Discussion
OK, I've always fancied something with a nice big V8 but the cash pot won't stretch to a TVR at the moment. I've found something I like the look of for £1500 whcih is definitely in budget - 1976 Trans Am 6.6 V8.
It has an Edelbrock high-revving manifold, and a double barrel Holley 600 carb. Is this a good thing???
Any advice and comments appreciated - and everyone at work has already started taking the pi$$ so don't hold back!
It has an Edelbrock high-revving manifold, and a double barrel Holley 600 carb. Is this a good thing???
Any advice and comments appreciated - and everyone at work has already started taking the pi$$ so don't hold back!
OK, I've always fancied something with a nice big V8 but the cash pot won't stretch to a TVR at the moment. I've found something I like the look of for £1500 whcih is definitely in budget - 1976 Trans Am 6.6 V8.
It has an Edelbrock high-revving manifold, and a double barrel Holley 600 carb. Is this a good thing???
Any advice and comments appreciated - and everyone at work has already started taking the pi$$ so don't hold back!
Could be made tasty, but roadholding is shit........good for dragging but highland roads?....
you'll have to stiffen the rear end something vast, and put proper european tyres on it.
Holley carb (good and solid) parts are (were) usually difficult to get in UK. Is it an ex-USforces personell car? Then probably spares probs. Is the clutch original? or is it an Auto?
Yeah, I know about the handling. There is none.
It's an auto box which I'm more than happy with. Not going to do many miles so not overly bothered about MPG (or GPM, as it may turn out...)
Looking at the yank tank club sites and mags, there seem to be a lot of specialists in the UK who can source parts pretty fast - or is this a myth?!
Bottom line is it has an MOT until October and if it's going pear shaped by then, I'm sure I can fob it off on some other mug for a couple of hundred less than I paid - not too bad for a summer of crusing.
It's an auto box which I'm more than happy with. Not going to do many miles so not overly bothered about MPG (or GPM, as it may turn out...)
Looking at the yank tank club sites and mags, there seem to be a lot of specialists in the UK who can source parts pretty fast - or is this a myth?!
Bottom line is it has an MOT until October and if it's going pear shaped by then, I'm sure I can fob it off on some other mug for a couple of hundred less than I paid - not too bad for a summer of crusing.
) has loads of parts suppliers listed in the back.6.6 ltr trans-am, is that like the one from the original "Smokey and the Bandit" movie?
I like the comment about the bird decal, that is a must, plus it helps to hold the bonnet together.
You should get loads of tyre smokin action though. As most people have said, don't bother going around corners, I would opt for going through the hedges and out the other side, or over the top of roundabouts!!
I like the comment about the bird decal, that is a must, plus it helps to hold the bonnet together.
You should get loads of tyre smokin action though. As most people have said, don't bother going around corners, I would opt for going through the hedges and out the other side, or over the top of roundabouts!!
If it has the WS6 suspension package (not sure if that was exported to Europe), then it will hold the road remarkably well for being an overweight, outdated, road monster. The 6.6 Pontiac is notorious for having difficulty handling high RPM's. They do, however, produce stupendous amounts of torque when properly modified. After market suspension parts available here are plentiful and cheap (relatively) and are more than capable of getting the handling to where you want it. Parts for the old Pontiac 6.6 (400 cubic inch)on the other hand, are a little hard to come by, as they are not a very popular motor. That car managed to place an absolutely pathetic 185 horsepower @3600 RPM when stock, but backed it up with a fairly respectable 310 lb/ft of tourque@1600 RPM.
I'd say its not the best choice if you are looking to just drive it, but if you wish to do a bit a modifying it's a great starting point.
Lv2spd
hopes he's not in bad form
I'd say its not the best choice if you are looking to just drive it, but if you wish to do a bit a modifying it's a great starting point.
Lv2spd
hopes he's not in bad form
Okay, here we go.
I actually owned a 1975 Trans Am way back in the dark ages (1981-82). I friend of mine owned a 1976 Trans Am. A few things worth knowing:
1. The mid 70's were transitional years for American machines (emissions wise) and they were lacking quite a bit of horsepower. My car actually had more torque than my friend's '76 (his looked better though).
2. The auto transmissions on these vehicles are poor and prone to failure - have the tranny checked out by someone knowledgeable.
3. It sounds like somebody has already started some work on the car because Edelbrock manifolds are great. Holly carbs are also great (the stock carbs were, I believe, Rochesters). Holly carbs are not for the fuel efficient folk I can tell you if you have a lead foot.
4. See if the the camshaft has been replaced - usually when one replaces the intake and carb, a cam with higher lobes is also used. Bolt on some headers and get rid of the exhaust manifold as well to increase power a little more.
5. The body will roll way more than you are used to from European cars.
6. Modify the air intake (if it has not been done already) to make it a true "ram air" intake and you can get a little more power. You may have to adjust the carb afterwards (Holly's tend to run rich too btw).
Thats about it. FWIW, the Smokey and the Bandit car was the '77. It was the first year the T/A used quad headlamps. 1976 was the last year for the single round lights.
ErnestM
Edited to add:
www.76transam.com/
Check out the site for more '76 information
>> Edited by ErnestM on Friday 31st January 19:41
I actually owned a 1975 Trans Am way back in the dark ages (1981-82). I friend of mine owned a 1976 Trans Am. A few things worth knowing:
1. The mid 70's were transitional years for American machines (emissions wise) and they were lacking quite a bit of horsepower. My car actually had more torque than my friend's '76 (his looked better though).
2. The auto transmissions on these vehicles are poor and prone to failure - have the tranny checked out by someone knowledgeable.
3. It sounds like somebody has already started some work on the car because Edelbrock manifolds are great. Holly carbs are also great (the stock carbs were, I believe, Rochesters). Holly carbs are not for the fuel efficient folk I can tell you if you have a lead foot.
4. See if the the camshaft has been replaced - usually when one replaces the intake and carb, a cam with higher lobes is also used. Bolt on some headers and get rid of the exhaust manifold as well to increase power a little more.
5. The body will roll way more than you are used to from European cars.
6. Modify the air intake (if it has not been done already) to make it a true "ram air" intake and you can get a little more power. You may have to adjust the carb afterwards (Holly's tend to run rich too btw).
Thats about it. FWIW, the Smokey and the Bandit car was the '77. It was the first year the T/A used quad headlamps. 1976 was the last year for the single round lights.
ErnestM
Edited to add:
www.76transam.com/
Check out the site for more '76 information
>> Edited by ErnestM on Friday 31st January 19:41
Thanks for the advice y'all!
Well, I took the plunge and bought it. It seems in pretty good overall condition and sounds EXCELLENT!
Next question for the experts - it has 2 sets of alloys. One is the original chrome set (I believe they are called "Rostyle"?) and another set which are gold Smokey and the Bandit style. The american specialist garage who have worked on it tell me that the gold set are worth £500 which would be a nice little "cashback" on the deal - but which are the ones to keep???
Well, I took the plunge and bought it. It seems in pretty good overall condition and sounds EXCELLENT!
Next question for the experts - it has 2 sets of alloys. One is the original chrome set (I believe they are called "Rostyle"?) and another set which are gold Smokey and the Bandit style. The american specialist garage who have worked on it tell me that the gold set are worth £500 which would be a nice little "cashback" on the deal - but which are the ones to keep???
OK, I've always fancied something with a nice big V8 but the cash pot won't stretch to a TVR at the moment. I've found something I like the look of for £1500 whcih is definitely in budget - 1976 Trans Am 6.6 V8.
It has an Edelbrock high-revving manifold, and a double barrel Holley 600 carb. Is this a good thing???
Any advice and comments appreciated - and everyone at work has already started taking the pi$$ so don't hold back!
Where'd you find that, I've been looking for something like that on the web, or a chevy pick up.
BB
Ballistic Banana said: Where'd you find that, I've been looking for something like that on the web, or a chevy pick up.
www.findit.co.uk/cars/american/cars.htm
Has quite a good selection of yank stuff there.
miniman said: Thanks for the advice y'all!
Well, I took the plunge and bought it. It seems in pretty good overall condition and sounds EXCELLENT!
Next question for the experts - it has 2 sets of alloys. One is the original chrome set (I believe they are called "Rostyle"?) and another set which are gold Smokey and the Bandit style. The american specialist garage who have worked on it tell me that the gold set are worth £500 which would be a nice little "cashback" on the deal - but which are the ones to keep???
Pontiacs (of any type) never came with chrome wheels. If the Gold ones are "honeycomb" style, keep those - they will keep the car more original...
ErnestM
miniman said: Well I bought it, picked it up and drove it home and damn it sounds good. Right up until it went bang. Well, not quite that serious, just overheated because the fan belt / PAS belt and alternator belt came off...
So, onto the towtruck it went
Probably means it was sitting around for a while. That should be a relatively easy fix.
Also, here's a link to a company that specializes in parts for your car:
www.npdlink.com/flash/freecatalog.html
I am not sure what type of shipping costs they would have to the UK, but they will probably send you the catalog for free
Good Luck
ErnestM
PS:If you need any help on anything, just yell out on PH and I will search my rusty memory for answers
Gassing Station | General Gassing [Archive] | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff