There is a kid selling a 79 trans am down here, and he says it's been "bored out, a 390" but that just doesn't click to me. He says it was a 350 block before... So what gives? Am I being gipped?

I do attest to it's power though... it would fishtail even with slight throttle, and it had 3.7(something) posi out back... And no they weren't P185 50 R13's...

 

Could be a 383 with an extra 0.030 overbore, or maybe its a SBC 396? I'd be a little cautious of it. Why's he selling it if it's so fast?

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1990 IROC 350
Mods: Too busy trying to make it run right to mod it.
Airfoil, Dynomax cat-back, MSD coil, 180 t-stat, Bald Eagle tires,
Hypertech fan switch, Accel 23# injectors, Holley module, ported plenum,
Ported Daytona Yellow stock base, Moroso valve covers, other stuff,
Streetdampr, Ruger P95DC, hot wife, new oil filter, !cats, !TBC, !AIR.
18.0 @ 85MPH since I'm one big-a$$ MF
"It's better to have and not need than to need and not have."

 

a 350 with a 4" stroke crank and standard bore (4.00") would equate to 390" i believe

he probably just had the blocked honed when he redid the motor

 

My dads 79 Trams Am has the factory Oldsmobile 403 big block, which is the only year you could get one of those. Thats all I know.

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1987 Camaro Sport Coupe 305 V8 LG4-rebuilt-All Stock.

 

Jethro, I don't know -why- he was selling it, but I do know he's asking 3000 (in the low 3's anyway) and the interrior is torn to schitt... and maybe I was exageratting a little, it takes some throttle to fishtail/spin 'em, but it's definatly got some *****...

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1985 Camaro SC - 2.8L, auto.

C'mon, spin 'em for papa...
http://www.xenodrgn.f2s.com/Frontright.jpg

 

or maybe the kid is a retard. He prolly dosnt have a clue what he was talking about, he prolly thinks "um the made my motor biger so its prolly around 390 cu in" ive herd crap like the all the time

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when the green flag drops the bull$hit stops

pulled the 350 to make way for the 406 wich is in the machine shop. got a comp 282S bump stick with 1.6 rockers. looking at differnt heads right now.Perfomer RPM and holley 650 DP, headers and 3 inch exhust. 3000 stall converter and a built 700r4. shotin for mid 12s next summer

 

Check the engine and trans over really well. Pull the valve covers if he'll let you and look for sludge to see if the oil was changed regularly. Check the trans fluid for being brown/burnt. Look for leaks around the intake manifold, rear main, axle seal, etc. Listen to the valvetrain and bottom end with a mechanic's stethoscope or a screwdriver to your ear. Do the same with the alternator and other accessories. It would be best if he will let you bring it home and put it on ramps for you and a buddy to inspect. Perform a vacuum and compression test if possible, and if everything appears normal then ask him why the interior got that way (just a bad sign of negligence). You will probably be able to do all of this in a few hours and most car dealers will let you take one for this long so he should too if he really wants to sell. Just go by your gut feeling and try to talk him down some more (down to 2K if the body and paint aren't that great and it has high mileage, unless that engine is really nice) if you really want it.

 

Pop the hood and see if it's a pontiac or chevy engine to start with. I suppose it could be a 350 bore 60 with a 400 crank or something. Factory it had a 400 pontiac(the better engine) or 403 olds(lower powered). All oldsmobiles use the same size block and the 403 could be in other years of T/A. For sure 77-78-79. Hood scoop will say T/A 6.6 if it's a 400 pontiac or 6.6 litre if it's a 403 olds. Have a pontiac Guru take a look at it before you buy. The 400/403 stock engines have lots of bottom end torque--with deep gears they would have no problem burning the tires even with lots of miles.


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350 with stealth intake, holley carb, 470 lift cam. 700r4 with .5 boost valve, vette servo, tci lock-up kit, B&M megashifter. Richmond 3.73 gears, powertrax locker, timkin bearings, synthetic lube. Custom 3 inch single into 2 2.5 pipes. 1 1/2 drop springs, 1 5/16 solid front sway bar, 1 inch rear bar, custom subframe connectors, custom LCA relocation brackets. Kobel ground FX, currant red metallic paint. Lots of other stuff...
82camaro

 

Hehe, I'm not buying it, I have no money... I was just looking for the hell of it, and I was curious about this "390"... and if it's '60 over, that's one dead block anyway, doesn't even have a rebuild left on it...

Thanks for all your help though...

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1985 Camaro SC - 2.8L, auto.

C'mon, spin 'em for papa...
http://www.xenodrgn.f2s.com/Frontright.jpg

 

NO it wouldn't be a .060 over bore

there are a few ways to get to 390cid

the one i'm thinking of is a 350 with a standard 4" bore and a 3.85" stroke crank. Most people do the .030 and you end up with 396cid

the other way to do it i'm not sure about. It has something to do with grinding the crank to get some CID...it was in a CHP a while back

 

i bet it has a 3/4 race cam in it too. some air shocks and coathangers holding up some good ol' american glasspacks. i'd guess that if he doesn't really know how it got that way since any guy that went that far with a 350 block would be willing to explain, it probably isn't true.

 

I knew a guy that swore a 350, .040 over was 390. He was always full of it.