Re: 72 T/A progess
 

I use the cutoff wheel technique like you are describing... thought maybe someone had figured out a different way... always looking for something easier... https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/wink.gif

Re: 72 T/A progess
 

Enoch emailed me this in reference to the cutting device he used for the above repair: "I use a mini saw to cut the butt weld seam. It gives you much greater control."

Re: 72 T/A progess
 

More info on the saw: he indicated that it has a flat blade and operates like an air-powered mini jig/scroll saw.

Re: 72 T/A progess
 

Steve
Next time your at the body shop, would you git a picture of that blade ??
Inquiring restoration guys want to know https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/naughty.gif

Thanks Mike

Re: 72 T/A progess
 

I would assume that he is talking about an air powered jig saw such as this:

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/objec...1000/50964.JPG

Re: 72 T/A progess
 

A little more progress on the trunk and driver's quarter panel:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/052.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/051.jpg

Re: 72 T/A progess
 

The roof. It seems that whoever repainted the car many years ago thought that taking the old decal stripe off the roof was a bit too labor intensive, so they just bondoed it over, repainted it, and then applied a new decal on top. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/rolleyes.gif It took a bit of extra work to get the roof flat again.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/055.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/054.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/056.jpg

Re: 72 T/A progess
 

More driver's quarter work.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/059.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/058.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/061.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/057.jpg

Re: 72 T/A progess
 

Progress, progress, progress. Remember, you have an offer of an extra pair of hands if needed after it comes home! Just make sure the coffee is on.
Verne https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: 72 T/A progess
 

Thanks for the moral support, Verne https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif

Re: 72 T/A progess
 

Dust in a body shop is inevitable, but I feel so bad for the bottom of that TA... you slaved over every last detail... Does look straight though Steve!

-Dan

Re: 72 T/A progess
 

Dust I can clean off. I will be getting the body back once all the sheetmetal work is complete and in primer. That way I can dust it off and install the rest of the exhaust, the fuel tank, fuel lines, etc.

I was dead in the water for a while due to the trunk floor not having been fixed, so ENOCH decided to replace the trunk floor, so I could do some more stuff on it myself. When he decided to keep going after fixing the trunk floor, I wasn't about to stop him. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif

Here are some shots from this morning. They carefully masked off the underside to keep the overspray away and primered (with low air pressure) the small section underneath the trunk floor. Eventually the "newer" red primered section will be very hard to tell from the original primered area. Plus, the majority of the replaced trunk floor section is blocked from view by the gas tank.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/065.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/068.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/069.jpg

Re: 72 T/A progess
 

Some more recent progress on the car. They are hanging the doors and pre-aligning the front end sheet metal. Looks like a whole lotta block sandin' going on.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...0Ebay20017.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...0Ebay20020.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...0Ebay20006.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...0Ebay20021.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...0Ebay20009.jpg

Re: 72 T/A progess
 

Some work on the right side trunk to rear quarter seam. Looks like he didn't like the taper to the gap, so he cut and rewelded the edge section to get it straight.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...0Ebay20012.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...0Ebay20014.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...0Ebay20016.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...0Ebay20019.jpg

Re: 72 T/A progess
 

The rear, lower, tail panel area, after the dented section was undented and welded back in.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...0Ebay20005.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...0Ebay20011.jpg

Re: 72 T/A progess
 

Here's an underside shot of the smoothed out trunk floor repair. Ready for the red oxide primer.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/096.jpg

Re: 72 T/A progess
 

The passenger side lower rear quarter had a rust hole in the lower section behind the wheelwell. Since I didnt want to be worrying about what exactly was inside there for the next 20 years, Enoch did the right thing and cut the outer skin off in an example of automotive exploratory surgery.

I'm glad he did, since the trunk extension was very scaly and needed to have a good sized area replaced, even though it looked perfect from the outside. He ended up using pieces from the donor quarter I bought for the drivers side front quarter repair and a reproduction Camaro passenger side trunk extension, to make an accurate repair.

The outer skin repair comes next.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/085.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/095.jpg

Re: 72 T/A progess
 

I stopped by the shop today to drop off the rear window trim so the panel between the trunklid and rear window can be aligned exactly. Here are some current shots. It is starting to look more and more like a car.

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3.../S7001268a.jpg

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3.../S7001273a.jpg

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3.../S7001264a.jpg

Re: 72 T/A progess
 

Well she is home now. I picked her up this afternoon so I can put the exhaust, gas tank and lines etc., back in. And also to let the body work set and shrink a few weeks too.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...8/S7001300.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...8/S7001302.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...8/S7001303.jpg

When I backed the rig into my driveway I heard a hissing sound from one side of the trailer and a jingling sound from the other. The hiss was a small bolt stuck in the tire. I was able to patch that pretty easily. This is what the "jingling sound" was:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...8/S7001305.jpg

Look a little closer in the holes. You can see a bizarre brake drum problem.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...8/S7001308.jpg

The brake drum cracked and sheared off the hub. All the brake components remained intact but the drum kind just spun happily along with the wheel and hub. I guess its time to change all the hub/drum assemblies $$$ https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/rolleyes.gif

Re: 72 T/A progess
 

The progress looks good Steve. Can't wait to see it in paint. Now my JL8 can get painted at the shop and hopefully start to go together real soon. I just need to sell something(my L78 or crossram parts) to pay for the remainder of the restoration.

Re: 72 T/A progess
 

Steve the progress is moving along! looking good. Jeff, that was your Z on the rotis next to Steve's? I thought that gold looked familier. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/laugh.gif

Re: 72 T/A progess
 

If it is, you owe me commission for photographing it so much. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif

Re: 72 T/A progess
 

[ QUOTE ]
Steve the progress is moving along! looking good. Jeff, that was your Z on the rotis next to Steve's? I thought that gold looked familier. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/laugh.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

No, I think that is the other JL8 I had owned and sold when I ran out of funds.

Re: 72 T/A progess
 

I spent the past couple of days working on fitting the front polyethylene valance to the car. These things were a crappy design back in 1972 and 99% of them were replaced under warranty with a different looking steel valance when new.

I wouldn't call it planned obsolesence, more like catastrophic, instantaneous obsolesence. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/smirk.gif

I spent the weekend massaging the valance and inhaling polyethylene fumes.

(Here is the original link to when I repaired the valance with the plastic welder: https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/show.../fpart/12/vc/1 )

With the plastic welder and polyethylene welding rods, I added 3/8" to the drivers side turn signal area at the top and it fits flush now to the bottom of the urethane bumper. There was a 3/8" gap before.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...8/S7001314.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...8/S7001323.jpg

I also made a solid 1" thick mounting pad on top of both driver's side top mounting pounts so that when the screw is tightened the tall pad locks into the recessed area under the rubber nose piece at the exact moment when the valance edge mates with the lower part of the bumper curve. The stupid factory design of this setup has the mounting pads for the ends of the valance too short to reach their mating point under the bumper. The result is that you tighten the bolts to get it to mate with the bumper, the mount itself breaks off and then it touches down but the valance edge never moves up. Dumb design. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/rolleyes.gif

I am also using a portion of 1/8 steel barstock to add as a load distributor for the outer 2 mounting bolts so the bolts aren't just pulling against plastic - kind of like the small block chevy valve cover bolt load spreaders. It will be hidden inside the upper valance area.

I also had to heat the outer edges of the valance to get them to more closely conform to the lower fender edge. There was a 1/2" gap before, where the valance ended but the fender kept going. Another great design feature of this valance, it was an inch narrower than the area it had to cover. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...8/S7001316.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...8/S7001317.jpg


I also added 1/8" to 1/4" of material to the outer edges and filed and sanded until they mate perfectly with the lower fender edge, with no gap.

I also had to add about 1/2" on the lower edge of the valance at each bolt hole, which didnt line up with the existing bolt holes in the lower radiator support. That is one of the reasons these things shattered to begin with - instead of simply making the hole longer and/or wider, the assembly line guys would just try to stretch the heck out of the hard plastic and stress it to such a level that one good pothole and the whole valance would explode. I welded closed, the original bolts holes in the valance and made new ones that mount up perfectly without stretching or stressing the valance. I also bent the lower radiator support edges where the speed nuts mount, so they align with the valance without bending it.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...8/S7001322.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...8/S7001319.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...8/S7001320.jpg

I probably spent about 24 hours total doing all this. Just so she has the pretty, little face she was originaly built with, instead of that gaptoothed, slack jawed, look of the warranty replacement valance. (No offense to you guys with a 70, 71 or 73 Firebird out there that came with the "other valance" originally https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif)

Re: 72 T/A progess
 

Here is my gaptoothed, slack jawed, valance on my 70



http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...photos2013.jpg

Re: 72 T/A progess
 

LOL! Just tryin' to get a rise out you closet Poncho fanatics out there! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif

Re: 72 T/A progess
 

Just showing these Chevy guy's the dif.

Re: 72 T/A progess
 

BTW, your car looks great. I love that Lucerne Blue. I even painted my Grandmother's Firebird that color...

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...bird75001b.jpg

Re: 72 T/A progess
 

Norwood, your TA is smoking.

Re: 72 T/A progess
 

[ QUOTE ]

Here is my gaptoothed, slack jawed, valance on my 70



http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...photos2013.jpg

[/ QUOTE ]

Damn I almost fell off my chair !! I thought that was your's Steve !! You are getting sooo close !! Keep up the great work and the excellent detailed coverage!! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/headbang.gif

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/flag.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ouguysrock.gif

oh, Craig - nice F-bird https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/cool.gif

Re: 72 T/A progess
 

I have been getting the underside ready for the fuel tank and the rest of the emission lines. The new center trunk floor was primed with the matching red oxide primer by the bodyshop. I had a spray can made up with the correct paint code Cameo White and fogged in the overspray to match the original overspray on the trunk floor edges.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...8/P5020005.jpg

Re: 72 T/A progess
 

Here is the driver's side area before the trunk floor replacement:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2.../P1140021a.jpg

And after I did the matching overspray on the new trunk floor:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...8/P5020002.jpg

Re: 72 T/A progess
 

Here's the passenger side. This was a little more tricky since the body shop had to fix the crappy weld repair on the original broken sway bar mount. They did a great job repairing the original repair. I had to mask around and fog in the overpray without altering the original finish around the mount. Luckily the paint color matched the original overspray color perfectly.

The before shot:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...8/P1150004.jpg

And after my patented, supersecret overspray replication process:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...8/P5020008.jpg

Re: 72 T/A progess
 

Good "before" pictures are the key to an accurate restoration, and I know you have plenty!! Keep up the good work! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/smile.gif
Verne https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: 72 T/A progess
 

Today's job was installing the fuel tank, rear fuel lines and all of the emission lines that went from the tank to the evaporative canister in the rear trunk bulkhead. I also reinstalled the four original exhaust system mounts.

The tank was one of those Canadian reproductions. I bought it at Carlisle last year and saved the crazy shipping costs. It was about 98% accurate and only needed a little persuasion to get the filler neck adjusted to the correct angle. It was off by a couple of degrees and was 1/8" longer than the original filler neck.

I replaced the original tank because it had several screw holes in the top where someone must have tried to mount something in the trunk and punched the screws right through the trunk floor and into the tank.

As for the seven emission lines' routing, luckily I took some good photos of the layout before. I ended up taping the photos together like a jigsaw puzzle and then taped the whole photo montage to the underside of the car as a map, while I was working under it. It worked out well.

All the lines and now replumbed exactly as they were originally, but with new rubber, of course. There is no way I would ever reuse original emissions and fuel lines. They may look good on the outside with their original date codes and paint stripes, but they were hard as rock and just waiting for the exact moment to crack and leak. No sense risking your car (and life) to be THAT original.

Oh, and yes I remembered to install the fuel guage sender lead and ground before installing the tank (the second time). https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...8/P5040009.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...8/P5040007.jpg

Re: 72 T/A progess
 

I had an hour to spare this evening and installed the Gardner exhaust system on the car. It is amazingly refreshing to come across a reproduction part that does more than you would expect. It bolts up with no problems: everything slides into place and fits perfectly. Even the exhaust clamps slide into their saddles like they were made for each other. When I say it took about an hour I wasn't being sarcastic, the system is that good. I took a little longer due to time spent admiring my own work. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif


Passenger side:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/exh2.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...268/exh5-1.jpg

Driver's side:


http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...268/exh3-1.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...268/exh4-1.jpg

Ant's eye view:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/exh7.jpg

Re: 72 T/A progess
 

I ended up using my original rubber insulated muffler and tailpipe hangers, so I now have the new set of Gardner hangers available in case anyone needs them for a 2nd gen F-Body.


The tail pipe hangers. The Gardner hanger is on the left - there are two of them in a set)


http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...8/P5150010.jpg

The muffler hangers: The Gardner hanger is on the right. (also two of these in the set)

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...8/P5150001.jpg

Re: 72 T/A progess
 

Steve, you have a PM.

Paul

Re: 72 T/A progess
 

I threw a couple gallons of gas in the tank today and cranked her up. She started on the first turn!

Here's how the Gardner exhaust sounds on a 455HO. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/burnout.gif

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...h_S7001338.jpg

Re: 72 T/A progess
 

Beautimus Mac!!!!!!!! Congrats! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif