take back untouched, due to the radio being from what i think a 80

[68ragtop]

For the general apperance of that car, the engine compartment sure looks intact. Almost expect to see a vintage discharged delco battery in there. Must have been sitting for some time.

The white stuff is something I am quite sick of. Here is Green Bay, we are just inches away from setting a snowfall record set in the 1800's