82 Trans Am 495 LSX

[Twin_Turbo]

I'm thinking a front drive would be cool too











I want this to look as little as a SBC as possible

[Twin_Turbo]

Decided to spray bedliner today, had to build a "tent" so the stuff would not overspray on tools and other cars





Everything taped off, engine bay too. Taped the sides so the pinch welds would get coated too, with the seam on the bottom acting as the cut off line





Well, turned out I didn't have enough of the stuff left. Have to order some new now :(





Some more progress, instaled some parts like the hood latch, front panel, fender supports, wiper motor, booster & MC, clutch cylinders and an aluminium prop valve to replace the ugly cast iron one.









Still need to spray the rear frame and above the tank w/ bedliner. Finished the wheel wells





Cut the ssm lift bars off the 9 bolt and welded on bolt in LCARBs, figured the bolt ons would be easier that the weld ons like i did on my camaro, no need to measure all it out to get them on correct (axle off car, more problematic) but next time I'll get some weld ons again. These don't fit 100% right, I want the bolt holes to line up perfectly. Like the weld ons the holes are oversize to give you some room to play around with but I hate it if they are not centered properly. These required hammering to get them on flush and the shock bracket is a little too long, it stands off the axle too far.

Also welded the sway bar brackets on so I don't have to use the U straps. The axle was missing the locator flat on one side so no other choice.



Finished welding the axle and started bolting stuff back on. Good to see it coming together again. I'm going to drop the axle and some other stuff I have off at the powdercoater soon. Also still waiting on my BMR arms and K member









Got the stuff back from the coater and my subframe & arms came in







some misc. parts including the SFCs for my Camaro

[Twin_Turbo]

The crossmember needs a little wresting to get all the bolts started. I also don't have the upper spring mounts and it looks like without it you need spacers to make up for the difference. I want to use weight jackers and am contemplating building something from scratch








I'm thinking about making my own subframe connectors, i did the same for my camaro. These are what I built powerdercoated and installed. the camaro doesn't have room for SCs under the floor pans, the TA does. (Has to do w exhaust routing)

















I also got a T56 for it (from an LT1), complete w/ bellhousing, flywheel, clutch plate, pressure plate, hydraulics, pedals (not needed) and some other bits and pieces

[Ash]

I love the treatment on the underside..assembly line fresh.

[Twin_Turbo]

I spray all my cars with bedliner on the underside. I drive my cars, hate trailer queens. Needs to be weather resistant, weather is pretty crappy here most of the time. Waiting on parts...again. Same old story. Slow shipping, waint. Really holds up projects.

[steinepstein]

Awesome build, subscribed.

The car is perfect and a part of my childhood memories.

Having experience with using the spray bedliners, which brand do you like to use?

If you have any chipping, etc., do you sand out the area and respray a patch or no need?

Thanks,

Jon

[Twin_Turbo]

I used EZ liner from dominon sure seal, because that's the only brand I can order here as far as I know. I have only had a but of flaking where I didn't clean and sand the unsderside from where the 2 post lift was interfering. I still have to touch them up. You can get this stuff in spray bombs, have never used those but I assume that would be the easiest for touch up. It's very nasty stuff to spray to begin with. You really need a good mask to do this. For the rest, it's a matter of cleaning and lightly sanding the surface for it to stick properly.

[Johnny Blaze]

Digging it! Fellow 3rd gener!

[craigs73]

this is a pretty neat build.... on the CA's you built those things look stout

[Twin_Turbo]

The control arms and crossmember are from BMR, I only built the subframe connectors on the red camaro. I do think my design is better than what you can buy ;)

[Johnny Blaze]

What torque arm you going with?

[Johnny Blaze]

What is the power range those heads are designed for? Will they make streetable performance?

[Twin_Turbo]

I have a slide style spohn torque arm for the car. Was going to do a decoupled one, too much work and I'd have to hammer the body which I refuse to do. The TQ arm is in the pics, the main part in the pic w the powdercoated SFCs, the slide part with bushing next to the red koni box in the upper pics

The heads, I'll have to see if they're streetable. On a boat they made some 740HP on a 400SBC, I'll have to reduce the CR, they have very small chambers (have to measure cc them to determine how small)

[BulldawgMusclecars]

Cool project, I'm glad to see it moving along! Any progress on the 'Vette? I've been following that one for years, and would love to see it finished.

[Twin_Turbo]

The 77 or this one??

[Johnny Blaze]

Any updates?

[Twin_Turbo]

Time to get cracking here...stalled for way too long. I finally got my bedliner in, should have taken 3 weeks...took 3 months..what a nightmare. Always the same ole....same ole crap.

I finally finished the underside, sprayed everything and welded up that horrendous hole above the tank.

All the rest of the bolts and misc. parts are at the platers. I have new bearings and stuff for the 9 bolt rear. In the next couple of weeks I'll be able to put this thing back together.

[Twin_Turbo]

Well, got more bolts in from the platers and decided to (partially) assemble the rear suspension & axle. I still have to get a Fays2, a TA rear cover, brackets for 12" rear brakes and a bunch of other stuff. I also rebuilt the pbr calipers but I'm missing one parking brake cable bracket. It looks like the plater lost it as it was there before. Seriously pissed about that and hope I can find a replacement without having to buy a whole caliper.

More gold bolts and nuts (there's more than of this car, I always throw in all my spare bolts and nuts that come of various projects)



the calipers




rear susp, finally starting to look like something again

[Badger]

Great build!! You're giving me some motivation with my 85 T/A that is just begging for an update. Let mek now if you decide to build the sub frame connectors, I'd be interested.

[Twin_Turbo]

I'm bulding my own, just lke I did on the camaro (in pics above)