Anybody know where I can get good info on 77 to 78 Trans am. I really like the way these "bandit"years look but I don't know much about them. the standar motor is a 400cid motor, how does it perform, what HP, what about reliability, etc. Thanks
Larry

 

Well the 2nd Gens werent very good for body reliability, rust can be a prob. Those 400's depending if it were the 403 Olds or the 400 Pontiac were around 200 hp in the Late 70's.

Build quality is probably worse than the 3rd gens as well.. I owned 2 camaros a 78 LT and a 79, my friend owned a 76 Formula and a 72 firebird all in MI and all had rust problems exceeding the 3rd gens rust probs, underbody rust and inside the trunks were troublesome, my 78 LT even had frame rot.

Do a search for the T/A info, I have done many searches on TA's and alot of late 70s Trans Am sites pop up.

 

I love 2nd gens.
--In '76 you could still get a 455 (200 hp) or a 400 (180 hp I believe) Not many '76s around.
--In 77 the engine of choice would be the 400 (200 hp) available with 4 speed or auto. also avail with 180 hp.
--In '78 you could get 2 diff 400s (180hp/325tq) and 220hp/320tq) available with 4 speed or auto.
'78 was the first year of the WS6 package.
Obviously the most desireable '78 would be an SE (Special edition) with W72 (220hp) 4 speed with the Fisher T-tops and WS6. THe Hurst T-tops were available in '76-78 but aren't as good as the F.
By the way the "Bandit" car had Hurst tops. The Fischer tops were avaible starting in '78.
--In '79 the best choice would be one of the 400 220 hp (4 speed only) cars but there aren't that many around. Most '79s have the smogger Olds 403 motor (auto only) which is pretty sluggish and has pretty much zero collector value and limited performance potential.
--'80,81. Most people don't like the 301s. You are probably better off with a 77-79 400 car.

Quality is not so great on many late 2nd gens. Yes, rust is commonly a problem.
As far as performance. Stock 400 car commonly runs 0-60 in 6 sec range and 1/4 in about 15.3. One test of a stock '79 when running leaded gas and power shifting managed 1/4 in 14.6 sec. Top speed about 132 mph. They weren't blazingly fast in stock form but were fast for the time. 400s and 455s have great potential. 13s are easily reachable without much work. The late 70s 400s heads had huge combustion chambers and about the highest factory compression was 8.1 so a head swap, milling, or dome pistons will be needed to get high compression if using the factory heads.
My '78 was stock (except the cat-less exhaust) when I bought it. I expected a slug but it was surprisingly quick. Good low end and mid range torque but a wheezer above 4500RPM. Now that I've modded it it pulls real hard in the high RPMs too. It will spin 255s from a rolling start without full throttle (and it's got the factory high gears and tranny). Runs right with a stock LT1 'vette or Z28 auto and it's got all the factory options and heft -A/C, power, cruise, etc..it's not light. I made several compromises to ensure streetability. Anyway, it's a blast to drive and though it won't beat a new Trans Am it can still hold it's own with most things you see on the road.
I could talk all day about these cars but won't keep babbling.

 

I owned to 79 Birds...an Esprit and a Formula. I found both to be fairly reliable. I did encounter some rust but no more than most 10-12 year old(at the time) American cars.

The Esprit with the Pontiac 301 was a dog but ran good and got good mileage. It had like 140hp.

The Formula with the Chevy 350 could peel out and take off pretty good, but ran out of steam fast. It had 175 hp. I had a GTA smoke me once.

I'm sure both of these cars would've been quicker if they didnt have the anemic "gas saver" gears that GM gave them at the time.

All in all, cool cars.