1979 Pontiac Trans Am

This video is about the history of the 79 Trans Am while showcasing a one owner all original car and the history behind it. Be sure to comment below putting what kind of cars you'd like to see me do videos on next.
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[@camarossdriver]

Just MY opinion,but the wood grain dash has GOT TO GO! The metallic engine turned dash is what made the Trans-Am iconic inside.

[@goopah]

Yeah, I died a little when I saw that. And that shifter.

[@chevyman85year]

Base Firebirds and older Firebird Formulas came with a woodgrain dash bezel from the factory. Strange to see in a t/a..

[@jrbird7571]

@Mooch 514 Yeah .... not a fan of it either. Great looking car but even on my `79 Firebird I got rid of the wood grain for the silver reflective gauge panel ,as well as a tach instead of a clock. It also has a hurst shifter for the 4 speed.

[@uncleabs9272]

Ewwwwww

[@leonmarker7482]

As other have said the 403 and 400 were not "bigblock", and the factory Pontiac shifter had a special feature maybe some people weren't aware of where it had a side slap feature that would allow the advancement of one ear change per slap.

[@warhorse2034]

My absolute dream car.

[@bradhowe8364]

I agree wood dash and lovers gotta go nice TA otherwise. I have a 81 since 83 4 speed 383 stroker

[@jimmcfarland579]

Thanks for the great video. I have pretty much the same exact car. I was wanting the big block but have the 301. I always tell myself that it don't matter because it still runs great and it looks amazing and turns heads and then you said the same exact words. Great video , thanks for making it.

[@googleusergp]

You'd have to install a Chevrolet or Oldsmobile engine since Pontiac did not make a big block V8.

[@thiagogarcia4452]

the best v8 sound I have ever listen

[@Z1Blue]

Its my dreamcar😍

[@nickg2316]

Good Video !! That’s a beautiful Trans Am !! I would love to see a video on a 1978 or 1979 Oldsmobile cutlass . Oh and by the way it’s nickname was the “Screaming Chicken” not Flying Chicken !!

[@JamesSalvatore]

You got me on that one didn't realize I said flying chicken lol, but thanks for the support and the suggestion, if you liked this video be sure to tune in every Sunday for my classic car Sunday series

[@wordenentertainment1997]

Very great video and an excellent review on the 1979 Trans Am. I own a 79 Trans Am Y84 Bandit Special Edition with the rare W72 Pontiac 400 and 4-speed transmission. Its a restoration project, but I really love it. The Trans Am was always my dream car since I first saw Smokey and the Bandit. Love that 79 T/A shown here and great respect for the owner keeping it on the road and adding their custom touches to the car that makes it more special.

[@JamesSalvatore]

That sounds awesome good luck with the restoration👌🏻

[@ivanmarkovicxxx]

Technically, Pontiac engines from 326 cubes to 455 cubes, were all the same block, & they were a mid-block. Pontiac didn't really have a big or small block. Even the smaller 265 & 301 Pontiac engines used the mid-sized block, similar to the popular 400 & 455 engines..

[@garrisonnichols807]

I love the second generation firebirds especially the Trans Am models. The 70 to 76 ones could be ordered with a 455 cubic inch V8. 1979 was the last year for the Pontiac 400 V8.

[@johnh6532]

No 455 in 70.

[@comradetman3784]

I just bought one of these from 1980 with the same options as far as windows shifter and stuff like that goes but what’s unique about mine is someone put a 1969 Pontiac 350 in it . So it cranks out about 330 hp . I can’t wait to start restoring it it runs and drives rn but I plan on restoring it

[@JamesSalvatore]

Sounds awesome man good luck

[@comradetman3784]

James Salvatore thanks , lol I may need it she needs a good bit of work , primary cosmetic at this point but new exhaust is like #1 on the list for it .

[@lawrencerubinson4260]

the olds 403 was a small block engine.it was a larger bore version of the small block Olds 350 with the same stroke.

[@sledgehammer8542]

It also had an Olds 455 crank, which means it was stroked like an Olds 455. It was basically a stroked Olds 350. Great engine. With the larger crank and longer stroke, it acted like a big block Olds. It made max torque at 2600 rpm. That's why it was so pleasant to drive. It pulled hard all the way through the rpm range. It was also underrated by GM. That HP number was net at the tires.

[@lawrencerubinson4260]

Engine specs show the 350 and 403 both have a 3.385 stroke. Bore is 4.057 for the 350 and 4.351 for the 403. In 1968 and 1969, the Olds 400 (In the 442) had a 455 crank and stroke. the 455 had a 4.12 bore and 4.25 stroke.Using the 4.25 stroke on the 400 required deboring it to 3.88. This limited the high rev potential of this motor.The 65-67 Olds 400 was based on the 425 big block which had a bore and stroke of 4.12 and 4.0. The 400 used the 4.0 stroke but was debored to 4.0 in. I understand this was a high revving setup. In 1970 GM permitted the 455 in the mid size cars and the Olds 400 was discontinued.

[@sledgehammer8542]

@@lawrencerubinson4260 I agree with almost everything you stated except the 403. I've had machine shops who've rebuilt these for me, and they tell me it's difficult to find a crank for a 403, because it's different than a 350. They, and several others have told me it's a slightly modified 455 crank. That would also explain the bottom end torque, that's different from an Olds 350. I'm not saying your wrong, and I don't want to argue, but many people have told me different. Who knows?

[@grand73am]

@@sledgehammer8542 No, the stroke on the 403 (3.385) is nothing like a 455'(4.25). It's easy to find out by just googling the specs. It's the huge bore that made the 403 special. The 403's bore is bigger than any GM engine, including the 455 Olds or any of the other GM big blocks, which is what helped it make good torque. I have 3 TA's with 403's myself, which is why I know something about them.

[@googleusergp]

The Pontiac 301 and the 400 were neither small or big block. The Olds 403 was a small block. Pontiac did not use the small and big block designation. It's also had paint work done to it, contrary to popular belief because the trunk applied jacking decals are missing as well as the driver's door certification labels also being missing. The 301 Pontiac V8 (which this has) was a credit engine. That is, the buyer got a credit if they chose that over the standard engine (the Olds 403) or the optional Pontiac 400 (a $90 option in 1979).

[@PuRpL3DrAnKinMYsippy]

RIP Pontiac...my bro had an 02 Trans WS6 6 spd and man it was a monster. That whiff of a GTO revamp did them in

[@JamesSalvatore]

It's too bad they did that I feel you on that one Pontiac never recovered after those cars

[@JamesSalvatore]

It's a shame I feel like they should release a trans am under Chevy

[@FRECHKN]

Pontiac ended in 10 not 02 and in 02 both camaro and firebird were discontinued

[@donaldhoule8256]

Great video I have a 1980 Trans Am first owner I’m now 60 years older and I will start a full restoration this winter I need to do the frame rails looks like a big job but I’ve been watching a few videos anyway I will love to see more video from you Thanks again

[@JamesSalvatore]

Thank you glad you enjoyed

[@robertromero8692]

It wasn't a "federal oil embargo". It was an OPEC (Arab) oil embargo.

[@JamesSalvatore]

Thanks for letting me know

[@henryfung6789]

@@JamesSalvatore You think you can do a video of a 1979 Trans Am. That be cool bro. Thanks

[@franciscomorales883]

I asked a person who went through that your correct what happened people were allowed to buy real estate in the u.s and sum about Arab not giving oil ion know what else but it was an interesting lecture

[@alirezash8799]

Exactly 👌👌

[@grand73am]

I like the car. Thanks for showing it. But, calling it all original, like from the day it came from the factory was a bit of a stretch, when you go on to point out the modifications 🙂. I have a couple of 79 TA's myself. It wasn't really clear, but I guess yours has the 301, since that's the only way you got an automatic with a Pontiac engine in 79. All the Pontiac 400's came with 4 speeds in 79. Plus it doesn't have chrome valve covers like the W72 400 would have.The 403 Olds only came with an automatic. Since most people wanted a big cube engine with an automatic, most 79 TA's came with the 403 Olds with automatic. Out of the 117,000 TA's produced in 79, about 95,000 had the Olds 403 engine, so the vast majority. They were phasing out the Pontiac 400 engine, so it ceased production in the 78 model year, and the 400's not sold in 78 were stockpiled for 79. Only about 8400 400's were left for use in 79, and they only sold them with 4 speeds until they ran out, sometime in May of 79, I believe. As for the antenna, GM cars already had been putting the antenna in the windshield at least from the early 70's. I have a 73 El Camino with it, so it wasn't something new or unique to Pontiac. As for the radio, the factory actually had some very nice Delco stereos in 79. I have an original am/fm cassette with chrome push buttons which is beautiful and sounds great. But they were very expensive from GM, so some people went with aftermarket ones instead, which were cheaper, not necessarily better.Those are nice louvers on there. Most people may not realize that they aren't a Pontiac part, but were an aftermarket part called Interpart Lift Louvres. If the buyer so desired, the dealership would install them, or they could be added on by a customizing shop, or even by the car owner himself by buying the kit. So many were sold, and looked so good on the car, that most people probably presume they were a factory option, but they weren't. The man appears to have a done a good job with the wood dash panel...I wonder if he knew that he could've bought a regular Firebird or Esprit dash plate, which is woodgrain and saved a lot of work 🙂. Like the others in the comments, the "engine turned" aluminum dash plate looks much better and is what should be in a TA. As for the shifter, the original shifter looks best to me too, and there's a version of it, that often came in the TA,that's called a "slap shifter", "bump shifter", or "sport" shifter, that does something similar to the aftermarket shifter. And you've been corrected enough in the comments about using the wrong "big" and "small" references to the engines, so I won't mention that 🙂. There are a lot of details to these cars, so unless you've owned one a while, and/or done a lot of research, you won't know everything. But I can tell you appreciate and admire the car and that's good to see. Thanks!

[@leonlhmm]

The trans Am Shifters actually you could push it to the right while in 1st gear and it would slip into second do it again from second to drive then it would lock into drive. once in drive you would have to push the button on the top of the shifter to move shifter from drive position!

[@bfmcarparts]

Pontiac did NOT make a "big block". You can tell the difference between a small block Chev and a big block Chev just by looking at the block. But basically, the traditional Pontiac block was externally the same size from the '50's 265 to the '70's 455. Pontiac changed the displacement by different cylinder borings and crankshaft throws. Something you can't see until you hole the block by revving it like a 'small block' Chev. "Small block/ Big block Pontiac ", mmm, no, time to learn.

[@nickmaroulis9450]

There one thing I do have to correct you is the 400 Pontiac motors were not desired in that time but they are today back in the 70s it was the 403 for the 79 that people wanted

[@JamesSalvatore]

Gotcha thank you for the feedback! I try to be as accurate as possible but with the classics it's hard to sort through what's fact and bs at times

[@bigmanblackt-shirt8506]

Having lived back then, it was not the 403 that people wanted, it was the Pontiac W72 400. The ONLY reason anyone wanted the 403 in 79 was because they wanted the automatic trans, and all Pontiac 400s came with 4-speed only.

[@Zelaznogsiul-63]

The machine turned dash is a better look on my opinion. Pontiac did not make a big block all the blocks had the same size, the bore and stroke was the way pontiac increased cubic inches according to vintage iron look at his videos about it. Great video

[@bigmanblackt-shirt8506]

Exactly correct, there is no such thing as a Pontiac big block.

[@Zelaznogsiul-63]

@@bigmanblackt-shirt8506 that is what I thought, thank you for the reply.

[@goopah]

Yep. Lots of folks get the big block thing wrong. Including me, and I owned one of these. For years, I thought it was a big block until a Pontiac mechanic finally set me straight. Thing is, the way they rumble, they sound like big blocks. :)

[@Zelaznogsiul-63]

@@goopah I will love to get a 400 pontiac.

[@markpavlinko7642]

Do a review on a 70 charger please

[@JamesSalvatore]

Hopefully I can get my hands on one

[@paulschiska7638]

The 400 and the 403 are not big blocks

[@goopah]

I was hoping someone else had caught that.

[@googleusergp]

The 403 Oldsmobile engine is considered a small block in the Oldsmobile world. Correct on the Pontiac 400--they did not use the small or big block designations for their V8 engines.

[@playgt326]

This is the phoenix of gta san Andreas.

[@JamesSalvatore]

Lol I'm dead

[@playgt326]

@@JamesSalvatore Sadly, this brand has defunct in 2010 because of the crisis subprime.

[@danward7306]

Dudes gonna fuck this car!

[@sledgehammer8542]

Very nice car, but you should find out more before you make a video. There is no such thing as a big block Pontiac engine. All Pontiac engines have the same block demensions. There's no big or small block. It was just a 400. The only one different was a 301. The 403 was actually a small block Oldsmobile. It's also not a flying chicken or a screaming chicken. The decal is a Firebird! Nothing else. That tacky shifter is hideous. I can't believe you like that. That's the first thing I'd remove and put a stock one back in. Then I'd get rid of the terrible wood insert, and put the correct one back in. There's not a whole lot to controlling a 3 speed turbo 350 automatic. Nice car though. I'm glad he didn't butcher it, and remove the original engine.

[@2nd2nun41]

I had this car, 403 Oldsmobile was a automatic. The Pontiac 400 was a manual. The 403 automatic was like 1.2 seconds faster. Yea, i hate the wood dash, and the wheels, but a very nice looking TRANS AM. RIP my Trans Am. BTW in 1985 i did a 29 police, 1 news 11 helicopter car chase in Minneapolis Minnesota, i got caught, but is was before noon. so at dinner in jail, got to see myself on all news channels. Did 85 days, and they called me the bandit. True story...took them 45 minutes to catch the Trans Am.

[@goopah]

@@2nd2nun41 Great story, dude. How old were you at the time, and what started the chase? I'm not far away, in Bismarck, ND. I had a gold 79 with the 403 back in the day. Real nice car. Reliable. Handled well. Tons of torque. Nobody ever chased me though. :)

[@2nd2nun41]

@@goopah hello, I was playing cribbage in a carpet store, after winning 2 out of 3 games, for 20 bucks, the store manager that I was playing with followed me out to my car. Stated that its nice, but cant spin the tires. oh, gawd. I can spin the tires. little did i know there was a police car to the south of me at the stop lights. so facing north i slam down the gas, so then my cribbage player said Get HIM, Get HIM, so the police, thought I robbed the Carpet Store, and the chase began.

[@goopah]

@@2nd2nun41 Awesome story! Thanks!

[@desperadolighfoot8534]

Why did he change or alter the dash, looks like he slapped on a woodgrain make believe dash?

[@SunnyDaysRFun]

Shezzzz, he junked the instrument control panel, ugh. And he put in that ugly shifter, ugh.

[@thebacdoc6464]

That dash is not original, and its ugly. The shifter is not original( automatic). Its also a beer can, doesnt have velour interior, no pw, pdl, and etc. Also doesnt have the sought after 400 4spd. Would rather have a loaded t-top. With the 400 4spd.

[@bradnavratil5502]

You guys fucked up the dash.... why???? Not even close to the Bandit car no T roof it's just another car 😖

[@JamesSalvatore]

He actually never was a fan of the movies just liked the car it's different on purpose