NPoCP: Anemic Turbo Edition

"Firewrx234" (firewrx234)
09/22/2014 at 18:21 • Filed to: NPoCP, Turbo Trans Am

So, I would've posted this yesterday but Kinja decided that I didn't want to post pictures from my phone.

This right here is a 1980 Turbo Trans Am...yes I know, terrible engine choice blah blah blah. The question isn't whether this is a nice racecar or not. The question is whether this is a Nice Price or Crack Pipe.

So here we go, 1980 Turbo Trans Am, 2-Owner, minor bondo issues, 4.9L Turbo, odo shows 64k miles (not sure if rolled over), and does have snowflake rims.

Edit: Sticker in window says "Runs A-1", so take that for what you will...driveway salesman and all.

Double Edit: Why does Kinja keep eating my title???

At the price of $3900, NP or CP???

DISCUSSION (26)

crowmolly > Firewrx234
09/22/2014 at 18:23

Cannot tell from pictures alone.

If it was completely solid underneath then yeah. If it's been repainted with 1/4" of "bondo issues" and it has the 2nd gen f-body rear frame rail rot-out then it is more of a toss up.

Sweet Trav > Firewrx234
09/22/2014 at 18:25

NP all day. Just imagine adding fuel injection and a good turbo setup to this...

also manual or auto?

Alfalfa > Firewrx234
09/22/2014 at 18:26

If it's as clean as it looks, it's a nice price for a stylish classic regardless of engine choice.

Firewrx234 > Sweet Trav
09/22/2014 at 18:26

I'd love to know myself. Friend sent me the pics and didn't think to look.

bradleyjames518 > Firewrx234
09/22/2014 at 18:26

Does it run and drive with no issues? Could be the difference between NP or CP

Firewrx234 > bradleyjames518
09/22/2014 at 18:27

According to the sticker in the window "Runs A-1"

But I take that with a grain of salt, because driveway salesman...

crowmolly > Firewrx234
09/22/2014 at 18:32

To be honest, who gives a flying fuck if it runs as long as the body is solid. That engine/trans combo are beat anyway.

400hp might be $2000 to build. That's the cost of professionally replacing a single quarter panel.

When you buy a classic you should always buy the nicest body you can afford. Sell blood and semen if you have to. Resto bodywork can be stupid expensive.

T5Killer > Firewrx234
09/22/2014 at 18:37

I would be reluctant to spend almost $4k on a 2nd gen but I could be wrong.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > Firewrx234
09/22/2014 at 18:43

This might make Bandit cry.....,,,shitty engine, so Imma havetasay CP...

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > Firewrx234
09/22/2014 at 18:44

FUCK YES TURBO! I love pre-1980 turbo cars and this is about as close as I could ever get. I love these things.

GhostZ > Sweet Trav
09/22/2014 at 18:47

Ported heads, solid lifter cam with high lift, Plenum with ITBs and EFI, parallel twin scroll turbos, forged bottom-end on a 4-bolt main bearing block.

Hnnnnggghhhh....

Sweet Trav > GhostZ
09/22/2014 at 18:49

Firewrx234 > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
09/22/2014 at 18:50

His started out life as a Turbo Trans Am lol

GhostZ > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
09/22/2014 at 18:56

Definitely not a shitty engine, just a detuned one. An intercooler, new cam and heads, and this block can be in the 300-400+ HP range easily. Think about all of the junkyard/ebay turbo Fox bodies that run around making 450HP on a weaker block than the Pontiac V8.

Birddog > Firewrx234
09/22/2014 at 19:07

"Minor Bondo issues"

No such thing.

It's missing the Turbo hood but looks like it could be a good project.

The best upgrade for that 301 Turbo is a different Pontiac engine though.

TheLOUDMUSIC- Put it in H! > Firewrx234
09/22/2014 at 19:08

inb4 Bandit & Takuro.

TheLOUDMUSIC- Put it in H! > Firewrx234
09/22/2014 at 19:08

inb4 Bandit & Takuro.

TheLOUDMUSIC- Put it in H! > Firewrx234
09/22/2014 at 19:09

inb4 Bandit and Takuro

Takuro Spirit > Sweet Trav
09/22/2014 at 20:14

Turbo 'Birds were all autos.

Takuro Spirit > Firewrx234
09/22/2014 at 20:16

CP on sketchy details alone.

Sweet Trav > Takuro Spirit
09/22/2014 at 20:17

You can get a BOP bellhousing to fit a t-56

http://americanpowertrain.com/i-8426618-bell…

Takuro Spirit > Sweet Trav
09/22/2014 at 20:28

I meant from the factory, but who knows with all the other "mods" to this car.

crowmolly > GhostZ
09/22/2014 at 21:10

Ghost, if you change (probably) the carb, intake, cam, heads, and intercooler it's not really the same engine anymore.

GhostZ > crowmolly
09/22/2014 at 21:45

With 99% of US V8s, it still is. You buy the block and internals, which is compatible with tons of parts. That's what separates a Chevy 302 from a Chevy 350, or a 351 Windsor from a 302 Windsor.

That's like saying the Chevy Small Block is a shitty engine because it made 190 HP in the 1984 Corvette. It completely ignores the fact that a 1984 Corvette is still 90% great engine and that last 10% equates to about 300HP, and that the same basic design with different cam, intake, and exhaust settings made a lot more.

It's because parts for these engines are dirt cheap, the Pontiac V8, SBC, SBB, 302, RB/LA blocks, etc. and interchangeable.

GhostZ > crowmolly
09/22/2014 at 21:52

To drive the point home, Fox Body mustangs make 175HP, but people buy them because for a few bucks they can make 260HP and for a few MORE bucks, they make 350HP.

crowmolly > GhostZ
09/22/2014 at 23:29

I'm not saying it won't be a Pontiac 301, and I'm not saying you can't build up just about any smogger engine into something else. That is laughable.

What I am saying is that it's a Ship of Theseus deal. If you are shitcanning many of the original components that's indicative of a poor performing original engine. I run a former 165hp L48. I would never call it "detuned" as there's no tuning that would bring the power up. It was a shitty engine. Most of the '73-80's engines are. Not the platform, but the factory configuration. The 301T can be built up just fine but you will be replacing a lot or gambling on questionable factory parts.

It is up to personal preference but I wouldn't run the factory nylon toothed timing gears (shudder) so they'd have to go, and if you are trying for 400hp with a turbo the factory cast pistons might be a gamble. And so on.