[Blackwood Goat]

Does anyone know what engines were available in the 79 trans am. Thanks Rich

[triathlonx13]

Pontiac 400 & Oldsmobile 403 for sure... I think the Pontiac 301 and chevy 350 were offered in 1980 & 1981...

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[Brian Baker]

http://www.iwaynet.net/~gl&lisk/1979ta.html

Here's some helpful info.

[Ben M.]

Pontiac 400 - manual only
Olds 403 - auto only
301 - auto or manual (delete credit)

Firebirds themselves had more options (like the v6, 265, etc) but Trans Ams only came with those 3 engines in 1979.

[triathlonx13]

Originally Posted by Ben M.

Pontiac 400 - manual only
Olds 403 - auto only
301 - auto or manual (delete credit)

Firebirds themselves had more options (like the v6, 265, etc) but Trans Ams only came with those 3 engines in 1979.

Thanks for clarifying this!

Additionally:
Isn't that also where the various shaker bases came from do to the different carb locations in regards to the standard shaker hood?


Blackwood Goat - What are your plans with this car?

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[Ben M.]

Originally Posted by triathlonx13

Additionally:
Isn't that also where the various shaker bases came from do to the different carb locations in regards to the standard shaker hood?

That is correct. Traditional Pontiac shakers usually fit most traditional Pontiac v8s without much issue (assuming intake height and motor mounts are factory dimensions), the Olds 403 ones are specific to that engine (offset a bit), the 301 and 305 are all different as well (height mostly). Then there is the fun of dealing with Can-Am shakers (for 400 and 403, both different) and the 1974 GTO shaker thrown in the mix.

[2manyT/A'S]

Originally Posted by Ben M.

That is correct. Traditional Pontiac shakers usually fit most traditional Pontiac v8s without much issue (assuming intake height and motor mounts are factory dimensions), the Olds 403 ones are specific to that engine (offset a bit), the 301 and 305 are all different as well (height mostly). Then there is the fun of dealing with Can-Am shakers (for 400 and 403, both different) and the 1974 GTO shaker thrown in the mix.

To add to the fun,I believe that 79 301 shakers & airfilter housings were different than the 1980 versions.
As I recall there weren't any non-turbo (301) shaker hoods/engine T/A's in 81,so you would have had to order a chev 305 if you wanted a shaker in 81.(I stand to be corrected on this one,but don't specifically recall seeing one)

[Blackwood Goat]

Thanks for the info. I am thinking of buying it. The 403 Olds through me off.

[Grand73Am]

79 was the last year for the big Pontiac engines, so the 400's were being phased out. They didn't even build any 400 engines in 79. They were using up what was left over from a stockpile of 400's from 78. They didn't even have enough 400 engines left to install in all the Trans Ams being sold in 79. And 79 was the biggest selling year for the Trans Am EVER.
So, they decided to put the Pontiac 400 only in 4 speed TA's. And all the automatic TA's got the 403 Olds engine. So, you will find a 403 Olds in any original 79 TA with automatic, which is most of them.

[Ben M.]

Originally Posted by 2manyT/A'S

As I recall there weren't any non-turbo (301) shaker hoods/engine T/A's in 81,so you would have had to order a chev 305 if you wanted a shaker in 81.(I stand to be corrected on this one,but don't specifically recall seeing one)

Nope, you could get a N\A 301 until ~April or so when they stopped offering\casting them. More 301 cars were made than 305 (301T was still the big seller) in 1981.