Pontiac Trans Am

[76TA]

I would simply buy a $3,000 winter beater and sell after the spring.

[F-Body International]

I would simply buy a $3,000 winter beater and sell after the spring.

Considering everyone willing to pay only want to pay $3000-$4000 for these cars, it’s just not worth the sell. I couldn’t even get anyone to look at the car when it was listed at $6k.

[Josue]

I was surprised to find out what these 4th gens go for with average mileage. Low mileage ones with under 50K still seem to be getting 5 digit prices, but 150K mi ones aren't worth a whole lot. That's why I'm considering buying my friend's for $3500...not trying to low ball him, but that's all KBB says a 99 Trans Am with almost 150K is worth!

[F-Body International]

I was surprised to find out what these 4th gens go for with average mileage. Low mileage ones with under 50K still seem to be getting 5 digit prices, but 150K mi ones aren't worth a whole lot. That's why I'm considering buying my friend's for $3500...not trying to low ball him, but that's all KBB says a 99 Trans Am with almost 150K is worth!

Yea, they're dirt cheap these days. I'm glad I got mine but I think people are selling good ones for way too cheap. Might as well buy it if he's willing to sell it to you. I just crossed 150k myself but I have a lot going in for upgrade repair/soon. I'll continue that on this thread soon enough.

[Zanie]

Considering everyone willing to pay only want to pay $3000-$4000 for these cars, it’s just not worth the sell. I couldn’t even get anyone to look at the car when it was listed at $6k.

I think he meant sell the beater in the spring.

[F-Body International]

I think he meant sell the beater in the spring.

I don’t what that would bring me besides spending more money on another car is my point.

[F-Body International]

Some more updates for my '98.

When I got the new wheels mounted up at my local Goodyear shop this week, they notified me that my passenger outer tie rod was a little loose. Because of that, I just placed an order for a set of Proforged inner tie rods and a Midwest Chassis bump steer kit (https://midwestchassis.com/products/...-steering-rack). After I get this installed and do an alignment, hopefully that should improve steering. Steering insn't bad but I imagine this will help.

Finally got to spend the time this weekend to install my Strano Performance Parts front brake kit (http://www.stranoparts.com/partdetai...=7&PartID=1354) that's been sitting my garage since the end of November while I had my wheel ordering ordeal. My initial impressions are great. The car stops much smoother from higher speeds than before.

Some words of advice....if you're trying to install new flex lines on a car with old brake lines, get yourself a little torch if you don't have one! Heat helps big time for helping old parts come apart! Also, read the directions carefully! I was a dumb*** yesterday and broke a bolt because I misread a torque spec. Thankfully nothing was damaged and it was a cheap replacement.

Here's a simple write-up of how to install these brakes on a 4th gen.

Before picture from the other day when I just got the wheels...
Strano Performance Brake Install by Jonathon Randolph, on Flickr

Step 1 - Disassemble the brakes, pull the wheel hub off and cut the spindle as pictured. Before reassembling everything, make sure to clean the mounting surfaces....again, as pictured.
Strano Performance Brake Install by Jonathon Randolph, on Flickr

Step 2 - Put the mounting bracket on (caliper faces towards rear), slip the rotor on, install the caliper and plumb up the new braided hose. Make sure to follow proper torque specs. After that's done, bleed the system.
Strano Performance Brake Install by Jonathon Randolph, on Flickr

After picture...
Strano Performance Brake Install by Jonathon Randolph, on Flickr

[ryeguy2006a]

Just curious, if you have to cut the ear off of the spindle, where is the other mounting point for the calipers? Those brakes look awesome!

[F-Body International]

Just curious, if you have to cut the ear off of the spindle, where is the other mounting point for the calipers? Those brakes look awesome!

Thanks Ryan! The way it works is through a UMI C5/C6 Vette brake conversion bracket. Strano then supplies the Wilwood (Vette based) caliper and line. They have some type of business arrangement between each other as UMI sells some Strano part while Strano sells some UMI parts.

http://www.stranoparts.com/partdetai...=269&ModelID=7

[F-Body International]

Attached is a pic of my car with the new brakes and wheels.

[gscherer78ta]

I can't imagine those Rivals are much fun in the snow... I have all season tires on my '02 firehawk and when temps get below 20° here in TX, I have a traction problem with just the stock LS1.

[F-Body International]

I can't imagine those Rivals are much fun in the snow... I have all season tires on my '02 firehawk and when temps get below 20° here in TX, I have a traction problem with just the stock LS1.

They’re BFG Comp 2 A/S (All Season) tires on this car.

[gscherer78ta]

OK, that makes a lot more sense. I couldn't imagine why someone running a DD would choose Rivals. They profile picture sure makes them look like rivals.

[F-Body International]

OK, that makes a lot more sense. I couldn't imagine why someone running a DD would choose Rivals. They profile picture sure makes them look like rivals.

I hear you. They’re BFG’s so I could see where the confusion might be. The car has been driving pretty good with them but I’m not really trying to beat on my daily driver too hard so I unfortunately can’t give you a full performance report on it. Once I get the suspension and some other things repaired or rebuilt, then I’ll think about getting more into spirited driving. If 4th gens are driven enough, the hollow front sway bars like to break by the end link. My front sway bar is actually cracked and broken on both sides where it connects to the end links...that will have to get addressed eventually but for now, it doesn’t effect everyday driving for me. I’ll be posting up progress on my ‘98 once the exhaust and a few other items go in.

[F-Body International]

Got some updates in regards to the '79. My wife and I just purchased a small townhouse so I will be forced to get my car back on 4 wheels in order to move it.

My built W72 engine was given away by a family member to cover a personal debt. Long story that ticked me off...my engine was pretty much stolen lightly. After my engine ordeal, I sold my Pontiac EFI parts and ended up buying a 4.8 "LS" engine from a truck. I'm a Pontiac guy through-and-through, but I got a 4.8 LS engine with computer and a 2nd gen rear end delivered to my house for $525...got a real good deal there after being ripped off. I know the picture is pretty "bare" below, but I have all the wiring, intake, exhaust, etc. The header's are for my '98 so please disregard that ;)
Untitled by Jonathon Randolph, on Flickr


Picked up a set of 16x8 Convex '84-'86 Trans Am wheels for $80 in order to move my car. I just got them as rollers but I think I will try to run them now. With some research, I found these wheels started on the '84 15th Anniversary Trans Am, were used in '85-'86 for T/A and then phased out of production on '87 Formula cars. After seeing "Made in Germany" on the inside of the wheel, I think these are much cooler now. I was surprised by that...assumed these wheels would've been built elsewhere.
Untitled by Jonathon Randolph, on Flickr
Untitled by Jonathon Randolph, on Flickr

-Dave from PTFB came through and dropped off suspension parts this week.
-After Dave came by, I got my control arms fully disassembled. Once I got them dissassembled, I fitted up the AFCO lower control arm bushings in the frame and tack welded the sleeves in. Those things are awesome!
-Frame, suspension and other engine bay parts should be getting dropped off for sandblasting this week.
-Finished welding in my Lab-14 lower control arm reinforcements.

Some more parts ordered...
-UMI LS swap brackets.
-U-Pol Raptor Liner kit
-U-Pol Raptor Epoxy Primer Kit
-Lanolin wax kit for rust proofing the insides of cavities.
-621 Bellhousing for using a 4spd trans behind the LS
-'79-'81 WS6 backing plates from Facebook
-Hawk HPS front pads
-1LE front rotors
-GT Pro Suspension kit with matched shocks
-Solid body mounts
-Complete steering rebuild kit
-Afco lower control arm bushings
-B-Body spindles for the 11.86" 1LE rotors

Untitled by Jonathon Randolph, on Flickr

[Josh@Ridetech]

Car's looking good man. I'm in the process of doing my '79 as well!

[F-Body International]

Car's looking good man. I'm in the process of doing my '79 as well!

Thank you sir! ‘79-‘81 birds are awesome for updates and options on the 2nd gens. First ones to come out with steering wheels that match interior color, hi/lo beam on the steering column, bigger spoilers, etc. I’m getting back on it again. Been a lot of down time lately due to life circumstances and choices.

[Josh@Ridetech]

Thank you sir! ‘79-‘81 birds are awesome for updates and options on the 2nd gens. First ones to come out with steering wheels that match interior color, hi/lo beam on the steering column, bigger spoilers, etc. I’m getting back on it again. Been a lot of down time lately due to life circumstances and choices.

Anytime! It's been a goal of mine to build one after growing up around my Dad's Firebirds. They are cool cars. I'm going to try to keep working on mine but my free time will be a little less abundant now with the new baby!

[F-Body International]

Always forget to update on this forum. Been a while. Anyways, here are some updates.

Got the wheels refinished by my local Discount Tire. I'm unhappy with how much they machined off the face of the wheel but they look good. New tires installed are 255/50-16 BFG Comp.
Untitled by Jonathon Randolph, on Flickr

Bought a house with my wife and finally got the car into a garage. It has been a good few years since I've been able to work on it in a garage so I'm happy about this...
Untitled by Jonathon Randolph, on Flickr

Doing mockup to convert my LS engine to distributor and carburetor. The front distributor drive is made my GM.
Untitled by Jonathon Randolph, on Flickr

Decided to pull the heads to rebuild them and ended up finding glass in my engine. Crazy finding this considering I bought the engine complete with accessories, intake, harness, computer, etc.
Untitled by Jonathon Randolph, on Flickr

[F-Body International]

Been a while since I posted about my '98 Trans Am but I traded it for a truck last year due to me moving to a townhouse and this weekend I got it back from the person who had it. The car unfortunately got really messed up while out of my hands but I'm starting the process of getting it back to normal.
Got my car back and step 1 of repairs by Jonathon Randolph, on Flickr

First step was going to the junkyard. An LKQ by me had a '97 Firebird so I went and got the seats, rear view mirror, passenger door switch panel, door hardware and it even had a Metra 2 DIN radio adapter. With the labor day sale, I spent a whopping $75 out the door and $3 entrance fee.
Got my car back and step 1 of repairs by Jonathon Randolph, on Flickr

After getting the junkyard parts, I pulled out the original Trans Am seats from my car, vacuumed the car without seats, shampoo scrubbed everything after and finally got around to installing the seats. The only part I have left to finish with shampoo cleaning is the front seats.
Got my car back and step 1 of repairs by Jonathon Randolph, on Flickr
Got my car back and step 1 of repairs by Jonathon Randolph, on Flickr

Today, I also ordered a Strano suspension kit, Magnaflow exhaust, Turn One Steering pump, and UMI rear panhard bar and lower control arms with the roto-joint option. More to come soon