[Project] 93 Trans Am Project

[Rob93ta]

Bought a 1993 Trans Am roller a few days. Wanted a TA since i was little and this was the perfect opportunity to pick up one that i could do just the way i wanted.

Guy i bought it from received it as payment for some work he did and really just wanted rid of it. Story goes that the guy he got it from was planning to build a drag car out of it and so pulled out the original LT1/M6 combo and planned to go LS1/auto but never made it that far with the project for whatever reason. Luckily, he didn't just take a hack saw and rip everything out. AC was left in (no idea why if it was to be a drag car), brake reservoir, wiring, radiator, etc all still there. Car currently has no front brakes, supposedly he swapped the spindles over to LS1 style to accept LS1 front brakes. Drive shaft and exhaust are also gone.

Car is overall in good shape for its age. The paint was fair but obviously much in need of a good detailing. My understanding is the car has pretty much just sat in a garage the last 6 years or so and prior to that daily driven. Spent the day claybaring and waxing and the paint now looks 100% better as does the interior after some detailing. The car has either not seen winter or is not originally a Michigan car because there is no rust to speak of even underneath save for surface rust on the rear axle.

Interior is mostly complete and in very good shape save for the headliner and radio which are both missing, neither of which are a big deal.

Car needs a few odds and ends but the main focus is what to do with the drivetrain, or lack there of. Obviously the easiest route is to swap back in an LT1/T56 but i'm also very heavily considering going LS1. My goal is ~450hp at the crank for the time being to make for a reliable, fun street car that i can take to the track from time to time to make some passes. Going to have to do more research on how much work an LT1 takes to achieve this. An LS1 would be nice, but, not entirely sure if the extra work is worth it or not. My understanding is the LT1 radiator will not work due to it being reverse flow along with needing an LS1 K-member among other things. Still very much undecided and all opinions are welcome.

Few pics of the car in its current state


Pulled out the AC as i'm not keeping it. Isn't going to be a daily driver and i'd rather have the extra room and less clutter. Pulled heater hoses off too but those will be going back on. Took some degreaser and scrubbed out the engine bay while it is completely empty. Looks much better. Going to paint it within the next few days.

[JoeliusZ28]

450 crank is pretty easy with an LT1. Beyond that starts getting a little more challenging. But for example my LT1 put 370 to the wheels with a 6 speed which would work out being close to your goal. My engine is a cam only build except for shaving the heads a bit and cleaning up the valve bowls a touch. I have absolutely no runner porting.

I used an advanced induction 226/234 cam, which is a great cam for the LT1. Power across the entire curve and doesn't need to be revved to the moon where Optis start exploding.

[Formul8d]

Looks like A fun project!! And looks like you have an LS center console. Jealous of that considering if I tap my brakes my mine drinks go everywhere. Keep us up to date on progress!!

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[birdie2000]

Lol, there must be a record being set for how many MIfbody members have owned that car. That's my old car and before that another member here owned it. I can fill you in on some details about it if you'd like. I sold it to the guy who was going to make it into the drag project. I took it apart before I sold it to him though so that might explain some things since I was planning on just making it into a reliable daily driver. I had high hopes for the car because they guy who bought it from me to do the LS1 drag project is well-known and does great work, but I'm glad to see it went to someone else who will bring it back to glory. I'm anxious to see how this thread turns out.

[Lucky SOB]

Who put the auto console in? This was originally a M6 car...

[birdie2000]

I may have given the auto lid to the guy I sold it to since he was planning on putting an auto in. Unless the car was actually worked on after I sold it (which aside from installing the interior it doesn't look like it), it should still otherwise be setup for an M6.

[mcalus]

Should be a nice project!!!! Keep the pics coming!

[Rob93ta]

Lol, there must be a record being set for how many MIfbody members have owned that car. That's my old car and before that another member here owned it. I can fill you in on some details about it if you'd like. I sold it to the guy who was going to make it into the drag project. I took it apart before I sold it to him though so that might explain some things since I was planning on just making it into a reliable daily driver. I had high hopes for the car because they guy who bought it from me to do the LS1 drag project is well-known and does great work, but I'm glad to see it went to someone else who will bring it back to glory. I'm anxious to see how this thread turns out.

Im sure i'll come up with many questions the deeper i get into it lol, but any info you have about the car i'd love to hear. Also, the guy you sold it to never had the interior back in, or at least didn't when he sold it. The guy i bought it from literally put the interior back in the day i went to look at it.

Who put the auto console in? This was originally a M6 car...

I have no idea, was in there when i bought it. Still has the clutch pedal assembly, though. Regardless, i plan to put an auto in it.

[birdie2000]

Feel free to ask me anything about it. As far as the history, that's best left to a phone call as it's too much to type. If you're curious I'd be happy to tell you about it and the progression of events as I know them after Kolin sold it to the guy(s) who owned it before me. I bought it running in Sept. 2008 (to be clear I didn't buy it from Kolin) and sold it as you currently have it in April 2011.

A few facts though just so you're informed as to what was in the car when it left my possession... yes those are spindles for LS1 brakes. Also, the k-member and upper a-arms are out of my 94 formula and the upper a-arms have ~50,000 miles on the bushings and the same or less on the ball joints. The front lower control arms have something like 22,000 miles on them, same with their bushings and ball joints. The only thing in the front end that might need attention are the tie-rods. Rear-end is a 3.23 axle. Headliner was a mess which is why it's missing. Tint was badly peeling on the driver's window which is why it's missing, lol. The engine wiring harness was refurbished by Joe @ Downriver Motorsports Wiring. If the 93 PCM isn't in the car I may still have it.

[Rob93ta]

Feel free to ask me anything about it. As far as the history, that's best left to a phone call as it's too much to type. If you're curious I'd be happy to tell you about it and the progression of events as I know them after Kolin sold it to the guy(s) who owned it before me. I bought it running in Sept. 2008 (to be clear I didn't buy it from Kolin) and sold it as you currently have it in April 2011.

A few facts though just so you're informed as to what was in the car when it left my possession... yes those are spindles for LS1 brakes. Also, the k-member and upper a-arms are out of my 94 formula and the upper a-arms have ~50,000 miles on the bushings and the same or less on the ball joints. The front lower control arms have something like 22,000 miles on them, same with their bushings and ball joints. The only thing in the front end that might need attention are the tie-rods. Rear-end is a 3.23 axle. Headliner was a mess which is why it's missing. Tint was badly peeling on the driver's window which is why it's missing, lol. The engine wiring harness was refurbished by Joe @ Downriver Motorsports Wiring. If the 93 PCM isn't in the car I may still have it.

Just so you're informed, after looking at the title i can tell you that it was never transferred out of your name lol. Since i have yet to transfer it too, in all technicality it's still your car lmao.

And that does answer a few questions that i had. I was able to get what was left of the tint off, it was a sticky mess. The rear end most likely won't stay long, if at all. With 17x,xxx on it through an M6, with the power i plan on putting in it, i doubt it will last long. Money permitting, there will be a 12 bolt before the car ever drives. One question i do have. I have yet to get battery cables to hook power up to it. Do all of the electricals work to the best of your knowledge? Anything not work? What about the fog lights, i see the switch is busted but it looks like there is a toggle switch wired in under the dash. Is that what that toggle switch is for?

The PCM isn't there, and pending what i end up doing engine wise i may hold you up on that should you be able to find it. Might hold you up on the phone call too, or perhaps run into at one of the meets. Heck, you're just right around the block from me. Might just end up needing your help getting it all back together lol.


Only a little progress today. Wire wheeled rough spots out of the engine bay and taped everything all off. Going to paint it tomorrow as long as it isn't TOO humid.

[QuickTop]

Thats an LS console? O.o

[birdie2000]

The only thing that wasn't working electrical-wise was the factory tach. The monster tach on the dash does work though. That was like that when I bought it, not sure if the tach was installed because the factory one didn't work, or if installing it caused the factory tach to not work. I was hoping that it was a wiring issue in the engine harness and since I was having the engine harness refurbished I was going to wait to figure that problem out when the car was running again.

Everything else works best I remember. Not sure on the fog lights, never messed with them.

I'm 99.9% sure I still have the ECM. I can picture where I have it, I'll try and check tomorrow to be sure.

Also, how's the steering wheel? The one it came with was worn on top. I had a nice replacement out of my 94 formula for it, can't remember if I gave it away with this car or not. I think I did, hopefully it's on there now. If not and I still have it, it's all yours.

I'd be happy to call or meet up sometime to discuss if you want.

[meissen]

Thats an LS console? O.o

Common swap most people do. It was actually one of the first modifications I made to Red Alert way back in 2002 - got rid of the horrid LT1 console and put an LS1 console in. The additional cupholders combined with the better designed console lid make it a worthy upgrade.

[Formul8d]

Common swap most people do. It was actually one of the first modifications I made to Red Alert way back in 2002 - got rid of the horrid LT1 console and put an LS1 console in. The additional cupholders combined with the better designed console lid make it a worthy upgrade.

The LT1 center console is absolutely horrible. I'm pretty sure I've spilt 10 drinks this summer because of it.

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[QuickTop]

Well I didn't know that, I've got an Ls console then!