.............

so what are your plans for the engine? You going to pull it out and totally redo it to new specs, or add some performance parts while you are down there. I imagine they are pretty cheap and plentiful for those cars.

When you're done with the Firebird, can I have your SSEi?

Sorry, just thought I would try.

I'm planning to pull it apart only as much as I have to. Starting this weekend with the topend. Once the heads are off, I can inspect the cylinder walls and that will tell me how the rings are. It was running clean before the teardown. I suspect leaking head gaskets....bit of oil in the coolant. Most likely leaking intake manifold gasket too. I will clean up the heads, do a little port matching and have the valve seals replaced and maybe bushed if required. I might replace the cam with a high lift moderate duration, to keep the torque down low in the rpm band. I'm going to keep the 2.41 ratio rearend.
New slightly higher rate valve springs.
When the oil pan comes off.....so I can pound out the broken dipstick....I can inspect the bearings and change the leaking rear main seal.
If I don't have to pull the pistons, I won't.
I really don't know how many miles are on this engine. The odometer shows 91,000 kms but it could be 191,000. I don't think more than that. If I'm lucky, it'* only 91,000 km but I doubt it.

The fuel gauge was reading empty, so I tried to drain it and filled a 5 gallon jug, so the fuel sender is not working.

You wouldn't think so but parts are really hard to come by for this car. I'm finding that out first hand right now.

This Olds engine with stock heads will not make much more than 400 hp or about 330 at the rear wheels.
That'* what my Formula produces with similar mods.
I may get some Edlebrock Aluminum heads for my Formula next year, just to freshen it up a bit.

No Alex, I'm keeping my Bonne.

Picked up my new electric choke after work today.

It was a real challenge unbuttoning the headers tonight. There were only 3 of five bolts holding each side on but they were rusted badly.
The last two stripped and required visegrips. One actually broke one of my sockets. Success on one but the last one would not break free even after heating it with a torch and so I had to hacksaw off the head.
There were no gaskets used.

I'm back to the boneyard tomorrow.

Will post some more pics tomorrow.

On Sunday I'm going over to this guys house to look at another Trans Am. Maybe I'll buy it for parts. Three is a lucky number. :P

Now you sound like me with bonnevilles.... Good work on the car. I've been looking for a 71 Trans Am or Firebird, but unfortunately will not have the cash to purchase one for a couple years. Keep us updated.

I checked out the other Trans Am today.
It is in worse shape than the one I have. interior is stipped. Only the torn up drivers seat remains. 4 flat tires on stock steel rims. It'* a 5.0 L auto 1981 model.
Air cleaner is missing and so is the radiator cowl.
There are a few parts I might be interested in.
The body looks good because it was recently painted but rust is coming through already. Even the front bumper cover is ripped.


I made so good progress on my T/A this weekend. It was sunny and 13* C both days.
Removed the hood and hinges. One hinge has to be replaced. I swapped over the spring.....that was hard.
Got the old rotten headers completely off. Took off the starter and cleaned it up. Took off the power steering pump and disassembled....need to build an O-ring kit and reassemble. It looks good.
Changed all the grease fittings cause the old ones were toast. The other guy had obviously not lubbed the suspension in a long time. I think one of the ball joints is bad.

Drained the engine oil....it was nasty. The headers were smashed up into the oil filter, so the filter could not be removed without removing the passenger header first. Wonder how long it was like that. Can't wait to open up the engine and find out. :(

Have to replace the front sway bar 1 1/4" bushings. The previous owner wrapped one with rubber cause he was too cheap to buy a new one. At least the end links are the good ol WS6 hard nylon ones in great shape.
Took off the door seal rubbers and prepping to install the new ones from NPD.
Prepped to remove the front cowl and bumper. That comes off tomorrow. As soon as the front end is off, I'll be able to stand directly in front of the engine easily for open heart surgery.

Replaced all the fuel and vacuum hoses. Every single vacuum hose was leaking.
The trani vacuum line was disconnected. Not any more.
Every part that I remove is carefully cleaned and sprayed with original GM paint so it looks new again.

Picked up some pretty good inside door skins, more window trim, side view mirrors, and a console at the boneyard. The console although for an manual trani car is in perfect condition. I plan on trading it for an automatic one next month.
I even robbed two Regals of there hood lights. Planning to adapt one for the Bonne and the other for my bird. They have the mercury switches built in.

I'm off to Las Vegas for a week of holidays during spring break so the resto will have to be delayed while I rest up for another burst of wrenching in April.
The new full core rad should be ready when I return.
The new interior carpet and dash kit should arrive this week.

is it auto or manual? an auto just wont do...

Both my Birds are Turbohydramatic 350 versions.
Nothing wrong with automatics. Shift kit, cooler, rachet shifter. They are the most consistent when racing bracket drags.

I know the real prize would have been to find a 4 speed manual T/A with the Pontiac 400 6.6L. They came stock with 220 hp vs 185 hp and the same 320 ft-lbs of torque rating as the Olds 403 6.6L. Manuals would do the 1/4 mi stock in 15.2 sec @ 93 mph. ......vs 15.6 @ 88 for the auto

My moderately modified automatic will do low 13'* at over 100......every time within 1/10 sec.
Sure, a similarly modified manual would be faster and more fun but you can't have everything.

It will always be my time machine. I really hope you young guys can hold onto your Bonne'* as long as I have held onto my Firebird, then you will know how I feel.

NPD packages arrived today via UPS. :P
Three really big boxes.
Wanna know what was in them ?