Re: 1973 SD Trans Am with 1774 miles
 

I am trying to show the car as it is and not fluffed. Am example is the missing bolt in one of the pics. I don't think that bolt was ever installed and it will never get installed. Probably get points deducted if judged at a show and shine but it is a part of the cars history that I think is more important than points. We don't come across cars like this very often.

Re: 1973 SD Trans Am with 1774 miles
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Charley Lillard</div><div class="ubbcode-body">He emailed back. It isn't him. Maybe a mod can delete his contact info. </div></div>

Good idea...I should have PM'ed it to you instead.

It was worth a shot.... [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]

Re: 1973 SD Trans Am with 1774 miles
 

Charley,

Undeniably Speechless...... 2011 MCACN`s III!

Dan

Re: 1973 SD Trans Am with 1774 miles
 

It never ceases to amaze me! You see a special car like this once in a lifetime, and all some people can do is find fault. A license plate frame... you've got to be kidding me! JMO, Ed

Thanks for sharing the photos Charlie.

Re: 1973 SD Trans Am with 1774 miles
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Charley Lillard</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I am trying to show the car as it is and not fluffed. Am example is the missing bolt in one of the pics. I don't think that bolt was ever installed and it will never get installed. Probably get points deducted if judged at a show and shine but it is a part of the cars history that I think is more important than points. We don't come across cars like this very often. </div></div>

That missing bolt is pretty much definitive proof of my theory of the brutality of assembly line workers when it came to the installation of the polyethylene valances. Since they couldn't get the valance mounting hole to match up with the center bracket in place, they left off one of the bracket bolts to swivel the bracket close enough to get a bolt to reach...with the predicted damage ensuing.

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...5268b/013a.jpg

Compare to my valance that I added an additional 3/4&quot; of material to, in order to make it wider in the center area, and then filled and redrilled the mounting hole directly under the mounting bracket:

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/SDC10037.jpg


And the resulting damage to the upper mounting tabs from the lower mounting bolt stress:

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...15268b/052.jpg

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...15268b/051.jpg

P.S. I'd be happy to fix that valance. Just send the car right on over. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/naughty.gif[/img]

Re: 1973 SD Trans Am with 1774 miles
 

Charley can you get a photo of the single screw that holds on the top of the flares to the fender? It would be great to get a shot of the correct mounting screw. I'm trying to verify if it is one of the hex screws or a larger, round headed Philips screw.

Like this:

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7004881.jpg

Re: 1973 SD Trans Am with 1774 miles
 

Charley, want to solve another long standing riddle? Get a close up end-shot of the rubber bushing on the sway bar drop links to see if there are threads coming out of the edges. I got a funny feeling the factory just used 3/4&quot; or 7/8&quot; heater hose as the bushings and not some special rubber sleeve.

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...5268b/005a.jpg

Re: 1973 SD Trans Am with 1774 miles
 

Go figure!! I was looking at the spare. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/haha.gif[/img] Right now, that tire is not being reproduced. More stuff you don't really care to know, but I will share with you anyway, in 1972 Polysteel Belted tires were on the H/O, but so many had belts slip (and this was not even a radial). A friend of mine had radials come on his 1968 Cutlass W-31. Within a few weeks, there was a recall for the radials and he got his first Polyglas. Belt slippage was a huge deal for new designs back in the day. Anytime you have a car which had tires that pushed the envelope, the likelihood of still having the original tires (as evidence of this car) is slim to none.

In any event, this car is the stuff of dreams!!!!!! I want to somehow go out to the land of fruit and nuts and be like Charlie!!!!!! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/CharleySucks.gif[/img] (not)

Re: 1973 SD Trans Am with 1774 miles
 

Isn't that spare one of the infamous recalled Firestone 500s?

Re: 1973 SD Trans Am with 1774 miles
 

Radial tires in 1968? I don't think they were invented yet. My 1973 Z28, that was just judged at MCACN came with Wide Oval Bias Plys.

The infamous recall was on the GM desigh tires that all of the manufaturers provided. I don't believe it was on these. I worked for Goodyear in the 1970s, it was a nightmare.

Re: 1973 SD Trans Am with 1774 miles
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 1969z280</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Radial tires in 1968? I don't think they were invented yet. My 1973 Z28, that was just judged at MCACN came with Wide Oval Bias Plys.

The infamous recall was on the GM desigh tires that all of the manufaturers provided. I don't believe it was on these. I worked for Goodyear in the 1970s, it was a nightmare. </div></div>

It was the Firestone 500. The tire came out in 71. The recall was in 77. It affected all the tire manufacturers because Firestone balked at supplying the government with the safety info they demanded in an effort to derail the recall efforts. It failed and the government, in congressional hearings, came down hard on tire manufacturers from then on for consumer safety issues.

&quot;In 1973, only two years after the 500's debut, Thomas A. Robertson, Firestone's director of development wrote an internal memo stating &quot;We are making an inferior quality radial tire which will subject us to belt-edge separation at high mileage&quot;.&quot;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firestone_T...aration_problem

Re: 1973 SD Trans Am with 1774 miles
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: njsteve</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 1969z280</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Radial tires in 1968? I don't think they were invented yet. My 1973 Z28, that was just judged at MCACN came with Wide Oval Bias Plys.

The infamous recall was on the GM desigh tires that all of the manufaturers provided. I don't believe it was on these. I worked for Goodyear in the 1970s, it was a nightmare. </div></div>

It was the Firestone 500. The tire came out in 71. The recall was in 77. It affected all the tire manufacturers because Firestone balked at supplying the government with the safety info they demanded in an effort to derail the recall efforts. It failed and the government in congressional hearings, came down hard on tire manufacturers from then on for consumer safety issues. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firestone_T...aration_problem </div></div>

I worked at Firestone in '70's...we literally changed 100's of 500's a day AND we had to hand cut the serial numbers out each tire so they couldn't be reused.

What a nightmare...

Re: 1973 SD Trans Am with 1774 miles
 

Steve, notice the center spoiler bracket and how its twisted. Who ever mounted it wrenched on her pretty darn good for sure!
Looks like that third screw would have lined up fine and was forgotten or dropped off somewhere down the road ?

The Heater hose bushing is common for 73 sway bar drop links and mine still sport them too. Along with that goofy green paint here and there?

Thanks for posting those pictures to confirm my findings on my car. I owe you a Burger and a Beer!

Oh, and dont worry about the Judges looking at that missing bolt since it cant be seen unless the car is up in the air or you're using mirrors and we all know how tacky those mirrors are!

Time capsule and really would love to see this car in person. Please do let us know if visitation is going to offered in the future?

Thanks again for posting!
Brew

Re: 1973 SD Trans Am with 1774 miles
 

You will most likely be able to see it at MCACN next November.

Re: 1973 SD Trans Am with 1774 miles
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 68 Vert</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

I worked at Firestone in '70's...we literally changed 100's of 500's a day AND we had to hand cut the serial numbers out each tire so they couldn't be reused.

What a nightmare... </div></div>

More trivia. I guess this explains why this SD doesn't have it's original tires - probably got replaced during the recall frenzy:

&quot;In the mid-seventies Firestone Tire decided to get into radials on the cheap, fabricating radial tires on machines made for building bias tires. The tires came apart in a spectacular manner. Firestone recalled close to 9 million of its Firestone 500 steel-belted radial tires. From 1977 to 1980, Firestone’s tire business dropped 25 percent, resulting in the layoff of 25,000 workers. The company went from a $110 million profit to $106 million loss, and its stock dropped from $15 down to $10 a share. Firestone was rescued when Bridgestone Tire bought them in 1988.&quot;

Re: 1973 SD Trans Am with 1774 miles
 

Ah, thats like a year away!

I bought my low mileage 73 SD car about ten years ago with 13k+ but have bonded which it now sports 26k miles on her. It still has the original items from the XD timing decal to the shocks, brake pads, spare.........all original less on repaint before purchasing.
The killer was those hood decals failing and owners not liking the cracking thus paint the car. Anyway its awesome to have a car like yours to have something to compare with verify.
If you where not 2400+ miles away I'd be bring it over for you to drive to get a fix from that museum piece yours.
Congrats on the purchase and will look up this MCACN show and its details.
Cheers, Brew

Re: 1973 SD Trans Am with 1774 miles
 

Fantastic car Charley, thank you for posting all of the pictures!

Re: 1973 SD Trans Am with 1774 miles
 

Hey guys, great info on the sway bar links. My '73 is fitted the same way. I always wondered about that but never really questioned it.
The owners manual has recorded service history and there's no mention of bushing replacement.

Re: 1973 SD Trans Am with 1774 miles
 

Charley, would you look at the trunk harness clips as shown in photo 062? They have body colored paint on the tops of the clips but not underneath where they are still black. However, all around the area of the clip even underneath the lip there is body colored paint which leads me to believe these clips were hand brushed to blend in with the trunk lip and not sprayed while installed and when the rest of the trunk area was sprayed. Could it be I am confusing body colored paint with red oxide primer and it just looks the same?

Also, when looking at photos 047 and 048, they appear to be identical clips on the same size lines yet one is blue while the other is cadmium plated. Interesting.

Lastly, as far as your concern for points deduction for missing bolts, that should NEVER happen on cars with low mileage like many we have seen at recent shows. These cars left the assembly plant like that so judges should not deduct points for something that was never there. Similar to deducting points on a concourse restoration due to which way the front wheel house dust shields were installed, engine side or tire side. They were installed by humans and in my opinion there is no right way or wrong way to install them as it was up to the individual who was stapling them.

Cant wait for MCACN 2011 !!!!!

Re: 1973 SD Trans Am with 1774 miles
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 1969z280</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Radial tires in 1968? I don't think they were invented yet. My 1973 Z28, that was just judged at MCACN came with Wide Oval Bias Plys.

The infamous recall was on the GM desigh tires that all of the manufaturers provided. I don't believe it was on these. I worked for Goodyear in the 1970s, it was a nightmare. </div></div>Radial tyires were definetly around in the 60's. I had a 68 ford ltd with a 428 with all the paperwork and it left the factory with radial tires.

Re: 1973 SD Trans Am with 1774 miles
 

Radials were already being used in Europe, but the heavier cars in America put strains on the tires that were not seen over the ocean. I will ask my friend again, but I believe that the tires were Michelins.

A friend of mine once worked for Firestone. He said that at one point, &quot; if it had 2 holes and it was black, it shipped!!&quot;

Re: 1973 SD Trans Am with 1774 miles
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Charley Lillard</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You will most likely be able to see it at MCACN next November. </div></div> <span style="color: #FF0000"> </span> YIPEEEEEE! <span style="color: #FF0000"> </span>

Re: 1973 SD Trans Am with 1774 miles
 

Michelin were building radials in the 50's. Radial tires were their core business. Cars like Volvo, Peugeot and Renault were commonly shod with radials from the mid 60's.

Oldsmobile offered a radial as an option on the Toronado in 1966 but the weight of the car was too much for this tire. Ford offered Michelin Radials in 67 or 68 as optional tires as previously stated.

I purchased my first radials in 1971 for my 68 Camaro. They were a Firestone Radial V1.Firestone replaced the V1 with the 500 and the rest was history.

When I bought a new Duster 340 in the spring of 73 I had it shod with Goodyear Bluestreak radials, which were Goodyears police tire.

GM started using radials on its product line in 1974 in all but its least expensive cars. Not sure if they had the tires as an option in 1973.

Paul

Re: 1973 SD Trans Am with 1774 miles
 

Steve...Only 1 with the hex head. The rest are round. The hex looks the same as used on door weatherstrip. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbt...lename=001.JPG https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbt...lename=002.JPG https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbt...lename=003.JPG https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbt...lename=006.JPG https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbt...lename=009.JPG https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbt...lename=008.JPG https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbt...lename=012.JPG https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbt...lename=013.JPG

Re: 1973 SD Trans Am with 1774 miles
 

Nice... very nice. You just can't restore low mileage into a car. There is nothing like the touch feel and smell of a factory original.

Re: 1973 SD Trans Am with 1774 miles
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Canuck</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Michelin were building radials in the 50's. Radial tires were their core business. Cars like Volvo, Peugeot and Renault were commonly shod with radials from the mid 60's.

Oldsmobile offered a radial as an option on the Toronado in 1966 but the weight of the car was too much for this tire. Ford offered Michelin Radials in 67 or 68 as optional tires as previously stated.

<span style="font-weight: bold">GM started using radials on its product line in 1974 in all but its least expensive cars. Not sure if they had the tires as an option in 1973.</span>

Paul </div></div>

GM started using them in 1973, on the Trans Am and the Corvette:

http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/stati...ette-02-03.jpg

http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/stati...ette-06-07.jpg
and others (Grand Am). It was a big deal but the S/R 500 was the weak link as stated in earlier posts. Ever wonder where the RTS (Radial Tuned Suspension) emblem on the TA came from?

BFGoodrich came out in the very early 70's with the Radial T/A and even ran LeMans in 1972 on the John Greenwood Corvette race car on street tires.

http://www.greenwoodcorvettes.com/Ra...8BFGrtfrt2.jpg

http://www.greenwoodcorvettes.com/BFGCars.html

From a BFG press release:

The BFGoodrich Radial T/A tire was the first radial to win in SCCA competition when the Tire Birds (based on Chevrolet Camaros and Pontiac Firebirds) won at Watkins Glen in 1971.
The BFGoodrich Radial T/A tire was the first street-legal radial to race at the 24 Hours of Le Mans when John Greenwood raced his 1972 Corvette.

I got my 1st set in 72 and never looked back. MANY street &quot;meetings&quot; between my 62 Corvette Fuel Injected 68 Z28 302 powered 1956 Chevy DelRay and other, faster cars were decided because of those tires (and maybe the 4.56 gears too). (back in the early 70's ...)

Re: 1973 SD Trans Am with 1774 miles
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Charley Lillard</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Steve...Only 1 with the hex head. The rest are round. The hex looks the same as used on door weatherstrip. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbt...lename=002.JPG https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbt...lename=003.JPG https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbt...lename=006.JPG </div></div>

Just an observation, but those look like the typical RPO B96 Wheel Opening molding screws, used across multiple car platforms as well as trucks to install the chrome molding.

In fact, in the truck plant, if the screw hit torque without being fully seated, the repair guys would simply smack them with a hammer rather than drive them in the rest of the way with a screwdriver. Hence, their more preferred name:

&quot;B96 nails&quot;.

(lol)

K


http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...k21JL09008.jpg

Re: 1973 SD Trans Am with 1774 miles
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Charley Lillard</div><div class="ubbcode-body">more https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbt...lename=047.JPG

</div></div>

Any indication of the build sequence number?

I see what appears to be an upside down &quot;79&quot; on the frame rail.

Does the number &quot;79&quot; appear anywhere else? (Inside the spare wheel, on the rear axle, hood, rad supt, etc).

K

Re: 1973 SD Trans Am with 1774 miles
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Charley Lillard</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Steve...Only 1 with the hex head. The rest are round. The hex looks the same as used on door weatherstrip. </div></div>

That's hysterical, they used three different styles of screws on your car's flares: round head, beveled head and hex head, and the one that caused the most damage was the hex head with the smallest surface area! As for the flasher unit hanging down, there is a small two-pronged bracket just above the emergency brake assembly that it sits in (upper left of photo) and commonly falls out of. Neat to see all the original color-coded fuses. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Re: 1973 SD Trans Am with 1774 miles
 

Steve, notice the staples for the welting?

Re: 1973 SD Trans Am with 1774 miles
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Brewster</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Steve, notice the staples for the welting?
</div></div>

Yeah, another wonderful factory design meant to pre-fracture the plastic flares, just in time for the assembly line guy to finish them off by hammering in the mounting screws. Oh, boy!

Re: 1973 SD Trans Am with 1774 miles
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SS427</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Charley, would you look at the trunk harness clips as shown in photo 062? They have body colored paint on the tops of the clips but not underneath where they are still black. However, all around the area of the clip even underneath the lip there is body colored paint which leads me to believe these clips were hand brushed to blend in with the trunk lip and not sprayed while installed and when the rest of the trunk area was sprayed. Could it be I am confusing body colored paint with red oxide primer and it just looks the same?

Also, when looking at photos 047 and 048, they appear to be identical clips on the same size lines yet one is blue while the other is cadmium plated. Interesting.

</div></div>

My car had the same body color on the upper portion of the black clips (the trunk weatherstip flange area still had it's original paint). It was overspray, not hand painted. My original owner '75 has similar overspray on its clips as well. Looks like the trunk edge clips were installed prior to paint and then the harness hung onto them afterwards? That looks to be the red oxide inside the trunk rear bulkhead.

As for the fuel/brake line clips. I think there are like 15 different ones used under the car. My 72 had a dozen different colored clips, yellow, blue, black, green, bare metal, cad plated, etc., depending upon the line diameter and single or dual line capacity of the clip. Interesting to see the different color for the same application, though.

Outrageous find Charlie...
 

..once again just when I don't think it can get any better you manage to top yourself.

Re: Outrageous find Charlie...
 

[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/CharleySucks.gif[/img]

Re: Outrageous find Charlie...
 

Strange.....the shocks are a gray color.
Is this correct?

Re: Outrageous find Charlie...
 

Yes the shocks are the same gray color like on early Camaro's

Re: Outrageous find Charlie...
 

Rick..It is red oxide primer under the clip. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbt...lename=015.JPG

those screws are everywhere https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbt...lename=018.JPG

Re: Outrageous find Charlie...
 

73 was the first year they started using those crazy hex head screws to retain the cowl tag. Same screws should be holding the rear window/trunk filler panel, too.

Re: Outrageous find Charlie...
 

Hmmm.........
The shocks I pulled from my car are light blue spirals.

Re: Outrageous find Charlie...
 

Larry, Gray is correct for 73. Did you check your date codes on those Spirals you removed?