[redhawk44]

Good going to all of you guys that have a Pro Touring Pontiac. That is my goal and I will get there someday but probably not this year. I have the engine done and was ready to tear into the rest of the drive line but my better half has other ideas. So, I am just here lurking and learning. One day I will contribute.

[b-man]

.....that I hope to get back to soon.

I'm the odd man out here with a stock 430-HP LS3 crate engine, backed by a column shifted 4L70E/Yank SS 3600 lockup converter/3.42 geared corporate 8.5" 10-bolt.

ATS spindles/SPC front control arms/C6 Z06 14" & 13.4" brakes/Currie Currectrac rear control arms/Bilstein gas shocks/O.Z. Racing Ultralegerra 18X9s with 245/40s & 275/40s

[FrankieT/A]

What do you guys consider to be "Pro-Touring" ?

[DevoBuzz]

Guess everyone will have a different opinion but mine would be 17"+ wheels, lowered with suspension and brake upgrades.

[67GTONUT]

Yep..... Suspension/wheels/brakes to bring it up to modern sport/muscle/pony car standards....

[Nicks67GTO]

Originally Posted by FrankieT/A

What do you guys consider to be "Pro-Touring" ?

Everyone's definition is different but when you see it you know it

[FrankieT/A]

Ok, here's my thing...I'm attempting to lean toward "Pro touring" without giving up straight line performance. So, here's what I have going on right now...

71 Trans Am, fully loaded pwr windows, pwr locks, tilt wheel, A/C, cruise control, custom seats, roll bar(not cage), 4 point harnesses, 5 speed. That rounds out the creature comforts on the pro touring side.

Suspension: Complete WS6 suspension from a 79 T/A (springs, steering box, sway bars, and the subframe brackets at the a arms), G Braces, Bilstien shocks, welded in subframe connectors, Cal Tracs, and the Herb Adams mod., four wheel disc brakes( but not from the T/A), 3.42 posi.

Engine: 467, 325 Eheads, HR cam, fuel injection, Doug's headers, Canton road race pan, NOS, etc...

Ok now here's the caveat. 10 inch Wheel Vintique Rally wheels with 275/60-15 on the rear and 8 inch rallys with 235/60-15 in front.
As 67GTONut mentioned I also like the raised white letters.
Right now I have the engine out fixing a clutch problem and rear main leak as soon as the engine is back in the car I will post more pics but this is basically what the car looked like three years ago. A lot has changed.

The car is very factory appearing.

[gscherer78ta]

Originally Posted by Colin70TA

Didn't get to finish my post last night.
After taking the T/A to it's first autocross in 15' I realized how much fun it can be, but also how much help the car needed. Each run I would lose brakes mid way and the 45 year old suspension gave no feedback.
Last year was the start of the improvements!
Put hotchkis coils and leafs on it, konis on all four corners. New subframe connectors with solid mounts.
For brakes it now have Wilwood 13" 6 pistons up from and right stuff discs on the rear. Modern MC and booster to go with that.
After those changes and a few others the car is totally different, in a good way
I am by nowhere near done as I am still running my numbers matching engine, which I will pull as I don't want to hurt it. Build is similar to Nicks.
Anyways, happy to see these awesome Pontiacs out, there isn't much thats more fun then throwing these cars around the track.
I'll try and put up a video later on me running on a road course: )

Sent from my SM-J320W8 using Tapatalk

That's the way to go- suspension first and then add the power on. Like you, when I really started to push the original engine, I removed it and it's on a stand in the garage now. I rebuilt a 400 3 years ago using a factory crank but all forged rods and pistons and went with 1968 #46 heads that I made screw in studs for and enlarged the exhaust valve to 1.77. Lunati 262 Voodoo cam and roller rockers. That was decent but I have been getting passed in the straights by a bunch of LS powered Camaro's and Nova's. I catch up in the corners but unless the course is super tight, I'm usually a few seconds behind. With the 3 years and 10k miles, I pulled the engine to swaps to Edelbrock heads, Doug's headers, added a windage tray, and fabricated a pan hard bar to keep the rear axle from moving so much. I hope it's harder to pass me this year.

[napster]

Have a 1978 S/E TA with the following changes:

4 wheel wilwood disc brakes and 4 piston calipers to fit the stock snow flakes (255-60 all around), upper & lower tubural control arms, QA1 coilovers up front, Qa1 shocks out back, subframe connectors, polygraphite body mount bushings and suspension is polygraphite, 462 stoker pontiac engine puts out 583HP @ 5500rpm & 623 TQ@ 4200 RPM, Doug's headers long tube with 2.5 inch exhaust system and x-pipe tx ta mufflers,Fast EFI, two electric fans and becool radiator, Phoenix 700R4 either 2500 stall or 2800 can't remember, 3.73 rear end.

Thanks.

[Interceptor]

My 70, built for Touring for now with the Pro on the way as time and $ allow. 400 with a TH200-4r. Future calls for 4-wheel discs and power adder.

[JC455]

Originally Posted by FrankieT/A

Ok, here's my thing...I'm attempting to lean toward "Pro touring" without giving up straight line performance. So, here's what I have going on right now...

71 Trans Am, fully loaded pwr windows, pwr locks, tilt wheel, A/C, cruise control, custom seats, roll bar(not cage), 4 point harnesses, 5 speed. That rounds out the creature comforts on the pro touring side.

Suspension: Complete WS6 suspension from a 79 T/A (springs, steering box, sway bars, and the subframe brackets at the a arms), G Braces, Bilstien shocks, welded in subframe connectors, Cal Tracs, and the Herb Adams mod., four wheel disc brakes( but not from the T/A), 3.42 posi.

Engine: 467, 325 Eheads, HR cam, fuel injection, Doug's headers, Canton road race pan, NOS, etc...

Ok now here's the caveat. 10 inch Wheel Vintique Rally wheels with 275/60-15 on the rear and 8 inch rallys with 235/60-15 in front.
As 67GTONut mentioned I also like the raised white letters.
Right now I have the engine out fixing a clutch problem and rear main leak as soon as the engine is back in the car I will post more pics but this is basically what the car looked like three years ago. A lot has changed.

The car is very factory appearing.

Well, since Jeff Smith of Hot Rod/Car Craft/HiPo Chevy/Etc. was the first person to use Pro-Touring as a style, I give him credit for it... BUT-- To me, H~O Racing/Mecham/etc. built the first P/T cars in the 70's and 80's. Think about it: lowered A bodies with improved suspension and brakes; Firebird's and Trans Am's that would embarrass Corvettes in braking, handling, acceleration, etc. AND they sold us, the Pontiac faithful, the parts to do it to our cars!
I've always thought of my Ponchos as more of a total package car vs. a stripped down, straight-line machine. I like freaking Porsche owners out in turns

So, yes, I'd absolutely consider your car to be a Pro-Touring style of build, regardless of the wheel size.

[JC455]

Originally Posted by Interceptor

My 70, built for Touring for now with the Pro on the way as time and $ allow. 400 with a TH200-4r. Future calls for 4-wheel discs and power adder.

GORGEOUS!!! I've always loved the 70 front end!
Great job combining old and new!

[Bob's GTO]

Nick, couple pics per your request. March Sport Trac kit.

[HJones1313]

My '70 convert has been intended as a P/T from the day I got it. It's a work in progress......

MOTOR/TRANS: 428, Muncie M21, both too many mods to mention

STEERING: Jeep Grand Cherokee steering box, with '80s Chevy truck rag and shaft, Borgeson u-joint

FRONT SUSP: GM tall spindles, BMR control arms, HO Racing springs, GW 1.25" swaybar, Spohn heim joint end links, Edelbrock shocks

FRONT BRAKES: 12" 1LE Rotors, '73 Camaro calipers, stainless lines, Hawk pads

REAR SUSP: PMT heim jointed round tube control arms, CPP adjustable frame braces, GW 1" swaybar, Spohn lower shock mount relocators, Edelbrock shocks

REAR BRAKES: S10 11.75" disc brakes complete setup, stainless lines, stock replacement pads

BOOSTER/MC: 9" dual-diaphragm booster, late-model aluminum m/c w/plastic reservoir, adjustable prop valve to rear brakes

RIMS/TIRES: 'Vette 17" x 8.5", 245/45 Goodyear Eagle F1 front, 18" x 9.5", 275/40 Goodyear Eagle F1 rear

INTERIOR: High bolster aftermarket bucket seats, 5-point harnesses, matching 3" lap belts in rear. Modified Hurst stick (2.5' shorter than stock)

BODY: Factory air dam, deeper air dam 5" behind that to force air through the radiator, factory rear spoiler modified (1.5" taller than original)

FUTURE PLANS: Install the 8-point roll cage I got 8 years ago, add a Gear Vendors overdrive this year, and maybe upgrade the calipers, if I can find an S10 replacement. If not I might update both front and rear to an aftermarket setup. Add a rear upper shock mount brace, and front frame brace.

[First Bird]

Really nice cars there you guys!
I've wanted my Firebird to handle better and stop quicker since I bought it in 1980. This was before Pro-Touring so we had Herb Adams to show us how to modify our cars. I still have his solid control arm bushings in the stock control arms.

MOTOR/TRANS: 455, KRE heads, headers, RA4 cam, forged rods/pistons, Canton Road Race pan, Quadrajet carb, TKO600 trans, aluminum flywheel, aluminum radiator, aluminum pulleys, aluminum water pump, aluminum intake, aluminum heads

STEERING: Lee Manufacturing Saginaw box and pump with remote reservoir, DSE tie rod adjusters, Grant steering wheel

FRONT SUSP: Guldstrand mod, stock upper and lower control arms, VSE solid bushings, 1.25" hollow sway bar, welded SFC's, Hotchkis springs, Bilstein shocks, aluminum hubs with 1/2" studs

FRONT BRAKES: Kore3 C6 Z51 13.4" Rotors, Corvette calipers, stainless lines, EBC Yellow pads

REAR SUSP: Herb Adams mod to front spring mount, solid subframe bushings, Golden West leaf springs, 3/4" Addco sway bar, Bilstein shocks

REAR BRAKES: Kore3 C6 Z51 13" rotors, Corvette calipers, stainless lines, EBC Yellow pads

BOOSTER/MC: Manual brakes, adjustable proportioning valve

REAR END: 8.5" 10-Bolt, Detroit TruTrac 3.42, TA Support cover, Moser axles with 1/2" studs

RIMS/TIRES: CCW 3-piece 18" x 8.5" with 245/40 Michelin Pilot Super Sport front, CCW 3-piece 18" x 10" with 275/35 Michelin Pilot Super Sport rear

INTERIOR: High back aftermarket bucket seats, Schroth 3-point Rally harnesses, no rear seats, battery relocated to trunk

BODY: Factory front and rear spoiler

FUTURE PLANS: keep driving it

In line on track day with a Porsche, Lotus, Mitsubishi Evo, etc

[gscherer78ta]

Question for you folks with F bodies that have done the Gulstrand UCA mod. I was looking at this one and I'm going to hit the steering shaft if I go lower and further back like it suggests. How did you get around that?

[First Bird]

I think when this modification is done correctly that isn't an issue. I didn't have any problems with my control arm hitting the steering shaft. Haven't really heard of that either. Detailed posts on the Guldstrand Mod are available online.

Now, you might need to trim a bit off the upper control arm tower for the pivoting upper arm.

[Colin70TA]

It was my understanding that this mod was more for correcting first gen F-bodies, not second gen?

[Colin70TA]

Any pics of the panhard bar set up?
For the engine, yanking the original is definitely the way to go. I am still saying funds and collecting parts, I don't think I will get it together this year.
I'll be watching my gauges like a hawk until I do!

[gscherer78ta]

Originally Posted by First Bird

I think when this modification is done correctly that isn't an issue. I didn't have any problems with my control arm hitting the steering shaft. Haven't really heard of that either. Detailed posts on the Guldstrand Mod are available online.

Now, you might need to trim a bit off the upper control arm tower for the pivoting upper arm.

I think part of the interference issue I would run into is because I have about .75" of spacer to yield -2° of camber. If the pivot point were lower, I may not have to run so much spacer to get the static camber I have now...