i like how vice grip garage inspires everyone to get out and film their projects.. but be yourself and do your own thing and your own humor.. car looks like a fun project
Dog houses are rotted out and probably the tailpan. This care has at least 10k in bodywork. I bought one in similar shape thinking it wouldn’t be to hard to bodywork and paint, boy was I wrong
I love this vid. Nevermind the Haters who think they know all of everything. My uncle has cars that sat outside nearly 30 years and he still got some of them going. Love these kinds of videos. They remind me of the old days
@nathan40307 It was a typo, but I'm sure you knew that already. When did youtube inject Grammer police into the comment section, and are you at least being paid for it?
I would love to see a turbo T/A with a tastefully done single turbo LS. Everything else original and functional such as the factory boost guage. Nothing obnoxious, but just the right amount of spice.
@@tomcherry7029 i agree, it's been done to death. what i would rather see (and i acknowledge it's obviously not the best/easiest option) would be building the original 301, to the extent that it's possible, with good MLS headgaskets and ARP hardware throughout, and replacing the turbo with a properly sized, modern ball bearing turbo. basically just make sure the motor isn't made of glass, match it to a good turbo with free flowing exhaust, and see what it'll do.
i think these cars are so interesting simply from the fact that they are one of the only American cars ever made with factory turbocharged V8s. i would have a blast restoring one of these some day.
Sweet ride and great video! I bought a clapped out 80 Z28 when I was 18 that was an old street strip car with a 4:10 posi. Had a B&M shifter that I didn’t know was on its last legs. Was going through the gears hard one final time and hit park at warp speed. Car a did a 180 and stalled out. I figured I grenaded my t-350 but when I restarted the car I felt it grab drive. Drove to work and did my shift and expected a big red puddle when I clocked out. WOULD YOU BELIEVE IT DIDNT LEAK A DROP?? The t-350 gets my vote for best transmission ever after that lol. Sorry for rambling just wanted to share my ratchet shifter cautionary tale 🤣
@Chris-qv5mc I love hearing story's like that! I used to own a 1979 all black trans am with the 403 olds and a th350, that car had 2.43 rear gears so it was a great cruiser. I used to take it to the drag strip for fun. One day during a test run I accidentally popped it into neutral instead of 3rd at full throttle, and since they didn't have rev limiters back then, I watched the tach hit 10k before I had time to react 😅 fully expecting to need a new engine, I was extremely surprised to drive away with out so much as a lifter tick from that 403. Still to this day one of my favorite engines!
I say something's up because that's a RPO code "LU8" VIN code "T" turbo 301 V8, but the VIN on the insurance card shows it to be a regular, non-turbo 301, with the VIN for the win: 2 for Pontiac, W for Trans Am, 87 for two door coupe, W for 4.9L (301 CID) V8 with four-barrel, non-turbo, Pontiac produced, RPO code "L37", A for 1980 model year, N for Norwood, OH assembly and the rest is the production sequence. The Norwood, OH plant closed in August of 1987. A Turbo car would have a "T" in place of the "W" for the 5th VIN digit. Does the VIN on the dash match the one on the insurance card? No trim tag (by the left fender area, under the hood), can't brag, but easy to figure out, no doubt: 80 for 1980 model year, 2FS87 for Pontiac (2) Firebird (FS) two door coupe (87), N for Norwood, OH assembly, 24L 24U for Tahoe Blue lower and upper exterior paint, A51 for bucket seats, A31 for power windows, 26B for Blue Hobnail Cloth interior trim, CC1 for T-tops, among other codes.
Sounds like the brake booster may need to be replaced. That "Shhhh" sound usually means the diaphram is leaking. Brakes probably just need a good bleeding. I have an '81 Turbo Trans Am. I'm guessing someone has been taking care of that engine in recent years even if they didn't drive it. Maybe they poured enough fuel in the tank to run it a bit each year until the fuel ran out. Lucky they didn't leave gas in the tank or it would have rusted. Good luck with it. It will be really nice if given a little TLC.
Great stuff! Fun to see work on the old Camero from my very young days. I've NEVER seen a turbo set up like that one I must say! Weird but as you said 50% of something is better than 100% of nothing. LOL. Thanks good job! Oh remember when starting anything with a Carb and not Fuel Injection you need to give it some throttle while turning it over. SOmetimes a lot and other times not so much. (Those old gals had personality lol.). Just thought I'd remind ya!
I'd check the engine for displacement. I'm a guy from back in the day. We would never pull a crappy smog engine and replace with another one. That could be a better find than you think. Especially being a reman.🤔
@@aumetalmental8403 I'd agree. I'm wondering if the prior owner owned a few cars, one a 1980 non-turbo, and one a turbo. It has the turbo hood, and we'd just need to verify that the 5th VIN digit on the dash is a "T" and not a "W". The "T" means turbo 301 V8 and the "W" means non-turbo 301 V8.
How can I find one of these? When I was in highschool and college I had a 79TA with a 403 WS6 atlantis blue and I would give anything to find one I can get back on the road again. I don't know where to look
@@tripdad if you ever watch the movie or haven't in a long time, there's a scene towards the end where Bandit makes a hard left off a paved road into a desert area and you can see the front right tire is a smaller white wall tire (the factory spare?) with a rim that was hastily spray painted gold to match the rest of the car. I'm guessing they bent the original wheel doing a stunt and didn't have an extra to swap it with? Oddly enough in the first Cannonball Run movie there is a similar scene during the beginning chase with the Lamborghini with a 1980 Turbo Trans Am police car with a non-matching front tire and wheel skidding off the road
@@jamesnoble3502 I've never watched the second one. Guess I'll have to now LOL. It's funny because when I bought my car in 87 one of the wheels was a mismatch to the others. Three of the wheels had the beauty ring and the fourth one did not
@@tripdad the sequel is a huge let down. The script sucks, Burt seems bored, it's got no momentum, there are plot holes and logic loops galore, it's obvious everyone in the cast is just picking up a paycheck. Jackie Gleason is really the only good part of the movie. That and the black '80 Turbo Trans Am which was brand new when that movie came out.
“Don’t know where the oil dipstick is” literally I’m the same shot as the trans dipstick. It’s behind the back of the turbo and carb. Basically 3 inches away from the trans dipstick.
If the VIN from that registration doc is the one from that car, it's not a Turbo Trans Am but a N/A 301 Trans Am. It's very odd someone would swap a Turbo engine in one of these as they were a bit problematic.
Wow. I can't believe you put fuel in the tank lol. But hey it's your car. That rust will just burn right through those ancient cavities right? LOL. Rock on Bro! Okay I just watched the rest of the video and you're going to sell it?? Well as I said "It's your car". But I sure don't get it. Thanks for the video and I'm sad to say goodbye to the T/A. I guess I don't have any real reason to come back and check out the progress so take care!
If I weren't to sell it, what would you like to see me do with it? My plan was to bring it back to life and sell it to somebody else to enjoy, but I'm open to suggestions!
@@corytaylorbuilds2566 Well, man I own '80 T/A which is by the way pretty much same color and it's about 4000 units later buld according to the VIN (124038) here in Finland. It was a n/a 301cid V8 car, but I've installed '95 LT-1 drivetrain in it plus 3.43:1 gears and this thing goes! So, it would be entertaining to see some power mods to it. Turbo 350 maybe? ;) Or smog era 455 plus turbo?
Look not bad shape it being off The road for 18 years needs lot body work and interior too but it worth it ill change the paint color 2 tone dark gray with light gray with the eagle on the hood with gray interior that looks awesome
Starting a vehicle been sat or abandoned, forgot he trademarked that, junkyard digs, thunderhead289, polebarn garage and golden rust or bust do something at least similar and I don't see you going after them. Probably because this is a smaller channel.
Hi Cory, what did they use to plug the hole in the heads where the pollution pump tubes went into? I have a 80 TA non turbo. Would I have to add a vent on the left valve cover? I'd like to eliminate all that pollution crap. thanks
On the Turbo 301, that curved tube he found in the trunk would go from the valve cover up to the breather element which is clipped into the air cleaner.
@@googleusergpThanks for the reply but that isn't what i was referring to. The front face of the cylinder heads have a hole that a tube connects to and goes to the pollution pump. I want to eliminate that and plug the holes in the heads.
I enjoyed the video. please continue to fix her up....change all the fluids...new tires...buff the old paint...and install the old gauges. oh yeah and definately get the cb radio installed and working! east bound to town!!!! lol ps...what did u pay 4 her???
My bf & I got a 1980 firebird... no interior, no seats & no engine basically just the body... we wanna start working on it.. trying to look for 4.9L V8 engine
The tank was completely dry, so I think that played a part in why it wasn't rotten! Although after the video, I have noticed some discoloration in thw fuel going to the carb. So maybe there will be another video dropping and cleaning the tank...
you are NOT Dereck from Vice Grip Garage ... stop being a copycat. We already have a VGG ... be YOURSELF! otherwise good video albeit a tad annoying....
I really don't think your copying derek vgg .....anyhoo that wiring on dash sucks ..until u get wiring cleaned up.... maybe not leave a battery in it hooked up might burn up wiring ?????????? It a good solid car as far as trans am go....
In the beggining of the video, I say that we picked the car up from where it sat and dropped it off in that spot, since we couldn't work on it where it sat!
its not a good car ...prone to rust and the engine is so dated (my honda 1.5 makes 205hp stock). But I like the ride and Tinted T tops, perfect for a rainy city like Vancouver. As a daily driver it cannot compare to my Honda 1.5T...response, fuel mileage etec. As a orginal Trans AM I cannot enjoy worrying about dings and dents, bad weather and parking.. Sell the orginal and buy a survivor, junk the engine and update the car so you can enjoy it.
Omg what a turd. Runs good, just don’t touch the idol lol . The door is a different color ??? No shiz Sherlock , it’s been replaced from the wreck it was in. Who would start that car with 20 yr old gas in it? And YHEN check coolant lol. I couldn’t exit off this video fast enough. Rocket scientist
Some people don't have the time the money or the no how to fix it worth a dam. He don't want to break off anything more than he chue😂😂😂😂😂 I've never seen Derek repair a rusty car either. Pull the engine and Trans mount it on a shopping cart🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Unfortunately, what many people view as copying is just how I act normally. I've revived very many cars before vgg, however seeing the popularity of those videos made me want to start recording my own ventures. I'm very glad you enjoyed the video! My old 6.6 TA had a shaker, one of my favorite cars.
