Trans Am 350 Engine Restoration

Tune Up Time For The Trans Am

Just found a great muscle car mechanic mechanic. A friend of mine told me about a mechanic specializing in Firebird Trans Am's. So I went to check them out. Come to find our the owners has a 1979 455 first generation Trans Am under restoration in his shop. They have already  inspected / fixed up my Ford F150 Super Crew, and E250 work van. The King of Prussia located mechanics shop is full of industrial high tech equipment along with many professional mechanics. I am excited to tune up the old firebird.

Trans Am Smokey Burn Out

Repairing The 1988 Trans Am Notchback

I've had my Notchback for three weeks now. Professionally cleaned the interior and spent about 18 hours polishing and waxing the exterior. Today I dropped it off for my mechanic to go over. This engines run hot, (they all do) some I want to flush the coolant and check the system. New brakes, oil change and general tune up. This 1988 Trans Am Nocthback has 72k miles so I expect some other repairs. 

Trans Am Notchback...Rarest of Muscle Cars

The Trans Am Notchback was Pontiac's first go at using  fiberglass. This lighter material was one of the many developments in Firebirds quest for superior aerodynamics. Rewarding GTA loyalists and attracting Camaro buyers, Pontiac offered the 1988 Notchback.

In 1988 sales were slow they never got off the ground. Most car buyers began swapping big american V-8's for more fuel efficient foreign vehicles. A six-month waiting list was expected, as the Notchback was retrofitted to the vehicle. Marketing and dealer incentives were so low that many Trans Am owners were unaware that the Notchback option was even available. As a result less than 612 were manufactured in the untied states. The 1988 Pontiac Trans AM Notchback replaced the hatch glass with a smaller Corvette window. The slopping metal trunk was replaced with a light weight fiberglass deck, and flat spoiler.

The 1988 GTA Notchback!!!

A "Notchback" was an $800 upgrade code upc AA8. 

Now considered a obscure classic.One of the rarest Firebirds

Total Production in 718 Notchback

• 350 had T-tops
• 50 had 350 engine
• 100  had digital dash
• Most had the classic 305 engine 
• The 350 with T-top combo was very rare

All (including some 1989's) had custom rear seats. The head rest was built into the rear seats.

Pontiac stopped selling the Notchback in August of 1988.

Great investment... if you can find one!