A quick update on the Trans Am build.
The front and rear glass has been installed and the window trim all fitted.
The dash is in and my gauges are hooked up and working. I'm very happy with the Speedhut gauges. They came out looking good and were a breeze to install. The Speedometer is a GPS unit which you litterally hook up 12v to and you're on your way. The Rev counter is really very Fast and Furious like...with a built in shift light and a couple of extra features......but it's grown on me.
I need to put in a diode or change the indicators on the dash panel as they are extremely bright.
Next up on the build was my final big expense, the exhaust system. I called around to some of the more well known places and was getting quotes around the 10k to 15k mark :shock: for a set of pipes to the back. This was excluding manifolds/branches. I ended up going through to a SupaQuick I was referred to.
I had the car flatbed through as I did not want to drive it to far with just the manifolds on.
I opted for 63mm stainless steel system with Cowley free flow boxes. I checked the grade of the material used and it was in order.
I spent a whole day with the guys mocking it up and explaining how I wanted it made up. They've built it in a way that if I ever need to remove the system, it splits into 3 sections.
I had them weld in the bungs for the 02 sensors so that I could keep the originals.
This is what the two boxes look like.
I don't like seeing the exhaust pipes sticking out of the back of a Trans Am. When I bought my Trans Am it looked like a wheel barrow. I had them bring them down at an angle and cut them so they remain hidden.
Unless you look under the car, you won't see them.
It came out sounding better than I expected. There's no drone and it has a very deep typically American V8 rumble, which I like.
I've still got lots of odds and ends to do. I've put together a list of things that need to be finished and am working my way through it all.
Now it's nice work though. The sort of work that lets you tinker on the car and then go for a drive.
Took it through to grab some roadhouse lunch.
Some competition arrived while I was there
It's still a bit to early for me to comment on the difference between the LS and my 383 Stroker. I will be able to feedback once I get some mileage into it.
So far I'm extremely happy with it. It starts immediately...idles perfectly and pulls like a train.
I've noticed that the ride feels exactly as before except that the shifts are super smooth compared to the stupid box I had in before with the shift kit.
The brakes are not even comparable. The conversion to discs on the back with the bigger discs up front with new calipers have transformed the braking system completely.
It stops now....something it never did before.
I managed to get her up to about 100KPH and she literally idles over at about 1400rpm in overdrive.
The cooling system works perfectly.
I think my 383 Stroker may have had a bit more bottom end torque compared to the LS motor. I used to just prod the peddle and it would light up the rear....well...one of the rear tires with the open diff.
It would run out of revs quickly though and the old cast iron heads could never give you more.
With the LS I can feel that difference in bottom end torque....but my god...as soon as those revs pick up this Trans Am comes alive!
I've only given it the beans once or twice and so far I am seriously impressed.
Need to make up some contraption here still to hold the shaker hood. Lots of guys end up welding it to the bonnet, but I’d like to make it as it was intended.
