[JJDeville]

Hood scoop modification

[Maxthe222]

I've looked into a lot of the dealer modified T/A's, and the engine bay of your TATA is pretty consistent with what a lot of the NJT/AS modified cars looked like. Have to wonder where they got all these 455's from! There was one 1981 actual "Bandit" T/A that came up for sale within the last 12 months that was in excellent original condition from their modifications, all the same details, the black M/T valve covers, intake, etc

https://www.hotrod.com/features/hppp...pontiac-bandit

https://www.78ta.com/Sliders/bandit.htm

[JJDeville]

Yes, the one I have seen online had the same modifications. I read an article from back in the day where the were building all of the 455 engine identical to each other. They sourced used engines and bored them to 462 for a basically new engine. The article stated that they also used a specific head for 9.2 compression ratio and enlarged the valves to 1.77. My car has 6X heads though I don’t know if they are 6X-4 or 6X-8.

[Maxthe222]

Originally Posted by JJDeville

Yes, the one I have seen online had the same modifications. I read an article from back in the day where the were building all of the 455 engine identical to each other. They sourced used engines and bored them to 462 for a basically new engine. The article stated that they also used a specific head for 9.2 compression ratio and enlarged the valves to 1.77. My car has 6X heads though I don’t know if they are 6X-4 or 6X-8.

Very easy to check, there will be a little boss near the valve cover around the top of the heads.
http://www.wallaceracing.com/5cheada.jpg

[JJDeville]

I will look tomorrow. I tried to take a picture of it with my cell phone camera but I couldn’t see anything.

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

There was one like this (probably same car) for sale on Craigslist or FBook recently.
I remember the speedometer and the hood pan for the shaker being that way.

I didn't catch that it was some kind of legitimate conversion from Day 2.

It was a 79 403 TATA with 455cid and original engine included.
Has to be the same car.

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

Had never heard of TA Specialties until it was in Miami .

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

Somebody linked the for sale listing on here at the time.
Same car.
I also remember one or two comments being made about the coil mounting.

You might be able to capitalize on the car.
When I saw the listing I just thought it was a wonky garage build.
I did like the shaker pan set up and wondered if it was a currently available item.

Had no idea it was an actual low mileage well kept car with a legit type of conversion.
Way to go !

[JJDeville]

I was in high school when the Bandit conversion cars were being built. I read the article in Motor Trend about them and never forgot about them. They were sinister looking cars! When I found this car, I noticed all of the components fromTrans Am Specialties. After I got it home, I talked to the previous owner that acquired it in 2007 from the original owner and all he could recall was that the original owner sent it out of the state to have the work done and he invested over 30 grand including the car. There has only one Bandit car ever found of the 30 or 40 built. You can Google it and find an article from HPP, Motor Trend, and a catalog on Hitmans Trans Am Page.

[JJDeville]

I have a collection of Pontiacs and I guess if it is sold you will have to check for my obituary, Lol! I think most people have never heard of Trans Am Specialties. My buddy has 2 Macho T/As and he thinks he is an expert on Trans Ams and he never heard of them either. Funny thing is, they got started doing the Trans Ams just as the second gen cars were winding down and started doing the third gen cars which in my opinion didn’t catch on to good. They were over with by 1985. There was a local guy that had a third gen Bandit and he was pretty rowdy guy and he would tell people about his car and nobody would believe that it wasn’t a hokey ass made up car and he would about beat their ass over it!

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

Originally Posted by PAUL K

I remember they're "water injection", quit popular back then. Also didn't their black cars have a unit number under the TA fender decal?

The Mecham conversion cars had that .
Macho TA et al

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

Another thing I remember thinking when I saw the for sale ad was -
- why in the hell did the Miami guys go to the trouble to do those speedometers.

Had absolutely no idea there was ever a TA Specialties in business back in the 70's
I guess the guys in Miami bought out the namesake , or maybe any special parts still left , when they formed in Miami .

Ricky is a member here but seldom posts.
As far as I know they are still in business in Miami area.
He might have some interesting back story or history items of them too.

[JJDeville]

This car scratches an itch I had for another trans Am. I had a 1976 Firethorn Red with Firethorn Red Deluxe interior that I bought as a total and rebuilt when I was 18 years old. We put a front end on it and painted with R-M Factory pack Firethorn Red. It was the first car I ever sanded and buffed. It had honeycomb wheels and was a drop dead gorgeous Trans Am being that color combo, but it was an absolute dog off the line with that low compression 400 and 2.41 gears. It would run 100 mph all day long at 3,000 rpm’s! But it looked good doing it! We used to drive it to Panama City and stay at a motel where just about everyone drove a TA or a Z28 and back it in and hangout and drink beer in the parking lot all night. Those were the days!

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

The hood pan for retaining the shaker would be a very marketable item today.
It's a clean well thought out modification.

[JJDeville]

The group in Miami goes by Trans Am Specialties of Florida, I think they ripped the guys name off!

[JJDeville]

Originally Posted by Baron Von Zeppelin

The hood pan for retaining the shaker would be a very marketable item today.
It's a clean well thought out modification.

I think it would be a good item to have available to sell, especially to people installing an LS engine.

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

Originally Posted by JJDeville

I think it would be a good item to have available to sell, especially to people installing an LS engine.

Exactly.
And also guys using taller single plane intakes etc on PMD engines.
Pre-70 engines in 2nd gens with adapter brackets that raise engine up ,,,,
The new supercharger kit coming out ....
Definitely a needed product.

I've seen a lot creative ways used to do this , but this is much cleaner and far more civilized.

Originally Posted by JJDeville

The group in Miami goes by Trans Am Specialties of Florida, I think they ripped the guys name off!

Also a possibility

['ol Pinion head]

Originally Posted by JJDeville

Yes, the one I have seen online had the same modifications. I read an article from back in the day where the were building all of the 455 engine identical to each other. They sourced used engines and bored them to 462 for a basically new engine. The article stated that they also used a specific head for 9.2 compression ratio and enlarged the valves to 1.77. My car has 6X heads though I don’t know if they are 6X-4 or 6X-8.

My bet is 6X-8's if they went to trouble of zero decking the block
Most likely 6X-4's if not decked. Might ck the secondary code on the 6X's.

[JJDeville]

Originally Posted by 'ol Pinion head

My bet is 6X-8's if they went to trouble of zero decking the block
Most likely 6X-4's if not decked. Might ck the secondary code on the 6X's.

Would that give a 9.2 compression ratio? I will try to look tomorrow.

['ol Pinion head]

Originally Posted by Baron Von Zeppelin

Another thing I remember thinking when I saw the for sale ad was -
- why in the hell did the Miami guys go to the trouble to do those speedometers.

Had absolutely no idea there was ever a TA Specialties in business back in the 70's
I guess the guys in Miami bought out the namesake , or maybe any special parts still left , when they formed in Miami .

Ricky is a member here but seldom posts.
As far as I know they are still in business in Miami area.
He might have some interesting back story or history items of them too.

Why the custom speedo's with their company logo... own take is the "new" higher mph speedo looked better, & then there's the marketing factor, & finally the EGO factor of the builder. Doubt very seriously their 455 transplanted "Bandit" would do 140 with 3.08 rear gears.

Need to dig out the thin beige catalogue that TransAm Specialties originally offered. That catalogue was their first catalogue, not the expansive one HFR posted a link to including all the 3rd Gen stuff.

In '80 & into '81 the only water injection systems that were commonly avail were the Shelby-Spearco (horrid looking red squared off jug) setup. Edelbrock had just came out with a more sophisticated setup & looking at the later catalogue pics am betting the Edelbrock set-up is what Chuck Posey sourced. I bought a Shelby-Spearco water injection setup from HO Racing early on, & was given an Edelbrock system in early '82. Also had several different adjusted Hobbs switches. With all these pieces, experimented with water injection on two modded '80 Turbo T/A's. Eventually, late '81, for cleaner cosmetics under the hood of my '80, installed a '78 Bird washer jug (with the washer pump in the bottom).

Both setups were installed with the twin hole water injection spray nozzle along with the smallest restrictor "pellet" in the supply hose. Had mixed results even when mixing 50-50 methanol to water, that was running 91 octane Super. Eventually, I gave up on the water injection system & ran a mixture of 89 octane (barely leaded) & race fuel.

Looking back, I stumbled onto a factory washer jug & pump, & bought that first one at my local Pontiac dealer. Afterwards I began to frequent two large local late model GM Salvages where recent pulled washer jugs were typically piled up in pickup beds out the back door. Both of these late model yards weren't real keen on me wandering their yard, but they pointed me out back to their overflowing "stock" of washer jugs. At that time, also began buying traditional Pontiac shaker bases & lids. Similar deal, there would be over a hundred aircleaner bases & lids dropped in several pickup beds. I'd drop in several times a year & buy whatever they had.