72 TA : New Project

[njsteve]

I just got my AM/FM Stereo radio and 8 track player back from Wards Classic Car Radio Repair www.wardsclassiccarradiorepair.com They did a very nice job on the whole set up. It cost $175 total, including return shipping. It took about 2 weeks, which included an entire weekend that he let the 8 track player run just to make sure it checked out after they finished cleaning and refurbishing everything. I asked him what he was using to play for 48 hours straight. He said they have quite a collection of old 8 track tapes just laying around for that purpose. Knowing how bad these things sounded back then compared to today's sound systems, I cant imagine how they deal with it, but hey, they are the experts! I guess you have to scarifice for the sake of your art.

[Mr70]

I prefer the original sound of 8tk tapes over <u>ANY</u> other music media today..

[TC]

So, 8 tracks are not making a come back, And I should finely through these away?







BTW...the T/A in loking AWESOME
Tom

[budnate]

Dang Rick, where did you find the picture of Bruce??

[SSJunkie68-69]

HA HA....that's his OTHER job after taking pics at Pavillions. He sure does have a strong pimp hand.... just kidding Bruce~

[njsteve]

You're in for a treat cuz Disco Stu's diggin that 8-track beat.

[Xplantdad]

[ QUOTE ]
Dang Rick, where did you find the picture of Bruce??

[/ QUOTE ]

Too funny Bud.


I thought I told you not to tell...now I'll have to let everyone know about you and the Zebra...in that hotel room in Collinsville...LOL

[njsteve]

Now here's what I'll be listening to...Brings back memories of lounging around the pool when I was about 7 or 8 years old.

[njsteve]

The latest chapter was trying to restore the original artificial leather-like-substitute, foam padded, Formula "Fat" steering wheel.

I decided to do it myself since the repro wheels are close to correct, but the makers chose to use a very hard urethane instead of a soft one (don't get me started on why companies get that close with a repro part and then don't go all the way when it would be so easy to substitute a softer durometer padding...) and the fact that the so called "restoration" services for these wheels involve them dipping it in a hard plastic outer coating like a Carvel chocolate dipped, ice cream cone (Here comes Willy the Wheel...in my best Frank Carvel/Abe Simpson voice) that cracks the first time your turn the wheel hard left or right.

I decided to try my hand at redoing the original wheel because you can't nice originals for less than $750 on ebay and an NOS 1970 to 73 Fat Wheel will run you about $2000, and I had nothing to lose as my wheel was so badly damaged it was only useable as a core. (Don't confuse the "Fat" wheel with the later model thinner ones that came on 75 to 81 Trans Ams -humungous price difference)

These wheels originaly had a smooth outer coating that eventually wore away after years of use and exposure to the sun, leaving the underlying rough, cracked, crumbly foam material exposed. Here is a close up of what they end up turning into: