1979 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am W72 400 4 spd T-Top WS6 4 wheel disc PWH 1of 2917
Make: | Pontiac |
Model: | Trans Am |
Type: | T-Top Glass |
Year: | 1979 |
Mileage: | 34,000 |
Color: | Brown |
Engine: | PWH W72 400ci 220hp Hi-Output |
Cylinders: | 8 |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Transmission: | Manual |
Drive type: | RWD |
Interior color: | Tan |
Vehicle Title: | Clear |
Item location: | Glen Ellyn, Illinois, United States |
Extras |
Air Conditioning |
Listed by |
Private seller |
Description of 1979 Pontiac Trans Am |
1979 Trans Am 400 4 speed T-Top 4 wheel disc brakes 3:23 Posi WS6 Suspension pckg W72 Performance pckg ALL #'s MATCHINGOriginal Paint 38yr Old Survivor99% RUSTFREE CALIFORNIA CAR TURN KEY PROJECT 1 OF 2,917 BUILTORIGINAL FACTORY BUILD SHEET BUILT IN VAN NUYS,CA-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------RUNS AND DRIVES - HAS EXHAUST LEAK (d/s manifold) LOTS OF NEW PARTS I DO HAVE THE SHAKER LID - UNCUT-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------T/A 6.6 RARE FACTORY OPTIONS ------------------------------------------------- W-72 PERFORMANCE PACKAGE 220hp HI-OUTPUT 400ci PONTIAC MOTOR (PWH CODE) 6X - 4 HEADS - W72 only 800 cfm carb not 750 (W72 only) ORIG satin chrome valve covers (W72 only) MOTOR GOOD RUNS STRONG - NO LEAKS NEW CLUTCH - NEW BRAKES - NEW BATTERY IT DOSE RUN AND DRIVE WELLSPEEDOMETER READS 34,000mi BUT I CAN NOT CONFIRM IF IT IS TRUE AND ACCURATE BEFORE I PURCHASED IT IT HAD BEEN SITTING SINCE 1998 I HAVE GONE THRU THE CAR AND EXCEPT FOR THE EXHAUST LEAK I WOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM DRIVING IT ANYWHERE ------------------------------------------------------------------ TRANSMISSION BORG-WARNER M21 4 speed (Z-CODE IN VIN) only avail with W72 performance package
all orig HURST shifter w/orig shift knob 3:23 POSI REAR END - STANDARD WITH W72 BRAKES -4 wheel disc brake Package full system flush new calipers/pads - master cylinder - power booster - brakes work awesome! ------------------------------------------------------------------- TIRES ARE LIKE NEW - ORIG STAINLESS CENTER CAPS w/NEW GOLD BIRD EMBLEMS WAY BETTER RIDE THAN YOUR STANDARD TRANS AM THEY WERE NO LONGER (AFTER 1979) PRODUCING THE 400ci OR LARGER ENGINES original radiator - fan shroud air cleaner was media blasted - prep'd primed and coated factory pkg black with new decal air cleaner still has vacuum switches and hoses vacuum hoses still have orig paint markings red/blue/white/yellow/EPDM orig carb - orig choke tubes are good and the choke works one pump and turn the key and it fires on a dime - warms up and kicks down like it should
sequential turn signals (trans am only) orig exhaust w/dual chrome tips 38 year old factory orig plastic!!!!! NEW CREST EMBLEM AND FRONT LOWER GRILLS BODY IS VERY NICE INTERIOR - DELUX CAMEL TAN HOBNAIL STYLE NEEDS UPPER BACK SEAT AND PLASTIC SIDE PANELS IN BACK TO BE 100% COMPLETE ITS OTHERWISE COMPLETE WITH NEW - CARPET - DOOR SILL PLATES - WINDOW FELTS - DOOR PANELS - DOOR PANEL CUPS PACKAGE TRAY - A/C DASH VENTS - HORN PAD EMBLEM - SEAT BACK TRIM & CONSOLE GLOVE BOX LID THE ORIG HEADLINER COMES WITH BUT NOT ON CAR - WAS HANGING ALSO TILT STEERING AND PULSE WIPERS ---------------------------------------------------------------------- TRUNK TRUNK LID IS BLACK - NEW WEATHERSTRIP NEW TRUNK MAT ORIG AIR CANNISTER - JACK - JACK BASE - FRONT BUMPER ATTACHMENT- J HOOK WING NUT AND HOLD DOWN BRACKET ALL THERE - NO SPACE SAVER TIRE ORIG KEYS AND LOCKS - EVEN THE GLOVE BOX LOCKS --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ADDITIONAL HISTORY ON HOW SPECIAL THIS CAR REALLY IS!!!! The Pontiac W72 Engine: Some Codes and Numbers The W72 engine had satin chrome finish valve covers, used special 350 cid Pontiac cylinder heads with smaller combustion chambers to increase static compression ratio to about 8.2:1. The pistons also received chrome moly for upper compression rings instead of the regular cast iron rings the L78 400s got. W72s had unique camshaft grinds for automatic and manual transmission usage and their own distributor with better vacuum and mechanical advance timings. The oil pump was a 60 psi unit paired with a baffled oil pan to control violent surging against the walls during cornering which could leave the pump dry. The vibration dampner was unique, weighing a bit more than the standard L78 piece. One odd thing about W72 engines is they were all cast during the same one year period at the foundry. It doesn’t matter if your car was a 1979, 1978 or 1977. The W72 engine used was cast between September 1976 and November 1977. The actual casting numbers changed for 1978 but the blocks were all cast at the same time. The unsold castings at the end of 1977 were used for selected 1978 and 1979 W72 cars only. Production totals for W72 Firebirds aren’t accurate for 1978 due to flawed record keeping. It is known that 26,177 Firebirds had the option in 1977. For 1979, the W72 sales are mixed with L78 numbers and 1978 is harder still to figure out due to the bundling of W72 with WS6 suspension package through part of the calendar year. Eventually the W72 engine was made available separately. For 1978, Pontiac improved the W72 by changing the specs on their camshafts. Essentially, they added more duration and added 1:50 ratio rocker arms. The cams were also installed slightly retarded to spread the horsepower across a wider rpm range. In cam tests, the W72 grind was every bit as good as the fabled 067 Pontiac grind. Half way through 1978, the automatic transmission version of the engine was cancelled. In 1979, the W72 was heavily promoted as journalists lined up to test ride the last of the 400 powered Firebirds. Dealers experienced a rush on orders. The Trans Am and Formula bodies were given a facelift that year that carried them successfully to the end of their 12 year run. The new front end eliminated the grille and pushed all radiator ventilation under the one piece molded nose. An air dam and two turn signal lamp grilles fed cool air to the rad. The tail lamp system was given a dramatic black out treatment of the entire bezel under normal operation. When the brake lights went on, the whole deck lit up. It was sensational, flashy and ate light bulbs for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Tenth Anniversary Trans Am package was produced using a 403 Olds as the base mill and W72 TA motors with four speeds as the top mill. The W72 was the last Pontiac high performance car engine. This option came out in 1977 to help people who were grieving the loss of the 455. With continued refinement it became sort of a legendary late 70's Trans Am feature, and was temporarily combined with and absolutely required on 1977-79 400 4-speed Trans Ams. W72 engines gained a little extra horsepower through higher compression and a different cam. W72 is not an engine code, and cars with W72 engines will have the L78 engine code. This causes a lot of confusion when looking at build sheets. In 1978 the exhaust was also revised. Horsepower was rated at 200 in 1977 and 220 in 1978-79. In 1977-78, The factory ratchet shifters were fitted only to W72 automatic cars, which also received 3.23 axles. WESPECIALIZE IN AND RESTORE 2ND GEN TRANS AM'S... I HAVE OWNED WELL OVER A HUNDERED OF THEM OVER THE LAST 25 YEARS... IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS I CAN GO OVER EVERY INCH OF THE CAR WITH YOU- CALL!!! 331 262 1555 NO SHIPPING ... SHIPPING IS NOT INCLUDED...IF YOU HAVE A SHIPPER CALL!!! $500 DEPOSIT WITHIN 24HRS...MUST BE PAID IN FULL WITHIN 7 DAYS FROM TIME OF BUY IT NOW SOLD AS IS WHERE IS - ALL SALES ARE FINAL - NO REFUNDS NO RETURNS LOCATED 25 MIN S/W OF CHICAGO - CALL FOR DIRECTIONS 331 262 1555 INSPECTION WELCOME - QUESTIONS WELCOME |