got a few 2nd gen questions, just bought an '80 firebird with a 400bb

[azkkn]

just bought this off from ebay 80 firebird it claims to have a freely rotating 400bb in it, a th400, and rotted floors. i figure it will be the perfect car to pop a jegs rear frame kit and frame rails in and new floors with a fuel cell, decent rear end, rebuild the tranny, and put some more go in the engine bay, weather it be with the current 400, wich i know very little about, or with some standard GM engine, 350, 327 some thing along those lines. let me know what you think.

[pete]

ja coulda bought my '84 for $800.

[alenstein]

That is a funny price $130, looks like you have project on your hands. What about the Sick vette project?

[N20LT4Bird]

I assume by "400bb", you mean Pontiac 400. Pontiac didnt have small blocks and big blocks.....it was the same block from 326 to 455. The 400 Pontiac is a good base to start making power.....look at the code on the heads and let me know what it is. I can tell you the stock HP rating. There will be a 2 or 3 digit code on the middle exhaust port on the outside edge of the head. IF youve got good heads, then you really got a nice deal going.....

[Squat13]

just bought this off from ebay 80 firebird it claims to have a freely rotating 400bb in it, a th400, and rotted floors. i figure it will be the perfect car to pop a jegs rear frame kit and frame rails in and new floors with a fuel cell, decent rear end, rebuild the tranny, and put some more go in the engine bay, weather it be with the current 400, wich i know very little about, or with some standard GM engine, 350, 327 some thing along those lines. let me know what you think.

My first car was a 73' Grand Am with the Poncho 400..... great motor. I stuck some milled 6x heads on it and a mild hyd cam in it and the torque was AWSOME.

A nice thing about the 400 is it can be stroked to a 462 for pretty cheap (around 1200$) and you can put 326 Poncho badges on it for a "True Sleeper look"

[azkkn]

That is a funny price $130, looks like you have project on your hands. What about the Sick vette project?

project sick vette needs a new fuel system, and a new prom burned for the ecm. after break in it make 386hp and 428tq at the rear wheels using only 7 psi of boost. the motor was built to handle 20psi, and right now it is dangerously lean. i have ordered all of the parts i need except the fuel pumps, and its going to wait until spring before i play with it again. its snuggled away in the garage right now along with the camaro.

[Injuneer]

Gonna be interesting to see what engine it actually has in it. As far as I know, 1979 was the last year the factory installed the W72 Poncho 400, and even the ones they installed in 79 were "leftovers" from 1978.

[Joe 1320]

If you are going to be doing the work yourself, the rear tubs and frame will be a PITA. The contour of the rear quarters and rear window area will make the sheetmetal fittment a nightmare. You'll also need some serious subframe connectors... I managed to tweak mine on a launch and the doors wouldn't open. I also recommend not using relocated leafs or ladder bars, do it right with a four link. I was never really happy with anything except a four link on my 79.

[N20LT4Bird]

Gonna be interesting to see what engine it actually has in it. As far as I know, 1979 was the last year the factory installed the W72 Poncho 400, and even the ones they installed in 79 were "leftovers" from 1978.

Yes, in 1980, it probably would have been a 301 from the factory.....but I wouldnt think it to be too uncommon for the 301 to be pitched in favor of a 400, since the 301 was pretty much a boat anchor.

[Gary94Formula]

It was a 301... I had a 1979 Trans am that had a 301/4spd combo. The 301 got tossed in favor of a 455 I built.. I sold the car when I bought my first house in 1986... It was fun for the 2 years i had it...

[Squat13]

It was a 301... I had a 1979 Trans am that had a 301/4spd combo. The 301 got tossed in favor of a 455 I built.. I sold the car when I bought my first house in 1986... It was fun for the 2 years i had it...

Man the 301 Turbo motor did stink! I cant belive the way they use a turbo and a quadrajet like that

[azkkn]

the car had a 400 in it, although it was not original, it had 6x heads, and an edelbrock intake. and a hurst dual gate shifter. the car was so rotted it wasnt worth the gass to haul it home, so i payed for it, and towed it directly to the nearest junk yard. as much as i hated to junk an f-body, it was time to put this one to rest.