Bandit's Vehicle Feed
Basic Specifications
Vehicle Color: BlackEngine Type: 8 Cylinder
Transmission: Manual
Est. Horsepower: 510 HP
Est. Curb Weight: 3,600 lbs.
Mileage: 150,000 miles
On the Dyno
Max Power: 510 hpMax Torque: big block chevy
Showing Off
Awards Won: neighbors vote it loudest car on the blockBumping Tunes
dB Rating: sterio currently missingWattage:
Awards Won: can't hear it anyway because the engine is so f@#*ing loud
Bandit's 1980 Pontiac Trans Am
Pro-Touring Special Edition TA, big-block Chevy
About this Current Vehicle:
This is my attempt at building a "pro touring" muscle car. I have always loved the 2nd-generation Trans Ams, especially the Special Edition black-and-gold versions. The 2nd-gen F-bodies are generally great cars that do all things well: acceleration, cornering, and braking. But I also think they can stand some improvement in certain areas.
I bought this TA in California and I have had her for about 10 years now, and I have been continually upgrading and spending my hard-earned cash on her as I drive her. First thing I did was ditch the old Pontiac 301 4-bbl she came with, and swap in a big block Chevy. Next, I completely upgraded the suspension with Hotchkis springs and Bilstein shocks. The latest performance upgrade is a modern TKO-600 5 speed transmission, which replaced the stock TH350 "granny tranny". The new 18" Coddingtons and Nitto rubber help to put the power to the road.
Many other small improvements have been made, the difference is cumulative and the car is getting better and better all the time. Like any hotrod, I spend most of my time fixing broken stuff, but I'll get there eventually...
Vehicle Journal:
Mar 30
Posted some vids the other day
OK so I finally got to take some video of the TA tearin up the streets. I posted a few of the clips here on my site. Unfortunately they are not as cinematic as some of the other burnout videos on this site. This is due in no small part to the fact that those Nitto NT 555's are very sticky tires indeed, and would rather propel the car forward instead of spin. In addition, I don't have a line-lock connected yet. If you watch closely, though, you will notice that the engine, driveline and suspension are all working pretty well in tune to put the power to the road. Each time I launched the car left hard, straight and with a purpose, with just the right amount of wheelspin for a quick launch. To me, this is more satisfying than watching videos of huge clouds of tire smoke.
But for all of you more carnage-oriented car fans out there, have no fear: Soon I will bolt on the old tires and make them disappear! (Just for fun)
Feb 24
Bandit is on the loose again!
OK well this post has been a long time coming, but long story short: We got the TA shipped from Italy back to the States, which took over a month. She wasn't running right, (backfiring, no power, etc.) . So I drove her home and parked her in my garage. I wasn't able to work on her due to my busy work schedule.
Fast forward a few more months: Just the other day, my buddy and I were able to install new spark plugs, advance the timing to about 12 degrees, and adjust the carb. Instantly, that new 468 jumped to life. Soon, we were out on the back roads laying down proper 100-ft. 2-wheel burnouts. The sound from the mufflers was phenominal!
So we're back in business. Next time out, I will go hunting for Mustangs!
Jun 11
VRROOM VROOM! (Take Two!)
Ok well we got the oil pan issue sorted out--it was just a matter of raising the motor a bit, removing the oil pan and slightly denting the area with a special tool (aka hammer) to provide the necessary clearance for the rod that was hitting. We had no more problems of that nature. Just stupid little things, i.e., a small water leak from one of the head bolts (silicone fixed it), wrong size radiator cap, and a small fuel leak.
Once we got these fixed we let it run for over an hour while fine-tuning the carb and timing.
This engine thumps! Even running through the 2 1/2" full exhaust with turbo mufflers and h-pipe, it rumbles at idle and roars at higher rpm almost like a purpose-built race car. Not surprisingly, this 468 is noticeably louder than the old 402 engine. The more radical cam profile is noticeable, but not too obnoxious. We had it idling at 800 rpm and it loped just enough to sound mean, but did not stall. We will see how it works with the manual transmission setup. I wanted a "lumpy" cam profile but not one that would cause me to have to slip the clutch like crazy all the time to keep from stalling. I think this combo will be fine.
I have not been able to drive the car as of yet, I told the shop to keep it for a couple more days to run it and tune it and make sure there are no more leaks, etc. But soon the Bandit will prowl the streets once again. So watch out!
Factory Options:
WS6 4-wheel disk brakes
Eaton posi traction, 3:08 ratio gear
8" deep-dish "snowflake" rims
"Radial-tuned" suspension (High-tech!)
Fisher T-tops
Tilt steering
Exterior Modifications:
4" 'glass cowl hood
18" Boyd Coddington Junkyard Dog rims
This was an unmolested California car when I bought it in San Diego for $3,000. The body was nice and straight with no rust, and I have pretty much left it alone, other than repainting the front clip when I installed the cowl hood. I decided to use a cowl hood due to the extra height of the new 402 Chevy engine. It was much easier and more practical than attempting to fabricate the shaker hood scoop to fit with the new engine. Besides, I could care less about looking stock at this point!
Interior Modifications:
Autometer Pro-Comp electronic gauges (160 mph 5" speedo & tach)
Oil pressure & temp gauges subtly installed in dash
Genuine imitation tiger fur seat covers (Shut up, the chicks dig 'em!)
Hurst shifter and T-handle knob with line-loc/nitrous switch (soon to be connected to a Hurst Line-loc)
cracked dashpad :(
Performance:
Chevy Big Block 468 (454 bored .060 over)
Forged Eagle crank
TRP forged domed pistons 10:1
Comp Cams hydraulic roller cam
Crane hydraulic roller lifters
Crane Gold Race roller rockers 1:7 ratio
Edelbrock Performer RPM Air-Gap aluminum intake
Holley 750/ vacuum secondaries
Edelbrock Victor Jr. alum water pump
March pulleys
Brakes:
To be installed: 12.19" Wilwood front rotors crossdrilled/slotted, Wilwood 4-piston calipers & pads, Wilwood proportioning valve, Hurst Line-loc
11" Summit Extreme Performance rear rotors crossdrilled/slotted, Hawk racing pads.
Parts list of crap soon to be installed:
MSD 6AL ignition box
Summit turbo mufflers
Savitske Pro-lite upper control arms
Hydratech hydroboost braking system
Top speed 160 +, 1/4 mile who knows??
Suspension/Chassis:
Hotchkis Total Vehicle System (TVS)
Front springs 600lb 2" lowering
Front hollow swaybar 1 5/8" and endlinks
Solid alloy tie rod sleeves
Rear leaf springs 200lb 1 1/2" lowering
Hollow rear swaybar
PST polygraphite bushings
Global West Interloc solid body mount bushings
Bilstein shocks
Competition Engineering Slide-link traction bars
Handles like a Porsche and stops like a dog on the end of a rope...
Drivetrain:
Tremec TKO-600 5 speed manual .064 OD
(80 mph at 2,200 rpm!)
Custom Keisler chromoly steel driveshaft
GM 8.5" 10-bolt rear
Motive 3:73 gears
Eaton clutch-style posi
Electronics:
Kenwood CD
Clarion 4-channel amp
MTX 10" subwoofer w/Fusion amp
To-Do List:
Make it faster
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175 Comments on Bandit's Trans Am
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Real nice TA you have. Thanks for sharing.
wow! thats a really nice bird!
I love your bird also the fird Bird i got to drive(and learn stick on) was a 74 Espirt with a 350 in her.Candy apple red. boy was she nice... to bad my brother drover her in to the ground
I still love the 2nd gen F-Bodies, nice ride.
Great lookin Big Block TA you have there.
Guess I can rate your car again, It must disappear after awhile, Just so you know, You have a awsome ride and I gave you another 15 stars, If you have a chance I would appreciate you rating mine, Thanks
sweet t/a man. nicely done.
thanks dude. i love your t/a, it's totally evil-lookin'!
Cool TA with some pretty wicked mods!!!
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