[Hitman]

Hey guys. I've been lurking in the darkside for years and years. Well, time has come to expand my horizons. I have been looking at 77-81 TA's, formulas, firebirds and esprits. I know the obvious that the TA is the one to get but can anyone explain the difference between a formula, esprit, and a regular firebird? What makes them unique? I found a real nice 78 esprit with a 350/350 that was supposed to be original but I thought that combo would have made it a formula. I'm lost with this. Also, when looking at these cars what do I look for? These arent full frame cars are they? All I know about the defects of these cars is the heavy doors besides the obvious drivetrain stuff to look for. What makes one of these cars a $3k car versus a $7k car when they look the same? Any special places to look for when looking for rust? I cant believe i've been a member here so long and never took the time to get or take interest in these cars. I had a 79 Z28 in high school you would have thought i'd own a F-body by now. Anyway, I look forward to the replies.

[crider]

The rear frame rails are notorious for rust in these cars as well as the usual lower 1/4's and floors.

[milly]

Regarding the various levels of Firebirds.

The base Firebird is just that, the entry level car of the Firebird series. Usually powered by a 6 cylinder with the option for a V8.

The Esprit is the "personal luxery" Firebird. They usually come with the better interior and power equipment. The 6 cylinder is normally standard with the option of a V8.

The Formula is the muscle car Firebird. The Formulas come equiped with the T/A suspension and can be ordered with the Trans Am drivetrain also. The Formula has the twin scoop "ram air" hood, unless it is equiped with the 455 SD (in which case it gets shaker scoop) or the Turbo 301 (with the turbo "power bulge" hood).

The Trans Am is the king of the Firebirds. They come equiped with front and rear wheel spats (spoilers), front air dam, rear deck lid spoiler, shaker scoop (unless it's a turbo car, then it gets the turbo "power bulge" hood). The T/A has the best suspension offered along with the better engines.

A book called "The Standard Catalog of Firebird 1967-2002" has a lot of info on these cars and is a good resource when getting into a Firebird.

[Hitman]

Thanks for the info so far. I have just picked up a book "Original Pontiac Firebird and Trans Am 1967-2002. I will get the other book. The more and more I look at them the more and more I want one and this cash is burning a hole in my pocket. I already have on lined up to look at. A '79 T/A. Dont know anything else but I dont want to jump on the first thing I look at. The longer I wait, the more cash I can add to the pot and the hopefully the better the car I can get. If you guys dont know me i've been in the Fullsize section since I got into Pontiacs, now it is time to make a change into something with a little more sport. Dont get me wrong the fullsize cars are nice but last time I threw my 65 Catalina into a curve I was not comfortable. Anyway, get used to me guys, I know a just enough to be dangerous about cars.

[BAD455TA]

Good Choice! I personally would look first for a T/A because they are usually nicely optioned cars (I love options) but I do admire a sweet Formula 400 4spd (with opts of course)

[Father&Son73T/A]

Originally Posted by Hitman

Thanks for the info so far. I have just picked up a book "Original Pontiac Firebird and Trans Am 1967-2002. I will get the other book. The more and more I look at them the more and more I want one and this cash is burning a hole in my pocket. I already have on lined up to look at. A '79 T/A. Dont know anything else but I dont want to jump on the first thing I look at. The longer I wait, the more cash I can add to the pot and the hopefully the better the car I can get. If you guys dont know me i've been in the Fullsize section since I got into Pontiacs, now it is time to make a change into something with a little more sport. Dont get me wrong the fullsize cars are nice but last time I threw my 65 Catalina into a curve I was not comfortable. Anyway, get used to me guys, I know a just enough to be dangerous about cars.

I can relate my friend,I was an A body man my self,having owned a 70 GTO and until 2 months ago I owned a number match 68 442 since 1989,I also had a BUILT 462 put in it(Ebrock heads,Harland sharp rlr rkrs,Ross Racing pistons .520 Comp Cam..etc) with the orig.400 pulled to the side for safety/monetary sake,...paid off well
HOWEVER..............when we bought our 73 TA and then the 79 W-72...ALL STOCK AND ORIGINAL CARS,and felt the muscle car power with on the rails cornering...............LET ALONE THE LOOKS THAT KILL
YOU WILL NEVER GO BACK MY FRIEND...............NEVER

[Hitman]

Went this evening out to Carrolton to look at a 79 TA. It was straight, rust free, white with blue interior and blue birds on it. Front spoilers were off for repair and paint, the interior was well worn, losts of receipts for the engine/trans build but the trans was leaking something firece. Car leaned towards the drivers side front and had a inop choke. It has been sitting for a while, fired up but sure did stink. I think it will need new front end (front was lowered), whole interior kit except headliner, heater does not work, left blinker did not work, stereo did not work, and no interiorl light. Well, at least I got to sit in one and I will need a tilt column, this one had it and it was so easy to get in and out of the car. The search is still on.

[Father&Son73T/A]

My mechanic has a nice 75 4spd 455 HO car for sale,blue,but the block is from a 73,very nice car though.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...RL:MOTORS:1123
He also has a 78 W-72 4spd WS6 gold t-top car for sale but needs a complete resto,but it's all there.
Oh,and a 73 Formula 400,very nice,red.

[avewhtboy]

I noticed you are in Georgia as am I....I am new here just bought a 1981 Trans am. I had a 1978 before but has been a few years. Being from the same area thought I would let you know I bought my car out of Idaho....I found it on Craigslist which really seems to have the best deals. I found a way to search all the entire US at one time which is how I found the car I bought. Jusy an FYI if you have not been looking there.

[Grand73Am]

I'm in the Atlanta area too, Lawrenceville. I been into and have larger cars too, 57's, 67's, 73-75 A-bodys. I've always liked 79 TA's too though and finally decided to find a 79 TA a couple years ago and started looking. I bought a Solar Gold 79 TA fixer upper that runs, about a year and a half ago, that I found locally in the Atlanta Advertiser. Being an automatic, it has an Old 403 engine, which had been recently rebuilt and runs great, so it was a very good deal overall. I didn't have much money to spend, so I had to get one that I'll have to restore. Since it runs, I fixed a few things on it to make it roadworthy, so I could drive it. Even though it's a bit rough looking, I drive it anyway and it's alot of fun, even as it is. The view over the hood with the shaker is great. I can imagine how exciting it's going to be to drive once I restore(restify) it. I also found a second 79 TA rolling body locally for a good price. Both are hardtops. When looking, I would have bought either a hardtop or a t-top. I'd still like a t-top, but the bodies on them are more flexible due to the t-tops and some people don't like them because of that. I particularly wanted a 79, since I remember when the new nose came out on them, which I really liked. And the 79 was the last year for the 6.6 engines.

If you have a good amount of money to spend, I think it is best to shop around for one in the best condition that you can afford, since having to restore one is more expensive than buying one that's already good. Someone once said that the least expensive car that you can buy is the one you spend the most money for to begin with. Unless you're real lucky and find a steal of course .

79's are slow in stock form, but it's still been fun to drive. It handles great. I'll have to make it faster when I redo it. In case you didn't know, All 6.6 liter 79 TA's with automatic transmission came with 403 Olds engines originally. Most 79's came that way. The 79 TA's with 4 speed came with Pontiac 400's. The 400 has better power than the 403, so a 400 or larger Pontiac engine is what most people prefer, and sometimes swap into a 403 TA.
Also, they don't have full frames. They are sub-framed cars. If you buy one locally here in Georgia, rust won't be as much of a problem as some other parts of the country. Look at the floor pans, the quarter area behind the rear wheels, the trunk floor and the rear body brace under the tail panel. Both of mine don't have much rust, a couple floor pans, a trunk pan, and some behind the rear wheel on one side is pretty much all I have between the 2 cars. They did come well equipped with pw, pdl, tilt, cruise, etc.

I've accumulated almost all the parts I need to do the fixup by shopping eBay. Here's a pic of my gold 79 not long after I got it. Also, if you don't know about it, check out www.transamcountry.com :