77TA Resto Reboot - a long journey to an LS swap

[roadking77]

I def. need to take care of those things on my car. Squeaks horribly now I know what to do with it Thanks.
I didnt think it needed anything with rubber bushings.

[stros]

This week I hit the 500 mile mark on the new gears.  Took about 5 weeks to hit 500.  Not bad as I’ve had a few years where it hasn’t hit 500.  Changed the fluid and got to get it over 65 for the 1st time.  It’s a tad louder as expected but not bad.  It’ll definitely knock you back in the seat now too off the line if you get aggressive with the pedal. 

[stros]

Some smaller updates:

Got the flares professionally wrapped.  I tried to do it myself but I just don’t have the talent for this job.  The flares just looked horrible before with dozens of rock chips.  Nice and shiny now and they seem to be holding up well thru a couple hundred miles. 

I replaced my lower control arm bump stops.  A bit of an awkward removal that required my impact driver.  I went with a set of progressive stops from Belltech (part #4922) with a little more room for articulation (about 1 inch from the frame vs barely a 1/4 inch).  My original stops were old and cracked - I think I was hitting them a bit more often after lowering it too.  Seems to drive well so far with these ones.

I sprung a small leak from my coolant reservoir jar and tightened up the hose.  So far so good with that fix.  The diff also finally seems to be sealed properly after the recent gear change. 

I also decided to try to paint my under steering wheel panel a color that better matches the pinkish beige of my dash but that was a failure (I think it was camel tan before - tried saddle tan this time).  Trying to find a spray paint out there that actually matches still.  I do regret just not making the entire interior black.  This 50 shades of beige interior drives me nuts sometimes. 

[scarebird]

The interiors were that way from the factory.

That being said, black interiors are pretty boring.  I wish I redid mine in the 70-72 bright blue.

[ryeguy2006a]

Great choice on the gear ratio, 3.73 is about perfect with an overdrive transmission. Congrats on hitting 500 miles!

[N PRGRES]

What RPM are you turning at highway speeds?

[stros]

It’s about 1700 rpm at 65 mph.  Very happy with the 3.73s so far. 

[stros]

Did a few more upgrades over the Thanksgiving break.

Swapped my original PTFB sway bar for their new Blade sway bar.  This is an impressively engineered part.  Super heavy duty and I am nowhere near hitting the bar any more like I was constantly with the old one.  The old bar handled well too but this is a bit tighter around corners.  I’m on the middle setting.

After much debating I decided to just replace the upper control arms with SPC arms that have rubber bushings as I was a bit concerned about NVH issues with the Delrin/poly options.  I could’ve probably gotten to 5 degrees of caster with more effort but ended up with 4.  The suspension seems to operate smoother and it seems to track better on the highway.  The SPC arms look very well built and are extremely adjustable with the twisting adjusters instead of shims.  It took about 2 hours to get it aligned to my liking at the alignment shop though, so I think they’re a bit more effort to dial in.

I decided against the lower control arms as I initially purchased Ridetech upper and lower arms where the welds in them just scared me to put all that weight on them.  The SPC uppers are welded better than the Ridetechs were.  I may revisit SPCs lowers down the road but they are extremely expensive.  Got a good deal on the uppers.  I didn’t want to mess with my ride height either.

Overall the Trans Am handles fantastic now.  It’s not a Cadillac but I don’t think the ride is quite as harsh as it was before.

I did add a steering stop to my lower arm since my aftermarket ones are missing.  Still debating what materials to use for the stop after I see how it holds up. 

[stros]

For the swaybar I also had a shop help me weld in the PTFB swaybar mounting brackets shown above.  Dave from PTFB recommended adding them given the stiffness of the Blade bar.  PTFB includes them with the bar itself along with the end links and bushings. 

[N PRGRES]

Very nice.  Why did you choose these uppers as opposed to the PTFB ones?

[stros]

Very nice.  Why did you choose these uppers as opposed to the PTFB ones?

SPC offered a rubber bushing option that PTFB and pretty much all other manufacturers did not offer.  I was a bit worried about adding NVH issues (no clue if this was a valid worry or not). 

I also liked the adjustable turnbuckles vs the shim based approach that PTFB and others have for the adjustments.  I have done control arms upgrades in the past which required a ton of shims.  Adjusting these control arms did take 2 hours at the alignment shop so I think these arms are a bit more effort to adjust though. 

Lastly I just like that the SPC arms appear to have less welds to worry about failing. 

Nothing against PTFB arms - I’m sure they’re great but for the above reasons I decided to go a different path this time. Got a good deal on the SPCs too though the PTFBs are still cheaper.

[5th T/A]

Some serious front suspension upgrades you have there. Most people just want ultimate handling and could care less about sacrificing ride and NVH to get there. Nice to hear you were able to improve the handling without compromising ride and noise.

[N PRGRES]

What is NVH?

[5th T/A]

What is NVH?

Noise, Vibration and Harshness.

[stros]

Some serious front suspension upgrades you have there. Most people just want ultimate handling and could care less about sacrificing ride and NVH to get there. Nice to hear you were able to improve the handling without compromising ride and noise.

Thanks!  Hopefully one of these days I can get it on a course and track it a bit.  Only track around here is Laguna Seca but as far as I’m aware they only let super rich folks run their own cars on that track once or twice a year.

[rkellerjr]

Some serious front suspension upgrades you have there. Most people just want ultimate handling and could care less about sacrificing ride and NVH to get there. Nice to hear you were able to improve the handling without compromising ride and noise.

Thanks!  Hopefully one of these days I can get it on a course and track it a bit.  Only track around here is Laguna Seca but as far as I’m aware they only let super rich folks run their own cars on that track once or twice a year.

You shouldn't have any problems then!

[langss]

Some serious front suspension upgrades you have there. Most people just want ultimate handling and could care less about sacrificing ride and NVH to get there. Nice to hear you were able to improve the handling without compromising ride and noise.

Thanks!  Hopefully one of these days I can get it on a course and track it a bit.  Only track around here is Laguna Seca but as far as I’m aware they only let super rich folks run their own cars on that track once or twice a year.

Here Ya Go... https://www.motorsportreg.com/ Just sign up, and once a month they send you an email with events "Local" to You.

[N PRGRES]

http://www.nelsonledges.com/2024/02/16/nelson-ledges-track-days-with-reed-kryder/

Not sure where you are but I am going to attend one of these this year.  It's less than an hour from my house

[stros]

Been gone for a while as my mom had major health issues out of the blue and then passed away on 1/17.  I had checked TAC a few weeks back and assumed it had taken a similar path to my mom.  Just noticed it’s back alive and kicking again today. 

I had completed a couple of projects that I hadn’t shared on TAC just before my mom got sick.

Most exciting one is that I finally have a hole in my hood again and the shaker is back on top of the engine.  Worked with friend of mine to craft some brackets to mount the shaker to the LS.  Always felt like my Trans Am was neutered with that shaker bolted to the hood.

Minor project was adding the retrobright headlights I found on eBay new for $80/ea.  Still expensive for a headlight but better than the near $200 price earlier. 

[5th T/A]

Darryl,
My sincere condolences on the passing of your mom. I hope you have some great memories of her to hang onto .

[stros]

Darryl,
My sincere condolences on the passing of your mom. I hope you have some great memories of her to hang onto .

Thanks - appreciate the kind words.  Lots of great memories - she loved the Trans Am too.  She loved cars in general - her 1st car was a 1968 Mustang Notchback with the 289 V8 which she drove daily for about 15 years.

[N PRGRES]

Shaker looks great, love the blue paint also.  Sorry about your mom, mine passed in 09 and also LOVED trans ams

[stros]

Shaker looks great, love the blue paint also.  Sorry about your mom, mine passed in 09 and also LOVED trans ams

Thanks so much Dave!

[b_hill_86]

Sorry to hear about your mom. I have to say thank you though about your mention of the RetroBrights. I bought a set of hi/low lights a year or two ago when they were on sale for $80 each. I kind of regretted not getting the high beams at the time but I just cannot justify the cost of them new. It never occurred to me to check eBay but I did today and found a set of high beams, new, listed for $110 each OBO. I offered $80 each shipped and the seller accepted so, thank you! Yes, they’re pricy for headlights. Not worth the normal asking price but $80 each? Definitely in my opinion.

[stros]

Sorry to hear about your mom. I have to say thank you though about your mention of the RetroBrights. I bought a set of hi/low lights a year or two ago when they were on sale for $80 each. I kind of regretted not getting the high beams at the time but I just cannot justify the cost of them new. It never occurred to me to check eBay but I did today and found a set of high beams, new, listed for $110 each OBO. I offered $80 each shipped and the seller accepted so, thank you! Yes, they’re pricy for headlights. Not worth the normal asking price but $80 each? Definitely in my opinion.

Thanks Brian.  Pretty sure you bought them from the same guy as me.  Just replaced my low beams for now.  The halogen high beams in conjunction with the retrobright lows seem to work well but debating if I care about how they look a bit different. 

[b_hill_86]

I could’ve probably lived with it. An alternative was to find another lens that resembled the HRB. The truth is, with regard to light output, I’m pretty sure I could disconnect my incandescents and not notice a difference

[roadking77]

Darryl, I have been off for awhile, I am so sorry to hear about your Mother. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

[stros]

Darryl, I have been off for awhile, I am so sorry to hear about your Mother. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Thanks Kerry - really appreciate the kind words. 

Darryl

[stros]

A few interior updates.  The mismatching colors on the dash have driven me nuts for years.  Found an upholstery place that was able to mix up a custom color for me as I couldn’t find anything out there that ever matched. 

Attached after and before pics.

[scarebird]

That was a thing that I never understood:  when these cars were new the colors did not match.  One would think that large corporations like GM and Chrysler would be able to accomplish this task.

[roadking77]

I would imagine that it was a supplier issue thing. The glove boxes never match the dash I dont know but would suspect they were made by more than one company. Same with the consoles.

[5th T/A]

I can’t argue the build quality of these cars when they were brand new was horrible by today’s standards. I bought a 1973, 1975, 1978 and 1982 all brand new. My 1973 rocker panel’s barely were covered with paint and you could see primer showing through when lying on the ground. I do not remember terrible color mismatch between interior components. My 73 and 82 had a black interiors, so it would be difficult to screw that up. The 75 was blue and 78 was saddle. Saddle interior is one of the colors that I have observed mismatched at car shows. So I wonder if they started out matching but as they aged maybe a chemical reaction occurred causing the colors to change?

[N PRGRES]

I LOVE these cars but they were junk when they were built, as were most American cars of this era.  I am surprised some lasted as long as they did!  My step dad worked at a Pontiac dealer during the late 70s early 80s and most of the new cars were back for warranty work quite often!

[langss]

That was a thing that I never understood:  when these cars were new the colors did not match.  One would think that large corporations like GM and Chrysler would be able to accomplish this task.

I knew someone that had a Gold 78, with that exact interior. I think at the time, small differences were not really an issue. For the most part it was the thrill of having a really nice car. My 78 was Black, with Black interior, and I didn't notice any miss match. The 78 I have now is Blue with Blue interior, and as its led a pretty hard life, the miss match is very apparent.

[stros]

Washed it today and took some pics of it against the foothills we back up to in San Jose.

[b_hill_86]

Very nice! I always enjoy seeing pictures of your car

[stros]

Very nice! I always enjoy seeing pictures of your car

Thanks - realized today that nearly all of my pics from the past 12 years are from inside my garage

[N PRGRES]

Inside my garage is where mine is hiding, its 7 degrees here

[roadking77]

 

[stros]

Time for a minor update.  It was 90 degrees 2 days back and I decided to take the T/A out for a spin.  Also thought it would be a good time to see if my A/C actually was working.  Nope - it was blowing hot air although I recharged it last summer.  Figured there had to be a leak somewhere in the system.  Of all places the leak was right at the valve where you add in the refrigerant.

So far so good - much colder.  I don’t think this system has ever worked right since the LS went in.  This valve was part of the Holley mid mount accessory kit. 

Some other good news.  Now that my mom has passed I have responsibility for my dad with dementia.  He was in a memory care facility up in Foster City which can be a nightmare to get to depending on the time of day from San Jose. We moved him to a place 10 minutes from my house and it has a secure parking garage.  So now I have one more place I can feel safe driving the Trans Am to, and I can take my dad for a ride in the car more often. 

Luckily my dad still has his long term memory and recognizes us still.  He’s like a big kid - he loves model cars, planes and trains.  He is also very into cars like my mom and his last car before he stopped driving was a 2002 Corvette Convertible.  He loves Corvettes and worked at a Corvette parts store after he retired from his main gig.