Weekday project...

Because my weekend projects just aren't enough to keep me busy, and I just can't seem to stay away from these damn Chevrolet's lately... A friend of mine picked up this '84 TransAM for 600 bucks about a month ago. Has a 350/700R4 in it. It ran like crap with a leaky Quadrajunk carb, 3rd gear is out in the trans, and just a lot of other little things, oddball electrical issues, etc. Did a tuneup on it today, adjusted the timing and swapped on a 1405 Edelbrock carb I had laying around using a square bore to spread bore adapter. Still have a little fine tuning to do, but it actually starts up, idles and is pretty fun to drive now, which is more then I can say before. Took a little video today out terrorizing the neighborhood. Sounds awesome and has a ton of torque! Going to get the trans swapped out next, then it'll be ready to hit the road.

 

Looks like a fun car. Does sound torquey.

 

Very torquey! I should have bought it myself and put the motor in my C10.. lol

 

I've always wanted a TA.

 

Man, that thing looks pretty damn clean for $600. I see your "friend" is a girl, I'm sure you didn't mind lending her a hand. :evilsmile

 

yes nice co pilot .. i mean t#ts..i mean T/A o.k. i'll just shut up..:16suspect

 

It's not bad. Original Georgia car so no rust or anything. Originally had a 2.8l V6 but someone tossed a pretty stout 350 in it at some point. It was originally blue with tan interior but someone did one of those rustoleum paint jobs on it and swapped in black interior. Really at the price I'd say she bought an engine and got the car for free.. lol I'm guessing the transmission is the original that was behind the V6 and that's probably why it didn't live long. Goes fine in first and second obviously, but once it hits third there's nothing.

and yes she is a good friend only despite what most family and friends seem to think lately. Went to middle school and high school with her, have known her on and off for over 10 years. We've talked about dating but I was working retarded hours at the time and couldn't make time for it. We just chill and mess with cars these days. Got to love a chick that likes going to Pull-A-Part and climbs around in and under cars and gets dirty! lmao I don't mind helping any of my friends with their cars, though this one is by far the funnest to mess with and drive... :evilsmile

 

yup .. never hurts to have a pretty girl around..my 700r on my Z-28 went out the same way, I had a turbo 350 with the xtras laying in the barn..It bolted right in perfect match.

 

I've got a TH350 out of my C10 that works fine but the car has a big torque arm type thing that goes from the rearend up to the tail shaft of the trans and the trans has a mount for it that's held onto the tail shaft housing with three bolts. Problem is the TH350 doesn't have the bolt holes in the tail shaft housing to mount that thing with. Is that torque arm thing absolutely required? Will the 700R4 tail shaft housing swap onto the TH350? Both appear to be the exact same length.

Here's a pic I found on google showing what I'm talking about:

 

nope .. my torque arms still laying out in the barn..I remember thinking at the time if i need something for deflection I would pick up a set of budget traction bars .. but I never had a problem. same u joints six years later.

 

Well damn that's great news. Guess I'll slap that TH350 in it then. Have no clue what gear is in the rearend or how long the trans out of that old truck will last but at least it will get her on the road for a while. Car will just be used for ripping around town mostly anyway.

 

I remember wondering what my top speed would end up at..but as it turned out.. it was so close after a week or so I did not notice the difference anymore. I just used the same shifter even though the numbers did not line up so good ..it still worked for me for about six months until i put in a budget shifter that just bolted right in to the factory console. good luck.

 

the torque arm is nessary. its what controles the rear end from rotateing up. the rear end has no upper controle arms.

 

So how is he getting away without one? Or is the Camaro different then the TransAM? I was under the impression they were more or less the same car with just cosmetic differences like the Maverick/Comet.

 

Sounds like you are already dating! I mean hey, dating is doing something you both enjoy! Nothing wrong with going to Pull-A-Part with a chick that likes cars!

Looks like the rear would twist up and break the driveshaft without a torque arm. Somebody at one time made a bracket that bolted under the tranny mount and extended back to pick up the torque arm. It was designed to let you use a T 350 or T 400 tranny with the stock rear. I can't remember who made it, but I remember them from the 80"s when those cars were new. Might find out on a F body forum.....