The gas embargo and resulting high gas prices in the mid-70’s forced auto manufacturers to detune muscle car engines to the point of atrophy. Their bodies still looked creative and great but their hearts no longer could keep up.
Pontiac offered five V8 engine choices in the 1977 Firebird (135hp 4.9L, 145hp 5.0L, 170hp 5.7L, 180hp 6.6L, and 185hp 6.6L) but none of them reached over 200 horsepower. It was only a decade prior engines were producing over 400 horsepower. So although the Firebird logo was supposed to evoke power, in the case of the 1977 model, it was merely trying to get off the hood because it knew there was no chance of the car actually chasing it down.
Fast forward to today where we enjoy junkyards filled with efficient, high horsepower engines and the greatest two words known to man “engine swap”. Add those two things together and you can give a 1977 Firebird Trans-Am such as this one the power it always deserved.
This particular engine was built with a MS3 roller cam kit, push rods, valve springs, and LS6 ported oil pump all from Texas Speed. It also featured a LS2 timing chain, Pacesetter long tube headers, and new balanced drive shaft. All of this helped the engine reach 400 horsepower at the wheels.
Source: LS1Tech
Hey that is my car!
Thanks for building such an amazing car. Have you enjoyed it as much as I assume you have?
Yes I have! I took it on part of the Hot Rod Power Tour last year and I’m going to do part of The Bandit Run this year.
Fantastic! The Bandit Run sounds like a blast.
When and where is the Bandit Run ? Have 16,000 original miles on my TransAM that I purchased new and i would really like to put some fun, touring miles on it.
( ponycar6026@gmail.com )
Lou
They haven’t given the dates thebanditrun.com but it will run through Sandusky, Ohio – Dayton, Ohio – Nashville, Indiana – Pontiac, Illinois – Davenport, Iowa