i'm fixing to buy an 89 gta trans am, it's a 350 tpi w/ a 5 speed tranny posi rear end gold honeycomb rims disc brakes all the way around and t-tops... I'm paying 1200 for the car it needs a fuel pump and tires and it will run and drive... my dad took a look at the car and agreed that that was all it needed. he's been working on cars for as long as i've been alive. I was wondering what kind of power i can expect before i start modding it and what are some easy mods that can build up power quickly... It's going to be a project car not a daily driver and money isn't a problem. I'll have about 3k after buying the car and getting it running and i'll be putting plenty back as i work on the car for future mods. thanks for any and all help
Blake

 

yeah..project car suuurre lol thats what i told myself

in any case i cant give you numbers but what i CAN tell you is that you will need to be nice to the tranny. T5's were never matched with a 350 motor from the factory, for torque issues, too much power and they explode, since its a project car id suggest finding a T56 and doing the swap its the 6 speed trans out of the 4th gens

good luck

 

It will be a project car, I won't be able to drive for 4-5 months after I buy it (boot camp and training) so my dad is going to get it running for me and then I'll take over from there. Once I am able to drive I'll be driving a 92 Blazer so the Trans Am will still be in the garage. I thought that the 5spd was factory with the GTA's, but after some research you're right... 6spd here I come. I know a few simple mods that I can do to start off, like UD pulleys, TB spacer, Intake, Exhaust, Etc, but what do you recommend as far as brands go on this stuff... I plan on getting a year one catalog for the car, but their prices are high so it will be mainly for reference. Also I want to try to do a sleeper... any tips?

 

3 grand really wont get you to far.
It also depends on what you want to do with it. You have to keep in mind, how are you moving it to and from where you are stationed, where it's going if you get deployed, which you will. The money it takes to keep the Blazer going.
If you want a sleeper, headers, highflow cat, and a cat back that is quiet.
Upgraded ignition, for a street car good plugs wires, and a high output coil is good. You should already have an HEI dizzy.
For the tranny, you can swap a T-56 or go with something like a tremec too.
The suspension is something else to look at. If you can't get the tires to hook all the power in the world is no good. This is also where you want to know what you plan on doing with the car, drag, road coruse, street driven maybe everyonce in a while raced.
If you really want power, intake, cam, heads. Depending on how good of shape the engine is in, a freshening for the bottom end. If you get this far into it you will need to tune it too.
A regear will help it get going quicker, it will take some out of the top end though.
A good set of tires will do alot as far as how the tires grip.
Do some looking around here you will learn alot.
Subframe connectors are a very good idea if you want any power, also a steering brace (wonder bar) isn't a bad idea.
Bigger sway bars if you want it to corner.
Moving the torque arm off the tranny.
Upgrading the rear, if you have an open diff, a locker will get both tires turning.

When ever you plan on doing anything to your car don't budget what you think.
It's the little things that get people. Rebuilding an engine for example.
They budget the pistons, cam, crank, heads, big stuff. What they don't budget is the head bolts, timing chain cover, oil pump, the upgraded steelbraided fuel lines they want. Then they don't have enough money to do it.
Little bit here and there and you will have a nice and fast car, just don't dive into it thinking your going to go from a 15 sec car to a 10 car on 3,000 dollars in a month.

 

3 grand is just the starting point... I'll still have that much after I buy and get the car running. as for the rest of the mods they will probably come with my bonus that I get. I'll have 18 months of training before I get deployed (nuke school) and I'll have a place to work on it during the weekends. Hopefully I can get it set up how i want by the time I'm done with that. as far as a place to keep it when I'm at sea my dad will take care of it