out w/old...in with new (non ranger related)

[ozzwoman9]

RIP Talon: http://a-mrazek.com/riptalon.wmv

We parted it out in order to get this:
http://a634.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/112/l_ed10320e647b7fa01a478724f5c88249.jpg
http://a298.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/72/l_eb0250df77d334a9263a25b9d371d341.jpg
http://a746.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/65/l_2b122232e8135882ae9929efaa9e8c39.jpg
I guess the 22 1/2 hr drive to Detroit was worth it!
Now we just gotta figure which one is faster, the TA...or the Camaro (as you can see neither one are stock):
http://a511.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/95/l_f088b2f65105343d2b0d8f66c61da2c6.jpg

[2manyfords]

There is a Camaro in those pics...:icon_twisted:

Nice T/A :icon_thumby:

[TireIron]

Whats under the hood of the 3rd gen?

[Mutant Pony]

That nice T.A. lost my interest when I saw the BBc.
It is pretty though.

[ozzwoman9]

TA=454
Camaro=406

[BDAB]

why would somebody swap a 454 inplace of a 455........

[ozzwoman9]

Why would someone swap an engine in a ranger? We had a very hard time finding a 2nd gen that was not all #s matching. We all do things to make our cars faster and more unique, the camaro up there is not stock either, yet you didn't say anything about it. LOL

[85_Ranger4x4]

Why would someone swap an engine in a ranger? We had a very hard time finding a 2nd gen that was not all #s matching. We all do things to make our cars faster and more unique, the camaro up there is not stock either, yet you didn't say anything about it. LOL

That would be like someone putting a 4.3 in a 4.0 Ranger, they are comparable engines for all practicality. It is just kind of odd someone would go thru the motions, it could be they blew the 455 and found a 454 for cheap or something too.

Nice cars, I wouldn't mind finding a late 70's Firebird to playwith, of course I also wouldn't mind finding another DSM to play with either.

[BDAB]

I never understood numbers matching, and never cared, I'm just wondering why it would get a 454 over a 455 unless the 454 was laying around in somebodies shop. I once drove a wrecker for a guy that swapped a olds 455 in place of the 396 that came in the truck. He did it because the 396 was dieing and the 455 was laying around.

so I am just not understanding why a Pontiac would recieve a 454 instead of a 455 unless the engine was on hand.......

[MAKG]

I wonder if it's a typo.

454 = Chevy
455 = Pontiac

They don't have the same bolt patterns.

Does the TA refer to the car or the ... oh nevermind.

[ozzwoman9]

TA=Trans Am

I dunno the specifics on why the previous owner changed it. I do know that the 454 was specifically ordered and built for this car, it was never in anything previously...and we are fine w/it...Pontiac/Chevy...who cares.

[Will]

That T/A (looks like a '79) probably came with a 403 Olds from the factory. It was not a 455 and unlikely to have been a 400 Pontiac, though it is possible. The last 455 was in 1976 and made a whopping 200hp and 330ft#.

The 455SD and some of the 400RA*s were pretty good. But nobody is going to build one new anymore as a go-fast motor. There's no comparison in the parts available and if you blow it up, you aren't breaking anything irreplacable. It's much better to leave the good Pontiac parts to people that restore stuff.

[BDAB]

now see that is a good explaination why a 454 would be used as opposed to a 455.

[High Desert Ranger]

Also the Pontiac 455 is a small bore long stroke motor, whereas the Chevy is a large bore, shorter stroke motor. That makes the pontiac good for low end torque but really sucky in high end horsepower. The Chevy 454 is much better at high end horsepower.

[Explorin94]

Parts for the 454 are cheaper than the 455. They are also easier to find and aquire.

[ozzwoman9]

Sorry, I had some job interviews to go to or I woulda responded farther. Yes the 454 has a wider variety of parts available. And this is an 80 TA. Basically you all summed up the q's while I was away ;)

[Will]

It's an 80--well, it came with a 301--you know, that thing with the same exterior dimensions as the 400/455 but 2/3 the displacement and about 130hp.

The 455 Pontiac has a 4.15" bore and a 4.21" stroke. The 454 Chevy has a 4.25" bore and 4.00" stroke. I wouldn't call the 454 a short stroke. Here's the pecking order amongst the biggest of the old big-blocks in stroke: Cadillac 500- 4.30"; Olds 455- 4.25"; Pontiac 455- 4.21"; Chevy 454- 4.00"; Buick 455- 3.90"; Ford 460- 3.85"; Mopar 440- 3.75".

[ozzwoman9]

I'm adding a few new pics here of the progress. We did the 77-78 front end swap, went back to original wheels, and have added most of the gold decals (still waiting for those around the wheels to come in). I think it's come along quite well in a short time. And for the record the TA was originally a 301 turbo.

Definately looking more like the bandit everyday.
http://a159.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/115/l_f9872be1730698d485d79a0c7e2c9696.jpg
Redid the gold trim and added a few more gauges on the inside.
http://a714.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/22/l_e3065986769d18e2eb5cdf17d07f9ec1.jpg
http://a165.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/5/l_22a00e502a7f48ae4d535f0641a3544c.jpg
http://a195.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/75/l_848f7db4b10952f3a04e89353e0509ba.jpg
Both of our sexy cars.
http://a114.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/101/l_3214bec0c92697383536357173bf94c9.jpg
http://a148.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/88/l_c2eda6dd60964a03bb5860c7a0b8a61b.jpg
The Camaro.
http://a273.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/70/l_e0e72891ab04d13ac3b70e3fd0955b70.jpg
http://a237.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/63/l_7241dc4aea704c447041e0f2ac1aa6d4.jpg

[almostclueless]

That hood on the camaro really sets it off nicely.