1977 PontiacTrans Am

[TransAmFanatic]

Hey guys, I have a friend that has a 77 trans am bandit clone, when he bought the car, the guy said that he dropped a Chevy 350 in it. Well we was talking today and he was wanting to give the car more horsepower. I suggested to him that he should drop an LS1in it, with a T56 or a 4L60E transmission. What other options would yall suggest. I know you can carburate an LS1. Also I dont know if just rebuilding the current engine that's I'm there would be cheaper or not....motor does need some work.

[2002ssslp]

First, what is your budget and second, what are you trying to get out of the car as far as performance.

[pajeff02]

Also, is your friend capable of handling the swap and upgrades, or does he have to farm the work out to a shop?

There is absolutely nothing wrong with keeping it old school - he can make plenty of power and torque that way, and probably do it for far less than a swap to an LS1. Granted there are companies that make everything you need these days, but all the stuff required for engine and transmission control to mounts to gauge interface is going to require time and $$.

[2002ssslp]

Old school will save a ton of money like Jeff said and you can shop Summit and Jegs for just about everything needed. I would go with a 383 stroker and a good aftermarket 5 speed trans like a Doug Nash. Mate that with a 9" or 12 bolt and you are in business. Good luck.

[CHEVELLE of JONESY]

I would look at Year One and their Bandit Edition Trans Am for some ideas. If you have never looked it up the cars are incredible with anywhere from original style pontiac engines to modern LS power plants. It's worth a peek.

[Axhammer]

Blasphemy! Why would anyone want to ruin a Pontiac by putting a chevy engine in it. Build a Pontiac engine for it.

[pajeff02]

GM actually installed Chevrolet engines in Pontiac Firebirds at the factory commencing in 1977.

[Too Fast]

And Oldsmobile engines. It was the '70s, GM did strange things.

[pajeff02]

And Oldsmobile engines. It was the '70s, GM did strange things.

[Axhammer]

There was a legal dispute in 1977 when a customer sued Because his Oldsmobile had a chevy engine in it. Pontiac made its own V-8's through 1979. The 1979 TA was available with an Oldsmobile 401 or the Pontiac 400. The 301 was available through 1981. The 1977 TA was not available with the chevy engine.

[SMWS6TA]

If it was my dime and my 77 TA I would without hesitation and remorse put in a modern LS engine in. Specifically a 6 liter or LS3 (if I could afford one).

Punch the 6 liter to 408ci, throw on LS3 heads, Victor Jr Intake and do a carb or FI setup. Throw a 4L80E or 700R4 transmission (depending on carb/FI setup)



Reason why.....

1) 77 engine struggle to put out 220hp, today's can easy be built to 3x's that output. Yes I know the old one's can be built up to but no where near the fuel efficiency or ease as then new stuff.

2) Unless it was a rare, numbers matching TA, then really there's no need to worry. It most likely has a 350 SBC already swapped into it like the OP has.


IIRC YR1 Bandit III has LS7 rocking it out...

[Too Fast]

There was a legal dispute in 1977 when a customer sued Because his Oldsmobile had a chevy engine in it. Pontiac made its own V-8's through 1979. The 1979 TA was available with an Oldsmobile 401 or the Pontiac 400. The 301 was available through 1981. The 1977 TA was not available with the chevy engine.

I knew something about the lawsuit, but didn't remember when it was. The Olds engine was a 403 tho, not a 401. Minor clarification, you were probably thinking about the Pontiac 301 when you posted.

[pajeff02]

I have a 401... but it is better known as a "Nailhead".

[Too Fast]

And that Nailhead is a Berick, as some locals around here pronounce it.

[pajeff02]

Yep. It's in an old rusty Buick.

[RONS98TA]

I always find it kinda amusing when someone replies to a thread that's over a year old. That's only because i've done it and wonder why nobody replied after me. LOL.

[Firebirdjones]

GM actually installed Chevrolet engines in Pontiac Firebirds at the factory commencing in 1977.

And if you want to take that a step further, Pontiac installed chevy v8's (307's) in the 1971 pontiac ventura's (X-body) So pontiac was doing it long before they started in the Fbodies, then it became the norm after 81 for all pontiacs.

[Firebirdjones]

There was a legal dispute in 1977 when a customer sued Because his Oldsmobile had a chevy engine in it. Pontiac made its own V-8's through 1979. The 1979 TA was available with an Oldsmobile 401 or the Pontiac 400. The 301 was available through 1981. The 1977 TA was not available with the chevy engine.

Actually pontiac made it's own V8's up through 1981 just as you mentioned 2 sentences later with the 301, but they also made a little 265 pontiac V8 in 1981, had one in a Grand Prix my father bought new.

[0rion]

well since the thread got bumped......what ended up happening with the car? If I had the money I would for sure throw an LS motor in it. A lot more work and money but a much better motor that makes more power, more dependable, and more efficient. That late 70's era was a point in time that go fast people hung their heads. What a shitty time for performance cars. I had a 79 with that bad ass 301 in it.....it was so slow it had dead bugs on the back windshield.

[RONS98TA]

If I had that car, I would've dropped in a 2006 (ish) Z06 427 LS motor with and old school weiand chromed out blower on it sticking out through the hood!!