[SD455DJ]

Chris,

That is going to be a runner! What are the cam specs if you wouldn't mind sharing. Too bad about the M-20 guts, but at least you have the original numbers housing. Are you going to the AutoGear 2.98 1st gear? That is a such a great TA.

Dennis

[eaglesan13]

Dennis,

It's a 2.54 first gear. I'll have to get you the cam specs later, I don't have the cam card with me at the moment.

Originally Posted by SD455DJ

Chris,

That is going to be a runner! What are the cam specs if you wouldn't mind sharing. Too bad about the M-20 guts, but at least you have the original numbers housing. Are you going to the AutoGear 2.98 1st gear? That is a such a great TA.

Dennis

[SD455DJ]

Chris, That 2.54 will work beautifully with your 9.0: to 1 455HO. They even work great with a 3.08 rear end, but even better with your 3.42's.

Dennis

[eaglesan13]

Dennis,

Here is the cam card. When I made my decision to go with the wide ratio trans gears I did it with the thought that I might eventually change the rear gears from the original 3.42's that are in it now, to 3.08's. Obviously the 3.42's are fun around town, but I plan on driving and enjoying this car, so I foresee plenty of freeway driving. Therefore, I think the 3.08's will be better suited for how I plan on using the car.

Chris

Originally Posted by SD455DJ

Chris, That 2.54 will work beautifully with your 9.0: to 1 455HO. They even work great with a 3.08 rear end, but even better with your 3.42's.

Dennis

[eaglesan13]

Well the engine is back in the car and running. I started it up and broke in the cam this morning. I had a few minor glitches (coolant leak at the heater core and a small fuel leak), but nothing too serious. I'm looking forward to getting it out on the road again.

As with my previous builds, this is not a "restoration." The car is in very nice shape considering it's age, and it has obviously been well cared for, and therefore my intention was to make it look like what it really is, a well preserved car with 17,000 original miles on it. Obviously I painted the engine, but everything else under the hood was just cleaned and degreased (I used hot water and Dawn dishwashing soap). I had to resist the temptation to sandblast and paint all the brackets, clips, bolts, etc., but my hope is that the engine paint will eventually "burn in" and the car will just look like a nice clean used car.

[SD455DJ]

Chris,

With that cam that is an easy 425 hp and 525 lbft torque motor. You'll love it with the 3.08 rear gear and the 2.54 first gear (7.823 multiplication vs. the M-21/3.42's 7.524). It's looking great!

Dennis

[keith k]

Originally Posted by eaglesan13

As with my previous builds, this is not a "restoration."

Don't sell your work short - that Castillian Bronze Formula was much more of a restoration than justifies the term in most people's eyes!

Congrats on getting the T/A back into a running state so quickly. I'm looking forward to the drive report-

[Judge273]

Chris, you do great work!

[eaglesan13]

Thank you Keith (and Mike). I'm not trying to sell my work short, I was just trying to establish that there are different levels of restoration/refurbishment, and the trans am is basically in really nice shape, and therefore did not require substantial restoration work.

As to the "drive report," well I've had the car out a few times now and it feels really good. Obviously I haven't stuffed my foot into it yet since the engine is fresh, but I can tell it's gonna be a runner. It's got good, smooth power.

Keith, you know how this car feels; it really does feel like a car with only 17,000 miles on it, very tight and smooth. It's a little noisier now with the M22 gears in it, but its still a very comfortable car to drive. I still need to put the new gardner exhaust system on it and install the hood. Then I'll be hanging some miles on it.

Originally Posted by keith k

Don't sell your work short - that Castillian Bronze Formula was much more of a restoration than justifies the term in most people's eyes!

Congrats on getting the T/A back into a running state so quickly. I'm looking forward to the drive report-