Rebuilding help - Trans Am

[LPcatcher01]

I'm planning on rebuilding my trans am. It has an Olds 403 engine and i was wondering if anyone knows a good website or company that sells good rebuild kits for this motor.

[BadAzz240]

You might be better off just getting a 403 block and building it the way you want piece by piece.

[LPcatcher01]

Why is that?

[LPcatcher01]

Well it's a 79 Trans Am....Does anyone have any suggestions as to what engine would be good to put in or good kit website for the 403?

[koeb$]

u mite be able to try jasper, or even the gm performance web page but im not too sure

[LPcatcher01]

What about a Pontiac 400? Would this be a good choice? Are there any negatives to the 400? And any positives?

[DeadPedal]

It all depends on what you're looking for in the end ...

If you just want to rebuild the 403 here's a couple sites with a rebuild kits...

olds 403:
http://www.flatlanderracing.com/rebuildkitsbuick.html

Pontiac 403:
http://www.kanter.com/p22-pon.html

If you're looking for power and performance out of the 403 here's a site with a ton of info

http://www.442.com/oldsfaq/ofe403.htm

Hope that helps

[LPcatcher01]

OK, but what would be the better engine? Performance and reliability wise.

[DeadPedal]

I personally don't know. I had a '73 firebird formula 400, it kicked ass but the body was beat so I sold the motor to a friend who rebuilt it and dropped it in a '37 Pontiac hot rod. I never had a 403.
Try these guys. http://www.transamtech.com/ they deal with everything for 2nd gen TA's and firebirds...

[LPcatcher01]

Thanks a lot DeadPedal, i'll look into it.

[MrPbody]

LP,
Any Federal Mogul dealer can hook you up with a rebuild "kit". It will all stock-replacement parts. All the 403 stuff is still readily available.
A 400 Pontiac is a much more capable and developed performance engine, if that's what you're after. A few minor wiring changes, and it drops right in. There are some quirks as to what years would fit. Generally, anything '70 and newer would fit. Use all the hardware for a '77-'79 w/400 (or "T/A 6.6" package). The pontiac is tougher, too, in modified form. Th Olds, if done right, is capable of making good power, but it has an inherrent weak point. The block. The main bulkheads are "windowed", taking away needed strength. It's done to allow for the rediculously large bore.
if you can't get satisfaction through regular sources (no need for "specialty" shops), e-mail me. I'll clue you onto a FM dealer.

Jim