'72 Trans Am... PT build or ?

[TerryD]

So here's the deal. A while back I ran across a very nice 72 TA that had undergone a nice cosmetic resto. Engine is pretty tired, 180k miles with one rebuild back in '93. It's a Cali Car, all factory metal except the trunk floor. Very well done. I am owner #3. Have documentation all the way back. Numbers matching 455 HO/TH400. My intention when I bought it was a modest PT build maintaining the original identity. Bought it back in June. Been formulating a build plan. Pretty much have it worked out.

So now for the delima......every time I go out to the shop a look at her I ask myself "should I be doing this to this car?" The only thing that makes this particular car "special" is that in '72 GM suffered a strike and there were only 1286 TA's built. Every 72 TA had the same engine. So no rarity there. Mainly just the fact it is all original and all there.

So my question to you guys.....

"What would you do?"

(sorry if this post in in the wrong place. Wasn't sure where it fits.)

[KEV 190164]

its down to you what you do but I would go the whole pro touring look . i love custom over original but there are far more original guys than pro touring guys

[fun2run]

Keep it stock and sell it to me. :)

[TerryD]

Hmmmm, surprised. I figured there would be a lot more opinions on this subject.usually a very polarized subject.
In the end I will build as I want, cuz that's what we do ��
Just thought it would be interesting to get others opinions.
Thanks for the input!!

[ih8z28s]

Do what you want it's your car, if your overly concerned about the originality of it, save everything you remove, and if you ever decide to sell it give the new owner all the parts

[TerryD]

Do what you want it's your car, if your overly concerned about the originality of it, save everything you remove, and if you ever decide to sell it give the new owner all the parts


Yep Joe, you are right! My plan from the beginning and I am going to stick to it.
Here we go!!

[MonzaRacer]

My take, since it is sort of limited numbers don't hurt value by cutting it.
455 is tq monster, for me, slip it out, swap out aram cast rods and cast pistons, hone it for some forged pistons/eagle rods, get it decked, swap on some Edelbrock heads, nice aluminum intake with a 4bbl throttle body FI setup.
Now, swap in lower strong arms and coilovera from Ridetech, Even though it does some minor damage installing Ridetech 4 link and coil overs.
Depending on driving habbit Musclebars might also be order.
Oh and depending on your needs you can either use beefed up stock trans, figuring its either th 400 or th350 maybe a OD trans swap.
But don't do any mods that can't be reversed with minimal issue. Save old parts, store them.
My other addition would be better seats but made to match stock and some upgraded restraints.
Tunes might need some additions but again limited to no cutting.
Oh yeah hit Kore3 for parts, swap in some bigger Vette brakes and nice wheels.
Oh and drive it another 180k

[TerryD]

My take, since it is sort of limited numbers don't hurt value by cutting it.
455 is tq monster, for me, slip it out, swap out aram cast rods and cast pistons, hone it for some forged pistons/eagle rods, get it decked, swap on some Edelbrock heads, nice aluminum intake with a 4bbl throttle body FI setup.
Now, swap in lower strong arms and coilovera from Ridetech, Even though it does some minor damage installing Ridetech 4 link and coil overs.
Depending on driving habbit Musclebars might also be order.
Oh and depending on your needs you can either use beefed up stock trans, figuring its either th 400 or th350 maybe a OD trans swap.
But don't do any mods that can't be reversed with minimal issue. Save old parts, store them.
My other addition would be better seats but made to match stock and some upgraded restraints.
Tunes might need some additions but again limited to no cutting.
Oh yeah hit Kore3 for parts, swap in some bigger Vette brakes and nice wheels.
Oh and drive it another 180k


Lee, my thoughts are pretty much the same as yours. I can do pretty much everything on my list without any cutting. My plan for the rear will require a few welds, but nothing that couldn't be cut off and ground down in the future.
I'll reveal the build plan when I start a build thread. My thoughts for it are along the same lines you mentioned. All the original numbers matching stuff will be stashed. I'm sure I will get some grief from the purists but in the end it's my car. They can go buy one for themselves if they want a museum piece ��

[Tom Welch]

my thoughts run parallel to Lee Abel. if it can be returned to completely stock then you preserve what it is and make it better at the same time

[tazzz25906112]

TerryD I've cut up so many early second gens I guess you'd expect me to say "balls to the wall, go for it".... Which by the way is not what I'm about to say in this case. The car sounds like a nice sound piece and you're talking about a mild Pro-touring build from what I just quickly glanced at..

Maybe you might want to do some quick math before doing this particular car and consider how important a real TA (vs a clone) when you are looking for a Pro-touring ride... I'll bet if you looked carefully you could build a more serious car for roughly the same money.

What was discussed above will cost a minimum of likely 15K plus the labor for on the lite side… So at even low number of 35K for your original 72TA and likely another 20 to 30,000 (15-18 in parts and rest labor) before the dust settles, your way upside down… Call me if you’re inclined 416-566-9660 and not stuck on an original TA. I listen to your wants and recommend some things you may not be considering that will likely give you a lot more bang for your buck….

[TerryD]

TerryD I've cut up so many early second gens I guess you'd expect me to say "balls to the wall, go for it".... Which by the way is not what I'm about to say in this case. The car sounds like a nice sound piece and you're talking about a mild Pro-touring build from what I just quickly glanced at..

Maybe you might want to do some quick math before doing this particular car and consider how important a real TA (vs a clone) when you are looking for a Pro-touring ride... I'll bet if you looked carefully you could build a more serious car for roughly the same money.

What was discussed above will cost a minimum of likely 15K plus the labor for on the lite side… So at even low number of 35K for your original 72TA and likely another 20 to 30,000 (15-18 in parts and rest labor) before the dust settles, your way upside down… Call me if you’re inclined 416-566-9660 and not stuck on an original TA. I listen to your wants and recommend some things you may not be considering that will likely give you a lot more bang for your buck….

Albert,
"Math" is a big part of any build for most all of us for sure. I'll give you the short version of how I got to this point. When I embarked on this build I was looking for a solid TA or clone or Formula that had a decent paint job and interior. I can do my own body and paint but not my favorite job....after a nearly year long search for a good candidate I ran across this car. It has an awesome paint job and great interior. Virtually every other car I found would have required extensive work to get close to this one's condition. That meaning I would have had to put out $10-15k plus the cost of the car to equal the starting point of this one. So the math worked out in my favor to buy this TA as a starting point. Not many decent F Bodies around here and those that are available have owners that spend too much time watching Barrett Jackson. Usually I am inclined to want to go with a car that I can feel free to customize guilt free. Just had no luck finding a good car......

At that point I worked up a plan for a modest build that would not alter the body with exception of a few welds to mount the rear suspension and those could be cut off and ground down to return to original.
The plan includes pulling the entire drive line and front subframe and saving them for potential return to original

I have owned 3 TA's in the past (1 RAIV !) and 4 Camaros so I am pretty familiar with these cars. I have built a few PT builds, the last a pretty extensive job so I know what kind of cost is involved. Now I don't claim to have built to the level of some of your builds for sure! In fact your white '73 and the Cherokee build are what inspired me to build another TA.

If someone came along that had a decent car to trade for this one I would definitely give it consideration, just hasn't happened. I started this thread thinking it would give me some guilt relief, that hasn't happened either LOL!!!

Thanks for your input!
Terry

[Interceptor5588]

I would pull the engine/trans complete and store on casters under the bench. Swap in a carbed 400 stroker or built 455 with an overdrive trans and do all bolt-on suspension parts with modern wheels and tires. Save EVERYTHING, those Pontiac resto guys are fanatics for original parts. Don't mess with the rest, stock rebuilt brakes, steering, etc are fine for cruising. Except maybe better seats with their own brackets . . . the new GTO seats are the best thing about my old GTO.

[gscherer78ta]

X2 what Interceptor said. I have a '78 Y88 all original TA myself and I removed the #matching engine and I have saved every part that I removed. Get some modern bolt on suspension parts and new wheels and tires and go have fun with it.

[Rocker75]

Go full custom,,,,, all you can afford. I can tell that's what you really want. Why shouldn't you have it. If you want to save/sell the parts you remove, do it. Definitely don't throw them away.!!!!!! Modernize these cars. they are so beautiful.... I have a black bandit 78 and every single day I drive it people stop me and compliment it. they don't know I have all Hotchkis, Energy Suspension and Bilstein underneath, but I do.

[indyjps]

Restomod.
Build the engine with upgraded internals, have the exhaust manifolds extrudehoned. Dress the engine as stock.
Stock body, stock interior, year 1 alum ralleyes, suspension is all bolt on, so go which ever way you want.

Another interesting direction would be to build it as a transam road race car, set up as vintage racer look.

[GEARBOXGARAGE]

TerryD,

Here's a Year One video that shows what they did to a 72. They highlight the same questions and concerns you have. They made a very nice Pro-Touring styled build that is reversible if needed to be returned to stock.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvFs_F1X5_0

[BMR Sales]

Terry, Look at the Video in my Signature - everything is reversible here as well