1979 Trans am question

[Lawnman]

I am looking at a 1979 t/a . My parents bought one new in '79 so I am partial to that style. The one I am looking at has a 4.9 litre in it and I am told it is original . I thought they only had the 403 olds motor in the 1979's . I thought they did not come out with a 4.9 til 1980. What is the truth ?

[Firebirdjones]

Ya you could get the 301 in 1979 T/A's,,,,although this engine is most remembered in 1980 since it was used in the Turbo T/A applications. It could be had in the 79 T/A for a $195 credit,,,lol over the 403 olds,,,,which was the base engine.

The engine vin code will be "W" for the 301 engine.

1979 they built 1,590 301's with 4 speeds
7,015 were built with automatic 301's

The 403 (olds engine) was available with automatic only,,,48,488 models
The 400 (pontiac engine) was 4-speed only,,,2,485 models produced.

Hope that helps.

[TA421]

i had a 1980 with the 6.6 turbo what a fast car she was

[Lawnman]

Ya you could get the 301 in 1979 T/A's,,,,although this engine is most remembered in 1980 since it was used in the Turbo T/A applications. It could be had in the 79 T/A for a $195 credit,,,lol over the 403 olds,,,,which was the base engine.

The engine vin code will be "W" for the 301 engine.

1979 they built 1,590 301's with 4 speeds
7,015 were built with automatic 301's

The 403 (olds engine) was available with automatic only,,,48,488 models
The 400 (pontiac engine) was 4-speed only,,,2,485 models produced.

Hope that helps.

Thanks, I did not realize they offered a 4.9 in '79 . I knew the 400 4 speed cars though.

[GULLETT17]

i had a 1980 with the 6.6 turbo what a fast car she was

i dont think they made a 6.6 turbo, they were all 4.9/301

[JohnnyBs98WS6Rag]

i had a 1980 with the 6.6 turbo what a fast car she was

That would be a 4.9L turbo. No 6.6L turbo TA was ever built by the factory.

[mingo99z]

i had one with the 403 cool car but the one with the 400 was the silver ann car a little faster than the 403 untill i put on a alum intake and headers

[RARON455]

Yup and BTW stay away from the 301 it is a real dog, and there are hardly any real performance mods for that turd. The money you would have in it could easily be spent making a 400HP 400ci poncho motor. Which are still not that hard to find. I am a Pontiac freak myself.

and as stated pontiac never put out a 6.6 litre turbo, that would have been sweet

the little 4.9 turbo ran Ok at best, Pontiacs hottest turbo trans am was in the late 80"s, It was pretty close to the buick Grand National in performance.

[1987BuickGN]

the little 4.9 turbo ran Ok at best, Pontiacs hottest turbo trans am was in the late 80"s, It was pretty close to the buick Grand National in performance.

Ah yes, the Pace car 1989. Very quick car. I believe the TA bested the Grand National in performance. But the GN has always had the reputation, and the TA did its talking on the strip. The TA would win head to head verses the GN stock. The TA did so well, it was a wash on the GNX vs TTA battle when they first came out. GREAT cars.

[Fbody4ever]

hello everybody!
I'm helping out my brother in law, he's buying a 79 T/A with the 403 olds. He's interested in all the little back door mods he can do to it. For example: rear end, is it easier to fish one out of a M4? (will the ratio be shorter) Also, are there any cheap kits for updating things like the ignition and fuel management? (a more efficient carb0
Any help you guys can render will be appreciated.

[Firebirdjones]

Well the rearends in the 2nd Gen F-bodies from 71-81 were all 8.5 inch 10 bolts. A great rearend and very stout for what it is. 28 spline axles are stock, and the pinion is the same size as the 12 bolt chevy rearend. Aftermarket is strong so anything can be upgraded inside to just about any power level you desire.
These rearends have powered a few cars into the 8's at over 160 mph.

Yes the 4 speed cars generally got a shorter gear depending on options, usually a 3.23 or 3.42 was about it throughout the 70's F-bodies, so if you're looking for more gear, then an aftermarket gear swap would be necessary.

Frankly though, finding a complete 2nd gen rearend from a 4 speed Z28 or 4 speed T/A is getting increasingly difficult and pricey therefore hardly worth the search when you can pick up a catalog and virtually order anything you want.

Pretty much the same goes for the olds motor, you can do just about anything your wallet allows, and it responds much like any gas power engine.

[GULLETT17]

Frankly though, finding a complete 2nd gen rearend from a 4 speed Z28 or 4 speed T/A is getting increasingly difficult and pricey therefore hardly worth the search when you can pick up a catalog and virtually order anything you want.

Pretty much the same goes for the olds motor, you can do just about anything your wallet allows, and it responds much like any gas power engine.

[76ls1bird]

OR put a LS in it !!

[GULLETT17]

OR put a LS in it !!

ooooo sooo niiice. . . . that looks awesome man!

[Bandit400]

OR put a LS in it !!

Wow! That is impressive. I would love to have an LS2/3/6/7 in my '81. Since you've already managed such a swap, is it a royal pain like I hear to install a GENIII engine in one of these old 2nd Gens?