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gilby
Joined: 27 Nov 2007
Posts: 27
1978 TransAm
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 Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 11:22 pm Post subject: 1978 T/A w72 matching numbers hop up |
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I'm new to the forum and hope you guys can help me. I live in California and want to improve my 49 state car's performance (it came from Ohio). Do you think I should get a core and keep my 220HP smog engine and trans? Or am I better off building what I have? I still need to meet emissions biannually, so I'm not talking radical, but knowing Pontiac's performance potential, I think I could achieve modest performance gains while retaining EGR, CAT and TAC, right??? Or am I crazy?
Thanks for your input,
Gilby  |
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Larry
Site Admin
Joined: 01 Jun 2006
Posts: 4788
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| Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 8:13 am Post subject: W72 Performance |
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One of your best bets to ask this question to is our Technical Advisor who is an expert on the '77-'79 W72s. This is Jonh Witzke.
Go to our Tech Advisor listing and click onhios name to speak directly to him. It is at: http://www.pontiacregistry.com/members/tech_advisors.php
John knows more about the W72s than probably anyone else on the planet.
Our Pontiac V-8 Technical Advisor, Bruce Fulper, can also help. He is an engine builder who is also on the left coast and probably knows a thing or three about building and still meeting emissions.
Keeo us posted on how you make out. |
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gilby
Joined: 27 Nov 2007
Posts: 27
1978 TransAm
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| Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 7:02 pm Post subject: Re: W72 Performance |
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| Larry wrote: |
One of your best bets to ask this question to is our Technical Advisor who is an expert on the '77-'79 W72s. This is Jonh Witzke.
Go to our Tech Advisor listing and click onhios name to speak directly to him. It is at: http://www.pontiacregistry.com/members/tech_advisors.php
John knows more about the W72s than probably anyone else on the planet.
Our Pontiac V-8 Technical Advisor, Bruce Fulper, can also help. He is an engine builder who is also on the left coast and probably knows a thing or three about building and still meeting emissions.
Keeo us posted on how you make out. |
Thanks, I'll do that! |
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gilby
Joined: 27 Nov 2007
Posts: 27
1978 TransAm
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| Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 9:03 pm Post subject: |
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| PontiacPurest wrote: |
 I've scanned an old copy of Easy Mods to wake up the 70's 400 Pontiacs that I have used time and again with great results.
I believe the 1st posting of this information was in one of the original Thunder Am magazines.
 In my opinion I would suggest you keep the original W72 and Trans and use the supertuning suggestions here and others published by HO Racing et al.
1. We've been more than happy with the performance of our 78 & 79 W72 4-spd T/A's.
a. The 78 is stock.
b. The 79 has been HO Racing moded with cam, lifters, headers, oil restricters, carb jetting kit, intake, heads, etc. and still looks stock on the outside and factory A/C and all other accessories are fully functional. |
Thanks for the info! I will give it a try and let you know how I do.  |
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gilby
Joined: 27 Nov 2007
Posts: 27
1978 TransAm
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| Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 9:10 pm Post subject: |
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| gilby wrote: |
| PontiacPurest wrote: |
I've scanned an old copy of Easy Mods to wake up the 70's 400 Pontiacs that I have used time and again with great results.
I believe the 1st posting of this information was in one of the original Thunder Am magazines.
In my opinion I would suggest you keep the original W72 and Trans and use the supertuning suggestions here and others published by HO Racing et al.
1. We've been more than happy with the performance of our 78 & 79 W72 4-spd T/A's.
a. The 78 is stock.
b. The 79 has been HO Racing moded with cam, lifters, headers, oil restricters, carb jetting kit, intake, heads, etc. and still looks stock on the outside and factory A/C and all other accessories are fully functional. |
Thanks for the info! I will give it a try and let you know how I do. |
I'm having trouble reading the vacuum diagrams. Are they located somewhere here on the site? Is there a larger version? My old eyes just ain't what they used to be! |
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Larry
Site Admin
Joined: 01 Jun 2006
Posts: 4788
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| Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 10:03 pm Post subject: Vacuum Diagrams |
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I tried enlarging in PhotoShop and it was still too fuzzy to read well. Try a couple beers... it might clear right up!
I'll drop a note to PontiacPurest and ask him to scan the diagram at a higher resolution and repost. He's a good guy so should do to for under a hundred bucks or so.
Stay tuned.
Larry |
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gilby
Joined: 27 Nov 2007
Posts: 27
1978 TransAm
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| Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2007 3:53 pm Post subject: |
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| Awesome. Thanks guys! |
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Larry
Site Admin
Joined: 01 Jun 2006
Posts: 4788
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| Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2007 7:19 pm Post subject: Posting PDFs |
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For those who tried, the pdf above doesn't work. I will ask the new web guys about adding it as a possibility for posting, but that will probably be Project #2099.
Check out the JPG of the schematic, though. It is very clear now. Our thanks to PontiacPurest for scanning larger and reposting.
The instructions above are for downloading a pdf (as in the On-Line Magazine). To save the jpg photo (or in this case the schematic) just left click the image and a new window will open with the photo. It will probably automatically downsize to fit your screen. Just put your cursor on the photo and wait for the little square to show up in the lower right corner. Then click on that square and the photo will enlargen. Then right click on the now bigger photo and select where you want to save it. Simple, huh?
If anyone ever has a problem or question, just yell. |
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gilby
Joined: 27 Nov 2007
Posts: 27
1978 TransAm
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| Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2007 1:50 am Post subject: |
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| No, unfortunately it's not a Y-88 special edition. I had one, an Oldsmobird 403 Y-88 in in 1978 and sold it when I graduated from USC back in 1987. Worst decision I ever made (selling the car, not the choice of schools)! This is a real survivor car that I purchased from the original owner--an auto worker at the Norwood Plant--with 22K orig. miles on the clock! She has the typical paint problems for a car this age, but the pans and the interior are tight! I will be posting some pics soon! Thanks for your interest! |
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gilby
Joined: 27 Nov 2007
Posts: 27
1978 TransAm
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| Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2007 1:57 am Post subject: |
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Hi everyone,
Thanks for responding to my postings. I am attaching the following pics of my unrestored 1978 Solar Gold T/A for your enjoyment. Please let me hear from you all soon!
Thanks,
Gilby |
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gilby
Joined: 27 Nov 2007
Posts: 27
1978 TransAm
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| Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2007 2:09 am Post subject: |
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These are the pics from the seller over a year ago. Since then I have replaced the original tires (Goodyear Polysteel Radials with good tread, in the attic now) with BF Goodrich TA Radials (love that name!) and the exhaust with a high flow Cat (California car now) and replaced the radio with an original GM/Delco AM/FM/8 track and new carpeted mats. The A/C condenser had a leak so I replaced it with a NOS one and that's it. She's a time capsule. My wife is worried I'll leave her for some Disco Queen and I'm hoping she's right! 
I'm looking for a GTO project right now as this one is too pristine to mess with. Let me know if anyone out there has an idea for me!
Thanks,
Gilby
"Incurable Pontiaholic" |
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