1980-81 Grand Prix w/W72 301?

[Bonnewagon]

I am working on a 1980 Firebird TA that was originally a W72 301. I read that this engine was used in the '80- '81 Grand Prix, I think SJ, model? Does anyone have one of these? It would have an electronic distributor and a timing module that retarded the timing and a detonation sensor at the rear of the block. I was wondering how this engine performed and if you were happy with it. I have a regular 301 in my Bonnewagon and I am looking to change the cam. This W72 engine had a better cam as did the '79 manual trans 301. I have the timing parts out of the TA if needed. Any feedback would be appreciated.

 

[pontiacgp]

A friend of mine bought a new 79 trans am with a 301, in Canada that was the largest engine available for a standard transmission. I'm not sure what 301 it was though but isn't the W72 the Pontiac 400 engine? The only change my friend did was to put headers on it and I was impressed with the power it had

 

[Bonnewagon]

Steve the W72 was the top dog 220 hp 400 engine in '78-'79. When you ordered the 1979 10th anniversary Trans Am you got that motor and it only came with the 4 speed manual trans. They were actually '78 engines stockpiled for that TATA. When they ran out you got the Olds 403 with an automatic trans. A regular '79 TA came with the Olds 403 automatic or the 301 with manual trans. It used a better cam and carb to make up for the smaller displacement. You could also get that 301 in a LeMans or Grand Prix. In 1980 the 400 was gone so they assigned the W72 to an even better cammed 301 and it was standard in the '80-81 TA as well as the GP SJ but only with an automatic. It used the electronic timing module to retard timing when detonation occurred. They were pushing the limits with the crummy gas available then and in '81 the CCC system was used which also retarded timing. I am looking to change my 301 cam and the W72 or '79 301 manual cam are at the top of my list. The '79 cam is the same one used in the '78 standard 400 engine.

 

[pontiacgp]

I didn't realise they moved the W72 to the 301. My friend wanted the Pontiac 400 like he had in his 76 Grand Prix but after he drove the TA with the 301 he was happy, he could lay a nice patch and acceleration at highway speeds was alot better than he anticipated.

 

[Bonnewagon]

Yes that is what I wanted to hear. If he was satisfied with that vs a 400 then the factory did a good job. I probably will go with that cam since I have a 301 with manual trans in my Bonnewagon and it would make more sense. I believe it has an earlier intake opening that works well with a manual trans. My 301 was rebuilt with stock replacement parts for a '79 Formula with automatic trans. It worked great in that car but now that it is in my manual trans car I can tell it wants more. I already calibrated the Q-jet to the '79 TA specs and that helped but the cam is the brain.

 

[Wraith]

I couldn't tell you the engine code but I had a 301 in a 79 Bonneville Landau coupe that pulled pretty darn good for a boat.

 

[Bonnewagon]

pulled pretty darn good

Wraith was that a 2 barrel or 4? My 301 was a 2 barrel at first and I was amazed how well it moved that Formula. The Dualjet is a very good carb when it is correctly matched to the vehicle. The Formula had 3:08 gears which was perfect for a 2 barrel.

 

[Wraith]

Wraith was that a 2 barrel or 4? My 301 was a 2 barrel at first and I was amazed how well it moved that Formula. The Dualjet is a very good carb when it is correctly matched to the vehicle. The Formula had 3:08 gears which was perfect for a 2 barrel.

It was a 4 bbl.

 

[Bonnewagon]

I made my 4 barrel 1980 Firebird Esprit a 2 barrel because it had terrible 2:41 gears. It actually worked better with the Dual-Jet. My Bonnewagon is a 4 barrel because I tow stuff. But I have to admit I rarely get into the secondaries. That is why I am tempted to change cams. The W72 and '79 TA cams have like 274° duration and .364" lift. Mine is I think 250° so that's a big difference.

 

[454GrandPrix]

I am working on a 1980 Firebird TA that was originally a W72 301. I read that this engine was used in the '80- '81 Grand Prix, I think SJ, model?

Well, there was no SJ trim level for the 1981 model year, and the W72 301 was not available then.

For 1980, there was an SJ and it was the only trim level which offered the W72 301 engine. However, the brochure says the SJ was also available with the regular L37 301 V8 engine, so you'll want to confirm any given 1980 SJ 301 is actually a W72 engine. The other 1980 Grand Prix trims also both offered the L37 301 engine for 1980, of course.