1978 TA Brochure

Trans Am logo on fire

1978 455 CID Trans Am

Click here to see 1977-78 Firebird/TA pictures...
Click here to hear my 455 TA in action...
Click here for 'Smokey and the Bandit' movie Wave files...

I have a 1978 Trans Am that has been in the family since new. It now has 216,000 miles on it and has a blueprinted street/strip 455 CID motor. I was a pimple-faced 16 year old boy in the passenger seat when it was driven off of the dealer's lot in April of 1978. I got to drive it to high school a few times in 1978/79 and that sure was a treat !! :)

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Pictures from Spring 2001 engine compartment
"restification" project.
Click on any picture to see it full size:

Here's a shot from the driver's seat:

Smokey & the Bandit Logo

Here's a comical description of the movie 'Smokey & the Bandit' by an anonymous author:

Buckle-up and shift into high gear -- here comes the GRANDDADDY OF CAR CRASH CLASSICS: "SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT" starring 70's good ol' boy icon Burt Reynolds, post-"Flying Nun" and pre-respectable actress Sally Field, Country Western singer/songwriter Jerry Reed, and "The Great One" himself, Jackie Gleason as a redneck sherrif Buford T. Justice. All three stars are in peak form -- but the REAL STAR of this movie is all the FREE-WHEELIN', TIRE SQUEALIN' and GEARS STRIPPEN' CAR CHASES, STUNTS and CRASHES ! There's a truckload of BELLYLAUGHS, too, and lots of 70's stuff like COUNTRY MUSIC, CB RADIOS, BELLBOTTOM JEANS, FEATHERED HAIR and ICE-COLD SIX PACKS ! Watching this movie is like taking a trip back in time to the wild, wild 70's ! While the rest of the country was sittin' in gas lines and frettin' about Iran, Jimmy Carter and the recession, Burt was TEARIN' UP THE ROAD, BURNIN' FUEL and RAISIN' HELL like there was no tomorrow ! In the end, everything worked out just fine, so I guess Burt had the right idea all along... Packed with FUN, ENERGY, NOSTALGIA and HIGH-OCTANE ACTION, this OUTRAGEOUS MOVIE is an absolute must for Burt Reynolds and 70's film fans !

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1978 Trans Am Hood bird

1978 Trans Am

Features:

Engine-1972 455 HO 4 bolt main block (bored .030 over for 462 CID)
1973 Super Duty #16 heads (unported, as from the factory for originality) I'm still paying for these !! :o
Super Duty LS2 intake manifold
Super Duty Quadrajet carburator
Super Duty pistons
Roller rocker arms
Hooker headers with dual mufflers
MSD ignition with rev limiter and dashboard adjustable engine timing control (ignition mounted in trunk, as is the battery)
Remote oil filter on firewall
Note: Engine built by the Pontiac expert, Nunzi Romono, in Brooklyn, NY. in 1993. He's been building Pontiac engines for over 30 years !! Check out his web site: http://www.nunzi-pontiac-expert.com

Drivetrain-Turbo 350 transmission with B&M shift kit (6th transmission so far)
Remote fluid cooler in front of radiator
3.42 Posi rear end

Suspension- 4 adjustable Koni shocks
Rear disc brakes from 79 Trans Am (also changed master cylinder & proportioning valve for rear disc brakes to work correctly)
15x8 Snowflake rims with 245-60R15 Goodyear Eagle ST tires (Note: Picture above is old and shows original 15x7 Snowflake rims)
Stiffer rear springs
Polygraphite bushings on front & rear sway bars & on A-Arms

Misc- Zemco trip & MPG computer to see MPG and driving stats as you drive
Zemco performance computer for 0-60 & 1/4 mile times. Used only on approved tracks ;)
4-Core Radiator
Original air conditioning on car removed for performance's sake
Remote controlled Door deadbolts that I designed and patented (a deadbolt goes from the door jamb into the door to discourage theft)
Front and rear bumper subframes "swiss cheesed" with torch to save 21 lbs
Chesterfield Brown with tan velour interior
The original 400 CID engine was pulled at 165,000 miles so the 455 could be installed. The 400 ran fine when pulled, although it needed a new set of lifters at about 150,000 miles (one lifter collapsed). I put in a new timing chain at about 130,000 miles as a precautionary measure.

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Click here if you want to cry....

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Pontiac Logo

Click on the TA hood icon to hear a TA engine punching it from
the movie 'Smokey and the Bandit'

"Hear more Smokey & the Bandit WAVs at 'Smokey & the Bandit' movie Wave files
from the link above..."

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I also have a 1973 Buick Regal that has been in the family since new. It now has 124,000 miles on it and is driven only occassionally.

1973 Buick Regal

This car was my daily driver from 1978-1986. It sure takes a licking and keeps on ticking !! It's been in 4 accidents (you know how the teenage years go). The last accident bent both front ends of the frame about a foot. I had the frame straightened and it still purrs like a kitten and is as smooth as can be on the highway. The poor car spent the first 13 years in Michigan and then Connecticut without being rustproofed. Thus the rear frame and trunk are very rusty. In the spring of 1997 I found a parts car with no engine nor interior for $350. The frame and trunk of it are unbelievably solid. I feel very fortunate to find such a solid doner frame and trunk from a car that's 27 years old !! The parts car was in storage until August of 2002 when it was disassembled for the beginning of the restoration project.

Summer 2002- 1973 Buick Century parts car disassembled down to the doner frame. Click on any picture to see it full size:

Crescent Wrench

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Tell me about your car

Name: 
E-mail address: 



Are you restoring a muscle car or old truck?  What is it ?

        Year:  (ex: 1969)

        Make:  (ex: Chevrolet)

       Model:  (ex: Camaro)

        Type:  (ex: SS)

        Body:  (ex: 2dr coupe)

      Engine:  (ex: 350)
Transmission:  (AT or MT)

Is there anything unique & interesting about your vehicle ?


Check which of these cars you like:

1964-72 Chevelle/El Camino/Monte Carlo
1966-74 Dodge/Plymouth (A/B/E bodies)
1964-72 Skylark/GS
1964-72 Cutlass/442
1967-81 Firebird
1964-72 LeMans/GTO
1962-74 Chevy II/Nova
1967-81 Camaro
1958-72 Full-size Chevy/1959-60 El Camino

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Humorous items:


Here's a guy who cut 2 holes in his car's hood and made his engine "Blown" with an everyday leaf blower !?!


This 1971 TA is for sale for $100. The owner says that "it's Restorable" !!!? I mean it's a shell with no engine, interior, front frame & the rear fenders are cut off !!!