72 TA : New Project - Page 55

**njsteve** · #**541** 01-17-2008, 02:52 AM

I think they were too short, too wide, the dot matrix pattern was wrong, and they didn't have the clear carrier film that encompassed the center section and the outer pinstripe like the original OEM decal did. Other than that they were a perfect reproduction part.

mudjnky · #**542** 01-18-2008, 07:04 PM

Amazing that they will put out a product like that.

**njsteve** · #**543** 01-18-2008, 10:56 PM

The bodyman sent me an email today that was titled "ready for primer". For a second there I thought he had all the bodywork finished already!

**njsteve** · #**544** 01-19-2008, 12:35 AM

Here it is a few hours later:

**njsteve** · #**545** 01-21-2008, 11:36 PM

Over the weekend I found a nice quarter panel off of a 1980 Turbo Trans Am on ebay for $150. And it was local in PA, too! - so no shipping, just a couple hours of driving there and then dropping it off at the body shop.

This way we can cut out a replacement section for the forward "LiteBrite" section of the rear quarter.

Gee, after seeing that 1980 Turbo Trans AM go for $65,000 at Barrett-Jackson over the weekend, I guess I got a bargain here. I should have bought each of the other 3/4's at $150 apiece!

TMagda · #**546** 01-23-2008, 05:21 AM

Steve, there may be something here you can use.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/70-to-73-...sspagenameZWDVW

**njsteve** · #**547** 01-23-2008, 06:11 AM

I actually went to his house 4 years to look at a buddy's old 71 T/A that this seller had. Sadly it was way too far gone to even attempt to salvage. It was also missing the cowl tag and the "original engine" turned out to be a replacement block with 5 sleeves in it. I think he ended up parting it out soon after, because no one pay him what he thought it was worth. He does have a ton of other parts though.

**njsteve** · #**548** 01-25-2008, 02:21 AM

The body shop is starting the plasma cutting of the rusty sections of the trunk floor. He is trying to remove as little as possible since the rusty part is only in the "pit" section of the trunk floor. Since no one makes replacement gas tank braces for second gen F-bodies, he has to cut around them as well and then remove the rusty trunk floor manually from the long braces.

**njsteve** · #**549** 01-27-2008, 07:05 AM

After some more trimming. The gas tank braces look very nice for their age.

**njsteve** · #**550** 01-30-2008, 12:59 AM

More progress: the trunk pan being fitted and welded up:

Dedicated to the Promotion and Preservation of American Muscle Cars, Dealer built Supercars and COPO cars.