1974 Trans Am Clone Build

[Ccd]

I started this build over the last few months, just recently introduced it in the new member section, and would like to keep a running commentary on the progress. My hope is that my experiences might be of help to someone else doing a similar project, and also perhaps get some suggestions, tips or assistance too.

So, if you are interested enough feel free to go check out my introduction in the new members section, but here's the long and short of it... 1974 Firebird Esprit, all original, no accidents, 2 previous owners, 46000 miles. Super straight car, almost zero rust, and she is getting worked over to eventually become my version of a Pro Tour Trans Am clone.

I have a 2011 ZR1 Corvette, a 2015 Audi S8, and a 2016 FJR1300 along with several other vehicles of varying interest, but there is nothing quite so cool as ripping around in something old school cool, that's built with your own 2 hands and thoughts and plans! I spent years pulling wrenches professionally, both as an employee and then as a business owner, and let me tell you how little you feel like working on your own stuff when you do it for a living! I started my own heavy truck and trailer repair shop 10 years ago, and as it's grown over the last few years I have distanced myself from working as a technician, and now finally am able to take pleasure in doing this kind of work once again.

Here she is in all her vinyl top, spoilerless glory. Posted closer up pics so you guys can see how straight this car is! As I work through the disassembly process. Have yet to find any surprises or even have any fasteners or what have you give me any trouble at all.

[1965gp]

Damn that car looks clean!

[kamaro]

I don't want to be the rain on your parade, but that car looks too clean to be hacked up!

[compos mentis]

I had a '74 455 T/A...they certainly need to be PT'd.

'Jim Rockford' was always having to try and keep his 'Birds in one piece...

(Racer) Jim Garner would say 'cut it up!' -;)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (https://postimg.org/image/bvqskb1jt/)how to do a screenshot on a pc (https://postimage.io/app.php)certificity.com (https://certificity.com)

[qnitro]

I did the same thing... LS2/T56

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2017/04/9D3BEA405830417E948B2465EB9F019F_zpsplc3-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://s867.photobucket.com/user/qnitro/media/9D3BEA40-5830-417E-948B-2465EB9F019F_zpsplc3d3bl.jpg.html)

[Ccd]

Couldn't get this pic to load before...
I'm finding out that IPads don't lend themselves to this site very well!

[compos mentis]

I use www.postimg.org with my ipad.

Super easy imo.

[Ccd]

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And so it begins!! Here's some of the teardown, I set up this garage space with a hoist, a stereo and a beer fridge and I don't know of a better way to relax and decompress then come and spend some time on the F-Bird!

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[Later-A-body]

That's exactly what my Grand Am looked like when I bought it 25 years ago. White paint, white vinyl roof, whitewalls and Rally II wheels. Go for the look and performance that will make you happy. Staying with the Pontiac or going LS? Automatic or manual? Great car to start with.

[Ccd]

Thanks LA-Body! Powertrain is a cammed LS3 with 4L65e, TCI street fighter torque converter, and Moser spec built diff with 3.73 gears. I'll be heading over to your threads to check out your GA!

[Ccd]

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So, the disassembly process is nearing completion! Out comes the old 10 bolt... it put up a bit of a struggle, there was definitely some cursing before it was out!

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The subframe is out and has taken a little trip to get media blasted and powder coated. Word to the wise... the balance of the car shifts drastically once the subframe comes out. I could see what was happening before it became an issue and strapped the car down.

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Interior is all out, I think I will probably tackle the mini tub kit next. I watched the DSE video it appears to be a very involved process!
Does anybody know if there is a reason they don't use a plasma cutter, especially for the rough cuts?

[Ccd]

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Finally everything I ordered is showing up! So hard to watch our currency deteriorate when I know there is so much more I need to get from my compadres down south!! 73 cents on the dollar and falling. Seems like all Trump has to do is THINK bad thoughts about Canada and our currency dives! First world problems...

Anyhow, here's some cool pics of the toys arriving daily!

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It starts to get pretty exciting when your vision starts to become reality! Did anyone notice the rack and pinion set up that Flaming River offers now? I went manual but they offer power systems as well. It would seem that the design of the bracket will serve to stiffen the subframe too.

[Ccd]

Hello all, it's been months since I've updated. Primarily because summer fun at the cabin, motorcycle trips etc put projects like this on hold! Now that the weather is starting to go downhill, the boat and the dock are out of the water, and its time to get rolling again! Started with a dust off and clean up today, and I will get started over the next few weeks again.

Last thing I did was get started on the mini tubs. This is a messy, complicated procedure that I find myself wishing I paid someone else to do. Kind of.

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I found out it's next to impossible to find good T/A fenders, and the fenders off this car are in exceptional condition so I had my father in law graft some factory heat extractors that were cut out. He's still got the touch apparently haha!

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My subframe came back looking sharp, media blasted and powder coated. I am second guessing my decision to go factory subframe, but the DSE subframe or Schwartz chassis are just such a major hassle to get across the border and and then then all the way across the country, and they aren't cheap especially when the exchange rate is factored in. Plus I already have the suspension and manual rack here so sticking to the original plan!
Once my tubs are done I'll fire off a few more pics.

[LUV2XLR8]

Looking good!, where did you source your radiator from?

[Ccd]

Thanks! The radiator came from Southern Performance as part of their LS conversion kit

[69Goat]

subscribed

[keepat]

Wow! great car to start with! and your Father in-law did a awesome job! I love 2nd gen Pontiac, good luck with your build!
Pat

[cdoggy81]

Great build & lots of good parts going on there!
Subscribed :]

[Ccd]

Hey everyone, hoping for some input. I would really like to have this thing ready for this spring, and I'm starting to think I might be smarter to go to a full chassis, such as a Schwartz Performance G Machine or a Art Morrison unit. Has anyone had any personal experience or otherwise that would help? I'm thinking that having everything sorted out in one package would really make things easier and faster, the Schwartz chassis in particular comes quite complete, brakes, rear axles and suspension all sorted... let me know what you guys think!

[76TA]

Why isn't Detroit Speed being mentioned? It is largely considered to be top tier. I don't believe their front sub frame nor rear comes with brakes included; however you can order them directly from their website.

[Ccd]

Finally making some more progress. Things are very busy for us again at the shop and the T/A got plopped onto the back burner, but now we've got things rolling again. Bought a rotisserie and got the shell mounted up:

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That got it off the hoist and mobile so I could get it out to my father in laws to get the body work going.

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Stripping things down to see what's what, there is a little "extra history" under the paint but mostly she's solid! A couple patches at the rear and a bit of unforeseen cancer up at the drivers a pillar and that's about the extent of it.
Sand blasting the underside soon, and once the mini tubs and subframe connectors are complete we will give it sealer and coating.

[Interceptor5588]

Subscribed. Where are you in Alberta?

[Ccd]

Near Camrose. Are you in Alberta too?

[Ccd]

Haven't updated in over a year but things have been moving along. Finally have some time with the Christmas break here to bring the thread up to speed.

So with the body work under way I had to decide what I wanted to do for the suspension, brakes, and drivetrain. After extensive research I finally decided to go with a Schwartz G-Machine Chassis. A few calls and emails with Dale and things were under way. They must be doing something right over there, we had to be scheduled in for the frame build, it was weeks before they could even roll on it. All told it was nearly three months before it landed in my shop here:

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All in all very happy with what I see. A little intimidated too... does NOT come with assembly instructions lol.

I am trying to keep the scope creep under control with this project, I don't want to end up having so much invested that I won't enjoy the car... So tried to be realistic with the way the car will be used, and only went with the more basic Wilwood brake package instead of the all out Baer units, but splurged for the aluminum carrier for the diff, trying to spend where it fits the philosophy of what I am trying to achieve.

I mentioned much earlier in this post about the Canadian dollar exchange, that really tacks on a significant premium to everything a guy does. Right now your basically 30 percent more for everything, then the freight is a challenge and super expensive to get it out here! Boo Hoo I know... first world problems! But to keep my marriage intact I am trying to keep costs under control. One of the hold backs was power coating. Mistake. Huge pain in the ass to get this thing painted!

Knowing that this won't be some trailer queen I opted for good old Tremclad Semi-gloss, looks just fine and tough as nails! I think it turned out great. Disassembled everything, masked it up, degreased and shot 'er with the rattle can:

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[syborg tt]

Very cool project.

Keep the paint and body simple and you will be able to enjoy it.

Trust me my 3rd project car is my favorite so far as we did a descent satin blue paint and it's not perfect and it's more fun as I don't have to worry about it. Heck I even lean on the fenders and I love when kids come up to it and cruise nights an I can tell them go ahead you can touch i and even sit in it if you want.

[ed1le]

Awesome build and looking forward to more updates!

[Ccd]

Thanks guys! Couple more pics of the shell getting done, sandblasted and coated underneath, spoiler installed, and into primer. There was some minor rust repair that had to be performed in a couple of areas, I don't have those pics it was done while I was away. I'll just show the up to date pics. We had the wheels propped in there to see if there was going to be any clearance issues. We trimmed the wheel opening lip back by more than a half inch for maximum clearance, I can't stand tires rubbing!

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It's amazing how bad the rear spoilers were for fitment, there were a lot of hours spent getting the 3 pieces fitting well.
I'm particularly happy with the underside, really turned out nice.

Spent some time pulling parts that have been in storage for quite a while, feels good to get things moving again. Got the engine and transmission together:

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Used a TCI Streetfighter torque converter, I am told this is a good match for the cam we used.

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[69Goat]

Subscribed.

[Schwartz Performance]

Happy to see it coming along!

-Dale

[Ccd]

So, progress is fairly slow these days. Trying to get the details done so I can get the body on to the chassis. Took the heater cover and box apart to replace the heater core and to get the cover prepped and painted. Of course that turned into more hassle than I thought it would, once I started sanding the cover I kept finding more and more surface corrosion, and finally just ended up taking the whole thing down to metal:

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Had to grind the spot welds and fold this little deflector piece back to clean up the corrosion I found behind it:

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Final product:

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Side note: Made the unfortunate discovery that the wheels I got won't work... these Forgeline Center Lock units were off a former SEMA show car for Karbon Kustoms, and I love them, but the Wilwood hubs on the Schwartz chassis are just too deep and no amount of machining and modification will make the centre hubs fit. So I'm abandoning them, and will have to figure out a new plan! Going to advertise these over in the parts for sale forum.

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Let me know if this is something that is of interest to anyone!!

[Ccd]

So as I've said before I'm not building a show car, I'm putting together a driver. I'm not spending the time and money under the hood because I won't be looking under there when I'm driving it! I do admire the smooth and detailed under hood appearance if some of the higher end builds though. Anyhow, all that being said I still don't want it to look like a piece of crap when the hood is inevitably opened at track events so still going to spend some time and elbow grease on the firewall before dropping the car on the chassis. Going more for a refresh and neatening of what Pontiac deemed acceptable when the car left the factory. Here's the current state of affairs:

No specific before pictures, although you can see the firewall in previous posts. Here it is going back together. New heater core of course. Original one was brass and surprisingly heavy compared to the new aluminum one.

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And here it is pretty much assembled

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I have to say it's hard to believe the way things were done back in the day... throw 'er in the press and whatever it's shaped like when done was A-OK haha!! No ones really looking anyways right?

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So now that these tasks are complete, next I'm going to roll,the chassis over to the hoist room for a little test fit! When I can find some time...