72 TA : New Project - Page 81

**njsteve** · #**801** 07-24-2009, 12:10 AM

I had my original redipped but they didn't disassemble it to do all the different parts, though. Your latch setup does look nice.

**njsteve** · #**802** 08-04-2009, 07:23 PM

Still waiting on the other sheetmetal...

Spent last night charging the a/c system with the R12 I have been saving all these years. My mechanic buddy has all the hoses, gauges and vacuum pump, which made it very easy. Blows nice and cold (50 degrees on a 90 degree day).

**njsteve** · #**803** 08-15-2009, 01:15 AM

Still waiting for more parts to get painted...

Started fine tuning some things:

I didn't like the factory fit of the driver's side rear marker light bezel. It seems like they made the bezel about 1/16" of an inch larger than the beveled opening it was designed to fit into. The passenger side fit OK but the driver's side actually sticks out and wouldn't seat properly against the lens assembly. It's not the body work/paint depth, it's actually the bezel that's too long.

I bought a couple extra bezels on ebay and found the same bent curvature in them from over-tightening that existed on my original piece.

So I ended up using one of the straightest bezels I could find and did a little hammer and anvil work to flatten it out. I then just ground the edges away and sanded till the bezel would inset properly into the beveled mounting area.

Here's the before:

And a close up of the edge that wouldn't inset properly:

And here is the extra bezel after grinding, sanding and filing. Fits nicely now. And the lens actually indexes properly into the two slots instead of sitting behind the bezel.

**Dave Rifkin** · #**804** 08-15-2009, 01:24 AM

Damn Steve your Trans Am is going to have the best fit and finish of any F-Body out there; nice work, looks much better.

Verne_Frantz · #**805** 08-15-2009, 04:10 AM

I agree, IF you worked for Fisher Body back then, they'd be lucky to complete 3 cars a day instead of 300. There are 2 ways to restore a car; the way Chevrolet built it and the way we wish they built it. IT's nice to see both examples.........as long as we know the difference.

**njsteve** · #**806** 08-15-2009, 04:18 AM

Obviously, I would have gotten fired after the first day.
But at least those three people would have been happy customers.

**Dave Rifkin** · #**807** 08-15-2009, 04:52 AM

I guess you could consider this Trans Am's body as being blueprinted?

Verne_Frantz · #**808** 08-15-2009, 05:03 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Obviously, I would have gotten fired after the first day.
But at least those three people would have been happy customers.

[/ QUOTE ]

That was the PERFECT reply Steve

**njsteve** · #**809** 08-22-2009, 07:27 AM

Finally picked up the trunk lid, intermediate panel and tail light panel today. The painter was having problems with solvent pop due to the insane heat and humidity lately and had to get some really slow reducer to get it to come out right. He's working on the front fenders and hood now.

Spent a couple hours tonight installing the intermediate panel and the rear window trim. The trick for installing the window trim without cracking the nearby paint is to put a layer of masking tape along the entire painted edge and then gently push the moldings down til they engage the trim clips, starting at the outside of the car and moving toward the center. Worked like a charm.

I then installed the taillight panel and the tail lights. Tomorrow I'll get the rear bumper and license plate bracket set up installed. The license plate bracket is a little tricky since I have the original dealer cast metal license plate frame and want to use it on the rear plate. I have to use longer mounting bolts and install several washers to kick the hinge mechanism out about 3/8" of an inch so the lower edge of the license plate doesn't gouge the paint when it folds down to access the gas cap. Even on a frameless plate, they will still scrape the paint if not spaced out properly.

And no, those infamous vintage mudflaps are not permanently installed, just hanging there on rubber clips. (keeps the paint protected for those test drives around the gravel driveway). If you look closely you'll even see my original "Keep On Truckin" floormats sitting under the trunk lid on the car cover next to the 'bird. ;-)

**Dave Rifkin** · #**810** 08-22-2009, 03:40 PM

That car is going to be gorgeous when done; you're in the home stretch now................

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