I had too, please dont kick me off the site :)
- Thread starter STUNTS
- Start date
My first brand new car after getting hired by Lockheed... a 1981 Trans Am - Black & Gold. The toss-up was between this and a Datsun 300ZX. There really wasn't many choices in 1980/81 for a new "performance" car.
FYI - The Turbo V8 engine was not sold in California until 1981... when they finally got all of the emissions sorted. You know, it's really hard to get 200HP out of a forced induction V8!
FYI - The Turbo V8 engine was not sold in California until 1981... when they finally got all of the emissions sorted. You know, it's really hard to get 200HP out of a forced induction V8!
gtinmyblood
GT Owner
As far as I'm concerned it's all about enjoying life. For guys my age this is a memorable car. If you can have fun with it and make memories...why not! I like it.
BlackICE
GT Owner
If you didn't buy this car, when someone asked little Timmy what a Pontiac is, he would said, WHAT!
Triheart7
GT Owner
Sinovac
GT Owner
Congratulations. A good friend of mine had one in high school. We had some great times with that car. His had a nice looking machined instrument surround.
You won't get any criticism from me for wanting a T/A. I want an AMC Pacer for reasons that will remain know only to me.
You won't get any criticism from me for wanting a T/A. I want an AMC Pacer for reasons that will remain know only to me.
If you stop by my house Tim make sure you bring a drip pan with you.... Just kiddin, enjoy her...
SYCO GT
GT Owner
That's so awesome Stunts. One of my favorites. Enjoy!
Go shopping for thick gold chains and pinky ring next. : )
Go shopping for thick gold chains and pinky ring next. : )
Congrats on the Trans Am! They are true classic and I will always regard the Trans Am as a higher class than anything camaro. My dad had 2 in his younger days both of which he purchased new. 69 400 4sp and a 72 455 4sp both white with blue striping....
...and don't forget to pick up a Kenworth 18 wheeler to complete the set! Oh - AND A HAT! :lol
All bull pucky aside - that car should be a LOT of fun, STUNTS. Congrats! Enjoy...
skyrex
FORD GT OWNER
Very COOL!!!! :thumbsup:thumbsup
I lusted after the TA from the original Smokey and the Bandit but never pulled the trigger. :cheers
I lusted after the TA from the original Smokey and the Bandit but never pulled the trigger. :cheers
Turbo 301 tip.
Tim,
A very cool car which brings back lots of memories as I both drove many of these as my company car during my quarter-century as Pontiac dealer (though I preferred white and red), and sold over 200 of them during the time they were produced. An interesting car that was produced after the last big block Pontiac engines went out of production in 1978. The last true big block Pontiac motor produced was the 400 in.³ big block 4 barrel V-8. A handful of these were held over and put in to four-speed equipped Trans Am's in 1979. All automatic transmission Trans Am's built in 1979 were equipped with the Oldsmobile 403 V-8 that had siamesed cylinders and was not nearly as desirable as that big block Pontiac 400. In 1980 the Trans Am used the 301 Pontiac small block V-8 equipped with an air cooled Garrett turbocharger to try and re-create the big block feel of those old 400s. There were quite a few turbocharger failures because that Turbo was not water cooled. Every time you shut the car down you should let it idle for at least 30 seconds and if you have been running the car hard, let it idle for at least a full minute. Buyers almost never did that. They would drive the car hard and that air cooled turbo would be blistering hot. The turbocharger in the car uses engine oil as its only source of cooling and upon shutdown whatever oil is in the Turbo stopped flowing and was cooked into a hard varnish by that white hot turbocharger leading to premature failure. Let that air cooled turbo cool down before you shut the engine off and you'll enjoy a long and happy life with your new toy. It would be appropriate to toast your beautiful new car with a can of original Coors beer!!! :cheers
All the best.
Chip
Tim,
A very cool car which brings back lots of memories as I both drove many of these as my company car during my quarter-century as Pontiac dealer (though I preferred white and red), and sold over 200 of them during the time they were produced. An interesting car that was produced after the last big block Pontiac engines went out of production in 1978. The last true big block Pontiac motor produced was the 400 in.³ big block 4 barrel V-8. A handful of these were held over and put in to four-speed equipped Trans Am's in 1979. All automatic transmission Trans Am's built in 1979 were equipped with the Oldsmobile 403 V-8 that had siamesed cylinders and was not nearly as desirable as that big block Pontiac 400. In 1980 the Trans Am used the 301 Pontiac small block V-8 equipped with an air cooled Garrett turbocharger to try and re-create the big block feel of those old 400s. There were quite a few turbocharger failures because that Turbo was not water cooled. Every time you shut the car down you should let it idle for at least 30 seconds and if you have been running the car hard, let it idle for at least a full minute. Buyers almost never did that. They would drive the car hard and that air cooled turbo would be blistering hot. The turbocharger in the car uses engine oil as its only source of cooling and upon shutdown whatever oil is in the Turbo stopped flowing and was cooked into a hard varnish by that white hot turbocharger leading to premature failure. Let that air cooled turbo cool down before you shut the engine off and you'll enjoy a long and happy life with your new toy. It would be appropriate to toast your beautiful new car with a can of original Coors beer!!! :cheers
All the best.
Chip
AtomicGT
GT Owner
Tim,
Never apologize for buying Vintage American Muscle in good condition.
At least it was not a Datsun Z!
Never apologize for buying Vintage American Muscle in good condition.
At least it was not a Datsun Z!
Bad pic of my 79 TA with the orig.403 engine removed for overhaul. I took photos of every # on the heads and block for future reference. I also have a sunlit gold 79 301 car with 66K miles sold new here locally. Very low option car. Has a/c, automatic, & honeycomb wheels.
I have always loved these low hp, gas hog machines. My wife drove a 79 red on red top WS6 403 for 8 yrs. Great car!
I have always loved these low hp, gas hog machines. My wife drove a 79 red on red top WS6 403 for 8 yrs. Great car!
BlackICE
GT Owner
I never could fit into a TA. My head was to the roof and my vision was blocked by the sun visor. I had that concern about a FGT as well and initially wrote it off because I assumed it had the same problem. Too my surprise I did fit in it, so I bought one.
