New guy w/ Trans Am here

[Bandit]

Welcome!!
I drive an '80 TA, and I totally agree with you that numbers matching gets tiresome. I really pissed off some off the hardcore Pontiac guys by stuffing a BB Chevy into my TA. My response to that is "Dude, get over it." Not that I don't appreciate the effort and cubic dollars it takes to pull off a concourse resto, but most of the guys I know who own these cars, really baby them. I chose the TA because I love muscle cars and always have, but I wanted to drive really hard, both around corners and in a straight line, and I realized that the 2nd-gen F-body had the potential for serious performance. (I went with the Pontiac simply because I prefer the body style slightly over the Camaro, but they are both sweet.) I looked at the factory setup and thought "I can do way better." I plan to upgrade just about everything from stock, and then beat the heck out of it!! All for less money than "restoring" it!
P.S. I humbly disagree with you that "A 911 is out of reach", if you had half the cost of a 911 to spend on your TA, you could hang with just about anything out there!!
Also...may I ask why you want to go to a T56? If it is to save some cash, I understand, otherwise it's hard to beat a Tremec TKO. Incredible strength and perfect shifter location etc., best of everything.

Looking forward to hearing more about your screaming chicken!!

[Takid455]

bandit - i like the t56 as parts are readily available and maily the fact that it has 2 overdrives. i am sstill debatting that issue.

[Bandit]

I went into my trans-swap project thinking that I had to have a 6-spd, but then I changed my mind. A 5-speed is lighter and cheaper. Top speed should still be well over 150mph and gas mileage will be way better. The extra overdrive would be basically useless as far as I can see, at least for my application. (I should be doing 75mph at like 2K rpm!) The only reasons I could see for the extra gear would be for the "wow" factor or if the car has REALLY steep gears.
How much power are you pushing, and is the car going to see strip duty? If you drive anything like I do, I hope you don't grenade the T56!
Of course, it's your car and I'm sure whatever you decide will be a big improvement!!

[WhiteG240]

Wow, more and more 2nd Gen Firebirds/TA's are showing up. Nice Car. I have a 74 Firebird Formula that will go under the restoration knife this winter.

Hmmm... I see that you are in NJ. Where is Lansing NJ?

[BonzoHansen]

Hey you NJ f-body owners... www.njfboa.org

[Takid455]

white g240 - Landing is exit 30 of 80. lansing is in michigan. i'l have to correct that typo

[Fawkes]

<delurk>Another 2nd gen Bird owner here ('80 Esprit). I've swapped in a 400 Pontiac in favor of the original 3.8 Bufford V6, and am still running the TH350 behind it. I'll either swap to a 5-speed later on, or keep it an auto but move up to a 4-speed version.

It's nothing to look at right now, but I am making progress again.</delurk>

[lawbreaker2]

70 T/A here, Wecome aboard

[Roadrage David]

welkom . dispite what others say about dollars beeing needed to make a fast Injun mill, they just didnt do there home work properly . those days are long gone. big cub pontiac performance is the same price as chebby big cubes performance. and you know the old pontiac slogan ... horse power sells engines , but torque winns races!!!!!!!!!!!!.....

[Fawkes]

horse power sells engines , but torque winns races!!!!!!!!!!!!.....

Prozacly!

[Takid455]

I will be attending the Trans Am Nationals next week aug 25-27. If any of you guys are going, let me know and we could meet. if you are unfamiliar with this show, is all pontiac f bodys and a cruise in a old city. very cool and exciting. you will however get bored of looking at SE and SE clone cars. dont get me wrong, I have 2 and think they look awsome, but when there are 2 of them, they kinda blend together. maybe I'll see some of you there

also this weekend there is a mustang vs fbody challenge at Island raceway located in Great Meadows, NJ.

[Bandit]

I was at TA Nats in Ft. Walton Beach, FL a couple of years back, it was like I had died and gone to heaven!!

Can't go this year though, unfortunately.
Where is it going to be held at this time?

Anyway have fun!!

Paul

"I only take my hat off for one thing, and one thing only"

[Munch69ProTour]

white g240 - Landing is exit 30 of 80. lansing is in michigan. i'l have to correct that typo

What exit....



Only in NJ.

Welcome to the board!

[a73formula]

Its great to see all the 2nd gens on hear. I just got done installing the gw upper, lowers, and coil overs along with the lowered rear springs. Next up is the exhaust and finish plumbing the fuel line. I also went with the tremec and the swap was a piece of cake. Good luck on the project.

[Takid455]

73 formula - i am doing the same front susoension as you . did you get your lower control arms direct from GW? what coil overs did you use? i have a set of aldan eagles that I intend to install. they all fit well? pics? which tremic did you use? what gears are you running in the rear? debating over going 2.xx gears in the back and tremic or 3.xx and go with a t-56 for highway cruising.