This seemed like the most general forum, and since I have more than a few questions, I figured I would post here. Please excuse the length.

I am finally getting around to mildly restoring my 86 Trans Am, but I have a few questions.

For some info, with the exception of a stage 1 chip, the car is totally stock. 5.0 liter automatic. I had the car from 16k miles on. It has been abused by me, my wife-then-girlfriend, my sister -in - law, stolen and recovered, and has sat in my garage for the past 2 years. The engine runs, but not as well as it should. The body is in pretty good shape. Only a few spots with minor surface rust. The interior is pretty disgusting (mostly from the theft). This leads to some questions...

For budget's sake (as well as to keep things simple), I will be keeping the 305. I was hoping for a new motor, but I figure with all the computer / TPI stuff, it would be easier and cheaper to just rebuild the stock 305. I am not looking to race, but do want more power than stock. I will probably bore it out a bit, new crank / pistons, and a bit better cam. Is this worth doing? Keep in mind I am not looking for huge power, just something more exciting than stock.

If I have basically a stock setup (with the above internal mods), is there a simple bolt on supercharger that will work? I started looking, but it seemed like alot of products were for the 5.7 liter.

My brakes are terrible! Is this pretty common? Down the road a bit, I would like to upgrade the brakes to something that performs better. Can anyone recommend a good solution?

Suspension wise, is there anything that I need? I was always pretty happy with the handling of the car, but does anyone recommend anything specific like subframe connectors, strut tower braces, etc.?

Is there anywhere where I can get new seats? Not seat covers, but entire replacement seats? All I can find is stuff to recover them. They are pretty beat up, and they smell (I think the kids who stole it pissed in it or something). I don't really care if they are aftermarket or from a newer model, as long as they match relatively well and they bolt in pretty easily.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I am really looking forward to getting my baby back on the road after so long.

Thanks,
Jeremy

 

you can always look for interior parts at a junkyard or try one of the banners on thirdgen's homepage. as far as the SC goes, i think you need a serpentine belt to run one. you can convert your car to a serp belt though, but you said you dont want too fast so you may not want to go with a SC. a STB and SFC's are always a good idea on any fbody. power wise, you could get away with not doing any internal mods to the engine. full exhaust, free mods and some intake porting will free up some nice power....hope this helps a little..

 

here's my 86TA and what i've done so far.

www.fl-thirdgen.org/mrr23-1.html

 

put some 4th gen seats in

 

Seats would either be aftermarket or current year model. GM does not make previous years of seats available. Sucks. Only other way would be used, which isnt a bad idea and will for sure be cheaper. And then you have your own choice of color, rather than being stuck to the few offered.

As for more power, I would really advise checking into a 350. The computer wont throw fits, and it will make alot more useable power than a 305. If you really want to stay with a 305, either have the heads ported or get something better. Install headers. Get a different torque converter.

 

Will 4th gen seats bolt right in? I don't mind going used, just not sure what shape seats I will be able to find. I figure I will have a better luck finding a nice set of 4th gen than 3rd.

As far as the 350 goes, even if I don't run into problems with the computer, I don't really have the $$$ for a new motor right now. As long as I can get respectable bump on power with a new cam, mild head work, etc. then I am happy to stick with the 305 for now. I guess I can always drop in something else later on.

Thanks for all the help. Still interested in more opinions / info.

Jeremy

 

4th gen seats will bolt in with no modifications. im looking for a set also

 

i've seen leather sets on ebay... for about $500.