TransAm Depot

In November of 2004 we purchased a 1979 Trans Am Coupe TA 6.6 4 speed loaded with power windows, locks, tilt, and more. The car had a road racing history. The original L78 400 had been replaced with a 1974 455 Super Duty. Herb Adams suspension parts were also added.

As some of you know, a real Super Duty 4-speed car can bring upwards of $60k to $80k and that's without the 79 TA 4 wheel disc brakes and the WS6 suspension option. Since we didn't have a '74 Super Duty body lying around, It didn't take us long to realize we could have the best straight line performance and handling from the second generation in one car with this combination. All we needed to do is get rid of the aftermarket add-on's and give her a good detail. The goal would be a stock appearing “79 Super Duty” as the factory might have done.

We started by removing all the aftermarket modifications under the hood like the steel braided hoses, chrome parts, etc., and go back to a stock engine compartment. We will be taking some liberties to our stock approach, so some things such as the SD 455 decal on the driver's side valve cover, round port factory headers, and the stock non electronic distributor will remain.

We're just completing the engine detail and are beginning assembly of the sub frame and engine / transmission installation. We will replace the M22 with a 5 speed Tremic overdrive. We have chosen to run a 3.73 ratio rear gear for optimal quarter mile performance. This combo will allow for excellent interstate cruising and that occasional Saturday night stop light to stop light performance. The Herb Adams sway bars and lowered springs will be replaced with factory WS6 hardware.

Super Duty Before

Super Duty After

Firewall Before

Control Arms Get “Dipped” Finished

Brake Calipers Get Cast Finish

Update: In September of last year we were contacted by John Debenedetto who was interested in a ’70 Buick Stage I we had for sale. After finding our site and seeing we were from Tallahassee, he told us that he too had lived in Tallahassee ‘back in the day’ when he owned an atlantis blue ’79 TA. He ask if we had ever run across an atlantis blue ’79 with a Super Duty transplant. As fate would have it, this is that car. It was bought in south Florida, moved to Tallahassee, back to south Florida, sold to someone in Ohio and eventually found it’s way back to Tallahassee via Trans Am Depot.

With less than 100 miles on the car John pulled the W72 and installed the legendary Super Duty. It came from a low mileage ’74 that had been wrecked. After reading an article in the March 1976 Super Stock magazine on how to enhance the performance of the SD, John set out to do just that. We won’t know till we dyno the engine just how much muscle was added but based on what we’re told was done, we expect to be impressed. What’s more, this car / engine combo has just over 20k original miles on the ticker. John was kind enough to send us the following photos:

(click photos below to enlarge)

Dateline: April 9, 2007
This car has been sitting for about one year now, so brother Scott is kicking it into high gear. The body was put on the dolly and in preparation for striping the paint down to the bare metal.