Re: 72 TA : New Project
 

Ding! 1000 posts!

Just another comment, it's amazing these cars were actually cruising around back in 1972. They were full tilt race cars on the street. They make the other 71-72 A-body cars seem so tame in comparison, like family cars. The Trans Am was GM's flagship performance car, functional spoilers, functional aerodynamics, and the brute power of the best low compression 71-72 engine ever built, the 455 H.O. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif[/img]

Re: 72 TA : New Project
 

I pulled it out of the garage today, just in time for it to start raining of course...

Here's a shot from 2004:

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...3411-20-04.jpg

and one from today:

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...68b/front1.jpg

Doesn't seem like a helluva lot of difference other than the honeycomb rims, the fixed front spoiler and an empty bank account! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/burnout.gif[/img]

Re: 72 TA : New Project
 

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7005599.jpg

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7005598.jpg

[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/3gears.gif[/img]

Re: 72 TA : New Project
 

2004

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...3411-20-04.jpg

2010

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...68b/front1.jpg

Steve, I can see a heck of a lot of difference! Looking at these two photos, look at the body panel gaps. The 2010 photo shows perfect alignment around the bumper, hood, and door.

Again, beautiful job.

Re: 72 TA : New Project
 

Nice job Mac. She makes the rain look good!! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]

Re: 72 TA : New Project
 

Steve,

Congratulations on an amazing outcome. I have watched and learned through the years and admire your dedication and attention to detail. What are you planning on doing with all your spare time now?!! Thanks for sharing your project with us.
Dave

Re: 72 TA : New Project
 

Drop dead gorgeous!

Congrats from another member of the empty bank account club.

Re: 72 TA : New Project
 

Really nice Steve. Now that it's done what are we going to do?

Jake

Re: 72 TA : New Project
 

WOW.....she's a beauty!!!!

Re: 72 TA : New Project
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RPOLS3</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Really nice Steve. Now that it's done what are we going to do?

Jake </div></div>

Go to Disneyland..........

Re: 72 TA : New Project
 

That is one beautiful car Steve.....now that it's finished and no one else has asked.... [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/Can-I-Have-It.gif[/img]

Re: 72 TA : New Project
 

Sure! After 6 years I'm ready for something else now. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/burnout.gif[/img]


If the weather cooperates I'll be driving it to the Hemmings Musclepalooza at Englishtown in a few weeks. Stop by and say Hi!
[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/youguysrock.gif[/img]

Re: 72 TA : New Project
 

Steve, which day are you going? Sat or Sun? Is the $30 sun fee worth it?

Re: 72 TA : New Project
 

I'll probably go both days. Two different shows. Saturday's a show and cruise-in. There's a more formalized car show on Sunday.

http://www.hemmings.com/events/musclepalooza.html

Re: 72 TA : New Project
 

Thanks, my other friend steve (real 69 Trans-am) and I are thinking about going sun.

Re: 72 TA : New Project
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: firstgenaddict</div><div class="ubbcode-body">At least PitViper no longer is forced to moonlight as a trans am workbench, although just being near Poncho parts may be considered an upgrade... [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/wink.gif[/img] </div></div>

Spent the afternoon cleaning up the &quot;workbench&quot;. Look what I found underneath it.

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7005602.jpg

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7005605.jpg



I guess it's been undercover as a workbench quite a while since my son came out to the garage and said: &quot;I didn't know we had a Viper?&quot;

Re: 72 TA : New Project
 

That's funny Steve!

Re: 72 TA : New Project
 

It would be nice if you could bring it to MCACN in November. A bunch of us would like to see it.

Re: 72 TA : New Project
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: njsteve</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I guess it's been undercover as a workbench quite a while since my son came out to the garage and said: &quot;I didn't know we had a Viper?&quot; </div></div>

That is really funny! How old was he when you started this project? Sound like in-between the 6 year project he became &quot;car aware&quot; [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/laugh.gif[/img]

Re: 72 TA : New Project
 

He's almost 10 now and was 3 when I started the project. The daughter was in third grade and she's now in high school!

Re: 72 TA : New Project
 

Great job Steve. Now can you come over and help me with my Formula Haha

Re: 72 TA : New Project
 

Steve, you still going Sat and Sunday?

Re: 72 TA : New Project
 

Yes, I'll probably be there around noon Saturday and early on Sunday.

Re: 72 TA : New Project
 

Sounds good, I am still toying with showing up sunday. your cell still ends in 49?

Re: 72 TA : New Project
 

Nope, I'll pm ya.

Re: 72 TA : New Project
 

Drove the 72 to Musclepalooza at Englishtown this weekend. Met a bunch of people who recognized the car from this thread.

Don't you just hate it when you go to the senior prom and somebody else shows up wearing the exact same dress as you???

[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/naughty.gif[/img]


http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/S7005702.jpg

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/S7005703.jpg


But seriously, one of the guys from the Performance Years website, Dave, (necdb3) brought his beautiful March 1972 built '72 T/A, 4-speed, A/C, polyethylene valance-equipped car and we parked next to each other (His is on the right). Great guy and even nicer car. It was neat to have another 72 there to compare to. I even found I was missing an A/C hose bracket on the inner fender. In fact I have the bracket, I just could never figure out where the darn thing was supposed to go! Mystery solved, thanks to Dave.

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/S7005681.jpg

At the end of the day, I wound up with a second place for the Pontiac class. An absolutely stunning turquoise, 65 GTO won 1st place. It was an amazing car and definitely deserved the win. - Though, I think I had more fun! When we were sitting in the cars, waiting to drive up for the trophy presentation, the Hemmings people were telling the drivers that they could shut their cars off to avoid overheating on the 90 degree day. I just smiled, rolled up the windows and turned the A/C to max and watched the temp gauge sit happily at 170 degrees. Try doing that in a tri-powered GTO!
[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/burnout.gif[/img]

Re: 72 TA : New Project
 

Congrats Steve! Do you remember who took the chev trophys?

Re: 72 TA : New Project
 

The white 67 Z/28 got a trophy (I recall that since he was in line behind me).

Re: 72 TA : New Project
 

Amazingly enough, this morning I found that little a/c hose bracket in the &quot;box-o-leftover parts&quot; I have. Here it is all nice and installed:

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/S7005752.jpg

Re: 72 TA : New Project
 

Steve,
I need to take the opportunity to say thanks. Not only has your thread (which I hate to see end) been sheer entertainment, but also rather inspiring. I must say for myself (and probably some others) that your work is a text book model to slow down, pay attention to the details, and produce a product that raises the bar of quality. In addition to the restoration itself, the additional time taken to photograph the details and share them must have really stacked up. Sir, I take my hat off to you! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/worship.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/Can-I-Have-It.gif[/img]

Re: 72 TA : New Project
 

You're all quite welcome. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]

As is the curse of every project, this one is never done. I still have bugs to get out. After the 200 miles I put on her this weekend, I found out I have an out of balance wheel. I need to find the best four of the eight honeycombs I have so the car rolls without that 55 mph jiggle.

And the darn a/c compressor sprays oil around the engine compartment. What is it with the GM A6 compressors? In 30 years of buying new, not reman compressors for the cars I have, I've only bought one compressor that didn't leak oil. And that's the one in our '75 Firebird, which has a dirty original engine compartment that doesn't need a clean compressor.

Re: 72 TA : New Project
 

If you get the A/C compressor thing sorted out let me know as I have been fighting that for 23 years on the Chevelle as well.

Jake

Re: 72 TA : New Project
 

I think it was dual designed as an A/C compressor and a front mounted rust-proofing, oil dispenser, kinda like the V75 Liquid Tire Chain, trunk-mounted traction compound dispenser that was available on 69 Camaros.
[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/burnout.gif[/img]

Re: 72 TA : New Project
 

I think you're right Steve; I've never seen a '60s or early '70s compressor that didn't spew out oil from the front seal. I changed THREE of them on my '63 and they all did it! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif[/img] Still have wet hood insulation and a slimy inner fender. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/dunno.gif[/img]

Verne [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Re: 72 TA : New Project
 

Spent last night at my buddy's garage dismounting all eight honeycomb rims from the four radials and four Polyglasses. We found the best, non-wobbliest rims and mounted the radials on them. Those honeycomb rims are extrememly hard to balance since a normal balancer that centers a rim with a steel cone, won't work with urethane face honeycombs. The problem is that the center portion of the urethane face of the honeycomb is molded around a steel cone-shaped, support that is not set in any particular spot on the rim. As a result, the center opening on a honeycomb is not concentrically aligned with the steel portion of the rim.

We used his balancer to check each rim for lateral curb damage but when you tried to set the mounted rim on the balancer to balance the wheel assembly for out-of-round, it was like watching a merry-go-round horse. Luckily he had a friend at a muffler shop who had a different wheel balancer that had a retaining hub with the five centering posts that mounted the wheel by the lug holes, instead of the center hole. We did a static and dynamic balance that used the regular hammer-on weights on the inside edge of the rim and then mini, stick-on weights on the internal area near the center of the rim, on the back side.

Here's a version of the balancer contraption for lug-centric wheels that don't have a concentric center hub.

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r.../CSWB-UA-2.jpg

Worked like a charm. The car cruises up to 80 mph with no jiggles, vibrations, or rumbles. It rides like a Mercedes now. Kinda scary compared to the teeth chattering Polyglasses.

BTW, those heavy, repro Polyglasses were pretty much unbalance-able on the other four rims, so we just mounted them on the rims for show use only. When a balancing machine says you have to add the equivilent of a Porterhouse steak (16 oz) to the outside of the wheel to get it to balance, that's a little too much for me.

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7005767.jpg

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7005766.jpg

Re: 72 TA : New Project
 

Tuning question today. What's your opinion on how the plugs are burning. Too lean or just right? Slight tan on the electrode, pure white on the insulators. Currently running a tank of Shell premium after using up last week's tank of Sunoco plus four gallons of unleaded Cam2 100 octane.

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/S7005776.jpg

Re: 72 TA : New Project
 

Just my .02. I'd like to see a little more color there. Is that just from cruising around or is there some recent power runs on that?

Re: 72 TA : New Project
 

About 300 miles of mixed driving - highway speeds and local traffic. Engine temp running around 175 degrees even with the recently hot weather.

Re: 72 TA : New Project
 

Looks like those plugs are running a little hot. Considering this is just from &quot;normal&quot; driving, the heat line looks like it is pretty far past the bend on the ground electrode, and are there tiny little black specs on the porcelain?

What heat range are they?

Compression ratio?

Where's the timing at, and have you heard any audible signs of detonation? (Sorry for all the questions, but Pontiacs are known to be finicky about their tune)

Eric

Re: 72 TA : New Project
 

No specks on porcelain. Stock compression of 8.5 to 1. They are the stock heat range 2869 platinums. What would a colder heat range be with NGKs? No detonation, even with 91 octane. Initial timing at 12 before TDC. Total timing around 36 degrees if I recall correctly. Has a minor nosing over/power loss at around 5000 rpm.