My 1980 Pontiac Trans Am

[rambler]

nice car, I've always like the TAs...

[C-10 simplex]

Originally Posted by Yukon Jack

The mechanical pump is gone so just electric. I'd actually prefer the mechanical I think. Am I assuming it should be placed closer to the tank and being out of the engine compartment helps safety-wise?

i don't know about being safer--- fenderwell vs. near tank. (Actually, the safest place would be inside the tank--- best protection in the event of a collision). But elec pumps like to push fuel rather than pull as jonboy stated. The fenderwell is a good place to burnout an elec pump. Really stressing it out by putting it there.

[Yukon Jack]

A couple days ago I noticed the front end feeling a little different when I was driving and I thought I was hearing some tire squeeling when turning. Nothing major. Well the next time I drove it the feeling was more pronounced and as I was driving home I wondered if one of the windows was slightly rolled down as I was hearing some odd noise. Got home and looked at the front tires and the tread was severely worn on about half of the width of the tire. Drove to the alignment shop the next morning a few miles from home and by the time I arrived, the front tires were much worse.

Turns out the adjuster sleeve for the tie rod was stripping out for some reason and had pulled out quite a bit resulting in a severe toe out condition.

Got the tie rod replaced and the shop mentioned one lower control arm bushing needs replacement. He also mentioned, what I had suspected, that someone had put in taller than stock front springs and some sort of odd ball shocks. Since the lower control arm bushings are going to be replaced the timing is right to replace the front springs and shocks.

So, I've ordered a set of Year One's newly released Honeycomb rims along with a set of Nitto 555's, 285/40 for the rear and 255/45 for the front.

I've had a couple conversations with Dave at PTFB and have decided upon the GT suspension kit along with subframe connectors, solid body mounts and front sway bar bushings and end links.

I'll tackle the rear springs, body mounts and subframe connectors, but let the alignment shop put in the new front springs and shocks while they are doing the lower control arm bushings.

Hate to do this all at once moneywise but should be quite the performer and get me where I wanted to be at some point in the future anyway.

I'll post some pics of the work in progress. The rims and tires are both supposed to be in some time tomorrow, but expect the suspension kit to arrive some time next week. Now I've got to find some free time so me and the TA can bond.

[wiggins]

Nice choice, it will look a lot better with the honeycombs IMO.

[Jonboy]

Those honeycombs are rediculous. They get my vote, too. I am glad to see you are going that way.

[Yukon Jack]

Can't believe how fast the rims arrived, ordered them Sunday night and the tires Tuesday and both showed up today. Presently are at the tire store getting mounted. Man those back tires are wide in person!

[Jonboy]

Ooooooh, those are awesome. I like it!

[Yukon Jack]

Here are a couple more before shots to compare to the after shots.





I was finally able to get the center caps on and no front bearing cap interference. *I'm very pleased with the look of the honeycombs on my TA even though they aren't exactly period correct.

[wiggins]

Defenite improvement. It looks like a nice car know instead of a race car.

[Torrey72]

Sweet car, I like it
All you need now is a little black paint, cowboy hat and a CB. And you and Snowman can go on a Beer run.

[timjt]

haha, I was wondering when someone would mention the bandit

[Yukon Jack]

Did someone say beer?!!!

[Yukon Jack]

Been extremely limited on time to work on my TA. I started working on replacing the subframe bushings with the solid ones and as luck would have it, the driver's side nut near the rear of the front fender broke free of the cage and spun on me. Attempted to pull the inner fender to get in there and was having no luck. I finally cut an access hole and was able to get a 1 1/4" wrench onto the nut. Even with liberal use of penetrant, I couldn't get the nut to break free, finally the bolt broke.

I now have all the solid bushings in place. As I did this project I found a prior owner "wedged" the bushing so there was no bushings between the frame and the radiator support. I'm a little low on shaker to hood clearance with the 455 Olds so I put the PTFB bushings in using the full height option. That ought to allow me to use a bit taller air cleaner.

I try to do as much work as possible on my old vehicles but I'm awful low on free time and want to be driving so I've taken the TA to have the lower control arm bushings replaced. While they are in there they will replace the front springs and shocks and then also do the rear springs and shocks for me. Will also have them go ahead and do the front sway bar bushings and links. A day job for them that would have taken me much, much longer to do.

Was able to pick up my Trans Am this morning and am very pleased with the suspension. *It is definitely a firmer ride with the GT suspension and solid body mounts but that is fine with me and is what I wanted. *Ready for some good seat time. *Looks like the drop is about 2 1/2" up front and about 2" in the rear. *I expect both to settle a bit.

Got a nice complement when I was out taking photos, funny that never happens when I'm driving my daily driver *

Anyway, here are two shots showing before and after (the before shot is flipped so the side view is consistent)





And a couple photos I took before work





Really like the tires and wheels - sure bets the heck out of the big and littles that it had when I bought it.

[wiggins]

Much improved, looks good.

[Mike C]

Looks awesome! Good wheel and tire choice, and nothing helps those cars stance more than getting the nose down a little. Now you need to put some miles on it!

[Yukon Jack]

Exactly - hope to do just that - lots of seat time!

[barn9]

Drive down and visit whilst taking me for a ride, LOL!

[jb1016]

Looks so much better with the nose down. Love the honeycombs too.

[Yukon Jack]

Thanks, I've always loved the look of the Honeycombs - not period correct but they work for me!

[cam.man67]

Lookin' fly.

[Pont406]

Nice T/A! Couple pics of my buddy 75.