What are the chances

bobby · 10-09-2008, 07:11 AM

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.

SSDiv6 · 10-09-2008, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobby

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.

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.

Adger Smith · 10-09-2008, 09:13 AM

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.

SSDiv6 · 10-09-2008, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adger Smith

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.

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.

bobby · 10-09-2008, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adger Smith

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.

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.

Chuck Garey · 10-09-2008, 02:38 PM

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.

bobby · 10-09-2008, 03:24 PM

Knew I wasn't to far off.

Dwight Southerland · 10-09-2008, 04:11 PM

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

Bob Pagano · 10-09-2008, 06:35 PM

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

Dave Ribeiro · 10-09-2008, 09:08 PM

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

10-09-2008, 07:11 AM	#1
bobby Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: League City, Texas Posts: 243 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	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.

10-09-2008, 09:13 AM	#3
Adger Smith VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Texarkana Ark/TX Posts: 2,446 Likes: 575 Liked 880 Times in 311 Posts	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. __________________ Adger Smith (Former SS) Last edited by Adger Smith; 10-09-2008 at 09:19 AM.

10-09-2008, 02:38 PM	#6
Chuck Garey Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 173 Likes: 0 Liked 10 Times in 7 Posts	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.

10-09-2008, 03:24 PM	#7
bobby Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: League City, Texas Posts: 243 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: What are the chances Knew I wasn't to far off.

10-09-2008, 04:11 PM	#8
Dwight Southerland VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Arkansas - In the middle of everything. Posts: 2,000 Likes: 64 Liked 778 Times in 193 Posts	Re: What are the chances "First-In-Line" Al Provoast ran one for years and did well.

10-09-2008, 06:35 PM	#9
Bob Pagano VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: New Holland, PA Mooresville,NC Posts: 1,163 Likes: 240 Liked 16 Times in 11 Posts	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 __________________ Bob Pagano A/SA Last edited by Bob Pagano; 10-09-2008 at 06:36 PM. Reason: oops!

10-09-2008, 09:08 PM	#10
Dave Ribeiro VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Williamsburg, Va.---USA Posts: 1,827 Likes: 1,612 Liked 56 Times in 27 Posts	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 __________________ Dave Ribeiro 1033 STK