#1  
Old 01-28-2021, 06:36 PM
RedDirtRoad RedDirtRoad is offline
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Default 1978 Trans Am Survivor Project

Hey Guys,
New to the Trans Am forum.
I am in the 66-67 GTO section and completed a couple of frame off restorations in the past
I am diving into new territory and recently bought a 1978 TA with 26K original miles
It’s a true time capsule but unfortunately the original owner passed away and the car has been kept outside the past 5 years and the elements really did a job on paint and interior.
I don’t plan on doing a ground up restoration on this car. It’s too original to take apart.
I only plan to disassemble as little as possible to restore to like new again
Here are the details on this car
Y72 400
4 speed manual
3.42 Posi rear
No A/C, Power windows, door locks, etc.
This was a customer order car and apparently he wanted a street performer
I am sure I will have plenty of questions for the Trans Am Gurus on here
Thanks!










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  #2  
Old 01-28-2021, 08:36 PM
694.1 694.1 is offline
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Guessing that the person who left it to rot was cutout of the will?

Great find.

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  #3  
Old 01-28-2021, 09:33 PM
stuta stuta is offline
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Very cool TA !
Good luck with her.

Correct me if I'm wrong guys, but I believe the rear would be a 3.23 ratio.

  #4  
Old 01-29-2021, 09:41 AM
TAKerry TAKerry is offline
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Love it! Im not a rat rod guy, but IF that were my car, I would refurbish the mechanicals/drivetrain, and the interior, control the rust somehow and drive the out of it!!

  #5  
Old 01-29-2021, 10:21 AM
78w72 78w72 is offline
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nice car! should be an easy mild restoration. i have a hardtop 78 4 speed with no other options as well... used to have one back in the 90's as well that was silver with red interior & t tops. the 78-79's with no air or power windows etc & a 4 speed were the best performance T/A's you could get at that time.

& im sure it was just a typo but, the engine is a W72, not Y72.

  #6  
Old 01-29-2021, 03:57 PM
RedDirtRoad RedDirtRoad is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 694.1 View Post
Guessing that the person who left it to rot was cutout of the will?

Great find.
I was told the car was left to the guys grandson. The young man was more interested in buying a new Subaru. The Subaru got the garage and the TA was put out to pasture.

  #7  
Old 01-29-2021, 04:04 PM
RedDirtRoad RedDirtRoad is offline
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Correct me if I'm wrong guys, but I believe the rear would be a 3.23 ratio.[/QUOTE]

From what I read online the axle code on the build sheet is 2PY and that comes up as 3.43 posi. The highest gear ratio you could get.

  #8  
Old 01-29-2021, 04:05 PM
RedDirtRoad RedDirtRoad is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 78w72 View Post
nice car! should be an easy mild restoration. i have a hardtop 78 4 speed with no other options as well... used to have one back in the 90's as well that was silver with red interior & t tops. the 78-79's with no air or power windows etc & a 4 speed were the best performance T/A's you could get at that time.

& im sure it was just a typo but, the engine is a W72, not Y72.
Correct! W72

  #9  
Old 01-29-2021, 06:24 PM
78w72 78w72 is offline
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78 4 speeds were 3.42 ratio. 3.23 was for the automatic trans.

  #10  
Old 01-30-2021, 05:36 AM
Aus78Formula Aus78Formula is offline
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So did you get my emails and PM's?

  #11  
Old 01-30-2021, 06:08 AM
stuta stuta is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 78w72 View Post
78 4 speeds were 3.42 ratio. 3.23 was for the automatic trans.
Thanks for the info !

  #12  
Old 01-30-2021, 10:04 AM
RedDirtRoad RedDirtRoad is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Aus78Formula View Post
So did you get my emails and PM's?
Yes Sir
Thank you Ben!
The info you sent is invaluable and I really appreciate it
I did email you too
Thanks!

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Old 01-30-2021, 04:32 PM
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77 TRASHCAN 77 TRASHCAN is online now
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Nice!!!
Looking forward to the direction you take and how you go about it.
What part of the country do you hail from? ( if you care to say. Red dirt sounds like Oklahoma or Texas, LOL)

Carry on! Thanks for saving this one!

I’m amazed to see the factory rubber floor again it!!!

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  #14  
Old 01-31-2021, 05:08 PM
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Green Hornet Green Hornet is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RedDirtRoad View Post
Correct me if I'm wrong guys, but I believe the rear would be a 3.23 ratio.
From what I read online the axle code on the build sheet is 2PY and that comes up as 3.43 posi. The highest gear ratio you could get.[/QUOTE]

3:42 posi was standard (correct)...for 78 W72 4-speed only...

All other 77-79 W72's got 3:23....(stick or auto)

  #15  
Old 01-31-2021, 09:45 PM
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77 TRASHCAN 77 TRASHCAN is online now
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Green Hornet View Post
From what I read online the axle code on the build sheet is 2PY and that comes up as 3.43 posi. The highest gear ratio you could get.
3:42 posi was standard (correct)...for 78 W72 4-speed only...

All other 77-79 W72's got 3:23....(stick or auto)[/QUOTE]

I wish my 77 woulda came with 3.23’s! Instead of the Salt Flat 2.41’s!

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1977 Black Trans Am 180 HP Auto, essentially base model T/A.
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Shut it off
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  #16  
Old 02-28-2021, 01:15 AM
RedDirtRoad RedDirtRoad is offline
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Default Year Down Day

Spent the day tearing down the TA
Fully documenting the whole tear down with photos for reference and factory markings
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Old 02-28-2021, 11:06 AM
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Interesting dolly for under the firewall!

Yea my 180 HP 78 came with 2.56s. I could run most of the Texas World Speedway road course in second! And only pull 4000 on the long straight with the stock motor, about 130.

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  #18  
Old 04-12-2021, 01:47 PM
RedDirtRoad RedDirtRoad is offline
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Its been a while since I updated the tread but the work has continued.
The sub frame has been disassembled, sand blasted and painted.
The suspension components have been cleaned and painted.
Engine was cleaned and painted but since this is a 26K orig mile car no major engine parts were removed.
Original carb was rebuilt and emission parts cleaned
Sub frame is now complete










  #19  
Old 04-12-2021, 01:52 PM
RedDirtRoad RedDirtRoad is offline
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Brake rotors, calipers and spindles are all original.






  #20  
Old 04-12-2021, 05:17 PM
RedDirtRoad RedDirtRoad is offline
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T-10 detailed. Phosphate linkage. Cad mounting bracket




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