1981 trans am restoration.pics/info.

[transamfan1981]

It is a 1981, mid 70's pontiac 350 c.i.(believed to be a jasper motorsports rebuilt) with a rochester 2 jet , th-350 3spd auto transmission, posi rear, 4 wheel disk brake, a/c, rear defogger. I am going to have black interior with deluxe vinyl seats. There is a dash cap on that looks good. I'm going to put a shaker scoop on and maybe a 4bbl Q-JET, depending on the way I put the shaker on. Since I'm 90% sure the motor is a jasper rebuilt I can focus some of my attention to the suspension, among other things. I want to put a set of hotchkis leaf springs, a set of competition engineering subframe connectors.

[transamfan1981]

Here's acouple pics of the floor boards without the carpet or console. And some closer pics of the dash cap.

[transamfan1981]

I recently sanded it down and sprayed it with flat black primer. I replaced the rear brake lines from the master cylinder, replaced the brake hose, then the lines from the hose to the calipers and all the fittings. New Auto X calipers/rotors, and Wagner brake pads. Also new roofrail weatherstrip.
Here's pics of the car sanded and primed.

[transamfan1981]

Also, I drained the oil, put new castrol oil with a fram filter. I drained the trans fluid, replaced the filter,gasket, and new fluid. Rear monroe air shocks along with air lines installed by a previous owner.

New parts. Dash cap, molded carpet, deluxe vinyl seat upholstry, sun visors, oil dipstick and tube, open element air cleaner, full length passenger side floor pan, driver's side front floor pan, lower quater panel, shaker to hood weather strip, trunk weather strip, roof rail weather strip already installed, gold nose emblem, 2: 350 emblems, Auto X calipers/rotors, wagner brake pads

Used. Shaker hood, GM shaker air cleaner, and shaker scoop, Hurst dual gate shifter(currently under restoration).

[transamfan1981]

Here pics of the restoration of my dual gate shifter. I removed the shifter bezel, bezel plate, mounting brackets. I sanded and painted the bezel plate, and brackets. Also refinished the shifter bezel. Tomarrow I'm soaking the shifter itself in a rust remover/lubricant/sealer. Here's the shifter so far.











The small sanded spot is from me testing to see if it's surface rust or pitted. Luckily it was only surface rust.





Brackets only have a small amount of rust, which came out easily.

[transamfan1981]

Here's the painted plate and brackets using great dane flat black paint





Here's the before and after of the shifter bezel using matte black paint.

[transamfan1981]

I attempted to rechrome the edges and letters. Came out nicely in my opinion. Sorry the pics are alittle blurry. I forgot to refocus the camera.

[WarbirdTA]

Doesn't matter what condition the car is in.
You own it, and are a Trans Am lover.
Looks like you are coming along fine.
Too bad you are so far away.
I have almost perfect passenger seat and the three piece rear seat in that same material and color (removed from a 1981 Turbo Trans Am too).
Too bad I sold the front driver's seat.
My Hurst Dual Gate top plate has a small piece broken off it too.
I wish they were alittle bit thicker made.
Thanks for sharing your project with us.
BTW, your taillights look like regular Firebird taillights.
Red.
They should be smoked.
Feel free to post up more.

George

[transamfan1981]

The seats are going to be deluxe vinyl seats, black. Even though it's far away I decided on colors for the car. It's going to be black interior, gold decals and nocturne blue metallic paint.

I don't care what kind of condition the car is in, I love it. And when I get some more done, like finish the body work, get the new floor pans in, more stuff like that, the car is going to become my dailydriver.

As for the taillights, your right. They are firebird/formula lights. I wanted something alittle diff, and how often do you see a trans am with red taillights? But when I bought them, off ebay, the seller screwed me and they where brocken. The top of the driverside has big chunks broken, you don't see it with the trunk closed, and the light broke off of the housing. The fuel door was busted to hell and eventually snapped off, so I need a new one. So it proabably will go back to smoked lights in the future.

I'm thinking of trying to make a new bezel for the shifter out of plastic stock, which can be bought at a hobby store.

[WarbirdTA]

I even thought of getting a piece of alum to cut out the holes, for the console bezal myself.
I still may try that.\

George

[transamfan1981]

Someone gave me the idea of have a peice of aluminum machined to make a new bezel.

[WarbirdTA]

Yep,
That's what I was taking about.
Even put the little swirls in it.

George

[transamfan1981]

yeah I was thinking about putting in the swirls also.

[transamfan1981]

Here's the finished shifter. The base didn't really come out the way I hoped. But the stuff I soaked it in took a layer or two off the rust, and sealed it. So It's protected against getting worse.

[LadyTA74]

Looks good.
This project will definitely keep you busy and out of trouble!