10 Seconds' 78 Trans Am Project

[ProdigyCustoms]

Wow, My first new car (first new car) was a 78 martinque blue, gold bird, blue interior. Nice color although I would not do the powder blue interior now. Cool build, I am watching with envy as I am dying to do one. I need more time in the day.

[Speedster]

Nice to see another bird being given "the treatment". Keep us posted as you progress. That looks like a great project you have there.

[10Seconds]

Originally Posted by ProdigyCustoms

Wow, My first new car (first new car) was a 78 martinque blue, gold bird, blue interior. Nice color although I would not do the powder blue interior now. Cool build, I am watching with envy as I am dying to do one. I need more time in the day.

Frank, at least you are helping supply me some parts for this one, I will have to post a picture with those QA1's on it. Now if you just sold the polished steering shafts and components, I would have to give you another call...

[10Seconds]

Another one of those decisions that you make in the early stages of the project - the engine bay is way too cluttered on these 2nd Gens.



And the stuff cluttering it really looks like crap.



So I just had to have a smooth firewall. Here was my first attempt to fill and smooth it out.




And





Also of note, since I cant seem to find the pictures of the Dash repair, note the rusted out condition of the corners of the dash in the first picture - it was even worse on the driver's side. And then in the last picture, its repaired and repainted - though I will have to redo it, I now realize I had too much gloss in it.

[ProdigyCustoms]

You mean polished shaft and borg joints? I got ya covered man, we run that on Prodigy, HOTT!

[10Seconds]

Originally Posted by ProdigyCustoms

You mean polished shaft and borg joints? I got ya covered man, we run that on Prodigy, HOTT!

That's what I mean. Just sent you a PM.

[10Seconds]

Ok, here is another "catch-up" update:

Since I had decided to go with the Hot Rod Air A/C system, I did not need this cowl vent:





So, in my desire to keep everything clean and smooth, I decided to fill it in:




Here is how the firewall looked after this work was done:

[10Seconds]

I originally had intended to use the stock rear setup from an 1980 model Trans Am for the project due to its rear wheel disc brake setup. However, after I mounted it up on the car, I was not happy with it. I knew I wanted to go with larger tires under the rear without it sticking out. I decided to do my own version of a mini-tub and move the leaf springs in to accomodate the larger tires. This was before there was any "kit" for the 2nd gens out there.

However, I ran into a few difficulties - first, the rear frame rails swing outward 1/2 way through the rear wheel opening, severely cutting into the space for the wheel and tire. Secondly, there was no good way to make /or adapt a bracket to move the leaf springs without binding it up at the front eye.

So I got a little radical here. I ordered a 4-link setup from Martz Chassis and a set of Competition Engineering Formed rear frame rails. I cut the factory rails completely out and used the CE ones to get rid of the factory flair out. I then attached the Martz setup to the CE frame. Since I was going that far anyways, the 8.5 10-bolt was replaced with a 9-inch too at this time.