72 TA : New Project

[njsteve]

I've been working on my other project lately (1987 IROC Z) and have been collecting parts for the T/A. I recently received my Gardner exhaust system and trial fitted it this afternoon. Amazing quality stuff! It took longer to bolt up the hangers than it did to hang the entire system. Everything slid into place by hand. The only problem I ran into was trying to finagle the intermediate pipes under the car without the car being on a lift. I was like one of those twisted nail puzzlers that you see in novelty stores. There was only one way to move, twist and rotate the pipe(s) around to get them into place. But after using my brain and lifting the car as high as possible on the jack stands, they eventually fell into place. I highly recommend their products. I trial fitted (no clamps) everything so I can start the car with an exhaust in place. The engine hasn't been run in 6 months or so and now that I have the radiator, power steering and everything else hooked up I want to get it sorted out. I'll try to link some photos in the next day or so.

[njsteve]

Here are some photos of the Gardner exhaust trial fitted to the car. The pipes hung perfectly -no tools required.

[njsteve]

Once in a while you actually find a bargain on ebay: I have been looking for an NOS front spoiler for the T/A. When you can locate one they run between $300 and $400 dollars. The reproductions are total garbage. This one was somewhat mis-described in its auction and I ended up getting it for $128! It is definitely an original NOS GM piece that came factory pre-painted in white. Here it is alongside my slightly used (smashed and burnt) original one:

[njsteve]

I put some gas in her today and she started right up. The Gardner exhaust sounds very nice. Kinda rumbly. Now I have to figure out why the temp gauge isnt working. It worked last Fall when I ran it. Everything on the engine and frame is grounded and the gauge moves to zero when the key is turned on but doesn't read when the engine heats up. Anyone know how to test these guages and/or the sender? The gauges use a printed circuit in the back.

[njsteve]

I fixed the gauge problem. An old-time mechanic buddy of mine gave me this secret: if you want to verify if the guage is working disconnect the temp sensor wire from the sensor at the engine and connect a test light between the sensor wire and engine ground. Turn on the ignition switch. The test light should glow dimly. If it glows, the gauge is working and is grounded properly and the sensor itself is bad. That was the case here. I went to the local NAPA store and they actually had the correct gauge sensor in stock with the correct slip-on style terminal end for early GM vehicles. This makes me happy as I did not want to pull the dash out for exploratory surgery.

[njsteve]

Just so you don't all think I've been slacking. Here's what she looks like at the moment. Everything starts up and runs as designed, even the shaker flapper (they use two of the same hood solenoids as the 69 Camaro). I am waiting for the body shop to get the front sheet metal done before I bring the rest of the car down. Don't mind the damaged shaker, That is the original one the previous owner drove over when he was putting the fire out. I have a mint replacment waiting for paint.

I just dropped off the original honeycomb wheels at the media blaster today to get the several layers of incorrect silver paint off of them. I'll update when they come back.

[DarrenX33]

Looks great slacker.