I agree. The T/A is essentially useful to two classes of people - hot rodders w/lots of cash and horny guys. Otherwise, viewing it strickly as a car, it's a big pain in the ass.

BTW- the secret on those 400-455 Pontiacs is to add roller rockers, which add a little valve lift, and a windage tray, to get all that splashy oil from dragging that monstorous Pontiac crank. You really don't have to do much to those guys to add another 100 horse. Of course, the greatest junkyard find was a set of those 455 H/O heads that Paul mentioned - they will bolt to either the 400 or the 455, and allow you to use 2 4/bbls so you can really be a crazy ass nut on the street. But if you are gong to spend serious moeny on a Ponitac, get a GTO or a Lemans convertible built before 73 to start with. They are much better cars and will actually have a chance of giving you some kind of decent resale, and the cult status of these cars means you will probably get one that has been well maintained.