Thread: Heye everyone.... youll love this!!!

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Hey everyone,


Im a complete noob to cars all around. My name is Luke and Im 24, from Illinois. Ive been interested in cars( mainly classic muscle cars...GTO's, roadrunners, etc...) for well over 10 years, but have never had the opportunity to own one, drive one, take care of one, etc.... So here I am, I received a 1978 Trans Am as a gift. Its completely original(6.6L 400/4 speed tranny). The body is in great shape with one or two SMALL rust spots. Its Cameo white and the hood bird is worn a lil. The interior is immaculate(except for the cover on the center console/cubby hole). Ive been to several T/A specific sites and have ordered 3 catalogs to order parts/decals from................. Now here comes the bombshell lololololol .

The first thing I want to do is get this thing painted and replace the decals, so I figured Id strip the lights, chrome, etc. to save me some money when I take it to the paint/body shop........ Well I thought I was halfway mechanically inclined but I cant even get the HOOD open.. Yes, the HOOD..... There is a T-bar underneath the grill, that much I figured out. But my hands are too big or something else, I guess, because I cant find the lever that releases the hood. If anyone could at least throw me a bone on that I would greatly appreciate it. The other thing that worries me is the chrome seals around the windshield, back window, and door windows. Oh yea, I guess taking off the door panels to remove the door handles and keyhole worries me somewhat too.....

If anyone can help me out somewhat I would appreciate it........ Or you could flame me if you want, I wont mind......

Could anyone list exactly what I should strip before I take it to the paint shop???


Thanks everyone

Look inside the car. Under the left side of the dash, there may be a hood release. Just pull.

lol.... Nope, You have to use the T-bar from right inside the front clip. That much I can do. It pops up maybe and inch and a half. My hands cannot fit inside all the way. Its really pissing me off....
I know when the car was purchased the previous owner did open the hood for my father(who purchased the vehicle)..

I think I found a place to get the hood birds for $199.... I could be wrong and might need a bigger size... Ill find out once I get the catalogues

Originally posted by Bowserbird
Hey everyone,

Well I thought I was halfway mechanically inclined but I cant even get the HOOD open.. Yes, the HOOD..... There is a T-bar underneath the grill, that much I figured out. But my hands are too big or something else, I guess, because I cant find the lever that releases the hood. If anyone could at least throw me a bone on that I would greatly appreciate it.

If anyone can help me out somewhat I would appreciate it........ Or you could flame me if you want, I wont mind......

Could anyone list exactly what I should strip before I take it to the paint shop???


Thanks everyone

YAYYYYY!!!!! Someone LIKE me!!!!! Hey...I have the same prob with my 81...took me 2 weeks to figure out that I was missing the hood pull assembly ha ha!!! Anyway...now that i've got that...it really almost takes 2 people to open the hood...i'm getting better at it an sometimes I can get it myself...I'm not sure if the opener is the same on the 78's as the 81's but I can pull the opener and slip my fingers under the hood at the moment it pops...theres a latch there an you have to time it just right...pull & push up on the hood before the d%#* latch catches...if it catches ya gotta start over...if there's extra ppl around I get someone to pull the release an I get my grubby little fingers under there the moment it releases an lift...Post some pics if ya can! Have Fun! Jeri

Originally posted by Jerilynne1965
YAYYYYY!!!!! Someone LIKE me!!!!! Hey...I have the same prob with my 81...took me 2 weeks to figure out that I was missing the hood pull assembly ha ha!!! Anyway...now that i've got that...it really almost takes 2 people to open the hood...i'm getting better at it an sometimes I can get it myself...I'm not sure if the opener is the same on the 78's as the 81's but I can pull the opener and slip my fingers under the hood at the moment it pops...theres a latch there an you have to time it just right...pull & push up on the hood before the d%#* latch catches...if it catches ya gotta start over...if there's extra ppl around I get someone to pull the release an I get my grubby little fingers under there the moment it releases an lift...Post some pics if ya can! Have Fun! Jeri

I just remembered that I didn't say that my hood pull is under the nose/bumper...that's why it's hard to do both...I checked out a 78/79 firebird recently an it had the same assembly as mine...

Welcome to CHR Bowserbird

I give up...... Im selling it..... Im just plain ignorant to vehicles!!!!!



All you need to do is pull the Tbar and put a lil pressure on the hood..... In every vehicle Ive owned, there is a hood release inside the car, and then a latch under the hood............

Originally posted by Bowserbird
I give up...... Im selling it..... Im just plain ignorant to vehicles!!!!!



All you need to do is pull the Tbar and put a lil pressure on the hood..... In every vehicle Ive owned, there is a hood release inside the car, and then a latch under the hood............

Ha Ha...The T/A's are just tempermental...lol...you'll figure it out an it'll be easy...

I drove all the way home from a cruise in one time with my hood ajar because someone wanted to look under the hood. I had by that time figured out how to get the latch open LOL....Like 4 grown men tried to slam it and force it shut...but no luck.

Unfortunately when slammed it shut it wouldn't catch...as it turns out...she likes a gentle touch...all I had to do was pull the hood down and really gently push on the hood and it would catch/latch & close...

HI I own an 81 TA (clone), What your experiencing is pretty common. After you pull the hood release (your little T Handle), let the tension off, then pull it again and lift the hood.

As far as door and window handles you should be able to find the clip removal tool at any part store for a couple of bucks.

As far as the window trim, unless you rust starting under the trim, or you are changing color, I would leave them on and have them masked off when the car is painted. Otherwise, let the body shop remove them (it's cheaper than replacing the glass if you break it.

As far as the locks, after the door pannels are removed, there is a clip that retains them. Be very careful removing the little rod where it goes into the lock mechanism as it pushes into a plasctic retainer which can often break and are a little hard to find.

By the way welcome.