New member with 1981 Trans-Am

[VF101_jay]

Hi all, I have been brousing through this forum for a while and felt that I had to join. I have found the posts here to be fun and informative to read...I can tell that all of the people on this site truely love cars...it is like a support group for car nuts. I can tell I will be spending alot of time here. Now down to the reason we all have wound up here...the picture below is of my current addiction, it is a 1981 turbo Trans-Am, all of you Pontiac worshipers please forgive me but I did remove the 301 (it was minus turbo when I rescued it from the cold hearted bas***d to let it sit outside for an entire Manitoba winter only a stones throw from a small work shop housing nothing more than his 1974 F-nothing special farm truck...I know, I'm still too upset to talk about it myself) and transplant a 4- bolt main 350 chevy crate motor. After the addition of a few essentials (intake, carb, headers, high flow fuel pump ect.) I had the car back on the road. The usual life issues have slowed progress on the full restoration of the car (school, wife, house, Kid and so on) so it has taken me 13 years to get to the point of paint and rims. In two weeks it goes in to have new dark silver paint, and then the 18" Boss 304's can go on. I will likely just enjoy it for the summer, then look into some suspension mods for next year. I love kicking arround ideas of things to do to my own or anyone elses four wheeled mistress, so please throw out some ideas of must do's.

Thanks,
Jason

[VF101_jay]

Hi again guys, I was wondering if anyone knows anything about a Canadian reman company called "AutoPar"? This was the company that I ordered my reman long block crate engine through in the mid 90's. I was told at the time that it was a 1970 Corvette LT1 spec 4 bolt main "new" 350 ci "320 HP" reman engine (the block was supposed to be cast in Mexico from an old GM mold...I think). I still have the information book that came with it, but haven't been able to find any info to confirm or debunk what the garage told me. I did check block number once and could only find reference to an early 70's heavy duty block originally used in heavy trucks if I remember right. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can check to find out exactly what it is (tell tale casting numbers ect...)? Also, should I expect to have any problems getting the 5.5" backspace 18" rims on the stock suspension and brakes? They are 9" wide rims with 245/40 - 18 tires. I did read quite a few posts on the subject and it sounds like it should be a smooth fit, but I couldn't find anyone with the exact same year and wheel size.

Thanks,
Jason

[Ralph LoGrasso]

Welcome to the site, Jason.

[Bandit]

Welcome, Jason--glad to see another 2nd gen birdie on the site. I do not blame you for tossing the 301...there is a reason it made Car Craft's "Top 10 Worst V-8's of all time." lol
Not sure about your block question, but http://www.mortec.com has good info on casting #s and such. Maybe you can find something there.
Good luck with the TA, I hope you can make more progress on it soon!

[VF101_jay]

Thanks for the replies guys, and thanks for the web link Bandit, I will check it out. Love your 80 TA, what block did you change from? The wheels and stance look awsome, did you have any trouble fitting the 18's (what backspacing and rim width did you go with)? I have a set of 18's as listed that I haven't tried to fit yet, I'm worried the rears won't clear the e-brake linkage, looks like it might be close.

[NOT A TA]

Nice project ! 2nd gen's are coming on strong. Post up some pics after the paints done! As for must do's like my friends told me "make it loooooower"

[formula]

Nice project ! 2nd gen's are coming on strong. Post up some pics after the paints done! As for must do's like my friends told me "make it loooooower"

My friends told me the same thing....you may want to make sure you have a little bit more resistance to peer pressure than me, hah.

NOTATA's right though--suspension is 1) the best bang for the buck IMO and 2) a great way to really improve your level of enjoyment in the car. Mine's still a slow old smoggermobile, but it's a REALLY REALLY FUN slow old smoggermobile these days!

PS that car's going to look fantastic when it's dark grey!

[VF101_jay]

stance is high on the "what must be done " list, I would live to slam it down, but the roads here are less than sports car friendly! I was thinking of some coil over conversions for the front, don't know what would be the best for the rear, adjustible height is important to me. Any opinions on these shocks?

[Bandit]

Thanks for the replies guys, and thanks for the web link Bandit, I will check it out. Love your 80 TA, what block did you change from? The wheels and stance look awsome, did you have any trouble fitting the 18's (what backspacing and rim width did you go with)? I have a set of 18's as listed that I haven't tried to fit yet, I'm worried the rears won't clear the e-brake linkage, looks like it might be close.
I had the pathetic 301 4-bbl and I sidelined that thing as soon as it was practically possible.
I like the stance too with the new wheels, the Hotchkis TVS makes my car sit a little higher than some would like, but just like you I need practicality as well as looks. Any lower and I wouldn't be able to go over a speed bump, since I'm running full-tube headers and a Lakewood scattershield (which is now the lowest point on the car).
Sorry I don't remember the exact backspace, but it wasn't a big problem to get a 9" rim with 285's on the rear. I did have to bash in the seatbelt mounting points and pull the tailpipes in a little to keep them from rubbing, though.
Good luck on your project!

[VF101_jay]

Thanks for the info Bandit, when I first got my car it didn't have the turbo on it (it had been removed for engine repairs and some odd circumstances left the car sitting and the turbo off) so mine was so bad that when I would pull out to pass someone on the highway, catching the wind would slow me down. I knew a guy that had a 1978 v6 camaro that I couldn't outrun...lol. It is alot better now, but I still need to change the gear ratio, it will never be a 1/4 mile threat but it is fun to drive now.

[Zee]

Welcome aboard.