This 1978 Trans Am is a hardtop model with the 400 Pontiac engine and Super T10 4 Speed manual transmission. It was originally equipped with a 3.42 gear posi-traction rear, S6 suspension package, ir conditioning, ear window defroster, ower steering, ower brakes, artinique blue paint with light blue interior and velour seats.
I began autocrossing the car in the mid 1990's in completely stock trim, nd then eventually began competing in the "Street Prepared" class and started to make minor modifications to it. Around the years 1999/2000 I started taking the car to open track day events at various road race tracks in the Southeast, nd also started competing in hillclimb races and other SCCA Solo 1 events. That is when I did very extensive modifications to the car in order to meet the safety requirements and also to improve the performance of the car.
The car has now been sitting mostly idle for the last few years, n my garage, nd since I have not been using it for anything for awhile now, figured it's time to let it go to a new home. It pains me to sell it and I never thought this day would come, ut I just feel like it needs to go to someone who will take it out and use it, ather than sitting in storage.
***To make sure the car is ready for its new owner to jump in and go, had the entire brake system completely rebuilt last week, long with a few other things. I had all of the following service done: new front calipers and new brake master cylinder, ew rear brake shoes, heel cylinders, ardware and backing plates, ll new brake lines, ew rear axle seals and new rear differential fluid, ront bearings repacked in high temp synthetic grease, otors and drums all turned to make sure they are true.***
Modifications that have been made to the car include:
400 engine rebuilt- bored .30 over, teel crank and forged pistons, arlier no. 16 heads, arlier intake manifold, ompetion Cams 280H High Energy camshaft, oller tip rockers, ebuilt and rejetted quadrajet carb with insulator plate, SD billet distributor, SD 6AL ignition, CCEL 8.8mm plug wires, arch billet aluminum underdrive pulley set, ooker Super Competition headers, ustom 3" dual exhaust with Flowmaster mufflers, ilodon road racing oil pan, emote mounted oil filter and a K&N air filter.
All of the following modifications have also been done:
Stock hood scoop opened up to add ram air effect
Air/fuel ratio monitor added in dash
Installed Be Cool 4 row aluminum radiator which fits in stock fan shroud
Battery relocated to trunk
All air conditioning components removed and ac dryer housing sealed shut at firewall
Radio, ll speakers, pare tire and jack removed
.4 Point roll bar and 5 point safety harnesses installed for track day requirements
Fire extinguisher installed at center console location, lso for track day requirements
Front and rear bumper reinforcement bars modified to shave weight
Headliner removed
HO Racing front coil springs installed (550 ft lbs, believe)
HO Racing front and rear anti sway bars installed (slightly larger diam than WS6 bars)
Later model power steering gear box with 12:1 ratio and corresponding pump installed
Front and rear suspension completely rebuilt with all polyurethane bushings
Front mounting point of rear leaf springs slightly relocated to improve traction
Rear gear ratio changed to 3.08 for top end speed, ifferential rebuilt with new clutches
In line adjustable proportioning valve added for rear brakes, ocated near master cylinder
Road racing compound front brake pads
.
Original 6X heads
Original intake manifold and exhaust manifolds
Original WS6 front and rear sway bars, nd original front coil springs
Original center console
Original 3.42 ring and pinion set
Original radiator
Original steering gear box and pump
Original air conditioning components
Original seat belts and headliner
Original fender flares and front spoiler (all in very good condition, ot currently on car)
This is a very rare and unique car. I have never seen another 70's model Trans Am with the type of modifications this one has. It sounds extremely mean, as an amazing amount of torque and handles incredibly well for its size and weight. It's such a cool car and it draws lots of attention anywhere I have ever taken it.
The new owner of this car can do any one of the following very easily:
1. Put the car back in its original condition. I have all of the parts to do that with and they are all included with the car if you want them.
2. Take the car out just like it is to do autocross or track day events. All you will need to do is freshen up a few things on it.
3. Use it as a starting point for even further modifications and the sky is the limit!
As I made all of the various performance modifications to the car over the years, made sure I saved every single part I took off of the car, nd I also made sure that nothing was ever done in a way that would make it difficult to put the car back in its stock form. It would be quite a sleeper if it wasn't for the lopey idle of the cam and the roar of the exhaust. In this car, ou can basically shred the tires at will. This car is making around 500 horsepower and way more torque than that.
This is certainly not a show car by any means. There are scratches and chips on the paint, nd there are 3 areas on the car where a small amount of surface rust has started, hich I took pictures of. Those spots are at the bottom of the right front fender, n the top of the left front fender, nd on the front edge of the left rear wheel well. Also, he transmission is starting to whine a bit, articularly in 3rd gear. It's perfectly fine to be driven as it is, ut at some point the transmission should be gone through. It most likely will need some new bearings and synchronizers. There is also some residual adhesive left in some spots where I had sponsor decals on the car when I was racing it. I have peeled off all of the decals that were on the car and there are some spots that should clean up fairly easily with some adhesive remover.
Overall, his is a very solid car. It's a great candidate for a restoration back to original and it's also a great car to take out to track days and have fun with.
Feel free to call me if you have any questions (828-329-2724) and I also welcome anyone who would like to come check out the car in person before bidding on it.