What are the chances
 

of building a stocker out of a 79 Trans Am with a 403 Olds motor in it. found one around the corner from my house for sale the other day. Looks to be all original with minor cosmetic work needing to be done.

Re: What are the chances
 

The 403 Olds is a very competitve engine when built properly. The downside is the weak block with its thin block casting and the open webbing in the mains.

When building one, I would suggest Bob Dennis in Alabama.

Re: What are the chances
 

Dave Boertman runs a '88 Firebird with a '79 403 in GT/JA . He drops to GT/KA with the same combo. I noticed a few others running the 403 Olds in GT classes.
I noticed in Nitro Joes stats that in I/SA there are 2 '79 Firebirds listed. Travis Stargell & Dennis Dunlap run about 1 second under. They are listed as 403 Pontiac @ 185 HP factored to 288. I would bet these are 403 Olds. Same as Jason Biscay in a '78 Delta 88 in I/SA. The big car carries a 284 HP factor & is about .7 under in I/SA & J/SA.
Bobby, didn't Tony Crowell run a 403 in a 70'ish Camaro in SS/GT a couple of years ago in Div. 4?
Like SSDiv6 said, Looks like it will work. Big engine, big carb, small stock cam & underrated. Some of the good points of a good stocker combo.

Re: What are the chances
 

Bill Kost (RIP), had the fastest Olds 403 in the country and held many records in Stock Eliminator for many years. Boertman runs a Bob Dennis engine on his SS/GT. Also, Rock Running uses the 403 engine in SS/GT.

Re: What are the chances
 

Don't know about a couple of years ago, but I think he is running a Buick in it now. Think the car is a 78.

Re: What are the chances
 

Tony has always ran a 455 buick in his camaro in SS (with 9" tire and no brake I might add) always top ten qualifier.

Re: What are the chances
 

Knew I wasn't to far off.

Re: What are the chances
 

"First-In-Line" Al Provoast ran one for years and did well.

Re: What are the chances
 

oops, brain fade... now I remember it was a Buick. He was pitted close to us at Rusk a few years ago & had the lifter valley come apart. I remember looking at the mess it made. I think he told me it had umpteen runs on it. Some big number. Great hard working folks!!

oops again!!!! I wrote this reply on Bob's sign in...
Adger Smith

Re: What are the chances
 

Bobby,


Mike Moyer from Richmond, Va runs a 77-78 White formula firebird with a 403 olds, and it runs - 1.15 under in J/SA.. He is at VMP this weekend running the NHRA Nationals..
Oh, don't be surprized by his Div. 3 number... He still keeps it in Div. 1.......FYI

Re: What are the chances
 

I talked to Tony the other day. He lost an engine at Shreveport. I think he said it had 619 runs on it. Tony always runs good with that car.

Re: What are the chances
 

And the best thing is you'll get a bargain on the car because you'll tell the seller "oh, too bad it has the POS 403 in it, I really wanted a 400 Pontiac 'cause there worth a lot more and are way faster";)

Re: What are the chances
 

My first car was a 73 cutlass with a 455 Olds in it. Drove it back and forth to high school. Man those were the days. Now I race a 68 Firebird with a 455 Pontiac in no electronics bracket racing.
Gotta love those Pontiacs.

Re: What are the chances
 

Read this thread with some interest. I also know where a 79 Firebird, w/o engine and transmission, resides at present. I looked up the available engine combos:

These are the engine options offered for the 1979 Firebird:

Engine Options
V6 231, "A" Code - 105hp
V8 301 "Y" Code - 140 hp
V8 301, "W" Code - 150 hp
V8 305, "H" Code - 133 hp
V8 350, "L" Code - 160 hp
V8 350, "X" Code - 155 hp
V8 350, "R" Code - 160 hp
V8 400, "X" Code - 220 hp
V8 403, "K" Code - 185 hp


Are one of the 305/350 engines corporate Chevy options? Badged as an "80", it would be eligible for IHRA GT stock, which opens up even more potential engine combinations. Just some food for thought.