Talk:1979 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am

Online Resources List 1

Firebird Nation (www.firebirdnation.com)

Why It’s Great: This is one of the most active online forums dedicated specifically to Pontiac Firebird owners and enthusiasts. It has a vibrant community with sections for 2nd Gen Firebirds (1970–1981), including Trans Ams, and covers technical discussions, modifications, and general ownership topics. Your 1979 Trans Am with a Chevy 350 and Edelbrock carb would fit right into conversations here, especially in the "2nd Generation" or "Engine" sub-forums.

Activity Level: High – frequent posts, active threads, and a mix of new and experienced members.

Relevance: Very high – plenty of 1979 Trans Am owners and folks swapping Chevy engines into Pontiacs share their experiences here.

The H.A.M.B. (Hokey Ass Message Board) (www.jalopyjournal.com/forum)

Why It’s Great: Hosted by the Jalopy Journal, this forum focuses on traditional hot rods and customs, with a strong following for American muscle cars from the ’60s and ’70s. Your 1979 Trans Am with a Chevy 350 swap would resonate with members who discuss engine swaps, carburetors (like your Edelbrock 600 CFM), and classic car builds. Look for the "Traditional Hot Rods" or "Engine" sections.

Activity Level: Very high – one of the most active car enthusiast forums online, with thousands of daily users.

Relevance: Moderate to high – while not Firebird-specific, it’s perfect for your engine swap and carb setup discussions.

Pontiac Forum on Classic Industries (www.classicindustries.com/community)

Why It’s Great: Classic Industries is a major parts supplier for Pontiac Firebirds, and their community forum includes a dedicated Pontiac section. It’s a good spot for 2nd Gen Firebird owners, especially those with Trans Ams, to discuss restoration, modifications, and parts like your Edelbrock carb. You’ll find technical advice and swap stories here.

Activity Level: Moderate to high – active due to its tie-in with parts sales and a passionate user base.

Relevance: High – directly tied to Pontiac Firebirds, including your 1979 model year.

Second Generation Firebird Owners Group on Facebook

Why It’s Great: This Facebook group is specifically for 2nd Gen Firebird owners (1970–1981), including Trans Ams. It’s a lively community where members post photos, ask for advice, and share mods—like your Chevy 350 swap. Search for "Second Generation Firebird Owners" on Facebook to join.

Activity Level: High – Facebook groups tend to have frequent posts and quick responses, often daily.

Relevance: Very high – tailored exactly to your car’s generation and model.

Trans Am Nation (www.transamnation.com)

Why It’s Great: A forum dedicated to Pontiac Trans Am enthusiasts across all generations, with a strong presence of 2nd Gen owners. You can dive into discussions about your 1979 Trans Am, the Chevy 350 swap, and tuning your Edelbrock carb. The "2nd Gen Tech" section is your best bet.

Activity Level: Moderate – less busy than Firebird Nation but still active with dedicated members.

Relevance: Very high – focused on Trans Ams, including your specific year.

Pro-Touring.com (www.pro-touring.com)

Why It’s Great: This forum caters to enthusiasts of modified classic cars, including 2nd Gen Firebirds and Trans Ams. Your Chevy 350 and Edelbrock setup would fit well in the "Engine" or "Project Blogs" sections, where members discuss performance upgrades and swaps.

Activity Level: Moderate – steady activity with a focus on custom builds.

Relevance: Moderate to high – not Firebird-exclusive, but great for your modified Trans Am.

FirstGenFirebird.org (www.firstgenfirebird.org)

Why It’s Great: While primarily focused on 1st Gen Firebirds (1967–1969), this forum has a spillover of 2nd Gen owners and technical discussions that apply across early Firebird models. You might find useful carb and engine swap advice, though it’s less specific to your 1979 Trans Am.

Activity Level: Moderate – less active than broader forums but still useful.

Relevance: Moderate – more 1st Gen-focused, but 2nd Gen topics pop up.

Reddit – r/Pontiac and r/MuscleCars (www.reddit.com)

Why It’s Great: The r/Pontiac subreddit is a smaller but growing community for Pontiac fans, including Firebird and Trans Am owners. r/MuscleCars is broader but has plenty of 2nd Gen Firebird posts. You can share your 1979 Trans Am build and get feedback on your Chevy 350/Edelbrock combo.

Activity Level: Moderate – depends on the day, but both have active users.

Relevance: Moderate – not as specific as dedicated Firebird forums, but still relevant.

Camaro Forums (www.camaroforums.com)

Why It’s Great: Since the Firebird and Camaro share the F-body platform, this forum has overlapping interests, especially for your Chevy 350 swap. The "70-81 General" section includes 2nd Gen F-body discussions that could apply to your Trans Am.

Activity Level: Moderate – decent activity, though more Camaro-focused.

Relevance: Moderate – useful for engine and carb talk, less so for Trans Am specifics.

Pontiac Owners Group on Facebook

Why It’s Great: A broader Pontiac enthusiast group on Facebook, covering all models including Firebirds and Trans Ams. It’s less focused than 2nd Gen-specific groups but still has owners of cars like yours sharing tips and photos.

Activity Level: Moderate – varies, but active enough for casual browsing.

Relevance: Moderate – wider scope reduces specificity to your 1979 Trans Am.

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1:19 PM Message from #, https://www.secondgengraveyard.com/shop, Wednesday, March 19 2025, 1:19 PM. L https://www.secondgengraveyard.com/shop

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1:21 PM Message from #, https://www.firebirdcentral.com/1973_1981_Deluxe_Interior_Seat_Back_Custom_Gold_p/int-2201g.htm, Wednesday, March 19 2025, 1:21 PM. L https://www.firebirdcentral.com/1973_1981_Deluxe_Interior_Seat_Back_Custom_Gold_p/int-2201g.htm

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1:24 PM Message from #, https://78ta.com/Pages/restoration.htm, Wednesday, March 19 2025, 1:24 PM. L https://78ta.com/Pages/restoration.htm

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1:33 PM Message from #, https://www.tran-zam.com/fhistory/1979Interior.aspx, Wednesday, March 19 2025, 1:33 PM. L https://www.tran-zam.com/fhistory/1979Interior.aspx

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1:34 PM Message from #, https://www.yearone.com/Catalog/1967.1968.1969.1970.1971.1972.1973.1974.1975.1976.1977.1978.1979.1980.1981.pontiac.firebird.trans.am.parts, Wednesday, March 19 2025, 1:34 PM. L https://www.yearone.com/Catalog/1967.1968.1969.1970.1971.1972.1973.1974.1975.1976.1977.1978.1979.1980.1981.pontiac.firebird.trans.am.parts

Air Breather Assembly

harmonic balancer

crankshaft pulley or harmonic balancer

a combination of both: the pulley drives the belt system for accessories like the water pump and alternator, while the harmonic balancer portion helps dampen engine vibrations

350ci small block Chevrolet (SBC) engine, installing a shaker hood

For a 1979 Pontiac Firebird with a 350ci small block Chevrolet (SBC) engine, installing a shaker hood requires specific components and modifications. The original shaker setup designed for Pontiac engines, including the air cleaner base and shaker ring, is not compatible with the SBC due to differences in engine mounting and breather configuration. The air cleaner base for a shaker hood must be specifically designed for a Pontiac engine and is not reproduced for SBC installations.

Since the SBC does not have a factory shaker hood option, aftermarket solutions are necessary. A popular choice is an aftermarket air cleaner like a PTFB drop base air cleaner, which is designed for small block Chevrolet engines. Additionally, a reproduction 305 Chevrolet design shaker hood scoop may be required to match the engine and hood setup. The shaker scoop can also be mounted directly to the hood, similar to practices used in LS swap projects, providing a functional and aesthetic solution.

Regarding the oil breather system, while a PCV valve is recommended to reduce sludge buildup, it may not function optimally with high-lift camshafts due to insufficient manifold vacuum at idle. In such cases, running breathers in each valve cover is a common alternative, especially for performance or race-oriented engines. However, for street use, a PCV system can still be effective if properly configured.

In summary, installing a shaker hood on a 1979 Firebird with a 350ci SBC requires an aftermarket air cleaner base, a compatible shaker scoop, and careful consideration of the breather system to ensure proper engine function and performance

Edelbrock Performer Series 1406 carburetor

Edelbrock Performer Series 1406 carburetor, a 4-barrel (square bore flange) model rated at 600 CFM with an electric choke.

It's a popular choice for small-block Chevy (SBC) 350ci engines like yours, providing good street performance and drivability without EGR provisions.

1406      Edelbrock model/part number for the 600 CFM Performer carburetor (satin finish, non-EGR). Stamped on the front lower left mounting flange.
2319      Julian date code indicating manufacture date: Day 231 of 1999 (August 19, 1999). This format was standard for Edelbrock carbs before 2007 (first 3 digits = day of year; last digit = year).
USA       Country of manufacture (Edelbrock, Torrance, CA).
8867      Casting number from the original Weber (or Carter) foundry mold used in early Edelbrock production. Many pre-2000s Edelbrock carbs were built on Weber/Carter bases, hence the "WEBER" branding.