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  #1  
Old 03-05-2025, 08:13 PM
JUDGE3 JUDGE3 is offline
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Default 1979 T Top Trans Am

After several near miss buys finally locked in and bought this 1979 T/A. 47,031 original miles. PHS documents on the way.
301 Pontiac engine, TH350, 2.73 limited slip. optioned with T-Tops, power windows, tilt wheel, 8 Track stereo, rear defog. still has the space saver with air cartridge in the trunk. it is air conditioning delete!
A perfect complement to my other Pontiac in being a gas sipping route 66 cruiser. i'm not used to having a car not needing major anything. just plenty of detailing planned.
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  #2  
Old 03-05-2025, 08:22 PM
JUDGE3 JUDGE3 is offline
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as bought have not touched a thing. lots of detailing ahead. and tons of driving. whoever gets it after me, will not inherit low miles!
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  #3  
Old 03-05-2025, 10:53 PM
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Gator67 Gator67 is offline
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Nice!

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  #4  
Old 03-05-2025, 11:07 PM
JUDGE3 JUDGE3 is offline
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Nice!
not even in the same league as your incredible builds, but thank you

  #5  
Old 03-06-2025, 12:19 AM
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Wow

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Esquire

'74 T/A 455 Y-code SD clone

previously on Dawson's Creek:

'74 T/A 400
'81 AMC SX/4
'69 FB 350
  #6  
Old 03-06-2025, 04:34 PM
JUDGE3 JUDGE3 is offline
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did not realize the 301 is same dimensions externally as the 455. wonder if RA d port manifolds would fit the 301 just for a nice appearance not performance lol.

I'm going to change out the bird and decals to the charcoal multi silver and red bird and decals and add the matching red/charcoal special edition striping. the bright one and decals on it are a bit to strong for me.
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  #7  
Old 03-07-2025, 09:30 AM
78Macho 78Macho is offline
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Judge3

Beautiful car, congratulations! I like it the way it is, drive the wheels off of it!

Enjoy!
jim

  #8  
Old 03-07-2025, 10:42 AM
burd burd is offline
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Put the 301 , put on a nice stand, good for show at cars and coffee, detail it, get a good motor.

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Old 03-07-2025, 05:17 PM
JUDGE3 JUDGE3 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by burd View Post
Put the 301 , put on a nice stand, good for show at cars and coffee, detail it, get a good motor.
Believe me burd, I get it.

if I did not have my low 12 second 455 beast it would come out. still might eventually. I have 2 engines a very nice pontiac 350 that is much more power than a stock 400 of the era and also a 455.

this car is so untouched and also right now I love the idea of a easy peasy 301 and 2.73 rear route 66 cruiser. don't need power in this t top car. its a nice disco era cool car to drive. it gets the attention with no power needed.

but i sure get it! I love power. I had a brand new 301 1980 TA so I knew exactly what to expect. I will say this, I would rather have the pontiac 301 than an oldsmobile engine in my Trans Am.
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Old 03-08-2025, 11:19 AM
burd burd is offline
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Then detail it up and leave well enough alone. Some of the 301 stuff is very hard to find. Any 301 stuff I pick up goes fast at the swap. Did you get the t top bags w/ the car? How about the front Lic plate holder?
I like the contrast of the black headlight bezels on cars with color, on black cars yiu don’t get that. Headlights look strange on a black car.


Last edited by burd; 03-08-2025 at 11:26 AM.
  #11  
Old 03-08-2025, 08:25 PM
JUDGE3 JUDGE3 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by burd View Post
Then detail it up and leave well enough alone. Some of the 301 stuff is very hard to find. Any 301 stuff I pick up goes fast at the swap. Did you get the t top bags w/ the car? How about the front Lic plate holder?
I like the contrast of the black headlight bezels on cars with color, on black cars yiu don’t get that. Headlights look strange on a black car.
yes the original T-Top bags were in the trunk.

10,000 and change 1979 Trans Ams had the 301, I like that. it is a PONTIAC. T/A 4.9 on the scoop works quite well for me!

almost 80,000 1979's are Oldsmobile powered oldsmobirds.

No surprises on the build sheet as expected. new from Indiana, bought from a dealer in Chicago by the folks I bought it from and brought to kansas in 2015. they only drove it 1,000 miles in 10 years, just sat. plenty of routine maintenance to do but thats the fun hobby stuff.
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  #12  
Old 03-13-2025, 07:17 PM
JUDGE3 JUDGE3 is offline
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Default Pontiac

No detailing done, just removed all the smog stuff and splashed some good ol DE1616 paint to get it showing true pontiac powered no olds or chevy. had these valve covers for 30 years never used em, look right at home on the 301. same external dimensions as the 455 so it will look good despite 301 power levels
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  #13  
Old 03-13-2025, 09:12 PM
MO Olds MO Olds is offline
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I have the twin to your car but the 403, although not currently painted the same at the moment. Always thought the white and red interior is a great combo especially t top. Agree with what you said about the 301 and just an easy cruiser...very nice find!

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Old 03-18-2025, 09:46 PM
JUDGE3 JUDGE3 is offline
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Default data

so today I pulled the rear seat to install a new mesh rear shelf and lo and behold was the pristine build sheet. got more of a copy of the original window sticker from phs not a build sheet so was fun to find.
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Old 03-20-2025, 08:07 AM
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Im not sure I have seen a build sheet that looks as nice as that one!
I have had several of these cars, including parts cars and NEVER found a build sheet.

  #16  
Old 03-20-2025, 08:16 PM
JUDGE3 JUDGE3 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TAKerry View Post
Im not sure I have seen a build sheet that looks as nice as that one!
I have had several of these cars, including parts cars and NEVER found a build sheet.
this car had 2, both behind and one under a rear seat. mice chewed the one under the bottom seat. I could piece it together a little and figured my luck got ate. was shocked to find this one.
bought this car from a farmer. his wife bought it in chicago and brought it here in kansas as he had one exactly like it new in 79. I knew the only way mice could get it was chewing a spot in the bottom door weatherstrip, yep i found it. he must have put poison out because i found 3 dried long dead mice. it was kept in a barn with a car cover. tons of mud daubers on the bottom and on the exhaust showing it was seldom drivin.

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Old 03-28-2025, 11:03 PM
Grand73Am Grand73Am is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JUDGE3 View Post
yes the original T-Top bags were in the trunk.

10,000 and change 1979 Trans Ams had the 301, I like that. it is a PONTIAC. T/A 4.9 on the scoop works quite well for me!

almost 80,000 1979's are Oldsmobile powered oldsmobirds.

No surprises on the build sheet as expected. new from Indiana, bought from a dealer in Chicago by the folks I bought it from and brought to kansas in 2015. they only drove it 1,000 miles in 10 years, just sat. plenty of routine maintenance to do but thats the fun hobby stuff.
I like the car! Having 4 79 Oldsmobirds myself, I've looked up the production numbers before. For the Olds powered 79 TA's, the total was actually 94,773!

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  #18  
Old 04-05-2025, 04:46 PM
JUDGE3 JUDGE3 is offline
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Default Trunk stuff

I didn't know about this "grills will flex during jacking" decal on the original jack. thought it was funny! they should say......"will also crack paint"! lol

still has the air canister and floppy folded spare i wouldn't even trust when new! I put a 205/70/15 tire on a matching ralley 2 rim that fits real nice and snugs real well against the inner wheel house and rear of the trunk. used a bolt instead of the J hook and just for extra a bungee cord around the wheel to the secured jack.

it had the original black trunk matt in it but I prefer the grey material, used the original as a template. didn't need any trunk paint restoration etc and the original T top covers are perfect. very strange for me for things to already be "right".
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  #19  
Old 04-05-2025, 04:52 PM
JUDGE3 JUDGE3 is offline
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Default Trunk stuff

more detailing to do yet.
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  #20  
Old 04-06-2025, 10:39 AM
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Looks great, I’d keep those decals on.

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