1979 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am LS Engine Swap and Suspension at V8 Speed and Resto Shop Part 2

PHOTO GALLERY OF BUILD:
v8speedshop.com/LS3_79_TA
Contact us for Muscle Car upgrades and restoration:
www.v8speedshop.com/contact - 314.783.8325. We're happy to help!
1979 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am LS Engine Swap and Suspension at V8 Speed and Resto Shop Part 2.
This 1979 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am was running the original 180 horsepower Oldsmobile 403 V8 engine, but our customer wanted more horsepower and better performance from his black TA. He brought the car to the V8 Speed & Resto Shop for an LS Engine Swap. The Trans Am will be much more fun to drive once the V8 Speed and resto Shop installs a GM Performance Parts LS3 V8 engine making over 480 horsepower backed by a 4L70E 4-speed automatic transmission. A Holley Dominator EFI system is also installed for reliability and tunability.
- We're Hiring! v8speedshop.com/jobs
However, upon inspection, the Trans Am revealed some rusty floors and previous repair work that was not up to the owner’s standards. The V8 team replaced the bad sheet metal with all new floors from Classic Industries and fabricated a custom firewall. The V8 Speed and Resto Shop is a one-stop muscle car restoration shop that replaces sheet metal on cars routinely.
Once the shell was solid again, they swapped in a complete Street Grip suspension system from Ridetech for better cornering and straight-line traction as well. Upgraded brakes from Wilwood were installed, along with a set of 17” Snowflake wheels from YearOne and new Nitto tires.
This is part one of a 2 part series, we’ll install the LS3 V8 in part 3!
Part 1: • 1979 Pontiac Firebird ...
Part 2: • 1979 Pontiac Firebird ...
Part 3: • 1979 Pontiac Firebird ...
Contact us for Muscle Car upgrades and restoration:
www.v8speedshop.com/contact - 314.783.8325. We're happy to help!
Pontiac Firebird Trans Am LS Engine Swap and Suspension Upgrades at V8 Speed and Resto Shop Part 2
V8 Speed & Resto Shop - In Our 20th Year In Business!
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[@rossdean1997]

I just finished a LS swap into a 1971 Z28 and it came out beautiful. I used a carb style intake and Holley four barrel throttle body which then allowed me to use an original Z28 style (Goodmark) dual snorkel, Chrome lid air filter. I have 5/8 inch clearance between the air filter and hood.

[@PD3a11]

As a lifelong T/A fanatic, the 403 is nothing but a boat anchor. Great job.

[@jasonhayes9776]

There is no need to seek the approval of the "originalist" crowd. You will never get it. If the owner wants an LS in his Trans Am, that's up to him. There are plenty of other Trans Ams for sale that people can buy to preserve or modify in any way they choose. The car looks great, and will be awesome fun to drive.

[@tacocin]

Amen! Well said!

[@srich8251]

Agreed, these were super fun cars to drive that were equally underpowered, an LS, Id so love to have this car! Great work!

[@NYPATRIOTBX]

agreed! that 403 was a turd of a motor anyways.

[@knytrydr73]

The tears of anguish from "purists" sustains me. LOL

[@transammusclemachine9386]

100% with ya!! The only reason why I sometimes wish I kept my 403 is because years later after the swap started, my car still isn't ready for the road. The installers went out of business and left me with a complete expensive mess. Pretty much every mechanical part replaced, but nothing done right. But I'm learning how to fix it on my own now so I'm very optimistic!

[@timmarshall4516]

I'm glad they could use the shaker and keep it functional

[@BigPlaneFixer]

If you close your eyes...you hear Ron Seanson talking. No nonsense and straightforward. Just need this guy talking about bacon and he's set.

[@ProjectDadLife]

Looks awesome! I’m just about to start my 81 trans am build!

[@z06doc86]

Nice clean swap. Like the idea of painting engine Pontiac blue.

[@mikecronis]

LS3 is rated at 430 Hp. in the Corvette C6, 436 with the NPP exhaust. You might be able to coax-out another 20 Hp through tuning and injectors? Mine dyno'ed at 376 Hp rear-wheel stock, 437 at the crank. Added a stage-2 Edelbrock 2.3L supercharger and now I'm at 536 RWHP, 599 at the crank. Oh, I see. Different cam. Got it.

[@willmills1370]

Very impressive and thorough. Good job to the whole crew. 👍🏻💯

[@panamared354]

Great job, looking forward to seeing the next video. Thanks for sharing

[@Skeeterpfr]

Great video, you lost me at the electrical portion! 😨 no offense, I didn’t realize mechanics were that smart, newfound respect for the profession. Wow, GD mad scientist!

[@V8TV]

Thanks for the kind words! It's true, these conversions are pretty complex, especially when all the aspects of performance and reliability are considered. We appreciate your feedback!

[@plymouthdie-castreplicas]

Awesome Pontiac! Really great job, V8TV guys!

[@V8TV]

Thank you!

[@byronmcelfresh2380]

It was ignorant to put that over rated pos Chevy engine in a Trans Am. Should have put a real Pontiac in it. Stupid not to.

[@primozkrajcar4144]

Nice work guys! What I like about your work is that you don't invent hot water if you don't have to. If you have parts available from Holley or other suppliers you use them. When I look at some other shows on the TV there is so much "modifications needed" that you start to question why did they buy that part in the first place. Waiting for the next video of the series! Keep up the good work.

[@V8TV]

Thanks for the insight!

[@russellsowders5890]

Where are you located at and your number.

[@tacocin]

Great work guys! Respect!

[@dstewartten]

Great job I’m from Australia love watching your videos

[@V8TV]

Thank you Darren!

[@geraldg3130]

So, so involved mechanically, technically, structurally, electronically......these guys really have to know their shit.

[@V8TV]

Thanks Gerald, the team is pretty sharp, indeed!

[@V8TV]

Contact the V8 Speed & Resto Shop at www.v8speedshop.com/contact or 314.783.8325 for all your Muscle Car restoration or performance needs! Part 3: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYbEZYWCa7-Fn9k

[@oscarpalacios7198]

GREAT GUEROS LOCOS

[@pywakett350]

A solid state that lasts indefinitely? I need one of those for my computer.

[@mcinkyt]

How big of a rear tire can you run with that suspension package?

[@darrellmailes9198]

I love what you guys did to being this bird to life i own a 00 Firebird what would this cost for me to do this geting rid of the 3.8 and swap a Ls into it

[@pilotmads8]

Hello V8tv Very nice video I’ve been watching some of them but can I get a big favour. I would love to know witch parts you put in it like engine, transmission, suspension and other parts like so? Or if not around how much money was spend on all parts combined :) Keep working hard and you guys are awesome. Greetings from Denmark 🇩🇰

[@knytrydr73]

How much floor modification would be required to shoehorn in a 6 or 8 speed automatic?

[@drm9979]

great video. what stall speed is the TC that GM recommends for this version of the LS3 please?

[@V8TV]

Thank you! We ran a Chevrolet 11" converter rated at 3000 - 3400 RPM stall as recommended by GM.

[@drm9979]

thank you very much.

[@donfregin8668]

What did you use for accessories brackets

[@tehpanuychikon168]

Hey V8TV, in all seriousness,about how much does a job/swap like this cost?? Thank You

[@joshuamurray3841]

Nice professional swap; my only complaint is the painted spark plugs.

[@V8TV]

Thanks, those were an extra set just to plug the holes for painting.

[@joshuamurray3841]

@@V8TV Ahh I see, good idea!

[@V8TV]

@@joshuamurray3841 Thanks for the kind words!

[@MsThomasvideos]

I have a 79 TA, doing a LS3 swap from GM Performance, have you used a 6L80e transmission in a 79 TA?

[@sebtarta]

10:31 Those are the worst fuel clip connectors you can use. Many people have had these fail. Please use the Russell Push-On EFI Fittings 644113

[@transammusclemachine9386]

I wish I took my 78/ls3 to you guys for a swap :( My 2 year warranty ended years ago and it's still not completed :(

[@khaleedo63]

This is awesome, this TA will be as it should. Can i ship one of trans ams to swap engine to LS 1, fine to me, please advice me how to start. Khalid, from Qatar

[@V8TV]

Hello Khalid, we have shipped cars like these to your region in the past. Perhaps the first step would be to contact us at [e-mail] and we can begin the conversation. Thank you!

[@cristianserrano500]

@v8tv I have the same car and most likely same problem as the car in the video all of it needs to be fixed so to get all this done to mine what would it cost me ? Hopefully I can get a response

[@V8TV]

Hello @cristianserrano500 - We're happy to chat with you about your Trans Am project and what it might cost. If you would, please contact the V8 Speed & Resto Shop at www.v8speedshop.com/contact or 314.783.8325 and we can have a quick chat to learn about what your car needs and your expectations. We look forward to chatting with you!

[@bigredracer7848]

I love the firebird I will run you at the race track

[@dmbolender]

I have a 1979 10th Anniversary Trans Am 403. How can someone drop a Pontiac 455 in it?

[@nigelio3]

guy: brings in car for an engine swap $45,000 later shop: Here's your brand new car, sir!

[@byronmcelfresh2380]

And they messed up the Trans Am in the process!

[@JonBecker81]

He sounds and has the same facial expressions as Ron Swanson.

[@cglawrence]

do you know what cam you used?

[@V8TV]

The cam is the Chevrolet Performance unit that comes pre-installed in the LS480 package. We'll try to find the part number.

[@Franklin3792]

ONE THING ABOUT THE PONTIAC 400.. IT SUCKS GAS LIKE THERE IS NO TOMARROW..

[@tyrellwooden8956]

I wanna do the same thing

[@bkehlin]

Yo, how much was this whole project? I had no idea you guys were out of Illinois.

[@V8TV]

Hello Astral, there are a lot of variables that dictate the cost of the project, as these cars are 45+ years old now and each needs something different to repair as well as the mods. We're happy to chat with you if you have questions, it's far easier than typing. Thanks!

[@bkehlin]

@@V8TV I understand. I'm just surprised that you're based in Illinois as I'm just 10 minutes from the border in NW Indiana, and have a 77 TA that I'm interested in getting restored a bit.

[@V8TV]

Yeah, you're not terribly far from us. We're in IL, but south near St. Louis. We do a lot of work on Trans Ams of this era and would be happy to chat with you about yours when the time comes. Thanks for the feedback!

[@Franklin3792]

I WONDER WHAT THE COST IS TO TAKE A BASE FIREBIRD AND CONVERT IT INTO A TRANS AM... I KNOW I NEED FRONT FENDERS, HOOD, FENDER SPATZ, FRONT CHIN SPOILER , REAR SPOILER, TRANS AM STEERING BOX, FRONT AND REAR SWAY BARS...AND DASH APPLIQUÉ.... ON MINE ID PUT COURTESY LIGHTS AND THE ASH TRAY LIGHT IN IT.. AND THE POWER TRUNK RELEASE..

[@sparkytdg]

Norwood car?

[@johnfarina6155]

Just drop an LS in, that's the Chip Foose solution.

[@porscheguy09]

Would it be considered sacrilege to put the 415 horsepower 6.2 liter LS3 engine from a Pontiac G8 GXP into an old Trans Am like this? It would be a Pontiac to Pontiac engine swap technically.

[@byronmcelfresh2380]

Yes it would be. Just because gm fucked Pontiac buyers after 79 with junk Chevy engines or lazy Olds engines is no reason for these clowns to do it too.

[@Swanlord05]

Should have bought a 02 WS6

[@ckane510]

Paint it Pontiac blue...it’s a Pontiac!😀

[@user-xg5kv2yp6g]

What year is the red T/A?

[@V8TV]

1976.

[@user-xg5kv2yp6g]

@@V8TV appreciate the reply. Thank you

[@V8TV]

@@user-xg5kv2yp6g You're welcome!

[@al3411]

it is SR.

[@captainzobos]

mmmm sounds expensive 😍

[@glennmanchester9151]

Im sure it was or is at this point

[@glennmanchester9151]

Im sure it was or is at this point

[@glennmanchester9151]

Im sure it was or is at this point

[@motov8-garage832]

@@glennmanchester9151 You can say that again😄

[@mjvtransam]

That’s like 65 to 68 color

[@jt6bhgfgvujnnjjh]

No it's not sacrilegious because it's a general motors, LS and LT engines came in the 80s and 90s and early 2000s pontiac cars, trans am and GTO so I would disagree with that statement and it's all GM

[@byronmcelfresh2380]

Just because it came with an Olds engine is no excuse to put an over rated LS chevy junk in it. For all the money that pos cost you could have built a far better real Pontiac engine with CV1 heads that would make another 150hp out of tune and be just as drivable.

[@mt1885]

Not true on oil leaks, sure it will if using ham-fisted goons and them china gaskets. Never had any issues, again it is skills instead of swapping everything just buy a NEW CAMARO would have been a better option.

[@NYPATRIOTBX]

I had an 87 camaro with an older motor that used cork gaskets, i could never get the valve covers to seal properly no matter what i or anyone else did. the LS is just a better designed engine.

[@mt1885]

@@NYPATRIOTBX They have new designed gaskets, that seal with no issues.

[@NYPATRIOTBX]

Yep, Fel Pro makes them in rubber now with metal collars, recently installed one on my 88 s-10.

[@byronmcelfresh2380]

Clearly their "leak prone" comment is by guys who can't put a gasket on correctly

[@NYPATRIOTBX]

Byron McElfresh , installing gaskets isn’t rocket science. Yes you have guys who just over torque everything. But to say the guys in this vid who have probably been in the business for some time don’t know what they are doing is a weak argument.