Smokey & The Bandit TransAm Ep.4 Tore That Engine Down

#ProjectTA #BNONE #twinstickgarage
Picking up where I left off in the last episode where I pulled the anemic 301 out of the TransAM, now I wanted to see what kind of an engine I bought awhile back. It’s a 1975 Pontiac 400 cubic inch (6.6 liter) mill that will match the cars used in the Smokey and The Bandit film and should give Mrs TwinSticks the ability to roast the tires on command come next summer. Now that the engine's apart it's off to the machine shop…
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[@TwinStix]

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[@defresh1954]

Mark, as a retired mechanic, you'll regret trying to install the transmission with the converter already mounted to the engine. In 28 yrs, I've never done it, or seen it done, that way without ruining the trans input seal. Just saying.

[@ericelsberry5585]

💯. It breaks the center out of the pump if it isn’t lined up PERFECTLY. Then you are pulling it out again.

[@DianneLetson-j6s]

Hell I struggle enough and question every “click” while the transmission is on the floor and converter in my hand!

[@brandonoswald2392]

Absolutely. Converter must be engaged in the trans first. As you rotate it while giving inward pressure you should feel it engage at least twice. Access the bolts from the bottom.

[@johnmccallum9542]

x2 @@brandonoswald2392

[@1Truckman]

@@ericelsberry5585 Absolutely...That is the 100% wrong method to stab a torque converter...Experience speaks volumes...

[@Paul-ov6kd]

Mark - the 30thou or 0.030" means your piston are oversized by the above amount, you can get 40thou oversized pistons and you need your block reboring to suit. Looks like your cylinder heads have been ported to improve gas flow, been machined with a die grinder to remove all the rough edges. Your engine hoist can be repaired you need some square tubing that will slide inside the lifting arm, drill some hole and geta long enough bolt that will slide through the outer arm and a swivel hook for the end

[@johnmccallum9542]

x2... all good suggestions for mark here. Regards John

[@Venomized95]

Was just coming to comment the same thing

[@hotroder48]

You have to put the torque converter in the trans first. If you don’t you will risk taking out the seal and the pump in the trans. There’s enough room to barely do the bolts up from the bottom where the starter goes

[@waltcarpenter6567]

That converter should slide onto that transmission 3 clicks when you push it back in and turn it otherwise it's not completely suited

[@johnmccallum9542]

x2

[@johnmccallum9542]

x2 @@waltcarpenter6567

[@jetegtmeier71]

glad I looked for this comment, I completely agree :)

[@tenthousanddays2103]

@@waltcarpenter6567 👍 #1 Input shaft #2 stator support #3 trans pump (2 flats}

[@brandonoswald2392]

Hey Twinsticks if you haven’t done a proper engine break in with a flat tappet cam before I highly recommend you switch to a roller cam in the 400. Much less chance of lifter failure. Glad to see the Poncho getting some love!

[@earlycuyler8719]

It amazes me at how much some of the things us old fellas have owned is worth today!

[@johnmccallum9542]

x2 so true

[@bmorlok84]

All that's needed for the engine stand is a square tube to fit inside, with a hole drilled in it.. no need to scrap it yet. 👌 Can't wait to see the rebuilt engine go in!

[@Scotty923]

Once the starter comes off, the torque converter bolts are accessible. Make sure torque converter is fully seated before mating. Should freely spin when mounted trans on engine.

[@petershute3580]

Hope you matched your Conrod bearing caps the way they came out should always stamp them Mark ,you will have a hell of a time putting it back together and your mains as well for good measure

[@spottedhoss1920]

Mornin Mark, I'm sure no one has to guess what that Trans am is going to look like when it's done. The attention to detail that you put into any project gives us all the hint we need, I'm sure even Burt would be impressed. Have a great week Mark say hello to Mrs. Twin stix for us.

[@richardhiggins8820]

21:00 love hearing Mrs loretta playing in the background RIP loretta lynn

[@joeroad6618]

On Pontiacs the #1 cylinder is opposite of a chevy, the stock 6x heads will flow just as well as any aluminum head, they're just lighter. if it's not already done make sure the valve seats are hardened so you can run unleaded fuel. Be sure to get the BOP one piece rear main seal from Butler Performance.

[@2ToneWalt]

Hey Mark, another great upload and the movie was The Hunter. 😁👍

[@billyhaddock5540]

Mark, as u should know, replaced those freeze plugs on the block. This motor will look great in ur 76/77 Bandit TransAm.

[@RobertForslund]

Yup, that's a must! I just want to rebuilt that engine now, it looks so tempting! 😄

[@jakemorrison482]

Hey Mark yeah people exceed the weight limit of the engine stand.. the end bends and cracks over time. Prob why it's missing Haha

[@christophermgwadira4400]

It is another Thursday!... Thanks Mark

[@bryanklapproth1417]

Mark on the converter, you have to install it into the transmission first and you have to do the bolts from the bottom one at a time and rotate the engine around. You cannot can not install the torque converter first because you have to properly seat it on the pump

[@jameshenry3921]

Buy a square pipe to slide inside and drill a couple of holes to extent. You can buy a ram cylinder at harbor freight cheap then you will have a nice working engine picker cheap

[@toddryneer6317]

Mark you can get a piece of box tubing to fit inside of the engine hoist. Drill new holes to make adjustments. Get the cylinder revealed and it will work fine.

[@dennycelestinohybridspecies]

The Hunter, I saw this with my folks in the theater and I believe that was right before Steve Mcqueen died. This will show my age, I used the Smokey and the Bandit 2 ERTL diecast to recreate the scene with the Massey Ferguson ERTL toy or was it an International tractor when I got home and played with my toys.

[@GaryBland-e1r]

Get you a piece of square tubing steel piece to go inside that lifts and you can fix it and be a good little lift I got one and I like it

[@1Truckman]

"The Hunter"...Steve McQueen's last movie...And a great one...I always liked the connection between the movie and his TV series where he gained fame as Josh Randall in "Wanted - Dead or Alive"...

[@inmate666]

Always install the converter in the trans first to insure you get it all the way in . A lot of people try bolting the converter to the flywheel first and don't get it all the in the Trans only to destroy the pump on first start up

[@andrewlib-sy1ke]

Another great video Mark. When disassembling the motor get in the habit of put the rod caps and main caps back in their original location after you remove them from the assembly. As they have been machined in their location. A lot of times if the motor has been rebuilt, they number them. Good Luck with the build!

[@conwayconway2177]

Ohhhhhh yeahhhh wooooooo ❤🇨🇦✝️🇺🇸❤️.... decent looking huh...as always I enjoy the background music ..love the ending credits 😂😂😂 lol

[@anil42518]

Hey Mark your suppose to put in the converter on the transmission so that it will connect to the (trani) oil pump shaft, be careful you hurt the internal off the converter! Your supposed too get access too converter bolts from underneath between oil pan & the bell housing...

[@1206redpwr]

That cherry picker is just missing a section of 2'' square tubing

[@larrytengwall5989]

Fantastic Mark! I felt like I was back in "Shop"class in high school, we're talking 1971! Giggles

[@ruaraidhmcdonald-walker9524]

Quick fab up of a drip tray that fits over the legs of the engine stand will save you ages of floor washing!!!

[@andhotrodshop]

Ok that lift is going to be your friend to put those torque converter bolts back in once it’s on car, you do it from underneath when starter is off. But you will need to seat the torque converter in the front pump. With any luck your trans shop will do that for you. You can have the trans shop build you a 200-R to have overdrive if you wanted instead of 3 gears on that turbo 350 trans. Also go with the aluminum heads upgrade and intake. Check out butler performance, they are the top choice in Pontiac performance. Contact them might work something out with you 👍🏻👊🏼🙌🏼🔧🔧🔧

[@howardhendrickson2933]

Just need a piece of light wall square tubing for that engine lift

[@mrdavid-t3w]

dans la partie supérieur de la petite grue qui sert a lever le moteur,il manque un morceau . un tube carré de grosse section avec les trous pour fixer la vis suivant le poids a lever ... chose simple a réaliser ! bon reveillon de noel a vous et vivement la prochaine vidéo

[@DavidMartin-tp2in]

Definitely enjoy watching the progress on the Trans AM now all your missing is Buffords police car.

[@TwinStix]

Already started looking for a ‘76 Lemans 👀

[@printerman99]

love the no 5 shot, that was Nice!

[@alleyoop1234]

Steve Earle is good truckin music, I listened to him alot back in my truckin days!🥰

[@jimpetersen8095]

There’s nothing better than a cold adult beverage after a good job.

[@bradh7472]

For one guy to accomplish all of what you have is a testament to what one can do when you put your heart into something.

[@Bruningable]

The Hunter!

[@deanwegner9532]

Your right there is a square tube that goes in the end of the engine crane .You should be able to get a tube at local metal supply if you want invest in it or go to Harbor Frieght or Princes Auto in your area and buy a new one.

[@marysoldeeley2218]

Well, that didn't seem to hard. ... No, I would not be able to say that out loud... Ha! Great show Mark! I'm going to read through the comments. Got some learning to do!

[@randydobson1863]

hello Mark & it's is Randy and i like yours video is cool thanks Mark Friends Randy

[@billturner821]

Tore that engine down. I still remember that rumbling sound

[@robertbrady9597]

awesome video an i hope you have a happy new year 2024

[@1one3_Racing]

Damn it, Mark. I have to drive 12 hours home really early in the morning and I'm supposed to be sleeping... Guess we're leaving half an hour later now.

[@sveltergem2449]

Take the plate off the engine stand and bolt it to the engine then put the stand onto that. It’s so much easier.

[@richardgooding498]

Mark, make sure you put a tag on the heads so they will know what side of the engine they came from. 🤓😂🤣✌️ Great job on everything, especially the keg beer.

[@harrystevenson7098]

Mark the #'s on the intake are the firing order of the spark plugs in the order they'll fire,and those torque converter bolts are easier to have taken out from the bottom of the motor like behind the oil pan.

[@robertironside3166]

Ya the go to performance guys for Pontiac wide blocs are the Butler Performance people. All their stuff is geared to those Pontiac blocks. They refurbish and sell them including blocks but they have the intakes and aluminum performance heads as well. You can also go with Trick Flo heads and accompanying intake.. get whatever comp cam you want for it but as I say though... Butler sells a balanced package for the Pontiac Block... bearings, rings, crank if you need one all balanced up, CAM, intake, heads, rockers and valves, lifters, push rods, timing chain with the double or better roller timing gear and chain... yada yada... Summit Racing will organize a balanced build set ... if you have a local mechanic you trust I'm sure they'll do all the ordering and options for ya... chaper if you do that yourself though. :-) Fin if you can afford itk or even if you can't afford it and do it anyway lol 😎👍👍

[@johnbailey1567]

Hey Mark, Make sure you mark all those bearing caps. Mains and rods. They need to go back in the same location as they came out.

[@TwinStix]

Mains already back on and I’m planning all new pistons and rods and a stroker crank 🤔

[@gullreefclub]

Mark, When you install the 400 in Ban-One Do Not install the Torque Converter on the Flywheel and try to then install the Transmission there is a 998 chance out of 1000 that screwing up/damaging the pump in the transmission. The flywheel/torque converter bolts are accessible from the bottom. Additionally if you do not have the torque converter shield I would highly recommend you acquire one to install when installing the engine and transmission in the car. With regards to your engine Cherry-Picker it looks like one I used to own but is missing the square/rectangle length of tubing to extend the reach of the “boom.” The only reason I sold the one I had is because I now have an overhead crane to lift engines, etc with. The only modification/repair I ever had to do on mine was wrap and weld a piece of 3” flat stock the same thickness as tubing of the Cherry pickers around the mouth of the tubing where the boom extension slides in because it was starting to deform and split a little bit from me using the Cherry picker to pick up things that well exceeded its advertised lifting capacity. I also installed an air over hydraulic Ram on the Cherry Picker with one I got dirt cheap at an auction (and yes it exceeded the specs of the original Ram). If you just want the Trans Am mostly for Mrs Twinsticks to drive and do not intend to use the car for drag and drive events / drag racing I would recommend using the cast iron Pontiac heads and installing something like an Edelbrock Performer manifold with a Holley Sniper (TBI style injection that looks like a carburetor) They are easy to install and the self learning feature of it is pretty good. Lastly as someone who had a 76 Camaro and installed the same A.S. cb antenna on roof I highly recommend considering spot welding in a piece of sheet metal to reenforce and stiffen roof skin otherwise overtime that area of the roof will distort and the antenna will leak. Have a Happy New Year!

[@larryblankenship8104]

Mark on your cherry pickker you have you could weld a exstion on it it should be fine. Doing a great job say hi to the famliy❤

[@Bigtiny123]

DON'T mount tourque converter first. It must be seated by 3 clicks BEFORE you mount it to flywheel. If you don't it will tear up front pump on trans. That intake is cast iron,hole is for EGR valve. Also aluminum heads are almost always a better choice both economical and performance wise. Great videos hope this helps.

[@troychase3648]

Hey Mark aluminum heads will be less pricey than if you have those stock ones redone. I've found that out when building my race motors. If you want to now what heads to use let me know. Thanks again for all your hard work and giving us something intelligent to watch on KZbin!

[@thercbarn5001]

Fix the host. Looks simple enough. When putting the engine on the stand remove the arms from the center and bolt the engine up then slide on the post. And why are you using the balancer on the engine? Really adds to the length with all the chains. I only use those when putting the engine in the car. Looking good so far though!

[@jonathanbarker5618]

Always great having oil pan laying around so things can fall in it!😂

[@DennisMurtha-eg7ld]

Happy New Year🎉 to you and yours❤ always grateful love your channel thankyou😊

[@tater_relocater]

Why haven’t you got a piece of tubing for the engine hoist ? It’s missing… look at a new one . Good luck and happy new year. Enjoy learning.

[@cogboy302]

I went looking for a Trans Am in England in 1996. Drove a couple of autos, but found them rather lazy. Ended up finding a '76 400ci 4 speed manual car. It was a lot more lively & fun to drive. It had an earler, pre-smog motor too, which helped.

[@MichaelIrons-d5v]

that's an ace job mark, just that one piston to replace, have a good new year.

[@davidcope7651]

I was watching gentry and sons. He was using a new paint stripper on a sleeper cab and it was just falling off. It’s called Benco Industrial

[@michaelbailey7483]

The numbers on the intake manifold is the firing order good luck getting her back together and hope you make big h.p

[@robaartsen901]

Mark and miss twinstick happy New year

[@dennycelestinohybridspecies]

26:37 I can hear the solo from Willie in "Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain" in the background. You have some awesome music during your incredible builds Mark.

[@RobertForslund]

Since you're getting a new distributor for that engine, go with a nice contactless electronic ignition system, it'll give you a bit more power! 😛

[@nostreamavailable9090]

Nappy New year to you and yours and the rest of the viewer's, God bless you and best wishes from the North West of England Jay 🙏🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿❤🇨🇦

[@bradcollicutt8958]

A mild build on that 400 will have no problem boiling the tires off that thing. They are a torquey motor. There are a few good books on Pontiac engines out there. I have the stock 400 in my 68 Firebird and it has no problem spinning the tires. I don't have to wind it out and dump the clutch to spin them like a small block Chevy, just roll into the throttle in second gear. And remember that the Pontiac platform is pretty much the same from the 301 all the way up to the 455. Don't chuck out the accessories from the 301 until you are finished. Good chance it has the oil pan you need.

[@yvindHvaal]

Merry Christmas, Mark. Nice to see you working on a petrol engine for a change. I did a 455 years back, with all the goodies, pistons, camshaft, lifters, valves and seats. Had the cranck balanced and pistons and rods weight adjusted. New carb and inlet manifold and headers gave us a nice ride until the rear end diden't care to transport the power to the ground any longer. The diff was transformed into a puzzle in very small pieces. The car is still resting in a dry shelter with some friends from the seventies. Has not been touched ever since. Keep up the good work, Mark. Looking forward to the next one.

[@scrapdaddyservicesniagara]

thats a minty looking engine stand!

[@396k20]

Hi Mark. Long-time watcher, first-time commenter. That TH400 that was bolt to the replacement engine would be the one you want. I'm assuming that it was a TH350 in the car. Gear Center can rebuild that TH400 into a great performance transmission with very few modifications. When working at AMCO Transmissions, that TH400 was the preferred transmission for GM, big block, street cars and drag cars. Great channel and my 2 cents.

[@gregorystewart6539]

Keep the portable hoist and have some square tubing fabricated to fit. Could that "triangular" base be remanufactured into more of a rectangular setup so an engine stand more easily slides in the area between the support legs?? It will be very handy for many projects that might not be convenient to the gantry lift. Clean it up and paint it Vevor orange! For the engine often the intake manifold carbons up badly. It needs to be acid soaked and bead blasted then painted before install. It is really important to engine performance to have the internal ports all cleaned out.

[@todj72]

Hey Mark! Not sure if you have seen Gentry and sons channel but he’s been using a stripper on a truck that seems to be amazing. It’s from Benco, it’s called B15. Multiple layers of paint just melt off. Just thought I’d tell you first future reference. Keep up the great work. Your channel is definitely my favorite and I can’t wait for Thursdays lol.

[@TwinStix]

Yeah don’t think you can get the “good stuff” in Canada - I’ve tried

[@ronthompson3525]

Square tube in the POS engine hoist to make it longer

[@jeremywhitney2728]

Mark you need make sure the converter is engaged into the pump in the transmission 3 engages do not bolt torque converter onto flex plate!!!

[@nelsonhernandez2513]

Mark great episode as usual, want to wish you and your family a Happy New Year as the next episode will be after the new

[@je9886]

Another great episode in the books neat to watch up close on an engine tear down as i am NO machanic i find this process very inresting keep up the good work mark

[@TimBullins-f6r]

I had a 79 with the 403 had a Quadrajet 4 barrel and it had a miss and man when it kicked in it would dam near put you in the back seat 😅

[@toddhaver2060]

Pontiac made ram air heads. Been nice to have seen you build a 455 SD RAM AIR Engine.

[@sodapop8408]

The Hunter.

[@MrSilverado1982]

We stuffed a pontiac 400 in an 81 Cutlass. Bought the car with a blown up 231 V6. And got a great deal on the Pontiac engine paid $100 for it. That was a fast car and it would light the tires where ever you wanted to!

[@SquireJazz]

Sealed Power 2227P .030 Piston 30 Over

[@Vigilance108]

the movie car's engine sound was that of a 1955 Chevrolet Custom

[@chrisdimase6401]

Mark Love the channel. Been watching it from the beginning. Keep up the great work.

[@keithrevst692]

The torque converter bolts are accessible from the bottom once the dust shield is removed. I would think installing the transmission with the converter installed to the flywheel would be risky. First it might not be in the pump all of the way and you could also damage the seal.

[@davidroberts3692]

Do as you want with the 400, it’s every gear heads dream to have a radical engine. Just think about street ability. Me myself and I would go for something in the ballpark of 375-400 hp. Certainly enough for the TA but still mild enough to enjoy for Mrs Twinstick to drive to the grocery store 😂

[@mikeb2368]

Helpful hint, watch some Freiberger n Dulchich. Just saying. Love the channel 👍

[@corners3608]

When I was 21 I bought a brand new 1976 T/A Firebird. White with blue interior, 400, automatic. Boy was that car anemic…all the smog stuff and a 2:41 rear axle. Car was just under $7000 cdn in White Rock, BC.

[@joshrudd852]

Hey Mark, check out SD performance in the states for Pontiac engine parts. They have some really nice custom grind cams and do some very nice head work. Also do yourself a favor and drill a small hole in the oil galley plug so you have some oil spraying on the distributor gear

[@w.neddusharm6432]

Mark I think the nuts are supposed to be welded onto the torque the torque converter goes in the transmission and slotted transmission installed then put your bolts through the flywheel

[@nicholashuft3598]

Just buy a piece of square tube for the engines hoist. Drill some holes and it will work likes factory. Dont throw it out and waste money on a new one.

[@matthewwiddows6319]

Keep the engine lift, you just need a bit of box section to slide in the end, then drill holes.

[@martineames2491]

Love the new intro!

[@keithpeterson7867]

Take and install the converter bolts from the bottom front of the engine.

[@autoequities]

Mark - I can send you a pic to show you where to look to determine whether your 6X heads are the #4 W-72 high output heads or the #8's.

[@Saltshaker2016]

Don’t junk that hoist. Harbor Freight (your Princess Auto) sells a pneumatic ram to replace that manual one and I understand it’s a pretty reasonable price. You can make a replacement extension tube for it. We have confidence in you. 😉 That is, pneumatic over hydraulic.

[@johnellis9147]

That movie is Cannonball Run

[@barrywilliams2955]

Happy new year

[@bigdaddy9864]

Mark you can't install the trans with the converter on the fly wheel (see the notch on the converter out put shaft that must lock in the front pump by spinning on the trans first or you will BUST the pump) you can get a studded Converter.The Trans Am 's where prepped by GM they where pre production 77's GM have pre production cars called "Mules or Pilot " cars and that's what GM gave them to promote the soon to be out redesign 77 t/a 's some people have said they actually used 76's 455 in them ( witch 76 was the last year for the 455 I know a lot of guys that had 77 with 400's Pontiac's they could not lay rubber in 2nd like Burt did after he picked up Sally ! .But keep up the good work . p.s I still think you need to change that back end (bumper & tail lights)

[@tommyhall2768]

Happy new year to you an yours buddy

[@abuzed6533]

Hey buddy , you should always put the connecting rod caps back on their respective rod and in the same direction they came off.

[@TwinStix]

Nah since I’m planning on replacing them all they’re just ornaments

[@dpgabert]

That movie is called THE HUNTER!