1979 Trans Am fast? Or fast for its day? - Page 2

Rogue Leader · 09-23-2010, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeSVX

Both. I think they majorly underrated it's power. it's rated at 275hp I believe. I know it launches nearly as hard as my Camaro and I have pushed it up into the vacinity of 150MPH before it scared me enough to back off and it was still pulling pretty good. My parents had one when I was 17 years old.

Of course my preception could have been a little scewwed. My daily driver back then was a 1969 Camaro with a 307ci and a powerglide. It took about 15 minutes to get to 105mph and then would start to fly off the ground.

10K for that condition is nutz FYI.

I think so.. in 1979 it was barely 185 HP and definitely not underrated. At 3,600 lbs, hitting 150 in that car would requires some monster tailwind!

rmpackers · 09-23-2010, 04:55 PM

My hubby bought me a '79 Bandit Trans AM to cure my post-partum depression! Beautiful car, ok on speed, but it rode like a truck and I will NEVER own a black car again.

greenrail · 09-23-2010, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmpackers

My hubby bought me a '79 Bandit Trans AM to cure my post-partum depression! Beautiful car, ok on speed, but it rode like a truck and I will NEVER own a black car again.

Hey, I own a black car! SHEESH!!!!

2ndgenz28 · 09-23-2010, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bowtie Junkman

The "6.6 Litre" was the 403 Olds motor .... the same one used in Delta 88's, 98's, Cadillacs and Custom Cruiser wagons .... definitely not the first to come to mind when thinking of "peformance" motors ...

you couldn't find those around here in junk yards for years, soon as they get one its sold to be built into a race motor.

Bowtie Junkman · 09-23-2010, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2ndgenz28

you couldn't find those around here in junk yards for years, soon as they get one its sold to be built into a race motor.

Wow ... the only Olds motor that I ever sold outta my wrecking yard with an regularity was the 455 .... I couldn't give away 350's or 403's .... I should have shipped them all to Toledo!

motorhead · 09-23-2010, 06:09 PM

The 79 trans am in stock was one of the slowest cars I've owned ,but also my favorite. They just look so cool. But hey, nothing in 79 was that fast. The little red express pick up beat the corvette in that year. So what does that tell you.

2ndgenz28 · 09-23-2010, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by motorhead

The little red express pick up beat the corvette in that year. So what does that tell you.

The EPA sucks

Had a 79 305 2bb Aro, it could burn the tires off but sucked in general, everything was faster.

my v6 3rd gen is more fun, handles n stops 1000x better.

Hicompression · 09-23-2010, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Etherij

I REALLY want to know, did the 1979 Trans Am with the 403 6.6l have any fast feel to it?

Simply put...it was a real turd. The earlier 70's Trans Am's with the 400 and 455's were better cars (up until about 1974).

v6sonoma · 09-23-2010, 08:29 PM

Maybe not by todays standards, but with a little bit of adjusting I'm sure it could change for the better. (good bye cats!)

shank0668 · 09-23-2010, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xanthos

***DISCLAIMER: I cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information contained in this link***

Here's the list I use to get a rough idea of how older cars stack up. http://www.albeedigital.com/supercou...0-60times.html

It lists the 79 T/A as 6.7 0-60, 14.7 1/4 mile. Not terrible but not great either.
- X

Not stock, ill bet money.

formare · 09-23-2010, 08:53 PM

I had a 79 trans am with the 400 4 speed. I put headers and a competition cams 280 shaft. Took all of the pollution stuff off. It was still a dog, but it did sound really really good.

motorhead · 09-23-2010, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by formare

I had a 79 trans am with the 400 4 speed. I put headers and a competition cams 280 shaft. Took all of the pollution stuff off. It was still a dog, but it did sound really really good.

That's funny because It wasn't until I pulled the big block in mine and put a stroker in that it came alive.

RAdams · 09-23-2010, 09:12 PM

It's kinda weak, but has good potential.

An acquaintance is rebuilding a 78 Special Edition. When he first started the project years ago, he mentioned what a hellion it would be based on what he remembered from the movie Smokey and the Bandit. Out of sheer luck, I'd happened to read an article about the movie recently and suggested that he did a web search on "Smokey Bandit Trans Am MODIFICATIONS." He was very skeptical at first, but after he did some research, he was glad I spoke up. Now instead of a slightly anemic restoration, he WILL have a hellion (motor complete - dyno'd at nearly 500 HP at the crank!)

its a syn · 09-23-2010, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SC2150

Not fast, and not fast for the day.

Now a 72-73 SD 455 was unbelievable!!!

a guy that was in my high school had a 73,this was back in 79. that thing would barely idle at a stop sign. i think he had some sic radical cam in it! u couldn't touch it. i loved seeing that car, the shaker alone would scare most dogs away!!

09-23-2010, 04:55 PM	#16
rmpackers Ride this Chevy Drives: 2010 RJT RS Camaro Join Date: May 2009 Location: Lincoln, Nebraska Posts: 1,575	My hubby bought me a '79 Bandit Trans AM to cure my post-partum depression! Beautiful car, ok on speed, but it rode like a truck and I will NEVER own a black car again. __________________ NFL OWNR I love the smell of new car in the morning!

09-23-2010, 08:29 PM	#23
v6sonoma Drives: 2010 SS RS Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Providence, RI Posts: 8,108 View My Garage	Maybe not by todays standards, but with a little bit of adjusting I'm sure it could change for the better. (good bye cats!) __________________ Mods: BBK Intake, BBK LT's and High Flow Cats, Corsa Cat-back exhaust, Hurst short throw shifter, SLP skip-shift eliminator. 7/1/09 Placed order for IOM/IO int/ SS/RS 6M 9/26/09 Took delivery!

09-23-2010, 08:53 PM	#25
formare The Milano Drives: 2017 Firefly ShipWorks Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Chicagoland (Crown Point, IN) Posts: 1,877 View My Garage	I had a 79 trans am with the 400 4 speed. I put headers and a competition cams 280 shaft. Took all of the pollution stuff off. It was still a dog, but it did sound really really good. __________________ My first Love. She was called "Miss Carriage" (still cry when I think about her) 383, Muncie 4 speed, custom linkage mated to hurst short throw shifter. Last edited by formare; 09-25-2010 at 08:39 AM.

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09-23-2010, 06:09 PM	#20
motorhead Drives: Love the one you're with Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Downtown Charlie Brown Posts: 11,849	The 79 trans am in stock was one of the slowest cars I've owned ,but also my favorite. They just look so cool. But hey, nothing in 79 was that fast. The little red express pick up beat the corvette in that year. So what does that tell you.

09-23-2010, 09:12 PM	#27
RAdams Car Guy Drives: '08 Mustang GT, '01 Isuzu VehiCROSS Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 441	It's kinda weak, but has good potential. An acquaintance is rebuilding a 78 Special Edition. When he first started the project years ago, he mentioned what a hellion it would be based on what he remembered from the movie Smokey and the Bandit. Out of sheer luck, I'd happened to read an article about the movie recently and suggested that he did a web search on "Smokey Bandit Trans Am MODIFICATIONS." He was very skeptical at first, but after he did some research, he was glad I spoke up. Now instead of a slightly anemic restoration, he *WILL* have a hellion (motor complete - dyno'd at nearly 500 HP at the crank!)