Red 80 TA

Thanks all for the quick and enlightening responses. Mike

Hi All here is my story on my 1980 Firebird TA that I have had since new. Everything is original except the water pump. I drove it on weekends and nights for the first 11 years. then after putting a car seat in the back, I cried and stored the car in a garage. I would start it up once in a while and drive it around the block. then about 2 years ago, I pulled it out and got the front end, exhaust done, carb rebuilt, new belt, hoses, new gas tank, etc. I then had an issue with the car overheating and bogging down. found out that it was the ICM in the distributor and removed the new Chinese after market part with a new GM type. this seemed to work. Then I was going to drive it up to a transmission shop to get it overhauled. as I drove it out of the garage and up the Highway I heard the lifters tapping. so after the transmission got overhauled I stored the car in the fall and slowly started to remove the engine to get to the cam and lifters. My son installed the cam and lifters yesterday and now I will slowly try and put the rest of the engine back in its place. Wish me luck as I have never taken an car engine apart or visa versa. I have put some pictures up so you can see the progress. I have a question on painting some of the parts. what is the best method to remove grime and grease and have it ready for painting. I plan on doing one coat of heat primer and at least 2 or three coats of GM blue paint? Thanks

Hi Frosty/ Got it from another forum site. Thanks again for all your support and quick answers. I am now waiting for the cam to show up . in the meantime i am stating to clean up the engine parts that i removed and the block. it is cold, windy, and snowing here in Toronto so my progress is slow as I have a unheated garage. I am in no rush so as I get the car done I will keep you all updated. Thanks Mike

Hi Frosty thanks for the advise. I was able to find the 1980 Pontiac Firebird supplement

Thanks Rick for the quick response.

Hi All I have a question regarding using new Freon into a old system. Don't know if this is eve possible? Is it possible to use new Freon into an existing 1980 Firebird system. Will it work or will it damage the system? Thanks Mike K

Thanks all really appreciated Mike K

Hi All. Hope someone out there can clarify something for me regarding the timing chain cover on a 1980 Trans AM, W72 performance package, automatic with AC. I have an original 1980 Trans AM that I have had since new. It is a Canadian car. I am in the process of removing the timing chain cover and was wondering if the Butler Performance timing-cover-to-water-pump-sleeves-w-rubber-o-rings will fit my cover. fitment shows that it is for 1969 to 1979. Thanks in advance. Mike

Thanks Frosty Will Look into that

Hi All Just wondering if someone out there has the 1978 Pontiac Service Manual? I have the 1980 Pontiac service manual supplement. It refers to the 1978 Pontiac Service Manual as being the main manual

Thank You. Appreciate the update. Had to buy my harmonic dampener puller. similar to the picture up above. it worked really good. removed most of the bolts on the timing chain cover. still left, are the two on the bottom back side attached to the oil pan and the two bottom front. hopefully it should come off.

Hi Frosty Worked just like you said. came off real easy. next step is to get the timing chain cover off now. Thanks again

Thank you for your quick response.

Thank You for the quick response. Would you know how to remove this without breaking it?

Hi All. Hope someone out there can help me. I would like to remove this connector/wire but am not sure exactly how to go about it without damaging it. Do I just pull it off? I believe it is the detonation sensor. I have a 1980 Firebird TA original car. 301 engine, automatic, W72 Performance package, non turbo. Thanks in advance Mike K

Hi Frosty yes i am looking for the original GM manual with the break down of all the parts exploded. I believe it had about 8 or 9 sections showing all the years, all the different engines etc. Would someone have a copy of that book or point me to the right spot? Thanks in advance

Hi All I am hoping someone can help me on this. I am looking for the original catalogue of the GM Pontiac, Firebird, Trans am. it had all the years, codes, pictures of the entire car broken up into sections. engine, body, interior, etc. It is a PDF file about 800 or 900 pages? could be more or less. My computer got hacked and i lost all my files. Any help would be appreciated Mike K

Hi Frosty No I was just wondering as it mainly dealt with 301 and 301T. It was helpful a few years ago before I found your site. I actually like your site a lot and it has been very helpful I will be sticking around with Forever Pontiac. Thanks Mike

Thank You Frosty. now it makes sense why I could not access it.

Hi All Just wondering about another forum called 301 garage. does anyone know what happened to them. I enjoy going to a few different forums but have not been able to get onto 301 Garage recently. do they still exist. I found them to be helpfull like Forever Pontiac Thanks

Hi All Just want to thank you all for the great advise. adjusting the car, replacing the spark plugs and adjusting the fuel mixture worked. Thanks Again from Mike from Canada. you all are awesome.

Hi Kenith. Thank you for responding so fast. The engine is the original 301(4.9 ltr) engine. I have around 114000 km. the car is a Canadian car. I live in Ontario Canada. I have had the car since new. I will get the spark plugs and wires looked into before removing the cats. Thanks Mike

Hi All I hope someone out there can help me. I installed new 2 1/2 inch exhaust from the exhaust manifold to the the tailpipes. all new SS pipes with cross over and cats and magna flow mufflers. Car starts runs for a while then the one side of the cat gets beat red. car runs rough after wards. does anyone know what I have done wrong. was told that the new cats are wrong. the old cat was the large cat that looked like a parge pizza. was told that the new cat is a one way flow and the old cat was a 3 or multi flow cat that can take the unburnt gas from the engine. Any advise Thanks Mike

Canada needs a calendar

Hi. I just joined the forum and would like some help. I have a 1980 Firebird Trans am, 4.9, automatic, air, non turbo. I have had the car since new. drove it for the first 11 years and then put it away for the last 30 years. I would start it up every few months and let it run or drive it around the block. It ran great. The last few years I started to have an oil leak and transmission leak. I have recently had a friend with my son change all the hoses, belts, spark plugs, wires, rebuilt the carb, new front end, shocks front and back, new exhaust with corvette catalytic converters, new aluminum rad 3 core, you get the picture. lots of work done since last fall. the problem I am having is when I start the car it runs great, if I leave it in the drive way the temperature slowly rises to around 220 then the car bogs down and dies. If I drive the car around from cold until the temperature reaches around 220 it just bogs down again and dies. I have to start the car up let it drive for about 20 yards then it dies again. I barely make it back home. I have changed the thermostat twice now and drain the antifreeze twice. Any adivse out there Thanks Mike