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.

Robert Swartz · 10-15-2008, 08:17 PM

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.

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.

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.

10-15-2008, 08:17 PM	#5
Robert Swartz Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Nineveh, Indiana Posts: 512 Likes: 0 Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts	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. __________________ Robert Swartz - Swartz & Lane 66 Chevy II Pro 95 Achieva EF/SA, 78 Mustang II U/SA (work in progress) #354 stock

10-09-2008, 02:38 PM	#7
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	#8
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.