Re: Home at last...
 

Gaps look sweet!

Re: Home at last...
 

I keep track of my time on the car by buying calenders. It's easier than using a calculator. I bought the car on 11/11/2004 and have been working on it ever since - just about every weekend since!

I probably have at least another calender to go before it's finished. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/rolleyes.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

LOVE this car and can't wait till you sell it to me https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/naughty.gif

by the way, you bought it the day my son was born!

thanks for the thread.

John

Re: Home at last...
 

I think the factory was liberal with their door gaps. Yours look excellent IMHO.

Re: Home at last...
 

More finagling with the car. I got the lower inner fenders, battery tray and battery installed and the wiring and hoses routed. Finally found an NOS power steering pressure hose and replaced the 38-year old original hose - it looked like it was seeping around the crimped fitting so its better to be safe than sorry.

Pulled it out in the driveway and then it wouldnt start - no spark. Turned out I burned up another set of points. I think I'll go back to a stock Delco ignition coil. The Pertronix FlameThrower coil seems to be flaming my Accel points every six months or so. And it was even the model they recommended for points ignitions.

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7004461.jpg

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7004448.jpg

Re: Home at last...
 

Really looks great!

Re: Home at last...
 

With the help of a member of the board here who identified the random old coil I had in my parts box as an original 1972 Pontiac coil, I was able to test it, clean it up and install it.

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/show...e/0#Post429806

I then tossed the Pertronix coil that had been frying my points, into the "extra parts" box.

Here's the new/old "425 BR" coil in place.

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

And the third set of points I've replaced in the three years the engine has been up and running.

Both contact surfaces on the lever arm pad and the base pad have been crystalized to the point that they wouldn't conduct electricity any more. (Ignore the dust - I had it sitting on the sanding table when I was prepping the coil for paint). I guess I will stick to the stock ignition parts from this point on and forget the aftermarket crap.


http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...8b/points2.jpg

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...8b/points1.jpg

Re: Home at last...
 

More minor things. Applied the "Trans Am" decals on the fenders. It took an hour to lay out all the tape to get the measurements right...and then took about 15 seconds to actually apply the decals.

Installed the original black rubber hood bumpers, three per fender. Got to use last year's X-mas gift: a set of plastic mini prying sticks. They worked great to push the rubber tabs through the slots in the fenders. Anything metal would have damaged the paint and split the original rubber bumpers.

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7004495.jpg

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7004497.jpg

Engine running nicely now that the original coil is back in place and the new set of points are installed.

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7004499.jpg

Even the A/C is working nice and cold...now that it's nice and cold outside. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/smirk.gif

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7004500.jpg

Re: Home at last...
 

Picked up another random part I needed: the RFI shield for the distributor. This is the two-piece metal shielding that goes over the points to reduce the static interferance on the the radio. It does actually seem to work, since I ran the car after installing it and the radio noise was reduced significantly.

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7004507.jpg

Re: Home at last...
 

Any new updates?

Re: Home at last...
 

you should contact a publishing company and turn this into a resto book/by far the most detailed explanation of a resto on the net that ive seen.the car is stunning.

Re: Home at last...
 

Thanks for the suggestion. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif

I think it would be easier to just start one of those doomsday cults around this restoration, since like those cults there is always supposed to be some end coming that all the members wish and hope for, but never actually does arrive.

I'm hoping I can get this done in time for the Mayan calendar-based apocalypse in 2012 but I guess I have to wait for the next Mayan calendar after that one.

Re: Home at last...
 

Not much going on at the moment. Still waiting for more panels to be painted. The bodyman had to get a car finished and delivered last week to free up the paint booth.

Here are some photos of the flares and scoop in primer. Hopefully some paint on these parts next week.

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...15268b/286.jpg

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...15268b/287.jpg

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...15268b/288.jpg

Re: Home at last...
 

I can't say enough about 68l30, a.k.a. OhioSteve, who refinished the case for my alternator. I never liked the paint that the original rebuilder put on the case and once I stripped it off, I wasn't too happy about the dark crusty appearance of the original pot metal either.

OhioSteve was kind enough to offer to run the case through his metal refinishing tumbler process and it came out awesome!

Here's the results after I got the case back today and reassembled everything. Looks just like it was hot off the assembly line. Even the original date/part number stampings look crisp and clean like they were just done 14,176 days ago. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif

Aint she just so purdy!

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...5268b/alt1.jpg

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...5268b/alt2.jpg

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...5268b/alt3.jpg

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...5268b/alt4.jpg

Re: Home at last...
 

Alternator porn! I like it!

Re: Home at last...
 

And here she is, all snuggled back in place. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/naughty.gif

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7004645.jpg

Re: Home at last...
 

you da man

Re: Home at last...
 

Good to see it back where it belongs. Almost time for https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif


Big https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/burnout.gif

Re: Home at last...
 

Thanks to you! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: Home at last...
 

I found an NOS 3026085 thermo vacuum switch and installed that today. It's an extremely rare, one-year-only, emission part that only came on 1972 Pontiacs. Very tricky installation due to the outlet nipple and prongs that stick out very close to the mounting nut. Had to be real gentle with the large open end wrench. Not a lot of room in there to swing the wrench.

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...rmoswitch2.jpg

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...ermoswitch.jpg

Re: Home at last...
 

Some more parts getting closer. They were also working on the urethane nose today so I had to bring a spare set of grills for trial fitting. Also had to use the plastic welder to fix a couple stress cracks that popped up in the plastic valance. He's going to shoot the tail panel, spoilers, flares, and hood all at once. Then the nose and plastic valance as they need the flex agent additive.

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7004687.jpg

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7004688.jpg

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7004686.jpg

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7004689.jpg

and the PPG single stage paint in case anyone wanted to know what it is they are using:

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7004695.jpg

Re: Home at last...
 

Steve, A little progress is better than none https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/smile.gif Been too cold for me to get anything done in the garage. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/frown.gif

Re: Home at last...
 

Thanks to 70RAIII, one of the guys on the PerformanceYears.com website where I have the Pontiac version of this thread, I now have the correctly plated fan, nut, and pulley on the the correctly finished case (Thanks to 68L30) 1100928 open-face alternator.

The finish he got on the parts is actually the correct cadmium, like the originals, which is more of a satin finish and not as chrome-looking as the clear zinc that is substituted these days for cadmium, by most industrial platers.

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7004762.jpg

Re: Home at last...
 

Some painted parts as of today. I picked up the fender flares and the left, rear, side marker bezel, so I can get them ready to install. The tail panel and rear spoilers need to be sanded and polished, so hopefully they will be ready later this week.

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...15268b/319.jpg

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...15268b/320.jpg

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...15268b/321.jpg

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...15268b/322.jpg

Re: Home at last...
 

Attached the welting to the flares today. I used clear trim adhesive to attach the ends to the flares. Since most of the welting stays in place without any assistance I didnt glue the majority of it, just the ends. The upper end is the tricky part. The key is to trim a section out so the welting will correctly follow the edge of the tip of the flare without buckling. I then used a small amount of the trim cement and clamped it in place until it set. The trim adhesive sets quite rapidly when you follow the directions and held in position very well.

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7004798.jpg
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7004803.jpg

Re: Home at last...
 

Just finished reading this epic thread. Holy crap! Man you do some nice work https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif
Good luck with the rest of the build https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: Home at last...
 

[ QUOTE ]
Just finished reading this epic thread. Holy crap! Man you do some nice work https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif
Good luck with the rest of the build https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Hope you had a lot of food and drink nearby - it's a long one. On par with Homer's Odyssey.

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...son50Thumb.gif

(The other Homer, that is) https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...268b/Homer.jpg

Re: Home at last...
 

Steve, you have to hurry up with this build before your kids go to College https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/smile.gif hope to see it this year (along with my car) at the next flemington show!

Re: Home at last...
 

Did some more work on the flares. Knowing how bad the rear flares get pummelled by rocks thrown off the front tires, I decided to use the 3M clear protective film on the rear flares. I taped some wax paper over the flare and traced out the line of the front facing section. I then cut out the area from the wax paper and test fit that on the flare. Fit perfectly after a little trimming. With that, I transferred the wax paper onto the 3M material and cut out the section I needed. I used some of the leftover decal application gel from my stripes and it went on fine. The first attempt resulted in a few too many air bubbles but it seems to lift up rather easily and I was able to get it applied with no air bubbles at all.

Once applied it is virtually undetectable on the flares. I had to really try to get the edge of the applique to show in the photos.

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7004808.jpg

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7004812.jpg

And here is a photo of the pattern in case anyone needs to use it. By the way, you just flip it over to make the other side pattern.

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7004805.jpg

Re: Home at last...
 

I spent the day installing the flares. The rears are a bit easier than the fronts. Due to the thickness of the repro welting and the fact that it is of a harder material than the originals (more of a plastic or vinyl than a soft rubber) it tends not to compress when the flare is installed. I did quite a bit of trimming of the underside to get the welting as flat as possible. I then added a "donut" of black body caulking around each screw hole so the screw wouldn't bend and crack the mounting points. The real tricky parts are where the welting has to twist into a 90 degree angle to go under the top of the flare and into the wheel well. Lots of trimming and massaging with a heat gun there.

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7004815.jpg

The front flares are more difficult as one of the mounting bolts is virtaully unreachable without removing the inner fenders and lower closure panel. I had to unbolt several of the inner fender-to-fender bolts and then remove the side marker lamp in order to even see the mounting location. You can then slip the bolt and 1/2 inch socket in to blindly find the mounting hole. The second mounting hole is a bit easier as you can reach it from the front of the car, but you need to use a ratcheting box end to turn it. More massaging was in order and several on-and-offs were required before I was satisfied with the flare-to-fender fit.

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7004814.jpg

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7004816.jpg

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7004813.jpg

Re: Home at last...
 

Installed the tail panel, tail lights, license plate assembly and rear bumper. I ended up using silicone RTV on the back side of the panel to hold the "PONTIAC" letters in place since the barrel clips only lead to cracking of the rear panel around the insert holes.

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7004823.jpg

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7004822.jpg

Re: Home at last...
 

Looks great, can't wait to see it completely finished.

Re: Home at last...
 

[ QUOTE ]
Looks great, can't wait to see it completely finished.

[/ QUOTE ]

I can; that will mean this thread is over and we don't get to see what other tricks Steve has up his sleeve for making things fit better than factory.

Re: Home at last...
 

Another random helpful hint: I used some of the extra 3M clear protective material and placed a 1 inch tall by 10 inch wide strip in the exact area when the base of the license plate frame would rub the fiberglas panel. I also used several washers under the two mounting bolts for the license plate assembly hinge to space it out about 3/8ths of an inch from it's normal position. This allows the license plate and original dealer frame to clear the fiberglas tail panel without gouging it when I fill the tank with gas.

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7004824.jpg

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7004826.jpg

Re: Home at last...
 

Got the rear spoiler installed today. Took a while to get the three sections lined up with each other while also fitting properly on the rear quarters. The key is to use a small circle of body dum-dum on each mounting pad so the sections can compress the dum-dum and settle properly instead of just riding directly on the quarters and trunklid.

It also took a while to get the center section of the stripe measured and lined up correctly prior to installation. Measure twice and apply once is the rule... except when you measure ten times and the math just doesn't work out. That was, until I figured out that the top of the center section is about 1/2" wider than the base. DUH!

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7004836.jpg

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7004839.jpg

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7004835.jpg

Nice rear end! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/naughty.gif
I always liked the look of the 70-73 'birds. Pontiac got the look just right.

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7004846.jpg

So now at least the back end of the car is finished! If only I could get the shaker, hood, nose, valance and front spoiler painted and installed, then the car would be done. And then I can crown the acheivement with the installation of the restored steering wheel that has been sitting in my closet for 4 years now...if I can still find it.

Re: Home at last...
 

Very nice Steve. She's got a nice arse, she does!! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif

Re: Home at last...
 

Not much junk fits in that trunk! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif

Re: Home at last...
 

Looking great Steve! I think you will have fun re-installing the nose on this puppy. According to my friend (69 trans-am), Pontiac loved to add extra braces, blind screws and many more screws than necessary to install the parts. Luck!

Re: 72 TA : New Project
 

[ QUOTE ]
After hunting for a while I finally found a nice project car for the next year or so

[/ QUOTE ]

Wow! 5 plus years in the making and 44 pages later!!! Seems like this thread started only last year and has been an absolute joy to follow along all these years. She looks great Steve and thanks for letting us ride along. It is threads like this that keep me coming here. Your work is outstanding especially considering where you have been working on it. When do you start your next project........... https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/naughty.gif

Re: 72 TA : New Project
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
After hunting for a while I finally found a nice project car for the next year or so

[/ QUOTE ]



[/ QUOTE ]


Yeah, I guess I jinxed myself bigtime with that statement!

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/rolleyes.gif

...and she aint finished yet. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif

Re: 72 TA : New Project
 

This is probably the best thread on any car forum out there.like i mentioned before this is resto book material.do you have this on any pontiac web forums?