I always liked the ram air TA of those years. They were quick too, I've seen them run 12's in factory trim. And that was fast for those days. I too was a tech, but at Ford. I always took great care of the customers cars as if they were mine, but the dealer owned cars, new and used got beat like you wanna beat the neighbors dog. I never drove one of these but I did get to drive the new GTO when they came out and "$*#&", that car would step right out. Looking forward to this one.

BK

Well, this should be a lot of fun. Very cool subject. No upgrades or PE huh? I've got to follow along on this one simply because I'll believe it when I see it. 

Hmmm. Yes, this will be difficult for you. My bet is you will have more trouble not adding the details you are famous for more than getting 'er done quicker.

We shall see. Fun choice.

PS, a wonderful women I used to work with (bless her soul), used to drive a Smokey and the Bandit Trans Am. At the time, I didn't realize how cool that car truly was.

Are you finishing the Maverick first?

Wow Mustang, I don't frequent the auto section of the forum often. 

But when your project looks so much like my car how can I resist?!? 

I will be watching this!! 

Man I am all about simplifying things. Those Ram Air Firebirds were hot!

Thanks Brandon, Joe, Greg, Gamera and Chad.

Greg and Joe: DEFINITELY gonna be a challenge for sure. The Maverick is not done yet....not by a friggin' LONGSHOT!! Which is why I wanted a project that I could see some results with fairly quickly. I have a little bit more bench time during the day on the 3 day weekends now so I'm working this build in between the lulls of the Maverick build.

Gamera: Wow! You lucky DOG!! I can remember when I was working at my first dealership back in Carrolton when these things were brand new. I was doing an oil change to a red T/A like yours and "I Can't Drive 55" came on the radio. Perfect song for this car at the time. BTW....interior and engine shots of that car would be greatly appreciated. All the interior you can stand to allow me to have would be great!!! 

Chad: I'm sticking to the basics on this one for sure. It'll make 'er a little quicker in the building process. 

Oh sure Mustang, I'll see about some engine pics this weekend. The interior is kinda messy, I haven't cleaned her since last fall. I'll see about getting her cleaned up for some photos too. 

This will be your ultimate test lol.

In for a gen4 camero.  Last one before the break.  Glad they brought it back for the new HP wars.

Gamera

Wow Mustang, I don't frequent the auto section of the forum often. 

But when your project looks so much like my car how can I resist?!? 

I will be watching this!! 

 

Wow, what a crazy coincidence.

Cool ride, Cliff.

Cliff: Thanks bro. PM Sent

John: I know right??!! Are you saying that you've got a Gen 4 Camaro in the works?

You got me thinking. I owned a TA once. It was an 87 TA with all the black and gold with snowflake wheels. I miss that car so much. It looked exactly like this.

BK

Just along for the ride

Wow! An 87 T/A! Did it have the 305 or the 350 TPFI?

mustang1989

Wow! An 87 T/A! Did it have the 305 or the 350 TPFI?

 

BK

Brandon: Ohhhhhhhhhh, now that is sharp!!! Always thought they looked great as a kid, guess that's one reason I ended up owning one.

Greg: Thanks! I love the car.

I was an Alignment and genral mechanic at the Pontiac/Oldsmobile/Auroura/Cadillac and GMC Dealer in Stillwater,Mn.

I got a work order for a black T/A with a heavy gas smell in it. Imagine my suprise whenI get in and its a Limited Edition Blackhawk. Number plate on the center console. The owner had overfilled the gas tank dumping the extra fuel into the canister on the evap system. Heck yeah I road tested it, I never turned in a work order without knowing the problem was fixed. No I did not drive it like I stole it, just a route that I used to check Alignments and other road issues.

That was a Good Day.

This is going to be good..

fussionboy

I was an Alignment and genral mechanic at the Pontiac/Oldsmobile/Auroura/Cadillac and GMC Dealer in Stillwater,Mn.

I got a work order for a black T/A with a heavy gas smell in it. Imagine my suprise whenI get in and its a Limited Edition Blackhawk. Number plate on the center console. The owner had overfilled the gas tank dumping the extra fuel into the canister on the evap system. Heck yeah I road tested it, I never turned in a work order without knowing the problem was fixed. No I did not drive it like I stole it, just a route that I used to check Alignments and other road issues.

That was a Good Day.

 

crown r n7

This is going to be good..

 

I totally dig those ram air TAs. I've always wanted one. My brother had a black one. I'm totally stoked to watch this one come alive.

BK

Good looking build, Joe!  Great job!  I rebuilt the '89 Turbo Trans Am a little while ago.

Brandon: Glad you're taggin' along. I think Pontiac released a commercial with a black T/A Ram Air. It's a little rough and grainy but this is it. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCtipr5B0Hk

Mike: Thanks bud. I aint got it built just yet now. lol. That T/A of yours looks great! 

Got the engine finished up this morning. It only took me around a week to get everything painted and together on this one and I stuck to my guns on the OOB goal all except for the oil filter decal. It's not much but it adds a lot to any engine build. For some reason the exhaust manifold texture came out grainy in the photos but it looks smooth in real life. Weird. Anyways, here's my 5.7 liter LS1 engine for this beast. It's my first OOB engine in decades.

Considering that's a Revel engine, I'd say it looks amazing. One would think that was a resin piece. Nice!!

BK

Mr Mike

Good looking build, Joe!  Great job!  I rebuilt the '89 Turbo Trans Am a little while ago.

 

BK

That turned out fantastic Joe. You managed to capture a true sense of realism. Superb job of cleaning up the parts and some top notch painting. Yes, the oil filter decal is real nice touch and adds to the effect. Well done Sir!

Mustang: Great job there!!! Almost a shame to stick that under the hood.

Mike: Ohhhhhhhhh cool!!!

That's a mean looking LS1 Joe!

Taking a picture of a real motor and saying that it's the kit motor does not count.. Back in the day, GM used to do a thing called Autoshows in Motion, where you could drive the entire GM lineup.  I got into a GTO, and was a little aggressive with it (I may have been warned by by the overseers not to do that again, but I plead the Fifth).  My friend asked me what I thought of it and told him that I liked it, but could do without the annoying beeping every time I turned the steering wheel. He tells me that was the traction control alarm. Lone Star Park's parking lot was (and still is, makes autocrossing much more fun) very gravelly, and the beeping occurred when the tires broke loose.  Never really took to the F-body or GTO, but a G8 GXP or first gen CTS-V is on the wish list.