72 TA : New Project

[BARN FIND]

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By the way, does anyone have a spare power steering reservoir for a 70's style GM pump? Mine is crushed beyond repair from years of prybar initiated fan belt adjustments:


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If you end up still needing a pump reservior, PM me, I think I may have one on a 71 Bird subframe.

[njsteve]

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By the way, does anyone have a spare power steering reservoir for a 70's style GM pump? Mine is crushed beyond repair from years of prybar initiated fan belt adjustments:

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If you end up still needing a pump reservior, PM me, I think I may have one on a 71 Bird subframe.

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A great big thanks to Ray (a.k.a. BARNFIND) for sending me a free-be 1971 Pontiac power steering pump with no dents in the reservoir. I was even able to cancel my back-ordered pump from AC-Delco, which saved me a bunch of $$$. Ray - Awesome guy! That's what makes being a member of this website so worthwhile. Carguys helping other carguys.

[njsteve]

I have the firewall and cowl top completely painted now. I followed the original overspray lines on the cowl edge:

[njsteve]

I also reinstalled the factory Hurst shifter on the M22. I had Peter Serio rebuild it. He did an awesome job. It took one week, including shipping both ways! Turns out it was the original shifter dated from August 1971. When I took it apart it had all of the factory installed hairpin style clips and washers still intact, as well as the original rubber grommets. Pete's website is: http://www.precisionpontiac.com/contact.htm in case you need his services. He is the expert in Hurst stuff and I highly recommend him. I also sent out the handle to be rechromed. Got that back today. It was $45 and my local chrome guy in Newark, New Jersey did an excellent job - Flavio, of All Bright Metal Finishing (973) 371-8060. Took him 8 days for the job. He does a lot of show car stuff and is very reasonable and meticulous...and things are finished when he says they will be. (which is rare for a chrome plater these days)

[njsteve]

I spent the past week restoring the a/c evaporator housing. It even had it's original POA valve, dated September 21, 1971 still attached. Some gentle application of paint stripper and degreaser removed the years of gunk and overspray, leaving a very clean fiberglas housing. Even the original red paint inspection mark and the Harrision decal remained intact. I replaced the factory heater core as I was not about to trust the 33 year-old piece in there. I also replaced the a/c wiring harness as the original was melted beyond recognition and repaired with, of all things, aluminum foil and duct tape. Gee, no electrical shorts there!

[budnate]

Hey I need to clean my a/c box as well..can you tell me how you got away with stripper and not messing up the finish?? or did this step get the box to sparkle for lack of a better word...

[njsteve]

I brushed it on and waited only a few minutes before wiping it off and then washing it down with mineral spirits to kill any remaining stripper. It did this, maybe two or three times to get all of the paint off. Lacquer strips very easily, the stripper emulsifies it and it just wipes away, whereas enamel based paints bubble first and then can be gently scraped away with a plastic scraper. Either way make sure you wash it with water and mineral spirits to remove any remaining stripper residue. Too long and it will attack the fiberglass. After I had it all clean and dry, I lightly dusted it with some Rustoleum clear enamel to bring back the gloss like the original shiny fiberglass finish.