Transforming A '78 Trans Am Into A 500HP Tribute Car - Detroit Muscle S1, E1

The team starts the transformation of a 1978 Pontiac Trans Am into a 500hp tribute black bird that's being given away. Plus, the Bandit himself, Burt Reynolds talks about the first time he saw the iconic Firebird Trans Am.
*Sweepstakes has already ended*
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PARTS USED IN THIS EPISODE:
Comp Cams: Keyway Adjustable Billet Timing Set, Chrysler 5.7L, 6.1L Hemi
More Info: pntv.us/pn_pt_43
E3 Spark Plugs: Spark Plug, E3, Tapered Seat, 14mm Thread, .440 in. Reach, Projected Tip, Resistor, Each
More Info: pntv.us/pn_pt_40
Summit Racing: Cal Custom, Valve Covers, Aluminum, Polished, Stock Height, Finned, Ford, 289/302/351W, Carbureted, Pair
More Info: pntv.us/pn_pt_42
4X4 Bodies: Urban Gorilla Body Kit. 1 piece steel hard top kit with fiberglass panels.
4X4 Bodies: Urban Gorilla Body Kit. 1 piece steel hard top kit with fiberglass panels.
Butler Performance: Butler Performance is your #1 source for high performance Pontiac parts, engine kits, balanced rotating assemblies & stroker kits- as well as short blocks and complete Pontiac engines for any application.
The Industrial Depot: The Industrial Depot - Fasteners, Hardware, and Shop Supplies
YearOne: 17" x 9" cast aluminum "Mopar Rallye" wheel with 5" backspacing and 4.5" bolt pattern. Silver powder coated with machined lip.

[@PowerNationTV]

Enter for a chance to win the Holley Corvette built on Detroit Muscle: httpslink.com/lnk_295e9a49

[@6484373]

@@Bozemanjustin It's a stock engine from the 70's

[@TheBakoman5]

you guys should check out trans am world wide

[@RobertMiller-iw3xg]

@@6484373 11

[@dariusprinceton5302]

instablaster...

[@terrymorelanddg955]

Did I win?

[@johnnytyler5685]

That modern Bandit T/A is absolutely stunning in every way...except for those headlights. The four square headlights are part of the iconic look of those cars and replacing them with two long rectangles just looks super goofy. I'd definitely be returning the headlights back to stock if I owned one of those things.

[@georgegrierson]

I knew this had to be an older episode - 2013 - and Burt has passed away - R.I.P. - but the Trans Am renovation still makes my heart pound just that much quicker.

[@jaspalvirdee]

Exactly my thoughts. Got me there for sec ... rest easy Burt.

[@chucksgarage7165]

It aired in 2014. Probably recorded in 13.

[@atranfanatic]

I have a '67 Pontiac 400 block that I want to rebuild and get between 500-600hp. And put it in my '75 Firebird/Trans Am clone with a 400th trans. And that is just for starters. I have had her for over 23 years now.

[@lucidfilmsstudios2454]

Yah same I was so confused

[@goldenmanuever1176]

Aired: Jan. 2014

[@RestorationObsession]

You'd be lucky (it'd be a miracle) if you could find that car in that shape for $8500 today

[@reiko57]

i have an 87 in near perfect shape, t-tops don't leak, 120k miles, what you think that's worth? 4k?

[@carmageddon1886]

I got one for $8,500 back in August, it had almost no rust, the floorpan was clean, and came with all the original documents

[@RestorationObsession]

@@carmageddon1886 WOW! That's awesome!!!! Good find. Love the name, btw. That was one of my favorite video games when it came out. =)

[@jamesprice2163]

I found a ratty one with street signs for floors but the guys only asking 2k for a actual trans am with a four speed it's worth it and throwing a 5.3 ls into it is a cheap way of getting her on the road and frying tires

[@RestorationObsession]

@@jamesprice2163 That's awesome!!!

[@terrycullender123]

I found a 76 Firebird T-10 455. It looked just like this car without the decals. Except this car was scary fast. I loved that T-10! Maybe the funnest car I've ever driven.

[@toddheimann8020]

My parents split when I was young and my (now deceased) father used to pick me up at high noon on Sundays (because that's when the cowboys met) in his '78 Solar Gold Trans Am (one of the Y88 cars you mentioned). It had a transplanted Pontiac 455 with a nitrous kit and a 4.10 rear end. All I remember is cruising around in it as a young impressionable child who's favorite TV show was Knight Rider thinking that the Trans Am was the pinnacle of awesome (of course catching S&tB when it was on TV, I wasn't allowed to watch the original due to the language). He later had a '79 T/A also, but that '78 is seared in my psyche. The memories ingrained in a young, impressionable me will always be a part of my DNA. So much so that my first car was a 1986 T/A WS6 (with factory digital dash, to me that made it more like KITT, lol). I worked long hours to afford that car. I'd likely still have it today if it hadn't gotten smacked at an intersection. I tracked down Dad's '78 some years later and struck a deal to buy it. The guy who had it took it out to get it detailed for me and on the way there, someone crossed the centerline and totaled it. Beyond repair at any cost. Haven't had another Trans Am since mine was T-Boned and Dad's was totaled. I really look forward to watching this build!

[@NewtonWashinton]

I bought a new red one in 1978, with 4 speed, TA 6.6 Eng. 3.42 gears, cost was just over $6000.00. I added Hooker Headers, 1.6 ratio rockers, I opened up the catalytic converters with a torch and reinstalled, I replaced the huge cast iron intake with a Edelbrock Performer intake, I installed coil helper springs to the rear shocks to raise the rear of the car up for a better look. I never raced at the drag strip but wanted to know what the car would do so i went to Milan dragway and decided i would make 3 passes my best was a 14.01 at 100 mph with stock tires.

[@curtpozzi5527]

I have a 78' T/A 4speed W72 package car..same specs. My father got it back in 1981 with headers on it...everything else was stock. The headers had a flat spot on it from bottoming out. Did you have clearance problems on yours? I got this car out of sitting in his garage for 35 years! My 400 is getting a rebuild soon.

[@NewtonWashinton]

@@curtpozzi5527 Hello, I had no clearance problems with hooker headers that I installed. Have fun with your rebuild.

[@jason6175]

I believe the '78 Trans Am had a diamond pattern grill. The honeycomb grill was in '77

[@kurwinducre9585]

You are absolutely right

[@mikeslaven8023]

@@kurwinducre9585 and the tail light were not body color, they were black frames between the light lens...

[@meetdogblack8277]

Whatever 😆

[@jerrycallo]

Yep, and the hood was a 79 scheme.

[@darrellkidd5177]

Yep, I was confused by the '77 grille and the '79+ hood bird. Probably had a re-paint at some point, and they changed the bird at that time, but not sure about the grille.

[@reemlsilkworm]

Burt Reynolds. Thanks for the memories, sleep easy big man.

[@irelandgrt]

You couldn't give these cars away in 80s. It's great that people appreciate them.

[@reiko57]

man i love the 78 TA, i got an 87 in really good condition, but nothing beats the 78 IMO

[@lilredexptsc]

RIP Burt Reynolds!

[@patmcbride9853]

The "deer whistles" by the headlights double the value of the car.

[@RestorationObsession]

That is one of my top 5 favorite cars. You guys always knock it out of the park!!!!

[@ragmanracing1409]

I hope you guys noticed that when the commentator said there's a Trans Am right there in the beginning of the video that it was actually a 68 formula. Not a TA. Chrome bumper and all. The 69 didn't have a full chrome bumper. And 69 was the first year of the Trans Am package on the Firebird.

[@Hemishakesit]

Im loving the new look! Ive got a 78' Firebird myself that im cloning into a T/A, wish Burt could see how your bird is going to turn out, RIP

[@2414kels]

I'm a Chevy guy, but always loved Pontiacs.

[@kennethconnors5316]

you guys Never fail to deliver a great car

[@armedtotheteeth1974]

Wow. This video was up 20 min before i found it. Keep it coming. Ive watched everything on KZbin already

[@blueridgeburnouts8265]

I'm a Pontiac guy!

[@ledferg]

Whatcha got? I have a 72 lemans! If you don’t have one, what would you want?

[@ashley_engle]

Pontiac and Chrysler 💕 love my Dodge

[@blainesnider9089]

Me too!

[@mindeloman]

In all the "whose is better - Ford, chevy, mopar - arguments" you never hear anyone ragging on Pontiacs.

[@blainesnider9089]

@@mindeloman they should if you watch the ss drags where cars have to be the same as stock pontiacs do very well. Against all takers. Also for sure in the 70s they kicked but on all takers. A ram air IV was underrated at 370hp it actually made 450 and was lighter than the BIG blocks by several hundred pounds.

[@jonmiller3153]

Talk about Flashbacks. I remember this episode when it was new. I remember mostly how gutless that 400 was.

[@craigschulz1852]

They had 7.8 to 1 compression from the factory. A little shave on the heads to raise it to 8.5 to 1 adds 50 horse. Getting rid of the cast iron intake & replacing it with a dual plane intake helps

[@nathanielbolden5053]

Hey but its capable bro!...there's a shitload of power in that thing to be had!...but EPA standars of the 80's killed ALL engines and I mean ALL ENGINES it was about fuel economy and low emissions as well as reliability which GM is known for!...

[@jonmiller3153]

I know engine power from about 72 or so till about 97 when the ls came out was terrible. I know with mods this n most engines can make alot more power. What made this engine even more pathetic was earlier on the power block they had a flat head that made around the same power. The hosts talked about it being gutless.

[@jonmiller3153]

I know engine power from about 72 or so till about 97 when the ls came out was terrible. I know with mods this n most engines can make alot more power. What made this engine even more pathetic was earlier on the power block they had a flat head that made around the same power. The hosts talked about it being gutless.

[@CaptainFALKEN]

I'm gonna hemi swap a TA

[@Unit957]

Absolutely beautiful!

[@philc4520]

Awesome team - great & informative vid!

[@AustenARW]

Great series! Thank you. Hope that you finish it out the posting of it.

[@huskerfan4life]

What is amazing Is how beautiful the body was. It's awesome how they tweaked the motor to run much better

[@JohnDoe-ml8ru]

Oh thank the mechanic in the sky! No LS swap!

[@JohnDoe-ml8ru]

@Mr. 6 liter Typical LS fan boy reply.

[@YungEagle3k]

U realize this is practically just an old weird ls

[@JohnDoe-ml8ru]

@@YungEagle3k traditional SB's and BB V8's are nothing like the Y8 LS.

[@nathanielbolden5053]

Although that would've been more economical and damn near HP limitless I like the fact they kept the BB I'm building a 86 Cutlass Supreme Brougham and I was gonna LS swap it probably still will in the future but those 80' small blocks were indestructible and reliable as heck!...and I loved em all loved the way the purred while idling or revving!...also loved working on em a 78 Pontiac 301 was the first engine I ever tore down and rebuilt by myself I was 12 years old no fancy tools either just old school instincts!...and that car ran like a champ until we sold it!...so I took my 307 to the machine shop and had it bored 0.30 over and the crank and rods ground 0.20 under and although I won't be a red light warrior I know I have a reliable engine for the next 30 years worry free or if I decide to sell it and its newly rebuilt 350c tranny its new owner will also enjoy it for years of worry free service!...but eventually I'll be stabbing a 4.8l vortec in it with a 4l80e tranny!...its already plumbed for efi the 307 has a holley sniper efi kit waiting on it!...so have fun with these BB's and SB 's fellas do what feels rite to you its good to be different!...I love LS engines best engines in the world rite now!...GM RULES!!!

[@CaptainFALKEN]

LS swaps are pretty common and if they can still keep the shaker on top fitting right on these cars, then whatever. I prefer the classic look in the engine bay, but these cars are much more gnarly with more power. I was thinking on putting a crate hemi in my next TA haha. Since I can't afford a '70 Road Runner just yet

[@cliffordcullen1687]

Lookin at my all original silver with red interior, 400 Trans Am in my garage right now. My dad bought it when I was 7 years old. Been in the family since 1978. Love that car. It's a keeper and a head turner for sure.

[@MrRasZee]

were two of these at car sales on my way to school 🤩

[@lawrencefoster2120]

Handle's nice,makes it really fun to drive. I had a 77,z28.

[@RatdogDRB]

This'ns gonna be fun. Love that you're keeping it all Tin Indian.

[@frederickbehn5610]

Best part, was watching you guys put in some time on the original engine. That was cool.

[@scottmcgehee2933]

About 182hp at the crank. The catalytic converters in those days were pellet type. Nothing like today's. They were extremely restrictive. They also were known for getting clogged. That old single convertor I bet is clogged. Today's cats flow gangbusters compared to them. 400 cubes going thru single pipe up to cat and after for a little bit. I guarantee a big gain just bye putting a test pipe in place of it and a little carb adjustment. Also advancing timing.

[@stevejohnson1397]

That 400 is a boat anchor at 8 to 1 compression in that even 200 horsepower you need to scrap it completely start from scratch make the combustion chamber smaller bring the compression up get rid of the converters.

[@jonathanpasch6604]

That movie wouldn't be anyone's favorite without Jackie Gleason.

[@chadrupert4456]

Funny thing Gleason and Reynolds only had 2 parts in the movie where they interacted. When he stopped for the Diablo cheeseburger 🍔 and the very end after they dropped off the Big Rig and Coors beer 🍺 ! 😂. Gleason was comical in the first Bandit movie.

[@kevinjohnson9372]

I think Sally field was important

[@jeffreygout]

“Now, that was an attention getter”

[@johnignaczak7242]

I think it’s the combination of all the actors together...the total flop of the third movie is more evidence of that

[@nathanielbolden5053]

Funny I thought Jerry Reed was the man!...🤷‍♂️

[@TrailBlazer5280]

Can't believe how nice these updated trans ams look

[@MichaelandCathy1999]

Driving a Pontiac myself, 2010 G6 GT / 3.5 litre V6, with a Stage 1 Chip setup and Resonator free exhaust, and Cold air intake. From stock numbers of 220 HP, now it’s safely estimated at 250 and I’m waiting on February to order Stage 2 for 35 more ponies.

[@fredharvey2720]

Nice to see these cars being cherished. If I were rich. I'd get one myself. 😍

[@jenseninterceptors]

Thanks for this :)

[@johnnyboicasey295]

Me and my dad are currently restoring one right now.

[@johnnyboicasey295]

@@thomasdaddio741 Thanks 😊

[@3onthetree357]

@@johnnyboicasey295 I have a 79 Camaro. Building a restomod at 18 by myself lmao

[@3onthetree357]

@kuato lives appreciate it man :)

[@steveafanador6441]

Awesome 👍 it's gonna be bad ass when it's done I bet

[@marioluigi6024]

Good luck, we're doing the same thing. Lol

[@Amy-wh3dt]

I remember this car as a kid she drove it to my grandparents house. I wondered what happened to it lol

[@d.m.e.b.m.f7649]

The body of it is in great shape.

[@Bricklinsv1970]

Kicking the Chicken! LMAO! Still one of my all time favorite cars!!

[@mildlyamusingcunt]

"Took the restrictor plate off, gave the red dragon a little more juice"

[@JamesBennettGDesign]

You're my boy, Blue!

[@bigcheese82]

Hey Mike

[@schwanzmunster2503]

Yes! Love that movie! One of Will Ferrell best

[@kriskoehnke3779]

Old school

[@arodderz]

But keep it on the down low.

[@marioalvarezvilla2464]

I need this car in my life. Ill grow a mustache and always wear drive it with a hat 🤠

[@fredmaxwell9619]

I am so glad you are going to keep it all Pontiac. You may get more power out of a modern engine but it is no longer a Pontiac.

[@billflk2364]

Well said burt it doesn't get any better than that

[@gregsmith7828]

olds 442 convertible rootbeer brown, creme leather interior =)

[@c.h.r.i.s2253]

Awesome car!!!!

[@gravsson4472]

Sweet, I've got a 1980 camaro so this was pretty cool to watch.

[@izzyplusplusplus1004]

Build it!

[@Bob-Pye]

Beautiful...

[@kaitlinpatchett2254]

❤️ from the MITTEN state!

[@redranger78web21]

Awesome video.. it's great to see this video.. and to see , the Bandit , himself 👍,. Too bad, though.. don't worry,. Life is the way it is, you can't stop time , never. I graduated from high school 41 years ago, and unfortunately have nothing to show for it.. but, I am here ,. Great video and thanks for sharing

[@georgecrutchfield8734]

I was a telephone installer for Southern Bell T & T in downtown Atlanta and I had an order to install a phone in one of the rooms in the Downtown Marriott Hotel for "Smokey and the Bandit". Don't remember the name of the production company. I had no idea about the movie. Also they had the tractor trailer parked on the street for six weeks and I walked passed it almost every day. I loved that movie when it came out and I was surprised by the fact that I had seen that tractor trailer all those weeks.RIP Burt Reynolds.

[@rodsingleton3097]

I'm so bummed, I wish I would've known about the giveaway, awesome car. Life goes on..😫😫😫

[@Jacob99174]

That thing is beautiful

[@brettbooth2678]

Nice!

[@timbrowder2059]

Beautiful car

[@GorillaCookies]

RIP Bandit, RIP

[@yubyfield196]

Beautiful car .

[@MrJeb707]

They talk about the headlights, but don't say anything about the awesome custom snowflake wheels!😍

[@poione42]

First car I ever owned at 17. Best car ever ❤️ it

[@kenzodrow9604]

will always remember smoky and the bandit action and funny all in one show

[@kennywilson5034]

Was just talking about watching your show as a kids with my brother's

[@HAL-dm1eh]

I had an 80 Turbo that was transplanted with a mildly built 455 Poncho. I had so many kills in that car, as it was such a beautiful car, but still a sleeper. I really miss that beauty, but it needed restoring.

[@Hapkido82AUS]

I remember the performance difference in these when the timing was advanced (twist the distributor), and back knocked out of the shaker. Performance was transformed... Just add decent diff gears (3.42?), and the car could feel quite different with minimal $$ spent

[@BruceLee-xn3nn]

Same for fox mustang.

[@lachlanmorrison2412]

That's one of the first things I did to mine...cut out the back of the shaker & a K&N...gotta let it breath!👍🍻

[@dr.detroit1514]

Same here, the Smokey movie get me interested in Trans-Ams, in 1978. Couldn't afford a new one, so I test drove several muscle cars, finally buying a '71 TA, white with blue stripe, automatic. $4000 in those days. Sold it about 15 years ago, trying to come up with money to start a business. Then the crash happened in 2008. Oh well, the plans of mice and men.

[@callendempsterjr3069]

Its a sweet ride

[@sharpiefatah3657]

I hope these Guys comes with new "Abandoned Car restoration episode".

[@ericchill864]

I would love that beautiful bird! First car, 1970 firebird esprit, definitely not stock, lightning rods and poor black paint over original green. Second car, 1978 ya 4 speed 400. How I miss it and I know that those dreams are gone. I unfortunately have many health problems and am at a financial deficit. Great video 😌

[@garrisonnichols807]

RIP Burt Reynolds Jackie Gleason and Jerry Reed. May your coors always be cold and your T- Tops never leak.

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

Love the '78 TA 👍👍👍👍👍

[@rosewd2]

Yes I know about the y88 gold special edition. I bought that car also. I didn’t like the rear drum brakes, the car had a hard time stopping. The 79 with the disc brake rear was a big improvement. No antilock so you could lock up all 4 whelks and slide right up to the stop sign if you wanted to ;) but braking was much improved.

[@jakethesnake1503]

Love this show so much i watch the ads.

[@MudGoose]

1 of the ads run 36mins, don't need to learn about "wild lettuce"

[@dgarreis]

To weird. I just happened to type in trans am tonight and there it was same day you posted this. I have one just like it except the bird is more gold. Oh and mine has nitrous. Those Year One cars rock. Had it for 35 years now. I could still use another one. Side by side. RIP Burt Reynolds.

[@rap31264]

That's gorgeous...

[@keithnoneya]

When I heard YearOne put a Chevy in that Cool Bird I just got sad and shook my head. If you're going to build a sweet ride, with a budget like that, why only go half way? When I heard you were using a real Pontiac engine in your Cool Bird I got happy. Nothing wrong with those Pontiac motors. Some of them 421's 428's etc. were running in the 7's in full size cars back in the 60's, no need to swap them out for a "supposed" better engine. Thanks for keeping it Pontiac, I'm off to Binge watch the rest of the series now. Thanks for sharing. Best Wishes and Blessings. Keith Noneya

[@erictalkington5674]

Turned out nice, but man that red T/A looked sexy to begin with.

[@slickrickdarula9483]

These are some pics of my dad's 78 trans am!! It was called white lighting he had it pin striped with a custom fire chicken on the hood!! Also he had a Porsche whale tail on it they mount right on the trans am!!! In my opinion it is one of the nicest trans ams I've ever seen!!!💪💪💪💪💪

[@slickrickdarula9483]

photos.app.goo.gl/W6SXktAQzKpprDuj9

[@damirbabic7403]

What a firebyrd beauty love love herr 77.78.trans am 😍😘❤❤❤❤❤

[@caspar0777]

great to keep it all Pontiac. Butler is the best

[@johnmilner7603]

In 77 I opted for the Z28 and ordered it in silver with a 4-speed and A/C. Then in 78 I ordered a black 4-speed Z28 with gold stripes due to the black interior I always went for but also ordered the turbine aluminum rims which were also gold. I tried to track down my 77 Z28 cause it was my 1st new car I ever bought. But I still own my 70 Z28 4-speed which I bought in ‘81 from the orig owner who wants to buy it back but it’s not for sale.

[@woodgrain18]

I bought a 1980 Firebird last year its a roller but besides the clear coat flaking off its a almost a 8 out of 10 the interior is pretty nice, Zero rust anywhere. I haven't figured out what i want to do with it, I bought a cheap cover for it put some tarps over it and put it on jack stands in my pawpaws open pole barn LoL! I dont know when this was actually filmed but all it needs is a pullout ls3 with a cam and headers with a good tune with a 4l80e and then you would have a 500hp street car you could drive anywhere.

[@michaelweaver7037]

I might be talking out of my butt. But the Pontiac 400 was 6.5 liters. The 6.6 was an Oldsmobile 403

[@terryslay2622]

The southern accents spoken didn't disappoint

[@tylerjohnston9189]

Rip Burt

[@cljerjr31]

She looks great in red!

[@originalfiremancancelled7303]

RIP Bandit

[@williamlopez4934]

Nice poncho power

[@JoeSmith-nu8oo]

I so wanted a 79 Trans Am but I was only 16 and knew it wasn't going to happen.Then in 1986 I was working as a helper doing heat and air and we went to this guys house outside Nashville and he had a 70's TA with only 4000 miles on it but it wasn't for sale.I bet there are still some out there somewhere in great condition.

[@djbe7850]

Rip Mr. Reynolds

[@ibast1]

I was worried it was going to be another bloody LS conversion.

[@kd1s]

I once owned a 1976 Trans Am with a 455 (7.3L) engine and a four speed manual transmission. It was brown with the golden chicken on it. I wish I'd kept that car but face it a 16/17 year old and that much power well lets just say I figured out if you reved it up and dumped the clutch that baby could lay serious rubber.

[@LITTLE1994]

That's how powerful it SHOULD be.

[@Firebird400]

Cool car

[@sgtjosozo]

Finally!

[@ultralightflyer1260]

cool to see my cousins car get fixed up and running right, we are in hazel green AL

[@BruceLee-xn3nn]

Hope 2020 didn't push them to sell it.

[@ultralightflyer1260]

@@BruceLee-xn3nn if anyone knew her they thought about her TA she was in love with that car

[@jrvbamafan1]

This car came from hazel green? I'm in Huntsville

[@ultralightflyer1260]

@@jrvbamafan1 yes sir, if you look in the video you may see some familiar areas

[@jrvbamafan1]

@@ultralightflyer1260 man I would have loved to have bought that car. We had a y88 gold 78 with the w72 when I was growing up. I miss that car.

[@Dethmeister]

2:25 Crazy how the Trans Am wasn't even on the movie poster.

[@rosewd2]

That pellet cat is probably plugged up. It was good for overheating the rug. I took mine off ant put it on the shelf. “Test tubes” were readily available

[@RMonkey]

I love miss lady, the former owner, she's so sweet.

[@MrCrazyking81]

Y'all sure love testing these cars on 840

[@rosewd2]

I like those mopsr wheels, I might use them on the 70 hemi challenger I’m building.