1979 Dirty T/A-

[bad436z28]

cant wait to see some progress,yeah the body work is the most time consuming part,been trying to get some done on mine too,but work keeps me pretty busy also,thats toobad about the tranny,but im sure u will be able to find one soon,theres lots of turbo 350s out there and u can usually pick them up pretty cheap,well atleast u got the exhaust sounds like u got a good deal on it,keep the progress coming,keep up the good work.

[2002Z4CSS]

Second gens make great cars. Other than the deck lid, not too many body panels will interchange from a Camaro to a Firebird. Looks like a good project.

[Dirty T/A]

A got another trans w/ torque converter lined up. In good running condition- no issues, $100. A freind of mine finally decided to get off some of the stuff hes been siting on forever.......

He also offered me a 327. Bored .30 over, cammed, and recently rebuilt. $500. Gotta say, this sounds like a great deal......wish I could afford that right now....might ask him to hold it for me for a while.

Along with the trans, I will be picking up a set of headers $40 and a set of traction bars $20. I gotta go out there soon, and see what else hes got in his garage.

[JoeliusZ28]

why not put a 400/455 in it?

[bad436z28]

thats a heck of a deal on that 327,u will love that engine,had one in my 67 chevelle that thing was a screamer,could take my buddies 427 vette in the 1/8th mile after that he just blew my doors off,hahaha.just hang on because they rev and make power really fast,my 67 would rev to 7500 before i could blink an eye.

[d2harris]

Great project, keep up the good work.

[Dirty T/A]

why not put a 400/455 in it?

In the long run- a 455 is the plan. Right now, I am just trying to get it running, as cheap as possible.

Will probly buy a 455 right before winter, and build it over the winter months.

[Dirty T/A]

I am kinda re-thinking the paint scheme a bit all of a sudden. I really like the white T/A's w/ the blue graphics and bird color scheme, but-

I am kinda thinking all gloss black w/ chrome. No graphics at all. Black Rally wheels w/ the chrome beauty rim. Tinted windows.

Decisions, decisions.....

[455 big block]

i whole heartedly recomend getting a 455... even with low compression you get 500 lbs/ft of torque

nice job so far on the project- looks good!

[bad436z28]

u could also build you a 436 sbc like mine,and make 680 ft,lbs of torque,at 4200 rpms,and 9:1 compression on pump gas,that engine is a blast to drive on the street,them 455 ols engines are also great motors,had one in my 68 GTO.

[Dirty T/A]

Info on building a 436 sbc is appreciated.

I have a line, on an old- but not too old, 355 cop car enginew/ a corvette computer and a chip? Been trying to find info on it. Its fuel injected, but could be changed to carborated, I think. I heard something about the ignition.......like it doesnt have the gears for a distributor or something like that? I have been searching the internet for info, and have found nothing....

I can get the 355 cheap too, but dont know what I need to know yet on all the specifics.......

Any help would be appreciated.

[bad436z28]

a 436 sbc is a 406 chevy with a 4.00 inch stroker crank,even a 383 sbc would be good,is that 355 police engine,what year is it,most just had a cap over the distributor hole but the gears are still there.also to make it to 436 sbc u need to bore it 40 over.

[Dirty T/A]

a 436 sbc is a 406 chevy with a 4.00 inch stroker crank,even a 383 sbc would be good,is that 355 police engine,what year is it,most just had a cap over the distributor hole but the gears are still there.also to make it to 436 sbc u need to bore it 40 over.

Thanks for the info, and i will look into the year on the 355.

[Dirty T/A]

I didnt take any pics, but-

The body is 70% sanded. Just got the hood and bumpers and doorjams left to sand.

Hope to get some more work done next weekend. The holiday might get in the way with those plans though......

Going to pick up the headers, traction bars and transmission Monday- and take a look in my buddys garage for anything else I could use. Going to look at the 327 while I am there.

[Dirty T/A]

Got some pics of the good and the bad.

I figure we should start out with the good-

New trans-


(some questions asked in the driveline forum)






Came with a torque converter- but not pictured.

New headers to choose from-



or-



(Discussion in the intake/exhaust forum)


and got 1/2 the cash paid for the 305HO motor. I will elaborate on the 305 motor soon.......


The bad-


Some of the body that needs worked out-


Drivers side wheel well-




Front bumper-






Behind passenger side rear tire-



passenger side tail light area-




Drivers side door, and only bondo found on the car-



Drivers side T-top-




And behind the drivers side rear tire-



Got a spot that was hard to take pics of today, on the drivers side, in the outside corner of the drivers side back seat, that is a pretty good sized hole that will need taken care of and filled. Havnt looked yet, at too much of the floorboards or underneath the car yet.....but will get to that pretty soon......