72 TA : New Project

[njsteve]

I have all of the PHS data on the car. I was even able to locate the original dealer (they're still in business out in California) and they sent me some license plates and frames.

There's nothing like the feeling of calling Pontiac and getting your car's build sheet from their files!

But when it comes to the miscellanious decals it is very hard to find Pontiac specific items.

[njsteve]

I have the subframe all painted up and on the stand now. I started cleaning the control arms and noticed that the factory must have dipped the arms in black paint with the idea that they stopped dipping before the paint got onto the area of the ball joints. (or the ball joints were installed when the arm was dipped) Here is the lower control arm. You can see by the rusty area that there was never any paint on the end:

[njsteve]

Here's the underside of the lower arm. (The wierd tiger striping is from the pressure sprayer set on too fine of a stream)

[njsteve]

Here's the upper arm. It seems that the upper ball joints must have been installed when the arms were dipped in paint as there is no paint on the mounting surface of the arm where the ball joint was installed. This car still had its original riveted ball joints in place at 115,000 miles. (I took them out as I intend to drive the car and I'm not too crazy about having my wheels fall off at speed)

[njsteve]

Here's the underside of the upper arm:

[MosportGreen66]

Steve... great pictures! I would be interested to see if the Camaros were assembled in a similar fashion! Great work!

[njsteve]

I believe that the Norwood plant was the only plant making Camaros and Firebirds in 1972. The United Auto Workers went on strike in April of 1972, shutting the entire plant down until the next model year. That's why 72 is probably the rarest year for F-body total production. (only 458 4-speed Trans Ams were built). When the line went back up in 73, they ended up scrapping thousands of partially completed cars due to the fact that they did not meet the 1973 emissions and bumper regulations.

[Stefano]

Great Pics, keep'em coming!

[Alss]

[ QUOTE ]
And here is a close up of the front coil spring. As you can see it was painted black originaly and still has the part number tag attached, #3988100 AX. Does anyone know if this tag is reproduced? I couldnt find it on Jim Osborn's site.

[/ QUOTE ]

Contact Don Lightfoot,he is a member here and at Team Chevelle... he made me tags and various stickers for my COPO springs that no one else had. Resto looks great, keep up the good work.

ALbert

Here is Dons E-mail [email protected] Tell him ALbert sent you

[njsteve]

I spent some time hand washing the spindles today, trying to preserve the original paint marks. It seems that the spindles have some type of grey phosphate coating on them. After using a toothbrush and some watered down detergent, here are the results. This is the driver's side spindle with its green paint mark.