1979 Trans Am

[jlcustomz]

Thanks for posting the exhaust pics. Been considering that route on the el camino when I do 3" pipes sometime after the airride. So much cleaner & simpler.
Looks like a good find on the 6.0. Guess you need pretty much everything to go with it, but at least it's easier to find both used & more affordable aftermarket parts these days compared to when I did my LS swap back in 02'.

[gscherer78ta]

What about all that talk of "just driving it for awhile" John????? Now, you are getting way ahead of where my Y88-R is. You are addressing all the areas that need to be addressed. I will be waiting for you to install that LS. I'm actively looking for the right deal to come along on an LS3 pull out. I'm tired of the Pontiac motor with how I apply this car- it's a great motor for a blvd bruiser and a car show cruiser but, there's 40 years of tech beyond what the Pontiac motors have and I want to jump on that train.

[Josh@Ridetech]

Thanks for posting the exhaust pics. Been considering that route on the el camino when I do 3" pipes sometime after the airride. So much cleaner & simpler.
Looks like a good find on the 6.0. Guess you need pretty much everything to go with it, but at least it's easier to find both used & more affordable aftermarket parts these days compared to when I did my LS swap back in 02'.

Not a problem. I'll be looking for some used stuff for sure. I did just pick up a 4th gen F body pan for cheap so I'm getting there!

What about all that talk of "just driving it for awhile" John????? Now, you are getting way ahead of where my Y88-R is. You are addressing all the areas that need to be addressed. I will be waiting for you to install that LS. I'm actively looking for the right deal to come along on an LS3 pull out. I'm tired of the Pontiac motor with how I apply this car- it's a great motor for a blvd bruiser and a car show cruiser but, there's 40 years of tech beyond what the Pontiac motors have and I want to jump on that train.

I'm Josh. :D

I'm hoping I get on it sooner than later! Herb han LS3 is that has less than 3k miles on it. It's cheap (for something that was once very expensive). However, it does need a little work done. There was a failure in the driveline and when things flew apart, the starter mount was broke off the block. It needs welded back on, everything else is perfect. Let me know if you're interested!

[Josh@Ridetech]

The car has been back on the road for a few weeks and I'm very happy. The Tanks Inc. tank was a great fit and SO much better than dealing with the 10 gallon fuel cell (especially in a car that gets 8mpg on a good day...). Our coilover package gave me the stance and performance that I've been wanting. The car is going to a mixture of a street/performance restomod so I'll be updating as the budget/time allows! The new stance and wheels made a huge difference!

[andrewb70]

Josh,

The T/A looks fantastic!

Andrew

[Josh@Ridetech]

Josh,

The T/A looks fantastic!

Andrew

Thanks, Andrew! I'm starting to like it alot more :D

[Steve Chryssos]

Looks great Josh. I can't wait for a ride...
Steve

[Josh@Ridetech]

Looks great Josh. I can't wait for a ride...
Steve

Thanks Steve! I've got quite a bit of work ahead of me but I'm enjoying it too much to take it apart right now. I'll be busy throughout the winter though!

[F-Body International]

Nice man, I’m jealous! Hopefully one day I can get my ‘79 going again.

[Josh@Ridetech]

Nice man, I’m jealous! Hopefully one day I can get my ‘79 going again.

Thanks! It still needs ALOT of work but I'm enjoying it right now for sure. I play on doing quite a bit of "maintenance" over winter.

[LERM]

Foxbody AND a T/A!?.... its like we're separated at birth from the same mullets, canned beer and unfiltered Camel parents...

[Josh@Ridetech]

Foxbody AND a T/A!?.... its like we're separated at birth from the same mullets, canned beer and unfiltered Camel parents...

Haha, it's a possibility!! Somehow we ended up on opposite sides of the country!

[Josh@Ridetech]

I suppose it's about time for an update... I haven't had the chance to be on here as much lately but I've been staying busy on the car. I've made a ton of changes in the direction that the car was originally going and the parts that are being used. The 6.0 that I originally posted on here has been traded for a freshly built 5.3 (and cash ). The plan is to drive it around NA for a year or so and then play with a small turbo or supercharger.

Passenger side toe board and drivers side pan have been cut out and replaced. Apparently I need to take more of it in it's finished state...I'll add those later.


Initial tear down


Pulled the original subframe off to replace it with another one that I had blasted and powdercoated. I had a ton of cleaning to do, finished welding in the bottom side of the floor pans, replaced body bushings.


Mock up block on the new subframe with the the T56. I used the stock clam shell mounts along with the Holley engine and transmission mounts. Got it rolled under the car to check clearances on the factory shifter hole. I ended up cutting into the factory floor brace about an 1.5" to get everything where it worked well. Braced it all back up and she's ready to rock.


And while it was in this state, I thought I might as well start cleaning up the firewall too. I sanded it down, welded in one of the DSE firewall fill plates (I can't stand completely smooth firewalls so this piece was perfect in my opinion), and painted it satin black with a matte clear over it.




The new engine just hanging out on the stand:


and what will be controlling the new heart .


Next on the list are getting the engine and trans bolted together along with all of the Silversport hydraulics and then putting it in the car. I'm awaiting the arrival of my clutch and then it should all go together!

*edit...I apologize for some of the small pictures and then large. Not sure what I did there lol.

[T/A Addict]

It's been quite a while but there's some great progress going on there!

[Josh@Ridetech]

It's been quite a while but there's some great progress going on there!

Thanks! There's a lot going on behind the scenes with it but it's just been a slow process. Hopefully I'll have some big progress pictures in the next week!

[Josh@Ridetech]

Just a few more updates! I'm using the Silver Sport Transmissions hydraulic setup to get the T56 up and going. Its been a very easy kit to work with. At the moment, I'm trying to save a little cash so it's just getting a stock LS1/LS6 replacement clutch (as much power as I'd like it to make...let's face it, it'll be way more than enough for an N/A 5.3 ).





I've mocked up the bellhousing on the engine to make sure the throw out bearing had proper cushion. The measurement from the clutch fingers to the transmission mounting surface was right at 2.06", compressed the throwout bearing with a straight edge and measured to the face of the transmission. I came up with 1.80" on the second measurement, giving me .260" on the bearing "cushion". Everything looks to be where it needs to be, time to bolt the engine and trans together and get it in the car!

[Josh@Ridetech]

Time to drop it in the car!

[andrewb70]

Making progress!

[c4racer2]

Looking good !!

[Josh@Ridetech]

Thanks guys! It went in without too much of a fight.