[swamp bird 73]

Im 17 and ive had my 73' firebird since i was 14. Ive put every part time check ive ever made into it for the last 3 years. lol Im piecing it together as a brewster green trans am clone. Ive almost finished the drive line im waiting on my machine work to be done now. ive been dreaming of getting this car on the road for 4ever it seems like i was just gona ask some opinions of some experienced poncho people on how well my car will perform with my combination of shoestring budget mods. heres my set up...

1974 L75 455 bored .30 over, swap meet 6x-4 heads from a swap meet (already with mild port work and stock rockers), hooker comp headers and TRW forged pistons from swap meet, rebuilt quadrajet, summit #2802 cam and lifter kit, tomohawk 5140 forged rods from pacific racing, posi 3.08 rear, flowmaster exhaust, and HEI distributor from a junkyard 78 TA, trans go shift kit and hughes 2500 converter with stock turbo 400 trans so am i on the right track?

 

[joeq]

Brandon
Welcome to FBN. !st off, Let me commend you on your taste. It's impeccable . What an excellent 1st car. A perfect set of heads for that 455, (approx. 9.5 comp. ratio), and don't let anyone try and talk you out of that Q-jet. Your combo when tuned properly should yield you over 400HP, plenty enuff for your 1st car. If it were mine, and you weren't planning on excessive hi-way driving, I'll step up the rear gear to a 3.42 to be perfect, but that 455 will have enuff torque to move it with 3.08s.Those early birds are getting scarce, so hang on to it, even if it is a clone. Those style T/As are one of Detroits best looking cars. (but maybe I'm a bit biased, seeing I'm on my 2nd 73 T/A.).Good luck with it, and keep plugging away. Learn how to post some pics here, cause we sure would love to see your progress.

 

[taman76]

Sounds fantastic. Welcome to FBN

 

[TransAmer99]

Welcome the FBN, Brandon, we're glad you're here. I also would like to commend you on the choices you've made so far and comment that, yes, you are definately on the right track. Excellent choices on the bottom end there - forged rods and pistons are a proven recipe for success. If funding were available, it could be directed to the crank, but it looks like you're already good for between 500 and 550 HP as is (note that your components could handle that much - not necessarily that your combo will actually produce that much). The cam and lifter work may dictate something more rugged than stock rockers, but many enthusiasts do fine with the stamped steel units. Stronger aluminum rollers will reduce friction and reciprocating mass, but that's an easy upgrade for later on, especially if you upgrade to performance aluminum heads. High Performance Pontiac magazine recently documented the results of a rocker swap to 1.6 stamped steel verses the factory 1.5 ratio units. By opening the valves just that little bit more, they picked up about 11 RWHP on an otherwise stock SD 455 engine.

http://www.highperformancepontiac.com/tech/hppp_1110_high_ratio_rocker_arms_install/index.html

My advice would be to get it bolted together, listen to it run and see if you like. Then start in on the body/interior. Have you done any upgrades/replacements on the suspension? I would imagine all the rubber and wear pieces are about due for renewal, especially once you start throwing more power through them. Also remember that more get-up and go will require some pretty capable whoa. Make sure your brakes are up to the task.

I hope Geno sees this thread. He has been scarce recently, but is one of our top early-2nd Gen engine-building experts. I'm sure he will have plenty of advice to offer.

 

[swamp bird 73]

Welcome the FBN, Brandon, we're glad you're here. I also would like to commend you on the choices you've made so far and comment that, yes, you are definately on the right track. Excellent choices on the bottom end there - forged rods and pistons are a proven recipe for success. If funding were available, it could be directed to the crank, but it looks like you're already good for between 500 and 550 HP as is (note that your components could handle that much - not necessarily that your combo will actually produce that much). The cam and lifter work may dictate something more rugged than stock rockers, but many enthusiasts do fine with the stamped steel units. Stronger aluminum rollers will reduce friction and reciprocating mass, but that's an easy upgrade for later on, especially if you upgrade to performance aluminum heads. High Performance Pontiac magazine recently documented the results of a rocker swap to 1.6 stamped steel verses the factory 1.5 ratio units. By opening the valves just that little bit more, they picked up about 11 RWHP on an otherwise stock SD 455 engine.

http://www.highperfo...tall/index.html

My advice would be to get it bolted together, listen to it run and see if you like. Then start in on the body/interior. Have you done any upgrades/replacements on the suspension? I would imagine all the rubber and wear pieces are about due for renewal, especially once you start throwing more power through them. Also remember that more get-up and go will require some pretty capable whoa. Make sure your brakes are up to the task.

I hope Geno sees this thread. He has been scarce recently, but is one of our top early-2nd Gen engine-building experts. I'm sure he will have plenty of advice to offer.

-well yea the breaks ummm.. havent touched em yet lol but i have put in new body bushings but no other fixes on the suspension yet. so of course i need at least shocks pads rotors... but the interior is finished cuz i was blessed with a crack free dash and great door panels when i got it lol and my dad had seats custom tailored for me last christmas. We have a small mig welder at home so we patched the floor boards a bit and me and my dad put in the NPD carpet and the new seats and im ready to roll as far as the inside i need to figure out how to post pics and id show off those tu-tone seats lol

 

[96TA]

Sounds like you are doing very well. I can comment a bit on the suspension since I have got a lot of mine done so far. I used Energy suspension kit http://www.summitracing.com/parts/PTP-7-2029/ and some Summit brand 3 way adjustable shocks which I cant find for your car, they were $30.00 each. I also put Eibach drop springs http://www.summitracing.com/parts/EIB-3852-120/ in the front and I have not decided on a rear height yet. I got Competition Engeniering Sub-frame connectors which I cant find either but a great investment since you running such a big engine. My car handles VERY well and I have no complaints at all. But also plan to do much more since it will see a lot of road race action. As for the brakes, one of the biggest improvments (that I can feel) were the braided steel hoses http://www.summitracing.com/parts/RUS-692080/ , big difference on the pedal feel. All together it is a very well handeling car on a real tight budget. I still have a long way to go but its a start. hope that helped and good luck.

Albert

Oh, the links are for your 73 Trans Am parts not my 75.