Pontiac Trans Am

[F-Body International]

Nice score!

I've been thinking lately, about wanting to do something with my seats as well. I love the original look, but the old "spring" design is pretty crappy. haha

Thanks Josh!



I actually really like the late 2nd Gen seats. They are very comfortable and look nice but the later 3rd/4th Gen seats do have a lot more offerings. I know yours might be a little bit of an older design so I can't disagree with you on your opinion.

[KEV 190164]

A small update today that I'm pretty excited about is finding a nice set of GTA rear seats that match the front seats. What's cool about these seats is that they can fold down, match the front seat design and overall interior color. From what I have found, '87 was the only year you could get GTA seats in carmine red and this happens to be the same color that was used in '79. Please disregard the severely faded carpet and beat up interior panels ;) These aren't bolt-in so I will have to fab up some mounts for the lower cushion mount, hinge and latch setup. The seat back also doesn't sit flush against the trunk block off panel so I will have to modify that some as well.



Here's the front again...

I was thinking of fitting something like this in my trans am . http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3019682679...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT . but after looking how well the 3rd gen seats fit as me thinking again really glad I found this thread

[F-Body International]

KEV 190164, I just want to be sure you know that these seats are not a quick install.

-Sliders don't interchange so you will have to figure out how to mount the front seats.
-The trunk block off panel will need to be cut and modified for the seat back to sit flush.
-Mounts for the hinges and latch will need to be fabricated for the rear seat back if you want the fold down mechanism to work.
-Mounts for the lower rear cushion will need to be made because those seats are held in by bolts.

[KEV 190164]

KEV 190164, I just want to be sure you know that these seats are not a quick install.

-Sliders don't interchange so you will have to figure out how to mount the front seats.
-The trunk block off panel will need to be cut and modified for the seat back to sit flush.
-Mounts for the hinges and latch will need to be fabricated for the rear seat back if you want the fold down mechanism to work.
-Mounts for the lower rear cushion will need to be made because those seats are held in by bolts.

yes I do realise as I read all your posts every aftermarket part I have bought as had to be modified . just hoping they will fit with the tiger cage I bought I am sure they will. I am going to make my own console from front to back of trans am. cheers kev

[F-Body International]

I randomly fell upon chasing down a new set of wheels. The 17x9 snowflakes were awesome but I felt that I wanted something different and sold them. Last year I was looking at lightweight forged big wheels but after swapping to third gen seats, I began looking at later style Pontiac wheels. I thought maybe the new 17x9 GTA wheels would look cool but then I found these. They're replica wheels of what came on the '91-'92 SLP Firehawk. They only built 25 of those cars and thought it match what I'm doing with my car.

Also, with these wheels, I think I'm going with the Pro-Touring F-Body 12" A.X. brake kit. I took the wheels to the shop and Dave found that the 13" brake kit will fit but are extremely tight and I would need to run a spacer. The 12" brakes are lighter, cheaper and fit better so I'm going with that for now. Once we get those parts together, I'll post some more pictures.

My next debates are what tires to go with. Here are my options...

1) 285/40 17 all around
-Small selection of summer performance tires only.
-Tallest tire of this group.

2) 275/40 17 all around
-Cheaper prices available.
-More tire types available (all season, summer, racing slicks)

3) 275/40 17 in front with 315/35 17 rear
-Requires spacers and wheel widening in the rear.
-Can be cheap or can be expensive depending on rear tire selection.

[cdoggy81]

Cool build!

[qnitro]

IM really digging the 79-81's...

[ryeguy2006a]

Nice work! I like those wheels that you are running. Those snowflake wheels are really nice, but seems like that is what everyone is running.

[F-Body International]

Nice work! I like those wheels that you are running. Those snowflake wheels are really nice, but seems like that is what everyone is running.

Thanks man. I'm right there with you on the penny pinching project. The wheels aren't the best for being light but are low priced, look awesome and are true to Pontiac styling. Many of the parts on my car have been purchased from forums, 2nd hand new, etc. I was looking at all the big name brands that sponsor this forum for suspension but I'm extremely happy to be going with Pro-Touring F-Body. Dave has a great handle on geometry and what works for a good price. I'm just trying the best I can to keep progressing until it runs.

[F-Body International]

Been almost 4 months since I've posted any updates to my build thread. Have had a lot go on since August. Got married, started a new job, picked up a '98 LS1 T/A, and have made some big changes with the direction of my build with the '79....again.

-Sold the FAST efi setup and am now switching building a Megasquirt system.
-Sold the VFN fiberglass good and purchased a stock style shaker hood.
-Sold the port injection Victor intake and purchased an old school Holley Street Dominator intake. Going TBI this time around.
-Ordered the matching front wheels this past week.
-Got back to working on the subframe at the Pro-Touring F-Body shop this week. I never posted any pictures before but it was primed about a month ago. The passenger side coil-over mount was just installed and the driver side mount should be finished this upcoming week.

Will post pictures soon.

[F-Body International]

Recent updates.

Suspension....I've bought a new frame locally to work on for my car after waiting and waiting for Dave at PTFB to supply my coilover suspension, lower control arms, g-braces, sway bar brace, etc. I paid him in full a year ago, have not received my parts and the business has moved to Tennessee. I've tried numerous times to get him to finish what I paid him for but every week there's a new story or excuse. It's just a shame because I know him as a friend and I've helped work in the shop a lot this past year but I just don't think he will finish my stuff at this point. I am now trying out Global West for suspension.

Engine...I recently acquired two 454 TBI's and a '81 301 Turbo HEI distributor. I am using the '81 301 turbo distributor because it's a 7-wire computer controlled HEI (no weights/spring/vacuum can). Currently, the distributor is being gone through by a specialist in that area. Once the distributor gets back, I plan on sending the 454 TBI to Sean at SPR Performance so he can bore out the throttle body and modify it so I can run an external fuel pressure regulator


Exterior/Body...Just traded my shaker hood for a 301 Turbo hood from an '81. I'm going to try and graft in a 3rd gen '82-'84 cowl induction setup because the hood bulge is the same between 2nd-3rd gen. It's stupid that this is now my 4th hood for the car but I feel very excited about this one.

[F-Body International]

Made some progress on my new frame between yesterday and today.

Wire wheeled my new subframe just to clean off a majority of the undercoating and loose debris.


Welded in a set of Lab-14 sway bar reinforcement plates. I highly recommend these after my experience last year. Last year, I was tightening up a Hotchkis sway bar and ended up stripping the threads in the frame. These plates have a nut welded to them so it creates a very strong bolting point for the sway bar. Please excuse my welding if it doesn't look pretty. I've never had any professional teach me and I only have a couple jobs under my belt.



Also got around to installing a set of Lab-14 body mount reinforcement plates. These are pretty cool. I just noticed today that with a sleeved body mount like the PTFB mounts I have, they insure that the sleeve stays inside the bore. These plates should make for a nice clamp on the frame to keep it locked to the body and reinforce the metal in this area. I was speaking with John at Lab-14 recently to see if he has plans to make a similar plate for the rear body mount under the seat pan...hopefully that part becomes available soon.


I have the day off tomorrow so hopefully I can get around to installing my Lab-14 upper and lower control arm reinforcements. After that, I'm hoping this frame will be close to being ready for sandblasting.

[F-Body International]

Just found out tonight that the 3rd gen cowl induction setup is not a direct bolt-in setup. I'm pretty bummed that the screen doesn't offer enough material height for trimming and plastic induction piece is also wider than the 2nd gen opening as well.



2nd gen scoop piece removed...


2nd gen scoop vs 3rd gen cowl induction...


2nd gen block off plate vs 3rd gen induction screen...


My hopes are not 100% lost yet. I'm hoping I can modify the cowl induction and build my own screen in order to make this work.

[ryeguy2006a]

Too bad about the issues with PTFB. Hopefully you will make out ok.

[F-Body International]

Too bad about the issues with PTFB. Hopefully you will make out ok.

I'm just starting from scratch with a new frame at this point. It's hard for me to continue waiting for my PTFB order because I'm actually friends with Dave. I helped work in the shop this past year and I know there's been plenty of free time for him to finish my suspension but he didn't do it. I even paid him money to do side projects for my 4th gen but that fell through as well. I'm salty about it but I'm moving on and letting him do his thing. It's a shame because I'm not moving because I'm getting anything better...I'm just trying to get parts so I can assemble and work on my car.

For anyone else who is just the normal customer, I still recommend PTFB only when he says he actually has a part in stock and ready to ship same day. Other than that, hold your money.

[F-Body International]

Not much done to the car today but I was happy seeing my welds on the Lab-14 mounts look a little nicer after using a wire wheel to clean them up. I still have to grind down these areas a small amount so that the sway bar clamps and PTFB solid body mounts are able to flat and tight on the frame.

[F-Body International]

I've been busy working at home this past week so I haven't been able to complete my Lab-14 parts install but I did, however, receive some goodies from Global West this week. I'm still waiting on them to ship me the lower control arms. Minor show n tell today from me...

Viking hybrid coilovers...


Global West upper control arms...


A little side-by-side of the Global West uppers vs. PTFB uppers. A member from this forum bought the PTFB upper from me today. I will be shipping those out to the new owner tomorrow.



On a side note, I did speak with Dave from PTFB the other day. He called me and said he's a few weeks out from shipping some parts to me. It was nice of him to sound positive about getting my parts completed but we'll see what happens. I don't want to get overly excited on that subject. There's been many stories of holdups between suppliers, tools, materials, and shop utilities at this point.

[F-Body International]

Good news on the PTFB front. Dave finally got around to contacting me. He said he's broken a couple phones over the past couple months and was unable to communicate. Besides communication issues, he said he is getting the shelves stocked up with parts for his new location reopening.

On my car, me and Dave working out a deal to finish off the rear suspension and brakes because I bought the Global West setup. For now, I'm holding off on doing the PTFB setup on my '79 subframe. He still has some designing to finish with his new lower control arms and by avoiding this, it gives him more time to work things out with that. The '78 subframe will be used for now with the Global West control arms, hybrid coil-over, stock ws6 sway bar, PTFB brake kit and Turn One steering box. Hopefully within the next 2 months, I will be making a lot of progress with getting my suspension/brakes sorted out.

[andrewb70]

Sorry, but if a vendor, or a "friend" was treating me like you have been treated, I would never talk or deal with them again. You paid in advance (mistake) and haven't gotten parts? Really?!?!

Dave broke some phones and couldn't communicate? Really?!?

Andrew

[F-Body International]

Sorry, but if a vendor, or a "friend" was treating me like you have been treated, I would never talk or deal with them again. You paid in advance (mistake) and haven't gotten parts? Really?!?!

Dave broke some phones and couldn't communicate? Really?!?

Andrew

Yes Andrew, I paid Dave up front just like any other vendor. Not single out PTFB, but I've been having a funny time with Global West as of late.

My credit card info was stolen before right before they tried to charge me for the lowers and coil overs. They called and left me messages saying they're holding my parts and that I should pay them. After a long story, I got a new card after 2+ weeks and paid them two Fridays ago but have yet to receive lower control arms from them. I called them this Friday (the following Friday) and now they're saying next Friday. Fine, no big deal, all good at this point my current thought...it was originally my issue of not being able to pay them upfront. I did however tell them that they can ship and I will pay once I got my new card. They didn't want to do it that way though. It has turned into me paying them and not receiving my stuff yet. After waiting a year for PTFB, I can wait a few weeks for Global West to do what they do.

Here's where I'm at odds with the Global West sales/customer service...at this point it's been about a month and I've been trying to get this tech guy to answer my questions on what they're doing with these new extended travel control arms. I've been told 3 different stories by them over the past two weeks. When I got through my credit card issue and paid them, I was told that the stuff won't ship right away because they're making adjustments to the arms. I said, "that's fine but can you please explain to me what you guys are doing?" They said they would call back and figure it out...they didn't call me back. I called them a few days later to ask again and they then told me the control arms have stock style bump stop and ball joint mounting points and there's no adjustment being made. I called them a few days later and then this same tech guy told me that these control arms now have revised framing and bump stop location. When my order wasn't shipped according to their deadline, I called to see what was going on and asked again about the subject and have gotten a new story. The new story is that they're working on their jig to make building the arms easier.

I'm just trying make moves with progressing on my project but I have to say buying suspension and brakes has been the craziest thing I've dealt with for this car. With my limited budget to finish other parts of my car, I can only get so "mad" at others. Even if they provide me the suspension this week, I still have plenty other things to finish that I can't currently afford.