72 TA : New Project

[njsteve]

Glad to be of service. I like to do things with my own hands. I can never understand the guys that want to buy a complete finished car: Where is the satifaction in having something that is yours simply through purchase power alone? Anyone can buy a finished car but doing it yourself (or as much as you can do yourself) is where the enjoyment is. My theory is "It's not mine until I've either broken something on it or I've bled on it somewhere, while trying to fix it."

Now where is that bottle of Advil. My thumb is throbbing from hitting it with a mallet. My forearms feel like Popeye's and I need a tetanus shot from crimping too many of those damn hog-rings onto my fingers.

Oh and I still have to hook up the new VCR/DVD in the living room after the five year old thought the DVD disc would play better with butter on it to fill in all the scratches.

[Jeff H]

Steve, I did the seat covers on my 70 SS396 a month ago. They are the black/white houndstooth seats that are a one year only design so I was happy to even find a set of PUI covers. They are a close match to the originals but definitely not 100%, probably closer to 90% match. And they didn't have as many places to hog ring as the originals but it doesn't look like that was a problem for me. The TA is looking good. You need to bring it down to Jackson Outlets so we can park them together!

[Dave Rifkin]

[ QUOTE ]
Steve, I did the seat covers on my 70 SS396 a month ago. They are the black/white houndstooth seats that are a one year only design so I was happy to even find a set of PUI covers. They are a close match to the originals but definitely not 100%, probably closer to 90% match. And they didn't have as many places to hog ring as the originals but it doesn't look like that was a problem for me. The TA is looking good. You need to bring it down to Jackson Outlets so we can park them together!

[/ QUOTE ]

When is the Jackson outlets gathering; I have heard good things about that show.

[Jeff H]

[ QUOTE ]
When is the Jackson outlets gathering; I have heard good things about that show.

[/ QUOTE ]

It's the last Friday of every month during the summer. I think Sep is the last one this year. It's a nice mix of restored cars, street rods and customs.

[Turbo Regal]

[ QUOTE ]
This is without question my favorite thread from any site that I've visited in the years that I have been searching the web. I love to see the progress on a car that I admire and also to see the outstanding results that can be had by a car owner working out of his garage.
This restoration and all of its documentation via photographs should be made into a book.
I know I'd love to read about the methods used to create such great results.
Keep up the good work; I look forward to each and every update. I think I'll be a bit disappointed when it's finally complete; you'll have to find another car and start again (only kidding)

[/ QUOTE ]I agree!

[70-SS/RS-L78]

[ QUOTE ]
This is without question my favorite thread from any site that I've visited in the years that I have been searching the web. I love to see the progress on a car that I admire and also to see the outstanding results that can be had by a car owner working out of his garage.
This restoration and all of its documentation via photographs should be made into a book.
I know I'd love to read about the methods used to create such great results.
Keep up the good work; I look forward to each and every update. I think I'll be a bit disappointed when it's finally complete; you'll have to find another car and start again (only kidding)

[/ QUOTE ]

I also agree..
Nice Work Steve

[njsteve]

Todays' question: I am looking at using some of the modern plastic panel repair adhesives to repair the cracks in the lower front valance for this car and was wondering if anyone knows exactly what type of plastic these valances were made of? Is it ABS plastic or something else more prehistoric than that?

Any recommendations on adhesives?

This was a very rare piece used on late 72 and early 73 Firebirds. The problem was that they were easily broken. As a result the factory replaced them all under warranty with the steel valance used in 70 to 72. The steel valance makes the front end of the car look quite different, not nearly as streamlined looking as the plastic valance version. Here's a couple shots of the one I am working on at the moment. It arrived a little more broken in shipping that I expected but I have had it in my extremely expensive ACME Plastic Valance Repair Fixture, as you can see. It took years of development and millions of dollars to perfect and cannot be duplicated at any price. It actually is working great. In about three weeks it has completely pulled the edges of the main center crack back together. Now if I only had the right adhesive to keep it there, it would be wonderful

(P.S. I am still looking for whole plastic valances or even parts to repair the plastic valance that I have for my 72 T/A if anyone out there has one for sale.)

Here's the before photos:

[njsteve]

Here's the ACME repair fixture in all its glory:




And here's the "after" photo showing the edges of the crack completely rejoined together through the magic of gravity and professionally applied industrial counterweights:

[KevinW]

Steve, I saw this stuff demonstrated at Carlise. It was really amazing what they could do with it. I have not puchased any because I am not there with what I have to repair yet. I'm still working with metal!

http://plastex.home.att.net/

[70-SS/RS-L78]

Steve your best bet would be to find a similar type of thin rubber and urethane it behind the crack, If you just try to
butt weld the crack together the part will break. I have refurbished more then my share of Z/28 and TA covers. The
aftermarket covers did not even come close to OEM.