[SD455DJ]

Sorry in advance that this story is a little long winded, but...this past month Dan and I were asked to help with the settling of the cars & parts collection of the estate of a long time local Pontiac enthusiast and friend, Mike Calvaruso, who passed away recently (at only 61 years old) from colon cancer (get your colonoscopies regularly if your 45 or older!). Mike’s only daughter was left with pretty much everything except the loose (huge) collection of parts and tools that he willed to his best friend (since high school). The estate executor called our local POCI chapter president to ask who in the club could help them sort through everything (parts) and establish values for the two 1978 Trans Am’s he owned. The president recommended Dan and I to help, so we got the call and were happy to help. The daughter was unsure whether to sell them, or keep them, as she knew how precious they were to her dad and that was important to her. She didn’t want them to go to just anyone, especially someone that would just flip the cars, or didn’t treasure them like her father.

Mike bought his first 1978 TA off the new car lot at Orson E. Coe Pontiac-GMC with the standard drivetrain (180 hp 400/TH350/2.41 rear) in June 30, 1978, a year after he graduated from high school. It was too late to order a 1978 TA with the WS6/W72 options and he didn’t want a ’79 TA, so he took what he could get so late in the year and was lucky to find one locally in the color (Martinique Blue) he wanted. He got a great job at the local GM stamping plant right out of high school (1977) and saved his money for a year to buy his first new car. The Martinique Blue TA (03B build date) was equipped with the deluxe light blue velour interior and a host of other creature comfort options (A/C, power windows, cruise control, AM/FM stereo, Hurst T-top Hatches, etc.) was driven only on sunny nice days all these years and has only 28,043 original miles on it presently. To improve its look Mike swapped on a set of 15x8 snowflakes to replace the bland looking 15x7 snowflakes originally on the car. The car was ‘rustproofed’ at the dealership and they did lay the undercoating on thick…but, there is no rust anywhere on the car. Mike called this car “The Girl” because it was a cushy automatic TA with a host of creature comforts.

Mike always wanted a WS6/W72 TA in Martinique Blue and eventually found one to purchase in 1986 on the east side of the state (MI). It was a mildly modified car that actually had an HO Racing Turbo-Force turbocharger system on it along with a few other custom enhancements like gold 50th anniversary striping, a Hooker chrome roll bar, chromed power brake booster/alternator/fender reinforcements, Pioneer stereo system, etc. The car was profiled in the 1983 Pontiac Annual magazine with the original owner back in 1982. When Mike got this TA he decided to pull the original (albeit modified) 400 out and build a new killer street engine and turn the TA into a street brawler. With the help of Pontiac racer and friend, Marty Palbykin, they built a 455 to SD455 specs with the SD rods that were in the turbo’d 400 engine, forged domed SD455 pistons (HO Racing?), SD455 heads (F163) and exhaust manifolds, along with a 7044270 (2473 SF) SD carb that they found for the build. The Q-jet went on a new Warrior single plane intake manifold (Doug Nash copy) with a K&N air filter on top. Since the Warrior intake positioned the carb thru the shaker scoop opening in the hood, they crafted a neat bolt-on TA shaker-style hood scoop to retain a close to factory stock look. They backed the stout 455 with a Richmond 4+1 5-speed trans (with .77 overdrive), steel flywheel and Hayes B&B (leg-killer) clutch/pressure plate. Mike added other enhancements such as an electric fuel pump, braided fuel lines, bolt-on sub-frame connectors, and 15x10 Mini-Lite style Western Wheels with 50 series TA Radials. This TA was Tuff-Coated when it was new and that stuff is still sticky! It was never driven in the winters either and has only 27,489 original miles. It is factory equipped the TA Special Performance Package (WS6 - Trans Am Mark IV Package is the other PMD name) with the W72 220 hp 400 engine, M21 B-W 4-speed, 3.42 rear, deluxe light blue interior, Fisher Body T-Tops (04C build date, 5 weeks after the automatic car with the Hurst Hatches), and the AM/FM/8-Track stereo radio. Mike called this TA “The Boy” because it was rough and tumble and had a manual transmission with the leg-killer heavy duty clutch.

After helping the family the past several weeks, the daughter decided to keep her dad’s automatic TA (The Girl) and offered the hot-rod TA (The Boy) to Dan and I instead of going through the hassle of selling her dad’s pride & joy. She got to know, like, and trust us and wanted us to have (buy) the car, sooo, it is now in Dan’s possession (he recently sold his ’74 Formula 455 to Rocky Rotella which made the necessary room for this TA). The original block (.030 over), 6X4 heads, carb and distributor, scoop assembly, and 15x8 Snowflake wheels came with the car. All that’s missing is the original cast iron intake manifold (but have the EGR system!) and the front timing cover. It’s Dan’s goal to return the TA to its original WS6/W72 glory one of these days, but for now, to have fun with the TA the way Mike built it! The only difference is that it will be wearing the original 15x8 Snowflakes it left the factory with. Dan will be burning rubber and banging gears in Mike’s honor!

Rest in peace Mike, you are deeply missed by your family and friends!

Dennis

[mrennie]

Awesome story! Great writing too

[SD455DJ]

Thanks Michael! Here is the dealer order form, dealer copy, and build sheet for the 'Boy" TA...also the trim tag and interior.

Dennis

[Green Hornet]

Originally Posted by SD455DJ

Thanks Michael! Here is the dealer order form, dealer copy, and build sheet for the 'Boy" TA...also the trim tag and interior.

Dennis

Cool story...and cars.......

I have the "twin" of boy here.....with a bit more bling ..power windows, tilt and heated back glass....also a Norwood build and customer order......Pretty much loaded...other than AC...but "radio delete".

It's had some paintwork done on the sides.....but still has stock exhaust ...with the pancake cat on it..

[SD455DJ]

Green Hornet, Nice!...and Wow, very similarly equipped for sure. How many miles is on yours and what's the trim tag date? Coincidentally, it appears the 'Boys' driver rear quarter panel was repainted for some reason, but no damage or heavy filler that we can detect. The stock exhaust is long gone except for the rear splitters.

Dennis

[Judge273]

A guy named Mike and 61....I’m listening and sadly seems to be a real thing lately. Dan and Dennis are the best! Sad, but glad the estate plan is in good hands!

[Green Hornet]

Originally Posted by SD455DJ

Green Hornet, Nice!...and Wow, very similarly equipped for sure. How many miles is on yours and what's the trim tag date? Coincidentally, it appears the 'Boys' driver rear quarter panel was repainted for some reason, but no damage or heavy filler that we can detect. The stock exhaust is long gone except for the rear splitters.

Dennis

03/29 on the build sheet.....

Odometer reads almost 90k (Canadian delivered car)...which is about 60,000 miles...

Fortunate (for me) it was never winter driven....

Was undercoated when new....but incredibly nice underneath....The factory paper code tags are still on the front rotor splash shields...

I pulled the battery tray last week.....because that is usually a good indication...of the rest of the cars condition...and was amazed...

[padgett]

BTW radials in this century mostly now have an extra nylon ply (cap). In the 70's they didn't.

[Brewster]

Nice read and awesome friends helping out. Very honorable. Imagine the boy is in very good hands and most likely in need of new tires already

[SD455DJ]

Thanks Brew! Yep, new radial TA's or MT's on the way...might even spring for those terribly expensive Goodyear repop radials from Kelsey(?). Been following your Judge thread and really digging that car's day 2 (& 3) vibe.

Here's the magazine cover and the article with the original owner and the mods he made to the TA in the late 70's/early 80's.

Dennis

[burd]

Originally Posted by SD455DJ

Thanks Brew! Yep, new radial TA's or MT's on the way...might even spring for those terribly expensive Goodyear repop radials from Kelsey(?). Been following your Judge thread and really digging that car's day 2 (& 3) vibe.

Here's the magazine cover and the article with the original owner and the mods he made to the TA in the late 70's/early 80's.

Dennis

I have that HPP, I’ll check that out.

['ol Pinion head]

Looks a lot better Dennis & you & Dan prob saved 15lbs of weight just on the muffler swap over the trashmasters. I too remember that exact feature in the very early issue of HPP. May have an extra issue, CSK publishing was sending me two of same issues for a while. Have not pulled out the boxes of early HPP's in many years, if have an extra issue, it's yours.

[SD455DJ]

The '78 is ready for the TA Nat's in 6 short weeks (already!).

Dennis

[Green Hornet]

Originally Posted by 'ol Pinion head

Looks a lot better Dennis & you & Dan prob saved 15lbs of weight just on the muffler swap over the trashmasters. I too remember that exact feature in the very early issue of HPP. May have an extra issue, CSK publishing was sending me two of same issues for a while. Have not pulled out the boxes of early HPP's in many years, if have an extra issue, it's yours.

OK......so Flowmasters are scorned out now.....?

'splain.Lucy......

[SD455DJ]

Finally reunited the original gold painted (55P UPC code) 15x8 Snowflakes with the 'Boy" TA. They were on the 'Girl' TA for the last 20 years, or so, we're guessing. They still have the factory darker gold paint still in nice condition. Here's the Build Sheet that lists them as well as the Dealer Copy invoice as a 'No Charge' option. The BFG TA's need to be replaced as they were manufactured in 2000!

Dennis

[burd]

Nice Marty!

[Green Hornet]

Just curious.....if your 78 has the braided ground strap that goes from the back of pass. side head to firewall... just above blower housing?

[SD455DJ]

Originally Posted by Green Hornet

Just curious.....if your 78 has the braided ground strap that goes from the back of pass. side head to firewall... just above blower housing?

Yes, it does...'79 is the same too.

Dennis

[SD455DJ]

Originally Posted by Green Hornet

Just curious.....if your 78 has the braided ground strap that goes from the back of pass. side head to firewall... just above blower housing?

Yes, it does...'79 is the same too.

Dennis

[Green Hornet]

Not too shabby....for a 78 smog motor....with cam, piston and exhaust upgrades...