[BlackTA]

Hi all,
I am a senior in high school and just got a 1979 Trans Am, black with a gold bird. Before this I had a number of junk cars, an 84 dodge pickup, an 88 dodge shadow, and a 92 saturn SC. I have no experience with a muscle cars but I am trying to pick things up as fast as I can, but I've got some questions I hoped you could help me with...

The car has an Oldmobile 350 with headers, a holley 4 barrel 650 cfm carb, and a 650 cam(anyone got an estimate on the HP i am putting out). I am getting maybe 10mpg if that. I work about 25 miles from home and in the round trip I use a quarter tank of gas. Its got a 3 speed automatic tranny. I would really like to swap it out for a 4 speed stick but I assume that would be very difficult so I was thinking of swapping it to a 4 speed auto. Will this help a little with my gas milage I spend most of my work commute on the highway and as I am sure you all know the 3 speed really has no highway gear. Would a 4 speed give me any better gas milage or am I just dreaming and need to get used to spending $100 a week on gas?

The car has a 3.73 rear end but noone ever changed the gear for the speedometer so it reads off im not sure by how much. Where is this gear, how much does it cost and how much of a pain would it be to fix?


The car is running Glasspacks right now. I like the sound they put out but my parents have other ideas...the neighbors probably are not overjoyed either so I am thinking of changing the exaust. I dont want to go stock, and I still want an aggressive muscle car sound just with alot less volume then the glasspacks. Id like to be able to have a conversation on the highway. What would you recommend.

Whats a good place to get parts for the car I am looking for a bunch of misc interior pieces mostly.

As I seem to be writing a book here I guess I will stop with the 20 questions untill another time...thanks for the help