Oh Boy.......New Misery Project. 78 Trans Am

[SMWS6TA]

Been sitting on this since last July.

I made an impulse buy. Bought a 78 Trans Am (roller) for $500. Basically I guess I don't have enough pain and misery with my 98 or 00 that I need just a little more....Yes it's rough as fuck but still has a lot going for it. Has the typical 2nd gen issues: floor pans, qtr panel, fenders, wrong hood, painted with house paint, no drive train, and obviously a shit ton of work.

What it does have going for it: the Rockers are solid, the hard top is solid and it has complete interior (I've never seen even cars as much as $3k have all the interior). I've done a vin check and it is in fact a Trans AM, came with a 400ci auto, both are long gone as well as the shaker hood. Was Gold, then someone painted it white with either house paint and/or roller. That's gonna be fun to fix. For now I'm going thru and fixing the body before I get a drive train. I've had time to think it over and the 2 paths I've decided on is either get a Pontiac 455 and kept it old school or the most likely route, get a L92/94 rebuild it to be a monster and toss that into the 98 and that the 403 LQ4 out of the 98 and drop it in this. I've only been given 2 rules from the household six (wife) - must be an auto and not so wild she can't handle it cause she wants to drive it. The 98 she is afraid to drive.










I have more pics of stuff I've been working, will post later.

[Whamhammer]

Been sitting on this since last July.

I made an impulse buy. Bought a 78 Trans Am (roller) for $500. Basically I guess I don't have enough pain and misery with my 98 or 00 that I need just a little more....Yes it's rough as fuck but still has a lot going for it. Has the typical 2nd gen issues: floor pans, qtr panel, fenders, wrong hood, painted with house paint, no drive train, and obviously a shit ton of work.

What it does have going for it: the Rockers are solid, the hard top is solid and it has complete interior (I've never seen even cars as much as $3k have all the interior). I've done a vin check and it is in fact a Trans AM, came with a 400ci auto, both are long gone as well as the shaker hood. Was Gold, then someone painted it white with either house paint and/or roller. That's gonna be fun to fix. For now I'm going thru and fixing the body before I get a drive train. I've had time to think it over and the 2 paths I've decided on is either get a Pontiac 455 and kept it old school or the most likely route, get a L92/94 rebuild it to be a monster and toss that into the 98 and that the 403 LQ4 out of the 98 and drop it in this. I've only been given 2 rules from the household six (wife) - must be an auto and not so wild she can't handle it cause she wants to drive it. The 98 she is afraid to drive.










I have more pics of stuff I've been working, will post later.

I don't know how I missed this, yeah you are in for a fun time!!!

At least they make repro parts for those.

I know where a LS1 might be, assuming that the bores haven't rusted up....

[SMWS6TA]

Finally made some progress on drivers door. Cut out a corner that had bad rustand weld in a replacement steel. wire wheel the shit out of everything inside and window tracks cleaned up. Waiting on some Steel it primer to come in and then I'll be putting on the door skin. So far fitment is dead on. just need to twick the patch a little. I'll post picks up once I get more done.

[Whamhammer]

Finally made some progress on drivers door. Cut out a corner that had bad rustand weld in a replacement steel. wire wheel the shit out of everything inside and window tracks cleaned up. Waiting on some Steel it primer to come in and then I'll be putting on the door skin. So far fitment is dead on. just need to twick the patch a little. I'll post picks up once I get more done.

And I thought I had MY work cut out for me!!!!


Should be a good project

[SMWS6TA]

As promised.... Driver door is done.


So for reference Here is where it started...




Cleaned up all the dirt and surface rust on the inside and applied Por15.









Repaired the corner. This was the only bad spot on the door frame.





New door skin attached and spot welded






I now have a new level of respect for body guys. That hammering smoked my arm. Lot more of work out then it looks.

It will need some body work but that can be done in primer and blocking.

Next is the passenger door.

[Whamhammer]

As promised.... Driver door is done.


So for reference Here is where it started...




Cleaned up all the dirt and surface rust on the inside and applied Por15.









Repaired the corner. This was the only bad spot on the door frame.





New door skin attached and spot welded






I now have a new level of respect for body guys. That hammering smoked my arm. Lot more of work out then it looks.

It will need some body work but that can be done in primer and blocking.

Next is the passenger door.

Yeah, having the right tools, enough elbow grease, patience, and knowhow certainly helps!

I usually dont have the patience!