I have opened Pandora's box. After owning my 1976 TransAm since 1979, and having every excuse to not restore it, I have gone and done it. It is now totally disassembled, with parts being sent all over the place for rebuild. I am trying to buy as much AC Delco stuff as possible, and only want to put quality parts back on the car. This is a 455 4 speed car, with all numbers matching. It will go back in the original Cameo white paint, with red/black/charcoal graphics, with the Buckskin/saddle interior.
This is a very exciting project, but dayum, the cost is adding up. The guy doing the restoration keeps telling me what a "good" car this is. It has been garaged since 1987, and has no rust. The paint is original, with only one small spot of bondo in a door. At this point, we are considering putting it on a rotisserie. What the heck.
In '81, I had Barnett Performance do all of the machine work and heads on the engine. My friend and I assembled it, and it has run great. Even though the car has not been on the road for 30+ years, I start it up every couple of months, just to cycle the fluids. So, I am now considering what to do with the engine. Should I take it to an engine builder and have him completely rebuild it? I would like to increase the performance from the 400 hp it has now, to about 450 hp.
Are there any Pontiac guys on here that might have some suggestions? I have RamAir III exhaust manifolds and an Edlebrock RamAir III intake. I am planning to run the Quadrajet, Pypes 2.5" exhaust system, and HEI distributor.
Any thoughts?
This is a very exciting project, but dayum, the cost is adding up. The guy doing the restoration keeps telling me what a "good" car this is. It has been garaged since 1987, and has no rust. The paint is original, with only one small spot of bondo in a door. At this point, we are considering putting it on a rotisserie. What the heck.
In '81, I had Barnett Performance do all of the machine work and heads on the engine. My friend and I assembled it, and it has run great. Even though the car has not been on the road for 30+ years, I start it up every couple of months, just to cycle the fluids. So, I am now considering what to do with the engine. Should I take it to an engine builder and have him completely rebuild it? I would like to increase the performance from the 400 hp it has now, to about 450 hp.
Are there any Pontiac guys on here that might have some suggestions? I have RamAir III exhaust manifolds and an Edlebrock RamAir III intake. I am planning to run the Quadrajet, Pypes 2.5" exhaust system, and HEI distributor.
Any thoughts?
