The New, Newer Project: Part Tres...

[njsteve]

I was scanning some of the original documents from the car to get ready for the MCACN show next week. I found this interesting item. It's the original order blank. In reading it I see that Rick originally ordered both the black vinyl/stainless steel body side moldings and the vinyl multicolor tape stripe, but neither were installed on the car on the assembly line.

[njsteve]

Rick was very meticulous about documenting everything and he was not happy that the car came with a shaker instead of the two scoop hood. Here is his original scribble sheet notes on what he wanted:

[njsteve]

I talked to Rick again today and he said he was initially going to get the side moldings until the dealer said they only came with a black insert. So he declined. The dealer then said they could install a white set...by drilling holes and screwing them onto the car. Rick then said no way.

As for the stripes, Rick doesn't know why they didn't show up on the car or why he didn't raise a stink about it when it arrived without them.

BTW, here's an article from the 1988 HPP with a white-on-white SD Formula with the stripes...and white dealer installed side moldings!





And what's really funny is that I have a photo of this exact car that I took at the Musclecar Nationals in 1986!

[njsteve]

One of the more knowledgeable guys at PY had a possible reason for the stripes not showing up: if your salesman didn't know to check the box that over-rode trim conflicts, then the stripe wouldn't get installed. It seems that white cars normally got blue "SD455" shaker decals and since the stripe was black and orange, you had to over ride the trim conflict so the selected shaker decal would be black to match the stripes.

Rick's salesman was an unemployed dress salesman who had just started at Suburban Pontiac a week or two prior to his ordering the car, so he knew next to nothing about the cars

[DaJudge]

Steve, that red 73 TA on the cover is my neighbor's car. He is the original owner and of course still owns it. Small world

[njsteve]

I haven't really done anything to the SD since I got back from MCACN. I've been working on the truck and getting that all set. Truck is all done now and running nicely.

Back to the Firebird. I need to get rid of four worm-style, fuel hose clamps that were put on the lines to the fuel pump by the second owner. I need two original red and two green spring-style hose clamps. Anybody have any spares in their tool box?

[njsteve]

I just found this on youtube - a brief video of my car at MCACN from November:

MCACN video 73 SD Formula

[twertsy]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: njsteve</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I haven't really done anything to the SD since I got back from MCACN. I've been working on the truck and getting that all set. Truck is all done now and running nicely.

Back to the Firebird. I need to get rid of four worm-style, fuel hose clamps that were put on the lines to the fuel pump by the second owner. I need two original red and two green spring-style hose clamps. Anybody have any spares in their tool box? </div></div>

I know Firebird Central has them but I don't think they're NOS.....

[bulletpruf]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: njsteve</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I haven't really done anything to the SD since I got back from MCACN. I've been working on the truck and getting that all set. Truck is all done now and running nicely.

Back to the Firebird. I need to get rid of four worm-style, fuel hose clamps that were put on the lines to the fuel pump by the second owner. I need two original red and two green spring-style hose clamps. Anybody have any spares in their tool box? </div></div>

Don't buy the reproductions; they have rounded edges instead of flat, like the originals. I looked for some for my car; took a while to find nice NOS ones. If you can't find NOS, you can always blast some crusty originals and mix up some paint to match.

BTW, my car was at MCACN, too - the Pepper Green/black guts 70 RAIV GTO with M21/4.33/dog dishes/bench/manual drums/manual steer, etc. Would have been nice to meet you in person, but I couldn't get away from work.

Anyway, gorgeous car and great thread. Just read all of it from start to finish.

Thanks

Scott

[njsteve]

Bulletpruf, I did see your car at MCACN - that's one awesome piece of machinery!

I know about the rounded edge repro clamps and have avoided them for that very reason. I need some original sharp edged, &quot;wrist slasher&quot; clamps. (If you have ever cut open your hand working around these clamps under a car, you'll know exactly what I am referring to). [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img]

I would prefer used clamps since it will match the patina of the rest of the clamps on the car. So if anyone has a random green 3/8 or red 5/16 clamp, I'd love to give them a new home.
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