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JMB36TA · 08-10-2018, 11:01 AM

Back in September I came across a great deal on a very clean 69 Firebird dressed up as a Trans Am. As long as I can remember I have always loved Trans Ams, even before Smokey and the Bandit. I've owned several of them starting with an 88'. It was my first brand new car. I've had 2 78's and a 68 project car that I had to sell mid tear down. I currently have an 02 white WS6 that I'll never part with. But I never had, and never will be able to afford the elusive original 69 Trans Am. So the best I can do is to have a clone. I've been putting work into it to make it as close to a TA as possible. Anyone can add a hood, spoiler, air extractors, and paint. But the only difference I want between mine and an original is the tag. The first thing I did was to make those air extractors functional so I took it to a hot rod shop and had them do the work. They cut the hols and fitted the extractors to the body so there's no gaps. They look like they came from the factory. While the fenders were off I had them shave the holes for the Firebird Emblem too.

The next thing was the interior. The dash carrier was cut up around the radio and really butchered so that the radio was just set in there and not screwed in. The console was warn and different colors so it was obviously pieced together and it had a t handle shift knob. That was an easy temporary fix with some burl wood vinyl. The steering wheel was wrong, there were no speakers, and lots of wiring issues behind the dash. I pulled it all apart, fixed the wiring, got a new carrier and a Retro Sound radio that fits the dash perfectly. I found a good deal on a repro steering wheel that has little to no wear and put it all back together.

JMB36TA · 08-10-2018, 11:04 AM

I couldn't add the pics of the completed dash in the original post so here it is. It's so much better and everything works!

unruhjonny · 08-10-2018, 11:14 AM

looks great!

Not that it matters, but what did this car start out as?

I hope you enjoy it!
Some people poo-poo clones, but I'm all for it - as long as you don't monkey with vin or cowl tags, and don't do anything to pas it off (to any potential buyer) as the real deal...

JMB36TA · 08-10-2018, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unruhjonny

looks great!

Not that it matters, but what did this car start out as?

I hope you enjoy it!
Some people poo-poo clones, but I'm all for it - as long as you don't monkey with vin or cowl tags, and don't do anything to pas it off (to any potential buyer) as the real deal...

It started out as a gold 350 automatic with a 2 speed hydromatic transmission. It's come a long way!

I put it in one show and entered it as a 69 Firebird, anyone who believed it was the real deal did so on their own. But I'll admit that I didn't correct them...lol. BTW I won first place in the 1960's class that day.

OCMDGTO · 08-14-2018, 01:29 AM

Very attainable horsepower goal that Paul will have no problem with. Coming from a guy with a 400/#16 head setup I wish I would have spent a little more on porting and cam to get another 50 horses.

JMB36TA · 08-14-2018, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OCMDGTO

Very attainable horsepower goal that Paul will have no problem with. Coming from a guy with a 400/#16 head setup I wish I would have spent a little more on porting and cam to get another 50 horses.

A few of my friends said the same thing. If you're tearing it apart you might as well get as much as you can out of because you'll regret it later. I was originally going to go with a hydraulic roller cam but $500 for a set of lifters was out of my budget once I knew I needed pistons.

JMB36TA · 08-10-2018, 11:20 AM

The next project was the wiring for the halogen headlights. All the breakers and relays were screwed to the wheel wells and the wiring strung across the top of the radiator. It was a huge eye sore and needed attention. I was able to find space on the front of the core support and run the wiring between the front bumper and the radiator. So now everything is hidden and the engine bay is nice and clean except for screw holes left in the wheel well. But now that the wires were gone I was able to install the power steering cooling line.

tom s · 08-10-2018, 11:24 AM

Are you going to put the power steering cooler and the RA pans on the car?In for a penny,in for a pound!Tom

JMB36TA · 08-10-2018, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom s

Are you going to put the power steering cooler and the RA pans on the car?In for a penny,in for a pound!Tom

Yes! I have the whole RA IV set up ready to go in. It's going to be completely functional too, not just the pans for looks. I'm currently rebuilding the engine so it'll go in when that's done. I'm going to post the rebuild pics soon.

tom s · 08-10-2018, 11:25 AM

Saw the cooler in the 2nd pick,nice.Tom

tom s · 08-10-2018, 11:28 AM

When I did mine I did no trans am decals,left the firebird on the fenders.When I park next to my friend real TA thats what I tell people that ask,ones a Firebird and one is a TA.Tom

unruhjonny · 08-10-2018, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom s

When I did mine I did no trans am decals,left the firebird on the fenders.When I park next to my friend real TA thats what I tell people that ask,ones a Firebird and one is a TA.Tom

I thought some early TA's received "Firebird" script emblems like the pre-production unit used for press/publicity pictures?

JMB36TA · 08-10-2018, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unruhjonny

I thought some early TA's received "Firebird" script emblems like the pre-production unit used for press/publicity pictures?

The silver prototype and the car used for publicity pics were the only ones with the script. When it went into full production the script was dropped.

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The Boss · 08-10-2018, 01:36 PM

Clones can be far more liberating than real cars - you don't need to be so worried about them and can have fun without caring about the value. One of my absolute favorite cars on this board is a 69 TA clone that has a weathered look to it.

Looks great!

JMB36TA · 08-10-2018, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Boss

Clones can be far more liberating than real cars - you don't need to be so worried about them and can have fun without caring about the value. One of my absolute favorite cars on this board is a 69 TA clone that has a weathered look to it.

Looks great!

Thanks! She’s a beautiful girl and getting better. I agree with clones having more drivability. If I had an original I would hardly ever drive it and enjoy it. The only thing I worry about is my hood. It’s an original steel TA hood.

The Boss · 08-11-2018, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMB36TA

Thanks! She’s a beautiful girl and getting better. I agree with clones having more drivability. If I had an original I would hardly ever drive it and enjoy it. The only thing I worry about is my hood. It’s an original steel TA hood.

You should sell that and let it go back to a real one - pick up the repop metal hood and be way ahead $$$$ wise.

tom s · 08-10-2018, 01:39 PM

I sold my real one,paid off my house and had enough left over to build the clone!Tom

JMB36TA · 08-10-2018, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom s

I sold my real one,paid off my house and had enough left over to build the clone!Tom

Wow! And that is the reason I’ll never own a real one...lol

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OCMDGTO · 08-10-2018, 03:47 PM

Great looking car! What's the plan on the engine and what rear & gears?

JMB36TA · 08-11-2018, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OCMDGTO

Great looking car! What's the plan on the engine and what rear & gears?

I'm going to post about the build soon. It's a complete tear down and rebuild with a 400hp goal. I'm not sure which way i'm gonna go on the rear end yet. Maybe 3.23 - 3.42, leaning towards 3.42. The transmission is a TH350 recently rebuilt with racing gears.

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