79 trans am help! plz!

Currently in my 1979 Trans am the Tranny is slipping. Seems to run perfect some days and the next day will take a while to even shift. Also, occasionally it will leak tranny fluid (Once every 2 months or so). I reguraly check the tranny level and it is fine. I had the tranny serviced about 4 months ago along with the brakes and they both have deterated on me. Is this a common problem? and i have been thinking about converting the tranny to a manual 4 speed tranny any suggestions on what i should drop in it?? 403 6.6L.

O ya and im currently looking for a new fuse block. The one i have where the rear light harness connects has been damaged and i have replaced the wire to only find out that its the fuse block. I cant seem to find any really good websites for just parts they all seem to have the same parts and im mostly looking for original or new/orginal parts.

Any help would be really appreciated.

Thanks Robert

tranny slipping? when you got it overhauled did you get new clutch bands? if you did, did they also change the TC? on my firebird, when the fixed my trans they put in a crappy TC and i blew it.. they said it was literally cracked when i took it back..

as for the fuse block. EBAY. original. :)

You could always find a cheap trans at a junkyard...those cars are easy swaps.

The 79 came with a TH350, they are a dime a dozen. If you really wanted to do something different, try fitting up a 700R4. With that trans you'll be able to but steeper rear gears in it to make it quicker off the line. The 79 I used to own had 2.71 gears in it, that made it a slug off the line but it got 26 mpg at 80 mph on the highway. With the overdrive of the 700R4 you'd be able to get 3.42 gears and keep the mpg while also being much quicker off the line.

i dont think he had it overhauled, just flushed.if its slipping that bad then a rebuild or replacement is in order.going to a 4 speed isnt as easy as it seems.if u really wanna do it then a donor car is best so as to get the clutch pedal and all the necessary hardware.when u find a 79 T/A with a 4 speed lemme know.i believe the z28 in 80 or 81 was available with a stick and everything should change out relatively smoothly.but i personally would stick with the th350 and a set of 3.55s out back

I didnt have it rebuilt i had it flushed and had the the "Kick down cable" (Which i personally have never heard of) reinstalled. On the reciept it says it connects from the carburetor linkage, though i looked in myHaynes repair manual and didnt see that (Maybe has a different name??). I do have the TH350.

Getting 26 mpg is insane!!(morley) I need to have the carburater rebuilt. I guess i have to have the tranny rebuilt also(or swapped with a new one). Im thinking i only get close to 10 mpg (Fuel gauge doesnt work pending the fusebox.) need to replace air filter and with a rebuilt carberator i should be getting alot better fuel economy. I use 89 octane gas with ethenol also. . .

I had the brake master cylinder replaced also. Dated 6/13/2006. My brakes are now almost shot barely any brakeing power. Everytime i press the brake it feels like im bleeding it and i hear air getting compressed. I know i shouldnt be haveing brake problems this soon but maybe its something other than my brake master cylinder???


As far as the fusebox goes cant seem to find any on ebay.

Thx alot guys for your responses. You guys are very helpful.

Thanks Robert.

You probably need to rebuild the carb if ther mileage is only 10. On my car I had rebuilt and tuned the carb, added headers with true dual exhaust, put an 8" velocity stack inside the shaker scoop assembly with a kit that opened up the back of the scoop with the flick of a switch.
If you push the brake pedal and hear a "wooshing" sound the brake vacuum booster is probably bad.

Your trans does have a kickdown cable, all of GM's auto transmissions had them before the 700 & 200 R4's came out. You could add a 4 speed trans if you wanted. The 79 silver anniversary edition T/A's came with a Pontiac 400 and 4 speeds. Your engine is and Olds 403 and the trans from the silver anniversary should bolt right up. You'd need the clutch linkage and pedal assembly from it too.

For the fuse box you'll have to either go to the junkyard to get one or buy one from Painless. The one from Painless would be a generic 16 circuit GM block.

The fuse block on painless would not work for me. I need to connect a wiring harness directly to the fuse block. The generic ones would not have this option giving me the same problem that i have now. No fuel gauge and no back tailights.

How much does a carburater rebuild normally cost?


Thanks Robert

a fuse block from any camaro or firebird of the same gen will work.it should be easy to get from a junkyard.and if u call painless there should be no reason y they dont offer a fuse block for these cars.as far as i know they offer oem type and newer blade style fuse blocks

A carb rebuild kit costs $20. I wouldn't trust someone else to rebuild my carb, I do them myself.

I bought a edelbrock carburater, and ive been talking to my uncle he says theres a vacuum that connects to tranny and brakes he says that could be causing both of the problems. Thanks for the help guys!

ive been talking to my uncle he says theres a vacuum that connects to tranny and brakes he says that could be causing both of the problems. Thanks for the help guys!
Vacuum modulator.

Ya guys thanks for all the help, no one in my close family(Brother, sister, dad, mom) are car smart and neither am I, but i try to pull my weight. I cant wait to get my Trans Am running the way I want it to! Cant wait for my next paycheck!!!!