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Re: 72 TA : New Project
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: njsteve</div><div class="ubbcode-body">OK maybe I'll stay away from the Goodyear Marathons after reading all the bad reviews that mirror my experiences over the years. Anybody recomment a 225/75R15 trailer tire that doesn't explode like it has a two year timed fuse in it? </div></div>
Here is a chart from Tire Rack that shows the country of origin for the Goodyear Marathon tires. http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?...rtnum=275R5MAR8 You should consider load range "D" in a 225 75-15.( US made) There are not allot of good choices out there that are not Chi-Neez. I have read allot of horror stories about trailer tires, my best guess is half the blowouts are from tire age, and under inflation. From everything I have read, 4 years is about it for trailer tires, and no you may never wear a set out. I just got four last year B4 the haul to the reunion. I think I will also buy covers, as my trailer is always outside. And run the suckers at full pressure. Good luck |
Re: 72 TA : New Project
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: m22mike</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: njsteve</div><div class="ubbcode-body">OK maybe I'll stay away from the Goodyear Marathons after reading all the bad reviews that mirror my experiences over the years. Anybody recomment a 225/75R15 trailer tire that doesn't explode like it has a two year timed fuse in it? </div></div>
Here is a chart from Tire Rack that shows the country of origin for the Goodyear Marathon tires. http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?...rtnum=275R5MAR8 You should consider load range "D" in a 225 75-15.( US made) There are not allot of good choices out there that are not Chi-Neez. I have read allot of horror stories about trailer tires, my best guess is half the blowouts are from tire age, and under inflation. From everything I have read, 4 years is about it for trailer tires, and no you may never wear a set out. I just got four last year B4 the haul to the reunion. I think I will also buy covers, as my trailer is always outside. And run the suckers at full pressure. Good luck </div></div> It's beyond me that any manufacturer would build a tire that is only rated for a maximum speed of 65 mph. That's nuts! |
Re: 72 TA : New Project
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Norwood</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Now that Trans Am is starting to come together...I have a bad feeling that you are going to removing some striping this week, but lets hope I am wrong. Steve please do me a favor and measure and post the width of your current S&S roof stripe. </div></div>
The S&S roof and trunk stripe are 18-3/8" wide to the clear outer edge |
Re: 72 TA : New Project
Regarding trailer tires: I bought Load Range E TOW MAX tires. Not only are they rated to carry more weight, but they call for 80 PSI.
Yes they are made off shore. I dont have any real legitimate experience, but they are only one of two brands (MAXIS) that I found offering LOAD RANGE E 15" trailer tires. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...Towmax_STR.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ToolBox020.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...oRepair077.jpg |
Re: 72 TA : New Project
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: njsteve</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> You might notice the rubber vacuum line wrapped on the hood spring. Looks kind of cheesy but until someone comes up with a better idea................. </div></div>
How about dipping it or spraying it with several coats of plasti-dip? Very durable though not near as thick looking as the rubber tube so it may not stick out so bad. Throw away the Good Year Marathons!!!! I as well as most of my fellow car buddies have had numerous issues with Marathons. I blew three in one 500 mile trip!!!! The only one that did not blow on the trip was the non Marathon tire. To add to the issue, when I when in to a Goodyear dealer I found on the way, they would not even sell me the Marathons as they too agreed they were junk. Stowers and I blew only one tire on our trip to Carlise last year, the ONLY Marathon on the trailer! JMO |
Re: 72 TA : New Project
What is everyone using if not the Marathons?
Jake |
Re: 72 TA : New Project
TOW MAX Load Range E
Search for dealer in your area. |
Re: 72 TA : New Project
Found this info on trailer tires at Discount Tire:
Speed •All "ST" tires have a maximum speed rating of 65 mph. •As heat builds up, the tire's structure starts to disintegrate and weaken. •The load carrying capacity gradually decreases as the heat and stresses generated by higher speed increases. Time •Time and the elements weaken a trailer tire. •In approximately three years, roughly one-third of the tire's strength is gone. •Three to five years is the projected life of a normal trailer tire. •It is suggested that trailer tires be replaced after three to four years of service regardless of tread depth or tire appearance. Mileage •Trailer tires are not designed to wear out. •The life of a trailer tire is limited by time and duty cycles. •The mileage expectation of a trailer tire is 5,000 to 12,000 miles. Here's the entire link with some interesting facts: http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/inf...rTireFacts.dos |
Re: 72 TA : New Project
That is interesting - thanks.
Jake |
Re: 72 TA : New Project
Finally got back in town and installed the Phoenix Graphix hood stripe. The stripe seems to be the right color and dimension and matches the Stencils&Stripes brand roof and trunk decals. The quality control of the trimming of the clear outer area leaves a lot to be desired, though. It ranges from 3/8 inch in the corners to 1 mm along the sides. Not very good trimming done by the manufacturer, at all. (Still better than the non-existent 1-year back-ordered hood stripe that never arrived from the other stripe maker.)
It will take a few days for the remaining bubbles to evaporate and then it should look pretty good. It was a bear getting that cut out to properly match the shaker hole. Took about 2 hours with a lot of application gel. http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7005440.jpg http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7005446.jpg |
Re: 72 TA : New Project
Close ups on the outer perimeter:
On an ironic note, with these flaws it is probably as close as you can get to the factory poor build quality of the original stripes! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif[/img] http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7005463.jpg http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7005461.jpg http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7005460.jpg http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7005454.jpg |
Re: 72 TA : New Project
Looks awesome!
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Re: 72 TA : New Project
Nice Steve! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]
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Re: 72 TA : New Project
Got the shaker back on yesterday. I applied the decals and set her back on top of the air cleaner once again. Everything actually works!
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7005465.jpg http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7005466.jpg http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7005469.jpg http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7005470.jpg |
Re: 72 TA : New Project
Now I'm just waiting for the polyethylene valance to get prepped and painted. That's all that's left. I already have the lower spoiler waiting around impatiently, wanting to be on the car.
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7005472.jpg http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7005471.jpg http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7005467.jpg |
Re: 72 TA : New Project
Man that car is stunning; and I thought it looked good before the restoration.
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Re: 72 TA : New Project
If you knew how much money I've put into it in the past 6 years you'd be stunned, too! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/naughty.gif[/img]
Thanks for the compliment [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img] We'll see what it reaches first: 100,000 views, 100 pages or $100K into the resto! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/youguysrock.gif[/img] |
Re: 72 TA : New Project
Steve, all of your hard work has finally paid off. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]
Have you got plates for it yet, or are you going to park it in the family room for a while? [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif[/img] Why would you be surprised that it works? It's built to better than factory specs. For all your attention to detail, it better work. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/Can-I-Have-It.gif[/img] |
Re: 72 TA : New Project
Plates? Heck, it's been registered for 6 years now with the New Jersey QQ historic plates. I just havent been able to drive all of the car at one time. Though I have driven various parts of it over the years as I assembled it.
There's nothing like sittin' on a milk crate while driving a shell with no front sheetmetal, up and down the driveway for half a decade pining for the day when I could actually see a shaker in front of me and not a radiator cap! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/burnout.gif[/img] |
Re: 72 TA : New Project
Looking great Steve! Can't wait to see it in person. So now that it is almost complete are we going to see another project thread [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/laugh.gif[/img]
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Re: 72 TA : New Project
At least PitViper no longer is forced to moonlight as a trans am workbench, although just being near Poncho parts may be considered an upgrade... [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/wink.gif[/img]
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Re: 72 TA : New Project
Yeah! I now know what it's like to discover a vintage barn find - I found the old Viper in my own garage once I used up all those T/A parts!
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Re: 72 TA : New Project
I was tinkering with the car today, drove it to my buddy's garage and we couldn't figure out where the freakin' squeekin' noises were coming from. I tightened everything I could find (including finding a bunch of suspension bolts I didn't tighten 5 years years ago when I assembled the suspension), but couldn't stop the problem. The squeek would appear the moment the front suspension moved.
So after tightening everything twice, I removed the front shocks and discovered that from sitting so long, the four upper shock grommets on both sides were permananetly compressed to the point that they allowed the shock stem to move laterally under compression and make the squeek. I drove around the block with no front shocks and the car was silent. So at least I solved the noise problem for the moment. Now I have to find some more shock grommets/bushings. I also had to re-rebuild my alternator when I noticed it was putting out 18 volts at the dash gauge instead of 14. Luckily I had a spare one around to swap the rectifier and diodes from. Now it works fine and luckily I didn't fry anything. Still waiting on the front valance... |
Re: 72 TA : New Project
Steve, I have a bunch of brand new shock grommets if you still need them. Get ahold of me tomorrow if so.
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Re: 72 TA : New Project
Rick,
I dug around and found some better old ones in the toolbox than I had on the car and reinstalled the shocks (nice and quiet for the moment) but if you have some new ones that would be much better! |
Re: 72 TA : New Project
I threw some info out there on the Temperature Sender thread and thought I'd repost it here as well.
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbt...6&page=all Since it is really expensive to find an original, vintage Delco temp sender that reads correctly, the Wells brand from your local AutoZone ended up being the best and closest calibrated bet. And at $6, it sure beats the hundreds that some people want for an original 1513321. Note: the later Delco replacements are not calibrated correctly and as a result the temp gauge reads way too high - which is the same problem exihibted by the Lectric Limited sender I tested. Here is the chart I made up comparing the $6 Wells TU5, the $25 Lectric Limited, and a vintage GM 1513321 temp sender. The test was done with a pot of water on the stove. The senders were immersed to the top of the threads and then tested with an ohm meter once the water temp stabilized at each temperature level. 80 degrees: Wells at 650 ohms, LL at 573 ohms, GM at 549 90 degrees: Wells at 526 ohms, LL at 445 ohms, GM at 524 100 degrees: Wells at 429 ohms, LL at 365 ohms, GM at 409 110 degrees: Wells at 328 ohms, LL at 266 ohms, GM at 365 120 degrees: Wells at 283 ohms, LL at 227 ohms, GM at 323 130 degrees: Wells at 250 ohms, LL at 200 ohms, GM at 272 140 degrees: Wells at 216 ohms, LL at 170 ohms, GM at 227 150 degrees: Wells at 198 ohms, LL at 155 ohms, GM at 195 160 degrees: Wells at 173 ohms, LL at 133 ohms, GM at 175 170 degrees: Wells at 157 ohms, LL at 119 ohms, GM at 157 180 degrees: Wells at 135 ohms, LL at 101 ohms, GM at 140 190 degrees: Wells at 120 ohms, LL at 89 ohms, GM at 125 200 degrees: Wells at 109 ohms, LL at 79 ohms, GM at 109 212 degrees: Wells at 104 ohms, LL at 75 ohms, GM at 102 |
Re: 72 TA : New Project
Nice job "Mac". So from what I see in your results, the el cheapo Wells brand stayed fairly close with the OEM GM sender (except at 80 degrees . [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif[/img] ) How do these two compare visually?
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Re: 72 TA : New Project
The Wells is an exact duplicate except there is no stamped Delco or part number on it. Only the original GM/Delco units have any words stamped on them at all. The more recent GM/Delco senders have nothing on them at all which leads me to believe that they have some outside manufacturer making them to some universal, one-sender-fits-all spec.
Here are two vintage Delcos on the left, then a correct old NOS Delco sender with the stampings and a more recent (inaccurate) Delco sender with no stamping, on the right: http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/DSC00370.jpg Close up of some vintage Delco senders with the "AC MADE IN USA" stamping: http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...8b/senders.jpg By the way, these are other peoples' photos - I don't have any of these senders. A Pontiac buddy just sent me the one that I tested and that one I put in the car. |
Re: 72 TA : New Project
I hope my car turns out even close to this nice...!!
Great Job!! |
Re: 72 TA : New Project
Finally got the polyethylene valance back today. All that relocating and modifying paid off in the end - it actually fits without any binding, stretching or shoving into place. Just hand-tightening of the large washered bolts to hold it in place.
Here is a shot of the finished valance: http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7005573.jpg |
Re: 72 TA : New Project
And one of the major modifications, which was to add almost a 1/2 inch of reinforcement material (urethane bumper repair material) to the outer edges. Due to bad molding of these parts at the factory, the outer edges were at best, 1/64 of an inch thick and brittle as glass. The polyethylene valance was a great visual design but very poorly executed. That was why the vast majority were replaced by the visually different, stamped steel valance under a blanket warranty/service bulletin.
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7005576.jpg The other major modification was to fill all of the existing mounting holes and then redrill them in the correct locations so they would actually line up with the factory mounting positions on the radiator support. Some of the holes in the valance were over an inch away from their mounting points. The assembly line gorillas didn't care, so they would just shove the valance into place and make the bolts hold it there, til the car rolled to the end of the assembly line and the valance shattered once the car hit the first bump - usually the ramp onto the delivery truck. |
Re: 72 TA : New Project
Gee, we finally made 100 pages on this darn car.
Only took 6 years! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif[/img] |
Re: 72 TA : New Project
The mounted polyethylene valance, prior to the spoiler installation. The major difference between the poly valance and the steel one is that the poly valance has the upper bar that joins with the bottom of the "beak" and has the two small air inlets that mimic the grill openings. This makes for a much smoother look.
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7005578.jpg And the profile views: http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7005579.jpg http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7005580.jpg |
Re: 72 TA : New Project
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: njsteve</div><div class="ubbcode-body">And one of the major modifications, which was to add almost a 1/2 inch of reinforcement material (urethane bumper repair material) to the outer edges.
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7005576.jpg .......</div></div> Steve, can you point out exactly where you added material here please. Did we already see before and during photos for this piece? |
Re: 72 TA : New Project
Here's a comparison between the original 1972 polyethylene valance:
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7005585.jpg And the 1972 steel replacement warranty valance: http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...68b/c091_3.jpg Notice the unfinished look of the mounting area under the beak and the large gap between the top of the steel valance and the bottom of the bumper, this was because the steel valance did not mount to the bottom of the bumper like the poly valance did. (The steel 1972 replacement valance was actually the same valance as used on the 1970 and 1971 Firebirds. The 1972 and 1973 cars came with the poly valance originally). |
Re: 72 TA : New Project
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: x Baldwin Motion</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: njsteve</div><div class="ubbcode-body">And one of the major modifications, which was to add almost a 1/2 inch of reinforcement material (urethane bumper repair material) to the outer edges.
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7005576.jpg .......</div></div> Steve, can you point out exactly where you added material here please. Did we already see before and during photos for this piece? </div></div> Here is my original shattered valance. As you can see the upper left side edge is razor thin. That is where we added all the extra material. Yes, we covered this a few years ago in the thread. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img] http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/P4270002.jpg Here is the link to the fix on the white valance from back in 2008: https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbt...05&page=63 And the blue polyethylene valance back in 2006: https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbt...05&page=23 |
Re: 72 TA : New Project
Only need <span style="text-decoration: line-through">5</span> 4 more replies to hit 1,000.
Great thread Steve. Jake |
Re: 72 TA : New Project
Can't wait for your next 'project'!!! Great stuff Steve!
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Re: 72 TA : New Project
And to think I started this ill-fated project on 11/11/2004 and "sort of" finished it on 08/09/10.
I reread my first posting on the first page back on 11/20/2006: "I finally found a nice project car for the next year or so." [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/haha.gif[/img] What's 6 years between friends. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif[/img] |
Re: 72 TA : New Project
Steve, as always, great work! I remember back in the mid 1980's we used to for old Firebirds cruising around that may still have that original valence. Most were either broken off or had the steel replacement version. But thank you for the great photo showing the differences between the two versions.
And that's the best nose alignments I've ever seen on one of these cars. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img] |
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