CARTER Trans Am 1977 Pro Mod.

[Carter]

I started this project about a year ago and I will share pics from along the way. and into the future. I would say I am over 50% done. Mostly jus the fun stuff left. Mostly! I chose not to go back with the original red, but it is an original 114,000 mile car from Arizona.
It is an original 400 Pontiac, with 350 Trans. They have both been rebuilt. I will include the particulars later. We have done A LOT of body work and have almost finished that part of the story.

day one

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[Carter]

Completed the entirely new suspension with Extreme Energy red Bushings... AUGHHHHH

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[ryeguy2006a]

Looks good. I have been there.

[LeighP]

Always interesting to see someone else's ideas on how to build up a 2nd gen Firebird.....I'll follow along. :)

[Carter]

More pics

[Carter]

Let me know iff its getting annoying.

[Carter]

Lots

[Carter]

Its been a long time coming

[Carter]

Ok after rear quarters.

[Carter]

Car pics

[Carter]

Lots of blocking!

[Carter]

Sanding and more sanding.

[Carter]

Black, not so origional.

[Carter]

Paint booth.

[Carter]

Sanding for days on end

[Carter]

More parts

[Carter]

Painting

[Carter]

First coat of compound

[Carter]

I have an interior at home in my garage waiting impatiently. Im so ready to get moving. I bought GTO seats from a 2006, 25,000 miles.

[Carter]

Also have yearone 17 inch snowflakes with 295/40/17 rears 255/40/17 fronts.

[stevedarce]

Cool!!! am working on a car just like this one. what rims you going and are you going to use the more modern year one trans am headlights??

[stevedarce]

OOps didnt see that you mentioned what rims you were goin..

[Carter]

Headlights I want to do, but I can hit that later. Later I will also get yearone door panels, and modern fender flare kit. I did purchases the center console extender for the double din radio and backup camera.

[Carter]

I bought a set of 06 GTO seats for my 78. I'm looking to adjust the original seat rails instead of make new ones to keep the power.

I was considering loosing the head rests and GTO lettering. I was going to have them reupholstered to just be flat black. To be low back seats... what you think?

[Carter]

This weekend I added some small piece parts and started on the rubber in the door jams. The smoked rear lenses look freaking awesome! Pics to follow.

[ryeguy2006a]

Cool looking car. That body work is great.

[LeighP]

Wow, very nice work....the car looks awesome!

[Carter]

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[Carter]

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[Carter]

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[Carter]

Thats a reflection on the light. There are no cracks. And the car is dusty now. thats my new radiator. The inside of my motor is rusty and i am not hooking it up just yet. I am still cleaning.

[Carter]

I removed the carb and manifold, I will be going back to stock. Just so my shaker will still work. The shaker HAS to work.

[Carter]

So i have a Performer RPM and a 670 Street Avenger Holley if anyone in San Antonio is looking for some.

[Carter]

I put in all the new door seals and stuff last night. Will soon have to deal with the alignment of the doors. We took them off to paint and they have not been right since... Hmmmmph!

[Carter]

Comp cam and Rockers. FYI in that manifold pic.

[Carter]

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[John Wright]

I like your daily driver.

[Uneek68]

are you going with the gold/polished snowflakes? those would look sweet

http://static.skynetblogs.be/media/903/dyn001_original_640_555_pjpeg_6295_cf9c505772541a3 a29ec779f76fcff01.2.jpg

[Carter]

Those wheels are billet. They cost 2899 $ min 4000. . Depending on the side. I got 17inch snowflakes for 759 $

[Carter]

Size. Oops

[Carter]

I like your daily driver.

Me too, its fun.

[Carter]

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[Carter]

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[Carter]

Got my ABS headliner in last night and a lot of the plastics. I am getting so close.

[ryeguy2006a]

You don't have to get rid of your RPM, you can just get a drop base that keeps the functionality of the shaker. WFO is the only company that I can think of off the top of my head that sells them.

[Carter]

Yes, I have looked at the WTO. But I really want the stock look and setup. The Carb I had sits really high as well. Plus-Nothing sounds quite like the rear's opening on a spreadbore Q.

[Carter]

Personal preference I am sure but I was looking for opinions. I am installing the stock carpet. Over my 3/8 inch jute, aluminum covers sound and heat deadener. Do you think I should glue my carpet down or allow the plastics and seats to hold it in place allowing it room to move?? Thoughts?

[Carter]

http://www.bloodsweatandgears.com/powertour.html

I am defiantly doing this, this year!!! It ends in TEXAS, so I’ll just driver her home. I am excited.

[Carter]

55860Yha baby!

[Carter]

5586155862 yha!

[TRANSAMERICAN 79]

This build is moving me to get to work on my 2nd gen. Nice ride!

[bonecrrusher]

My Varram intake would not have liked that lake!!

[Carter]

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some progress pics.

[Carter]

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[Carter]

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getting there.

[Carter]

The suspension is all new Stock replacement parts. As a whole it has began to settle. I know it looks like a 4x4. I eventually would love to go tubular aftermarket.

[Carter]

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Got my plates- awesome day!

[Carter]

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Hand painted the pin striping on the bird. Cleaned up the edges and makes it "pop".

[Carter]

Big day. 582435824458245

Took her to a local show. just for fun.

[Carter]

Flush mounted the glass front and back. Rubber gaskets look so smooth and modern. Lots of people say you can't do the rear glass that way, but we got it as close as possible with the original glass. I tinted the rear window 5%. Secured the seats and the headliner. Most of the plastics are in place. The hood is sitting as good as it going to get for now.

[PonchoJohn]

Wow! That thing is looking SHARP!!! I really dig the hood bird with the gold trim... just make sure he gets his eye- I always thought that made the birds look so tough!
I see you painted your dash gloss black. You're gonna want a dashmat to cover that... the sun will blind you! Ask me how I know ;)
You still have the RPM and carb for sale?

[Carter]

We did OK I guess. I borrowed some worn out slicks, so I didn’t heat them up much. I ran 4 or 5 passes. So I still have not perfected the launch, and the weather was muggy, wet and hot. It was a bad all around racing day. I think the car is good for 11.50's in the current configuration, and 11.2 if we did tuning and exhaust. We ran a best of 12.14 at 114.
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[Carter]

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[Carter]

I still need to fix some things. I need to align doors- I have new hinge pins and bushings. Once that is done I can align the fenders and finally the hood. I need some nick knack parts in the interior and window sweeps.
We are getting there. I am still having overheating issues, even with the new radiator and 2800 cfm electric fan, so I am going to do dual fans.
I am still working on valve lash, and timing. I think I have some bad lifters. So I will be doing that very soon. Booo! I really just want to drive!!!

[Carter]

I have noticed a slight glare, I have sold my RPM and Carb. I bought a q-jet and hurricane.


Wow! That thing is looking SHARP!!! I really dig the hood bird with the gold trim... just make sure he gets his eye- I always thought that made the birds look so tough!
I see you painted your dash gloss black. You're gonna want a dashmat to cover that... the sun will blind you! Ask me how I know ;)
You still have the RPM and carb for sale?

[Carter]

I never thought of that, I have an air raid that was probably screaming. I was going like 60mph.... Oh well it was a blast.


My Varram intake would not have liked that lake!!

[Carter]

The shaker sits nice and low like a 77 should. The 78 and newer years sat higher in the hood. Also just to mention all of the gold on the car is painted. There are no stickers. The entire stencil came off.

[cdoggy81]

Nice car Carter & good job!

[Carter]

Nice car Carter & good job!


How is the LS conversion going on your car? I have been dreaming of doing that to mine. Rather than spend 1000's fixing up the 400 dog I have. I would like to do a 6spd LS2 from a 2002 TA or Camaro maybe even a newer GTO. I see those motors with trans for like 3000 all the time, sometimes less. How well do the wiring harnesses mesh?

[cdoggy81]

It's going, but VERY SLOW :( I wanted to originally do a stroker 400 but for the cost to build one I got a complete running 2004 GTO. The LS platform is so much more reliable & cheaper to make easy HP! You must love the vet :)

As for the harness, I'm not sure about the wiring yet.....