1976 Trans Am gets it's 4th wind

[SpankinElroy]

Greetings everyone as I'm happy to finally become a member of this fine group of poncho buffs. I have a little tale to tell and this is how it goes. Here's what I know about this car from Southern Illinois that I bought when I was just a kid. Originally, the car was silver (as the original title indicates) but I believe the hood scoop and fender louvers were red - It seems I remember once years ago seeing one just like that, and in some of the pics you can see red paint on the side louvers. I never knew the original owner, but I did know the guy that wrapped the rear quarter around a telephone pole. It sat for a while before another guy I knew bought, repaired and gave it it's 2nd wind in 1984. I had just graduated high school and that's when I picked it up for $2,000. At the time it looked pretty good, not a spec of rust. The top of the car started showing primer after about a dozen or so trips through the car wash. Blown motor in 86' the same month I made my final payment on it bummed me out to say the least. I Paid a guy $300 to rebuild it as I knew very little about that sort of thing at the time. Drove the car a few more years, then let it sit outside for too long...without the hood scoop. Cylinders had standing water in them when I pulled the heads. By this time I felt confident that I had learned enough about engines to rebuild it along with a fellow poncho buff. We went halves on a cam dialing kit and tore into it. These pics are from 93' when it's 3rd wind began.                           
                                                                                                     
                                 

[ThunderChicken]

You have your work cut out for you for sure!!  But it's going to look fantastic when it's done!!!  Good luck...these Birds get forgotten for the 77-79s!

[SpankinElroy]

some more pics after work was completed - lasted quite a few years but now it's time for some more -- below is a present day photo of a couple weeks ago before it went off for some beauty treatment 

[ThunderChicken]

Very nice!!!  Looks good (now you gotta fix that bumper!  ) and it cleaned up pretty nicely!  I can't wait til mine gets out of surgery!

[SpankinElroy]

Well, here we go. She's lookin' scuffed up and rough, but I keep reminding myself of the beauty that awaits...sorta like my wife at night with that green face mask on...just be patient.

[ThunderChicken]

Well, here we go. She's lookin' scuffed up and rough, but I keep reminding myself of the beauty that awaits...sorta like my wife at night with that green face mask on...just be patient.

All us ladies gotta get ugly before we can get pretty again.  You're off to a good start. 

[SpankinElroy]

Getting there....but still in dire need of that front bumper !!!....little help please ?!?!?!

[ThunderChicken]

Yikes...I'd help you if I could.  The rest is starting to clean up good, though!!! 

[SpankinElroy]

Finally scored my front bumper - went and picked it up in Chicago this past week-end sweeeeet....and the formula hood from California is in so both are being put on this week - hope to be done next week, then off to the custom exhaust shop - also found a local guy who hooked me up on a killer holley rebuild...sweeeeeeet daddy I should be rockin' in a few weeks..

[ThunderChicken]

OMG!!  That carb turned out BEAUTIFUL!!!  Congrats, man!!  Really can't wait to see it!

[gorin002]

so this be other modified bird ?

[SpankinElroy]

Oh, it be modified all right...there's very little that's original in this car anymore. Engine/tranny/rearend/hood/front-end/interior/wheels/shifter...it's ALL modified, aftermarket or came from another vehicle...I think the only thing original is in VIN - and oh, body shop called Friday - QA guy rejected it for some bodywork reasons...better he catch it than I...I'm glad they have a guy with 30+ yrs restoration experience that has the final say in whether or not it's ready to go out the door...patience is a virtue...

[SpankinElroy]

ahhh...the new formula hood is in place...hopefully not long now

[gorin002]

Does that mean it is, I apologize, a rice bird with a Japanese engine or a Firebird with lot of noise or just a fast Firebird as I am an older guy who thinks it should be quiet and you should not hear the motor.

The youth of today like extreme loud noise or tractor sound.

How is the update?  Any more pictures?

[SpankinElroy]

What in God's name are you talking about? I will respond to intelligent comments and questions that are submitted in English ...not jibberish and random pounding about the keyboard...and WTF is "and as here goes doe that mean its i appoldges rice bird" supposed to mean?