**UPDATED with Video on page 3**

Fella's,
I'm a long time member on here however life has put me out of the game for 4 years or so. I've gotten back into it pretty hard lately and wanted to post it up as I go. I've changed motors three times now. First I had an LS1. Sold it, and now have both a 5.3 and 6.0. Bought everything around doing a 5.3 turbo build but now just want a stout N/A 6.0 that I swing some n20 on later.

So far I've pulled out the old 455/TH350 combo that was in the car, and went to town on the engine bay cleaning it all up. As of right now I am putting the final finishing touches on the LQ4. I should be dropping it in the car tomorrow and I will post pictures then. I will be working on it for the next week solid to get it going. So I will make sure to post pics as they come in for anyone that is interested!

This car means the world to me, my dad bought it new when he was in the Navy and I had it in high school, now I am redoing the car the way I want. It gonna stay in the family that's for sure. Here below is what I believe is most of the parts I got going on as of right now.

Project is my 1977 Trans Am.

Current List of parts I have are:
Motor parts:
-90k LQ4 6.0(Denali pull out) I just got the 6.0 because I wanted more N/A Power
-Ported 5.3 heads by me
-LS9 head gasket/ and all new bolts for the motor
-F-body oil pan/ New Ls6 oil pump/LS2 timing chain
-Brain Tooley .660 lift Dual springs, Trunion upgraded rockers
-FAST (Ported) 102 intake/TB.. I did have a 92/92 but traded it for the 102/102
-SLP UD Pulley
-DynoMax 1 7/8 Coated Long Tube Swap headers/True Duel 2.5 exhaust SpinTech Pro Street Mufflers
-F-body radiator and fans
-IROC steering box upgrade
-LS2 injectors
-Brand new fuel tank/vette works bracket/4th gen bucket,Lonnies double pumper fuel pump with hobbs switch/99 C5 fuel filter/new fuel lines etc.
-Street and Performance custom made Wire Harness
-Tick Stage 2 built T-56/Tick Slave/Tick Master/Speed bleeder/Hurst short throw shifter
-Exedy dual disc clutch

Some pic's of the car.




Family generations with the car my dad, me, and my son.

 

I was just reading on another forum about your build. I like what you did with the car, congrats.

 

Really? What forum? I havent posted it anywhere else.

 

Nice work man. The engine bay looks ready to accept some LS power. Are you running a high mount alternator? If you were planning on running the fbody accessories you will need to notch the frame.

 

I always loved these cars... wanted one since I was just a kid. I really like the generations photo. Can't wait to see how it comes together!

 

Ow shoot Ryan you post on tech huh? Nice... Lost of props goes to you for the inside info and help with the clutch pedal setup!

 

I had a 76' Trans Am as my 1st car when I was 16yrs, got it handed down to me also from my dad. My dad and I built a pretty stout 350 chevy for it in our pantry at Ft. Sill, OK !

 

@Daz thats awesome... In the pantry haha.
@Lrn2go thanks! I did that when my dad came to visit me after i came home from a deployment. Its our favorite pic for sure.

 

What is your AFSC ? I went TDY to Hickam back in 98' but haven't been back since then. My nephew is station there with the Navy, he had a goat but sold it last year cause he had too many tickets. Ah well, good luck with your build ! My dad and I building 260z's with a 4.8 turbo for me and a 6.0 turbo for him.

 

Its good to see another second gen getting LS motivation. The family pics were a hoot. I can't wait to see this come alive.

 

nice looking car, more 2nd gens need LS power.

 

Nice looking car! Good luck with the build, be looking for it when done. Wish I still had my 78 TA fun cars.

 

Nice starting point my uncle passed me his down to me..
I'm keep my eye on this one your working on..

 

Love the family history behind this car. The generation photo is killer. I have a 79 TA that I'm slowly working on. I love the 77/78 front though. I might actually convert it.

 

@Daz I am a Air Force E-6 (TSgt) my AFSC is 3M071. Im currently the Unit Training Manager for our Squadron at the moment. Hickam is an awesome spot. The car scene is huge and apparently the Marine base here is about to open up their airfield for drag racing soon. So track time will finally be here hopefully!

@1981TA I believe I've seen you post on TransAmCountry.com before... I'm interested in your setup. You'll have to fill me in !

Everyone else, thanks for the kudos. I have a whole bunch of pics of the motor build on my phone I need to transfer to photobucket so I can post. But I will have them up maybe later today.

I could have had this motor in and going already but I've gone over board with cleaning, sanding, and painting everything Black. I am completing the motor build this weekend, and putting it in the car on Tuesday when the autoshop at my Air Force base opens back up.

Stay tuned!

 

The Donor 2001 Denali


The nasty looking pistons after 94k miles

Nasty looking pistons all cleaned

Vengeance Racing VRX5 cam going in 236/238 .601/.605 lift 113 LSA

 

The motor after being completely washed/sanded and painted...damn it took forever..but it looks good. The Worst part was figuring out the windage tray issue and trying to work around it before looking it up online and finding out I need to cut the front off for the windage tray for the F-body oil pan to work with its pick up tube. Fun stuff.





The most time COSUMING part of the whole damn build...using a hand drill with carbide bits for a week straight porting the crap out of these 706 casting 5.3 heads. I'm sure it will be worth it but damn it took forever. My fault for not using a expensive die grinder and aluminum burrs... next time I guess.





Everything is murdered out... going for the all black look.



A look inside one of the intake ports before it was completely finished.


.
and my ported Typhoon intake manifold that I am going to sell now, since im getting a ported 92mm FAST from a friend for cheap.

 

Update as of Sept 11th.
Double checked everything on the motor torque spec wise, got the new pilot bearing and Exedy Twin disc installed, and got the Dirty Dingo motor mounts bolted up to the brand new SBC 350 motor mounts. I just have to continue to work some adjustment issues, but that's not hard with the adjustable mounts.

Today the Tick build T56 is going in. Just have to see if this LS swap t56 cross member I have will bolt up. May have to make new holes and put new nuts and bolts on it. Then mark the trans tunnel as to were I need to cut, and then get in the car and cut the tunnel. Then I will spend time just adjusting the motor and trans to exactly where I want it. and start to wire the new Street and Performance wiring harness up. More to come.
Hopefully with less issues. Every day a bolt has broken or stripped.

Here are some pictures.

 

All work is being done at the Hickam Air Force Base auto shop (Oahu,Hawaii). One of the great things about the Air Force is we have some pretty decent auto shops to work in.

 

HI i have a 79 firebird if you are using a/c you need to test fit it before you permanently mount the motor all i was able to get was 3/4" setback not 1"