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Old 07-25-2022, 09:28 AM
evilws666 evilws666 is offline
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Default '79 T/A 403 - What Accessory Drive Is This?

Hello everyone. New member here as I just picked up a '79 T/A with a 403. I bought it from the second owner, who went to high school with the original owner. Supposedly, the original owner bought the car in '79, and started doing performance mods (which I have a lot of receipts for). Then he parked it in '82, and it sat until 2015 when the second owner bought it, painted it, and "pulled the engine apart, checked it, and put it back together." So basically, this car sits the same way it was set up in the early 80's, aside from a fresh paint job.

I hope it's alright that I post a question about the 403 here, I figured many of you will be familiar with these cars. Well, I'm completely new to Olds engines as I'm a Chevy guy. But it only took looking at a few other 403 T/A photos to notice that my accessory drive is set up way different. I was hoping someone here would know what vehicle these parts are from, and maybe even *why* it was set up this way.

For reference, it's a '79 4B 403 with 7A heads and a Holley Street Dominator intake manifold. Not sure on the carb yet as I just bought the car and haven't looked yet. It looks like there is an aftermarket harmonic balancer and crank pulley on it too.

Let me know what you guys think, any insight is much appreciated. Thanks!











And here, of course, is what it *should* look like:





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  #2  
Old 07-25-2022, 10:59 AM
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I don't really know anything about the 403 Olds engine, but I wonder where is the oil fill tube on it?
The fuel pump looks upside down?
(maybe not a 403 Olds engine now? 350?)




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Old 07-25-2022, 11:48 AM
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Well the 7A Olds heads were used on 72 Olds 350s and have better compression compared to the 4A heads. AS everyone knows heads make a huge difference in performance. I am not sure if the mounting bosses are different on the 7A heads compared to the 4a heads but more then likely whoever did the head swap just used the alternator mounting bracket from the 72. You might want to verify that it is a 403 and not an Olds 350. Carb looks to be a Holley 650/750 double pumper should be a fairly quick set up in that TA

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  #4  
Old 07-25-2022, 11:52 AM
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Interesting... is that a freeze plug where the oil fill tube should be? Maybe post this on Real Olds Power? That is certainly an Olds engine, but the setup doesn't look like one I've seen.

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Old 07-25-2022, 12:19 PM
Trevor78 Trevor78 is offline
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X2 just a regular Olds bracket setup. Has the 403 4B block casting. Plugging the oil filler hole was common for tidy-up jobs. I prefer to use it than filling up valve covers with oil. Removing aircleaner snorkels and ducting was another tidy up in return for now breathing from a hot engine bay.


Last edited by Trevor78; 07-25-2022 at 12:29 PM.
  #6  
Old 07-25-2022, 12:22 PM
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You've got an Olds 350 in there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASlPyAeimY0

And you definitely need another belt on that power steering pump. The single belt doesn't have enough contact surface on the pump pulley to avoid slippage.

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Old 07-25-2022, 12:33 PM
Trevor78 Trevor78 is offline
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It's a 403.

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Old 07-25-2022, 01:07 PM
evilws666 evilws666 is offline
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Yep, after some more research, it is 100% a 403 with non-Trans Am front accessory drive. This is exactly how they look on Oldsmobiles with 403’s, as well as 70-72 350’s. Everything may have been swapped over with the head swap like mentioned above. Why? I have no idea.

Officially starting the hunt for the original Trans Am 403 front accessory drive components - alternator and power steering brackets, long water pump, crank pulley, harmonic balancer, power steering pump, and whatever else I’m missing.

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Old 07-25-2022, 02:08 PM
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I know a guy who just yanked a 403 from a ta. You’d get it all, rite up to the shaker.

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Old 07-25-2022, 07:11 PM
evilws666 evilws666 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by burd View Post
I know a guy who just yanked a 403 from a ta. You’d get it all, rite up to the shaker.
What, you mean the whole engine? I’m gonna send you a PM.

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