The 1979 Pontiac Trans Am could be equipped with a standard 301 cubic inch (4.9 L) V8, with an optional larger 403 cubic inch (6.6 L) V8 available for buyers seeking more power.
In 1979, Pontiac offered two V8 engine options for the Trans Am. The smaller 301 V8 was the baseline powerplant, while the 403 V8 served as the more capable upgrade. A turbocharged Trans Am did not appear in 1979; the turbo variant would come later, around 1980–81.
Engine options for the 1979 Trans Am
Two V8 configurations were available to buyers of the 1979 Trans Am. The following are the commonly offered options you could have ordered from the factory.
- 301 cu in (4.9 L) V8 — standard engine for many Firebird/Trans Am models in this era.
- 403 cu in (6.6 L) V8 — optional, more powerful engine for enhanced performance.
In summary, the 1979 Trans Am offered two V8 engine choices: the smaller 301 (4.9 L) V8 as the baseline and the larger 403 (6.6 L) V8 as an upgrade. The turbocharged Trans Am would not appear until the 1980–81 model years.
Turbo Trans Am timeline
The turbocharged Trans Am debuted after 1979, with the turbo package offered for the Firebird/Trans Am lineup in 1980–81. That era’s turbo option used a turbocharged 301 V8, but it was not available in the 1979 model year.
Summary
For a 1979 Trans Am, the engine choices were the standard 301 cu in (4.9 L) V8 and the optional 403 cu in (6.6 L) V8. A factory turbo variant would come later, beginning in 1980–81, not in 1979.