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Nocturne Blue Trans Am 725HP Pro-Touring Beast
I thought I had already started a thread on this car a long time ago but I can't seem to find where I did. I'll repost some of the stuff from another site that has the work up to this point. My apologies in advance if any of this is already posted.
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Some time in 2010 or thereabouts, I decided to have my 79 Nocturne Blue TA repainted. It had a few rust bubles in it but was otherwise a pretty sweet ride. I was upgrading the roughly 500hp 455 that was in it since I had the motor out anyway. In the end I used another motor I had for another project, which is a Pontiac 535 IA2 motor. The next car gets the LS!
The link below is to a video of it from 2008. You can't see the paint flaws but they were there. http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...ife4-20-08.jpg Here it was before paint. The car had some dings, scratches and the paint wasn't as good as I wanted it. Also had a crack behind the T-tops, which is why I primarily wanted it painted. http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...e/DSC01088.jpg |
There is a LONG story to this car but I won't go into it now. Had a few incompentent people work on it along the way and finally had to take it over myself for the most part. It initially was just a repaint but like many projects here it kind of snowballed.
After the 2nd attempted repaint, I got disgusted with decided to redo EVERYTHING from scratch. Good thing since I found a weak floor pan after I pulled the interior out. You'd be surprised at how many people don't know how integral the floor pan is to the frame on a uni-body car. They just slap big patches right on top of the rust and call it a day. So I bought a lift, a rotisserie and the project started. First up was getting it ready for media blasting. http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...e/IMAG0143.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...e/IMAG0127.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...e/IMAG0130.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...120_110933.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...120_125518.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...120_125543.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...120_142708.jpg |
Time for a new floor pan. I put in the full 74 and earlier pan.
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...G_0129JPG2.jpg New complete floor pan is in, DSE firewall filler panel is being welded in, new toe kicks are in, subframe connectors are tacked in place and the DSE mini-tubs are going in now. http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps3ee219eb.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps36ee0be8.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psfc5d372a.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps2e82eb08.jpg |
Tubs are in.
Toe kicks are in. Full floor is in. Firewall panel is in DSE sub frame connectors, cut and tacked in place waiting to mate new sub-frame. Upper and lower tubular control arms and springs are mounted to freshly powder coated sub-frame http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps31890fec.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps85bd0d06.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...pse431eb97.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psf1b275ac.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps859ccc39.jpg |
The DSE sub-frame connectors and tubs are fully welded in and the bottom of the car was sprayed with some Kevlar infused 2K bed liner. The owner of the body shop came by the house to do it while it was still on the rotisserie. Also put in DSE body mounts.
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps6104ad3b.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psd6e4e8e8.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psfffd1526.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps5928d94b.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps8705803c.jpg |
Jambs and firewall are painted. Three trips to the paint store to finally make sure they got the paint right! Both top and bottom of new floor and sub-frame connectors have been sprayed with bed liner.
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps8600250e.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps2020dbc1.jpg [img width=800 height=600]http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc231/dcamburn/1979%20Trans%20Am%20-%20Blue/null_zpsd55b63cb.jpg[/img] http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psb94977b4.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psa844c403.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps258229e0.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps9be3d466.jpg |
Year One aftermarket hood
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psd44af79b.jpg Year One fiberglass wheel flares http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps4ed79105.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psef9fd8fc.jpg |
Now, she is starting to look pretty good and she has 725+ hp of Pontiac power waiting to go in her...
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...DSC02535-1.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...DSC02532-1.jpg |
Bird is finished. Still have to get the lettering done and everything cleared.
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps4ee89084.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psgnsfaqnc.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psqhp56rck.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psqllicn80.jpg |
I have followed this build on TAC and liked it there too!
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The airbrush artist finally had some better weather and a break in his work schedule to finish up.
Here's how its done. First he used contact paper on the car and hand drew the sail panel birds and fender lettering. http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psedpwzzja.jpg Then he uses a razor blade to cut out the inside outline before airbrushing. http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...pseh3bczqu.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psw5z371vg.jpg Before clear http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...pshzgskhwz.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psgosybdly.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...pszt9ct6ga.jpg Hood with pre-paint cleaner on it to simulate look with clear http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psoiuvk6ye.jpg In the boot with clear just laid http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psla1wpi1e.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...pscewzyp8q.jpg |
Few more now that the clear is on. Still has to be cut and buffed but it looks pretty darn good already!
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psx9nwj8u4.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psge7gf4i8.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...pssbecsrq3.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psej23mpvc.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psbpduaao5.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...pssspstcix.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psiprhqeot.jpg |
American Powertrain Tremec Magnum. Here is a picture of the full kit, including the QuickTime Bellhousing cover that will fit a Pontiac. Somewhat of a long story there but the engine and transmission were initially ordred to go in the Triple Threat TA. Like most of the work done on that car, the transmission order was just another mess for me to have to clean up. Two expert shops but no one noticed the bellhousing had the hole for the starter on the wrong side of the motor. I saw it within 2 minutes when I got the car back in disarray. So another $500 and now I can mount the transmission properly
So the flywheel for the dual clutch T-56 is a nice piece of aluminum, though the motor had a brand new SFI approved, high end flywheel from SD Performance. American Powertrain "Science Friction" clutches require the use of their flywheel. Unfortunately, they had to send me several to get one to fit.. But they are Johnny on the spot when something is not right and get the new part on the way quickly. Decided to go with their pro-fit kit. This kit to install their T-56 Magnum in a 2nd gen is really sweet. http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psi16hhvvm.jpg It included all of these parts plus the correct bellhousing, which I already mounted on the transmission. http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...pss9ir7u5c.jpg |
Below are a few pics of the biggest parts such as QuadraLink brackets already mounted on the housing and powder coated by DSE and the custom made fuel tank. I have yet to open the rest of the boxes of brackets, etc. I've got a great fabricator to help if I get in over my head. !
First up is a custom made narrowed stainless steel fuel tank, needed to fit exhaust past the QuadraLink. http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...pswnwxvbye.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psanyrpcof.jpg Here is the rear end housing. All the other parts of the QuadraLink are still in a bunch of unopened boxes. http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psmpvsdrtd.jpg |
Dave at Restore A Muscle Car helped me size the Year One Billet Honeycombs. 18x12 on the rears with 18x9 on the front. He even contacted the sales guy at Detroit Speed who sold me my Quadra Link and Moser Ford 9" to get the specs in order to make sure the wheels were correct. I'm looking forward to getting them on the car once the new suspension work if finished.
The front suspension in now all going to be PTFB. Ride Height Adjustable coil-overs, which required a bit of cutting on the front frame and a prototype bracket, replacing the original unused PTFB tubular control arms with newer ones designed for the coilovers. Also swapped out the still unused PTFB sway bar for a newer adjustable model. New C-6 spindles to mount the Willwood 6P brakes and 14" rotors. I ordered the new PTFB steering box to upgrade the steering performance and ordered the rear Wilwood 4p kit with 14" rotors as well. Here are a few pics of the wheels which came in last night. I pulled an old 15x7 snowflake out the back for comparison. Just a little bigger. :lol: http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps9eabe665.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps586d000b.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps135eae2c.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psf3ffa1a6.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps3600f55b.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps66b210bb.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps33e8595e.jpg |
Finally found some tires for these rims!
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psw1dcyre6.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psjnmodwim.jpg |
Latest update. Got the car back from the fabricator. We put the Quadra Link and Ford 9 inch in, along with a custom roll bar setup and the coil over mods for the front frame welded in.
Here are a couple of quick pics taken on the way back home. http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...pssrhbfysq.jpg Custom roll bar http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psmdrymqjw.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...pst3x6kqeo.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psuem8se7a.jpg |
Awesome Doug! Glad to see the car being built.
Without drudging up too much bad emotions, whatever happened to the other car? |
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Glad to hear that, too! Really like the airbrush work done on this car. That bird looks awesome.
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I had my fabricator add some extra roll over protection for this auto-cross / pro-touring TA and I need to plan an interior around it. I will definitely need to have someone cut the dash to make it fit around the A-Pillars. Probably best to take it to a shop and let them figure out how to make it work. Anyone done this before? Trying to get some ideas.
I'll also need to finish off the rear since I am deleting the rear seats. Trying to get some ideas of how to make it look cool. It will be a street car with a nice stereo and AC. Maybe some storage in the back as boxes. Or make the trunk larger by bringing it into the former rear seat area and boxing it off. IF you have some pics of examples, post them up please!!!! Here is what I will be working with. http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psewriovdd.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psx09aethp.jpg |
Put the new shoes on her for the first time. Need to get shorter lugs for the rear but we're getting there.
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...pswksnlb2a.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psamgbsnxm.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...pspmn6xloe.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psvh3v6vpk.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psfcggbgdp.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psxhg7s7aj.jpg |
Getting the DSE Rear swaybar mounts in the frame.
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psmshgxka8.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psbrdogzey.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psqlyjl4vj.jpg |
Great car!!!
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Motor finally in the car
Motor is in for the moment anyway...
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...pstrvx2i96.jpg Still have some work to do getting the transmission raised in the tunnel so the shaker isn't fitting just yet. |
Transmission and motor are in the car being fitted. The transmission tunnel is going to need some massaging. I've included a few pics and you can see in one of them that the transmission crossmember is bolted to the bottom of brackets it should sit on top of, so that tells me the transmission is roughly 1.5: low in the back and also needs to center up.
It even shows up in the shaker angle. Going to have to do some tunnel cutting to get this up high enough. Anyone have driveline angle info or links to some builds that have done this? Here are a couple of photos from where I am now... You can see how low the crossmember is here. http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psoiddsymj.jpg and how high the transmission is in the tunnel. The body is setting on Detroit Speed 1/2 height bushings so that makes it a bit tighter. http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psyz4bypik.jpg The cross member should mount on top of the brackets that it is now bolted to the bottom side of. So I need to raise the rear of the transmission approximately 1.5". http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps9bvgcmlq.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...pslxgabsa2.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psxwls5lsy.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psjwmwqdvu.jpg |
79 Ta
1 Attachment(s)
Doug,
I made modified my stock crossmember and made my own trans motor mount from a cut down piece.. my trans is pushed up all the way to the bottom of the Tunnel.. Pontiac 494 motor with tremic tk500 Picture barely shows the crossmember in the background Bob |
79 Ta
1 Attachment(s)
Doug,
For the shaker I made my own air cleaner below it It actually passes right in front of the curve of the carb I had my Dominator carb changed to base holley with domiator base plate and dominator metering blocks.. I also shaved the front of the manifold so the carb would sit more level.. Not sure if this is the right way but it has worked in the car for several years now Bob- Dreamin Ta's and Panteracer |
I ended up having to cut the tunnel to get the transmission where it needed to be in relation to the rear end. 2 degrees down and 2 up on the differential.
You can see the crossmember mounts on top of the frame rails now. I massaged the floor pan to get clearance and had to drop the cross member bracket bolts through the floor since I had no room on top of the rail to get them in. http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psde5rxche.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...pszbujqvnp.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psjw45mwb9.jpg |
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79 Ta
Doug,
My exhaust goes under the rearend then turns out and down just at the fuel tank... all one piece with slip joints onto the headers... easy to install/remove but the headers are still a little too low.. Dougs for round ports Bob |
Got the headers installed and the gas tank in for fitment purposes. Pypes offers a 3" header back kit specifically for DSE rear ends and Hooker has also added a similar offering, though you have to notch the truck floor for it's kit. Think I will give the Pypes one a shot first. There appears to be room to get it by the DSE tank.
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psbupsotgl.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...pssliacru8.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psdzir2fw6.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps8fgcvgi6.jpg |
Admittedly, I only used the Pypes system as a base for what I ended up doing with the exhaust, but I was pleased with the quality of the bends and fitment to the car. Had I bought a complete system with mufflers and installed it per their directions, I have no doubt the result would have been the same. I hope it ends up working well for you also.
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New tunnel finished
I finally got around to finishing the new tunnel. The T-56 Magnum needs a tunnel upgrade in a 2nd Gen to get the driveline angles correct. This may not be the case with stock components but with 1/2 height body bushings and a Quadralink, it is a definite.
Here is the new custom tunnel going in.. http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps0lqlk9h4.jpg I fitted a flat piece to the edge of the floor pan brace http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psablxhrcu.jpg The finished result http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psscqbrrw2.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...psgknejmkm.jpg |
Nice job.
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Very well done. Mine is tight, have quadralink & t-56, and 5/8 spacers iirc, but the Holley/Hooker kit allowed me to get the angles really close, no shimmy at 130, haven't had it faster than that but.....
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Looking good!
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