So I eluded to it in another post a week or so ago...

A little back story. My neighbor is a landlord. He always asks me car questions, mower questions, etc, etc... So the other day, he comes up to me, says "I gotta car question for you..." Turns out a renter up and left, and left two cars in the garage. My neighbor has tried to get ahold of him to no avail. So he says, "It's a firebird I think..." So I show him some pics of the various generations and he identifies it as a second gen. Umm, ok, cool. He then tells me he'll get some pics and the VIN# and if I want it, it's mine, just come get it (it's down in the city). Well that went from "umm, ok.." to "F-Yea". Later that evening he sends me a few pics in the garage (so nothing great), then the VIN#. So I go look it up. Turns out it is a 1980 Trans Am Indy Pace Car... OH HELLL YEA!!! I tell him what it is and he stands by his comment, if I want it, it's mine, just come and get it. So last Wednesday, we did that. I rented a tow dolly and went down to the city...

So a little on the car. As mentioned, 1980 Pontiac Trans Am Indy Pace car. All furious 4.9L of turbo 301 goodness. Basically if you're a Smokey and the Bandit II fan, this is the same car, just in white paint with all the options ticked off as one package...

The neighbor still has to work out the title. He's going to have to try doing a mechanics lien, then we'll make a $1 transaction or something, but I have it in the driveway at the other house. I'm not going to spend a lot of $ on it until it's mine, but I have ordered a new ignition switch (which comes with a key), in order to get it started, straighten the front wheels and driveable. Also needs a battery, I've been running the electrical off my big Schumacher charger/jumper.

So on to the important things... Pics...











Home


Then Sunday I was able to get the hood open (it's a funky mechanism on these cars...). Enjoy all this turbo 301 goodness;

_________________


Retired Bonneville Owner and former GM Tech:
2004 Pontiac Bonneville GXP: Black/Ebony *SOLD*

Summer Toys: Combined 827 RWHP / 877lb/ft RWTQ
2004 Pontiac GTO: Impulse Blue Metallic/Black/M6: lots 'o mods, 415 RWHP / 405lb/ft RWTQ!
2006 Cadillac STS-V: Light Platinum Metallic/Light Gray/A6 - Spectre CAI, Magnaflow exhaust, Speed Inc. tune, 412 RWHP / 472lb/ft RWTQ

Daily Drivers:
2019 Chrysler Pacifica Limited: Mommy's new RGC
2015 Chrysler Town & Country Limited Platinum: Kids new RGC
2007 Chrysler Town & Country Limited: Sold to neighbor
2009 Pontiac G8 GT: L76, Sport Red Metallic
2003 Chevrolet Suburban 2500: Doeskin Tan - 8.1L Big Block... new plow truck
1999 Chevrolet Suburban: Sunset Gold Metallic - Daddy's winter beater and plow truck

I'm jealous even before the power-washing...

_________________
Andrew - owner/operator of Bonnevilles Unlimited

2004 Bonneville GXP | 60k | White Gold Tricoat | custom built supercharged 3800 hot rod | garage queen
1997 Corvette | 55k | Silver Metallic | Z06 wheels | Date-night Hauler/Parts runner
2014 Town & Country Limited | Cashmere Pearl | 95k | Family Hauler
2002 Ram 1500 Quad Cab Sport | Black| 260k | Official Bonneville Hauler

I'm not gonna lie...I'm giddy with excitement. It's cool enough to find something like that, but to get it for free?! DOUBLE BONUS!!

How's the inside?

_________________

Resident Tightwad

Screw you, Photobucket.

Hell yeah! For free too? Amazing. It looks clean considering the age and being sort of abandoned. Can't wait to see it with some TLC. Hopefully it runs easily enough!

_________________
-Car Guy Carl
"Penelope" - 2003 SLE - 247k Miles
"Sydney" - 2000 Honda S2000 - 98k miles

That's pretty rad. I did't know they have a turbo V8.

I'm sure there's some inaccuracy in here but some more info for people this is new to, like myself.

https://jalopnik.com/at-19-895-could-th ... 1826178243

_________________

95 SLE... a keeper. 241k miles. Low and Slow.
97 BMW 528i
98 Infiniti vq35'd i30: 13.3@104mph, 30MPG Hwy (RIP)
02 Jag X-type
03 BMW M5
05 Chevy Cobalt LS
07 Infiniti G35s 6MT (Sold)
07 Ducati Monster S2R 800 with DS1000 swap
83 Yamaha IT175K
72 Yamaha DS7: '74 RD250 swap, JL chambers

Info on dropping a 92-99: Here.

I hope that everything works out.

_________________
*Gone, but not forgotten* - Black 2000 SSEi, HIR Headlights, Angel Eyes fogs, 3rd brake light overlay, hi-flo cat, 180 degree thermostat, HS 1.9 rockers, LSx yellow springs, Intense FWI, PCM, shift kit, push rods, and 3.4 Pulley. ZZP Power Log.

Interior is trashed. The seats, the carpets, the door panels, all garbage. That is where the most work will be. Then some body work. But the engine, trans, undercarriage all look to be in great shape. Engine is clean, no sludge from what I can see, newer plugs, wires, oil is relatively clean, trans fluid looks new. So yea, just waiting on the ignition switch to get things hopping.

This car was last registered in 2016 as it was bought from an owner in Glenview in 2015. So it's been run recently. This owner of course spent all his money on a stereo inside. So there is an EQ, and a Pioneer headunit (head plate removed) mounted in the center console, and wires all going to the back seat. When you run out of speaker wire, just use the old power cord from a TV... If you can't get the back seat back, back on the hooks, just bungy cord it through the metal frame on the seat back through the trunk holes... Yea, that's what I'm dealing with...

Last night I priced out a lot of the interior parts I need, and I'm around $2k. Stickers that the car should've had on it, I've found as cheap as $470 (I was hoping that they were in the trunk once I got that open, but no luck).

_________________


Retired Bonneville Owner and former GM Tech:
2004 Pontiac Bonneville GXP: Black/Ebony *SOLD*

Summer Toys: Combined 827 RWHP / 877lb/ft RWTQ
2004 Pontiac GTO: Impulse Blue Metallic/Black/M6: lots 'o mods, 415 RWHP / 405lb/ft RWTQ!
2006 Cadillac STS-V: Light Platinum Metallic/Light Gray/A6 - Spectre CAI, Magnaflow exhaust, Speed Inc. tune, 412 RWHP / 472lb/ft RWTQ

Daily Drivers:
2019 Chrysler Pacifica Limited: Mommy's new RGC
2015 Chrysler Town & Country Limited Platinum: Kids new RGC
2007 Chrysler Town & Country Limited: Sold to neighbor
2009 Pontiac G8 GT: L76, Sport Red Metallic
2003 Chevrolet Suburban 2500: Doeskin Tan - 8.1L Big Block... new plow truck
1999 Chevrolet Suburban: Sunset Gold Metallic - Daddy's winter beater and plow truck

And yea, went to power wash it the other day with the power washer my mother left.. Ran for all 5 minutes. Once it got hot it would'nt stay running. Grrr... I started to take the carb apart on it, but said to heck with it, I wanted to play with the TA more.

So I will need to bring my big power washer down.

Also in the second pic, you will see the nose of the SSEi I posted about in the other thread. It was in real rough condition. He said I could have that too, but...

_________________


Retired Bonneville Owner and former GM Tech:
2004 Pontiac Bonneville GXP: Black/Ebony *SOLD*

Summer Toys: Combined 827 RWHP / 877lb/ft RWTQ
2004 Pontiac GTO: Impulse Blue Metallic/Black/M6: lots 'o mods, 415 RWHP / 405lb/ft RWTQ!
2006 Cadillac STS-V: Light Platinum Metallic/Light Gray/A6 - Spectre CAI, Magnaflow exhaust, Speed Inc. tune, 412 RWHP / 472lb/ft RWTQ

Daily Drivers:
2019 Chrysler Pacifica Limited: Mommy's new RGC
2015 Chrysler Town & Country Limited Platinum: Kids new RGC
2007 Chrysler Town & Country Limited: Sold to neighbor
2009 Pontiac G8 GT: L76, Sport Red Metallic
2003 Chevrolet Suburban 2500: Doeskin Tan - 8.1L Big Block... new plow truck
1999 Chevrolet Suburban: Sunset Gold Metallic - Daddy's winter beater and plow truck

Congratulations on a real neat "barn" find.
You sure can't beat the price.
I did some research and that car is listed at 210HP which is not bad considering the era that car was built.
I am old enough to remember that 1973 oil crisis which changed everything the way cars were made.
My 1975 Monte Carlo has a 400 4 barrel and is rated at only 175HP.
The speedometer only goes up to 100MPH.
1975 was also the first year for the catalytic converter.
I thought the 60's and early 70's were muscle cars.
They are nothing compared to today's cars which have the technology,fuel injection and computers.
Good luck with the car.

Also.
Just curious are you still at Sears?
Every read about them doesn't sound good.

Yea, 210Hp and 345 lbs/ft of torque. Provided you can get all 9psi of boost without detonation which with fuels of that date, was an issue. It uses a primitive knock sensor from a 3.8L V6 from the GN's. But there is no ECM. That came in 1981.

Yea, at that time, this WAS powerful. The Camaro was a 305. The pusstang was a 4 banger....

I'm still with Sears, but have been furloughed for 3 months.

I will have more pics later, I spent this afternoon cleaning it up, so I got 99% of the mess off the car and it cleans up pretty nice.

_________________


Retired Bonneville Owner and former GM Tech:
2004 Pontiac Bonneville GXP: Black/Ebony *SOLD*

Summer Toys: Combined 827 RWHP / 877lb/ft RWTQ
2004 Pontiac GTO: Impulse Blue Metallic/Black/M6: lots 'o mods, 415 RWHP / 405lb/ft RWTQ!
2006 Cadillac STS-V: Light Platinum Metallic/Light Gray/A6 - Spectre CAI, Magnaflow exhaust, Speed Inc. tune, 412 RWHP / 472lb/ft RWTQ

Daily Drivers:
2019 Chrysler Pacifica Limited: Mommy's new RGC
2015 Chrysler Town & Country Limited Platinum: Kids new RGC
2007 Chrysler Town & Country Limited: Sold to neighbor
2009 Pontiac G8 GT: L76, Sport Red Metallic
2003 Chevrolet Suburban 2500: Doeskin Tan - 8.1L Big Block... new plow truck
1999 Chevrolet Suburban: Sunset Gold Metallic - Daddy's winter beater and plow truck

Cleaned up pics as promised...











The front clip and the wheels cleaned up REALLY nice. Also, I want to see if someone picks up on something I noticed while cleaning it. Look at the picture with the side shot.

_________________


Retired Bonneville Owner and former GM Tech:
2004 Pontiac Bonneville GXP: Black/Ebony *SOLD*

Summer Toys: Combined 827 RWHP / 877lb/ft RWTQ
2004 Pontiac GTO: Impulse Blue Metallic/Black/M6: lots 'o mods, 415 RWHP / 405lb/ft RWTQ!
2006 Cadillac STS-V: Light Platinum Metallic/Light Gray/A6 - Spectre CAI, Magnaflow exhaust, Speed Inc. tune, 412 RWHP / 472lb/ft RWTQ

Daily Drivers:
2019 Chrysler Pacifica Limited: Mommy's new RGC
2015 Chrysler Town & Country Limited Platinum: Kids new RGC
2007 Chrysler Town & Country Limited: Sold to neighbor
2009 Pontiac G8 GT: L76, Sport Red Metallic
2003 Chevrolet Suburban 2500: Doeskin Tan - 8.1L Big Block... new plow truck
1999 Chevrolet Suburban: Sunset Gold Metallic - Daddy's winter beater and plow truck

The exhaust routing/tips are different and/or the wheel well forward molding pieces are missing?

_________________

95 SLE... a keeper. 241k miles. Low and Slow.
97 BMW 528i
98 Infiniti vq35'd i30: 13.3@104mph, 30MPG Hwy (RIP)
02 Jag X-type
03 BMW M5
05 Chevy Cobalt LS
07 Infiniti G35s 6MT (Sold)
07 Ducati Monster S2R 800 with DS1000 swap
83 Yamaha IT175K
72 Yamaha DS7: '74 RD250 swap, JL chambers

Info on dropping a 92-99: Here.

Well, yes, those are two things, but look closer. The third pic might also give you a hint.

_________________


Retired Bonneville Owner and former GM Tech:
2004 Pontiac Bonneville GXP: Black/Ebony *SOLD*

Summer Toys: Combined 827 RWHP / 877lb/ft RWTQ
2004 Pontiac GTO: Impulse Blue Metallic/Black/M6: lots 'o mods, 415 RWHP / 405lb/ft RWTQ!
2006 Cadillac STS-V: Light Platinum Metallic/Light Gray/A6 - Spectre CAI, Magnaflow exhaust, Speed Inc. tune, 412 RWHP / 472lb/ft RWTQ

Daily Drivers:
2019 Chrysler Pacifica Limited: Mommy's new RGC
2015 Chrysler Town & Country Limited Platinum: Kids new RGC
2007 Chrysler Town & Country Limited: Sold to neighbor
2009 Pontiac G8 GT: L76, Sport Red Metallic
2003 Chevrolet Suburban 2500: Doeskin Tan - 8.1L Big Block... new plow truck
1999 Chevrolet Suburban: Sunset Gold Metallic - Daddy's winter beater and plow truck

There's a big-a$$ dent in the quarter panel?

_________________

Resident Tightwad

Screw you, Photobucket.

Shouldn't the side marker on the front fender be amber and the one on the rear quarter be red?

It looks like they've been swapped.

_________________
2003 Pontiac Bonneville SSEi (L67) - Galaxy Silver Metallic
1996 Chevrolet Camaro (L36) - Sebring Silver

Front brake cooling ducts?

_________________
Boost addict


The Fleet:
'93 SSEi - Twincharged + manual Build thread
'97 Camaro - Top swap
'05 STS - V8, AWD, her DD
'92 Trofeo - Fair weather DD
'99 Montana - top swap 3800
'04 Sierra 2500HD - LLY Duramax

Current project:
Something cool, trust me.

Upcoming projects:
'92 Bonneville SSE
'87 LeSabre T-type
'67 LeSabre

Gone to greener pastures:
'84 Sierra Classic - Twin turbo 3800
'97 LeSabre - Top swap

RIP:
'86 LeSabre - pictures
'93 SE - L67

Winner, winner, chicker dinner.

_________________


Retired Bonneville Owner and former GM Tech:
2004 Pontiac Bonneville GXP: Black/Ebony *SOLD*

Summer Toys: Combined 827 RWHP / 877lb/ft RWTQ
2004 Pontiac GTO: Impulse Blue Metallic/Black/M6: lots 'o mods, 415 RWHP / 405lb/ft RWTQ!
2006 Cadillac STS-V: Light Platinum Metallic/Light Gray/A6 - Spectre CAI, Magnaflow exhaust, Speed Inc. tune, 412 RWHP / 472lb/ft RWTQ

Daily Drivers:
2019 Chrysler Pacifica Limited: Mommy's new RGC
2015 Chrysler Town & Country Limited Platinum: Kids new RGC
2007 Chrysler Town & Country Limited: Sold to neighbor
2009 Pontiac G8 GT: L76, Sport Red Metallic
2003 Chevrolet Suburban 2500: Doeskin Tan - 8.1L Big Block... new plow truck
1999 Chevrolet Suburban: Sunset Gold Metallic - Daddy's winter beater and plow truck

There's lots of brake cooling since none of the flares/airdams are there...

_________________


Retired Bonneville Owner and former GM Tech:
2004 Pontiac Bonneville GXP: Black/Ebony *SOLD*

Summer Toys: Combined 827 RWHP / 877lb/ft RWTQ
2004 Pontiac GTO: Impulse Blue Metallic/Black/M6: lots 'o mods, 415 RWHP / 405lb/ft RWTQ!
2006 Cadillac STS-V: Light Platinum Metallic/Light Gray/A6 - Spectre CAI, Magnaflow exhaust, Speed Inc. tune, 412 RWHP / 472lb/ft RWTQ

Daily Drivers:
2019 Chrysler Pacifica Limited: Mommy's new RGC
2015 Chrysler Town & Country Limited Platinum: Kids new RGC
2007 Chrysler Town & Country Limited: Sold to neighbor
2009 Pontiac G8 GT: L76, Sport Red Metallic
2003 Chevrolet Suburban 2500: Doeskin Tan - 8.1L Big Block... new plow truck
1999 Chevrolet Suburban: Sunset Gold Metallic - Daddy's winter beater and plow truck

Whoot Whoot! Lol.

_________________
2003 Pontiac Bonneville SSEi (L67) - Galaxy Silver Metallic
1996 Chevrolet Camaro (L36) - Sebring Silver

It's alive!!! Lot's of blow-by and blue smoke, but it's alive....

_________________


Retired Bonneville Owner and former GM Tech:
2004 Pontiac Bonneville GXP: Black/Ebony *SOLD*

Summer Toys: Combined 827 RWHP / 877lb/ft RWTQ
2004 Pontiac GTO: Impulse Blue Metallic/Black/M6: lots 'o mods, 415 RWHP / 405lb/ft RWTQ!
2006 Cadillac STS-V: Light Platinum Metallic/Light Gray/A6 - Spectre CAI, Magnaflow exhaust, Speed Inc. tune, 412 RWHP / 472lb/ft RWTQ

Daily Drivers:
2019 Chrysler Pacifica Limited: Mommy's new RGC
2015 Chrysler Town & Country Limited Platinum: Kids new RGC
2007 Chrysler Town & Country Limited: Sold to neighbor
2009 Pontiac G8 GT: L76, Sport Red Metallic
2003 Chevrolet Suburban 2500: Doeskin Tan - 8.1L Big Block... new plow truck
1999 Chevrolet Suburban: Sunset Gold Metallic - Daddy's winter beater and plow truck