[njsteve]

I got the new four-leaf, Trans Am springs installed yesterday and the 3.08 geared rear end back in the car, today. The new springs fit the perches a lot nicer than the old five-leaf setup did. This 1980 T/A rear end was made for a four-leaf spring pack. I installed a pair of KYB GasAdjust shocks to match the fronts. Everything is hooked back up with the exception of the rear brakes. I bought a new set of ProThane rear sway bar bushings for the 9/16" bar but they don't make the correct large bushing for the one-bolt sway bar drop links (only for the 1970-73, two bolt/two-piece), so I had to re-use the original large bushings. For some reason they make the large bushings for the 5/8" and thicker rear bars in the one-bolt version but neglect the 9/16" bar???

I have a new set of brake shoes to go in and had a pair of new wheel cylinders sitting around so I used them since I noticed that the originals were leaking.

Tomorrow the brakes and the new speedometer gear get installed.

Here's how she looks now.

[77 Canamman]

Looks fantastic!

[TransAmRIP]

Originally Posted by njsteve

I got the new four-leaf, Trans Am springs installed yesterday and the 3.08 geared rear end back in the car, today. The new springs fit the perches a lot nicer than the old five-leaf setup did. This 1980 T/A rear end was made for a four-leaf spring pack. I installed a pair of KYB GasAdjust shocks to match the fronts. Everything is hooked back up with the exception of the rear brakes. I bought a new set of ProThane rear sway bar bushings for the 9/16" bar but they don't make the correct large bushing for the one-bolt sway bar drop links (only for the 1970-73, two bolt/two-piece), so I had to re-use the original large bushings. For some reason they make the large bushings for the 5/8" and thicker rear bars in the one-bolt version but neglect the 9/16" bar???

I have a new set of brake shoes to go in and had a pair of new wheel cylinders sitting around so I used them since I noticed that the originals were leaking.

Tomorrow the brakes and the new speedometer gear get installed.

Here's how she looks now.

Just wondering the direction you have the end links installed. Mine are the opposite direction. I'm assuming they were never touched until I restored the rear suspension???

[njsteve]

Yours are correct. I noticed I had mine installed backwards after I got the car back together. Ugh!

[njsteve]

I got the car on the road today after installing and bleeding the brakes, installing the new speedometer gear and housing, and doubling checking all the bolts. The vintage GM 3.08 gears are silent - no whine or howl. Very nice. And it is now 2,400 RPM at 60 mph, verified by the GPS.

While finishing up the brakes, I thought this was kind of neat: the original rear brake drums, still with planty of meat left on them. Dated "F 8 75".

[yahooskidoo]

Glad to hear the gears worked for you.

[njsteve]

Thanks for those gears Troy!. Hopefully you'll get those 3.42s in your car soon.

[njsteve]

Ordered some parts for the old gal yesterday - a new (repro) booster to replace the original that is painted to look like cad. Can't beat the price at $69. Maybe I'll send out the original to be redone eventually. And I ordered a set of the reproduction fender-to-radiator support bars to add a little stiffness to the front end.

I also pulled out the grills today to repaint them and found a screw driver that must have been sitting under one of the grills for at least 30 years. :-) I didn't recognize it as mine so it must have been from the garage my grandmother used to take the car.