Re: The New Project: Part Deux!
 

Looks great Steve. I've got a friend who purchased a steam cleaner a few years ago. The heat makes ALL the difference.

Tim

Re: The New Project: Part Deux!
 

I tried renting a steam cleaner: they wanted $275 for a day rental. Thats cazy! So a friend loaned me his pressure washer and the wife loaned me the washing machne hot water line for the day if I promised to do my own laundry after I hooked the hot water back up. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img]

Re: The New Project: Part Deux!
 

Nice work, as usual. What is your plan once you get it all cleaned?

Re: The New Project: Part Deux!
 

Going back together. The first repairs on the horizon will be the frame rail sections that need to be attended to, then once the repro trunk dropoffs arrive I will have the inner quarter rear portion sectioned in to replace the homemade boxed dropoffs that were installed on the car in the 1980s, so it looks correct. Paint is much farther down the road. I will be driving this one for the summer. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img]

Of course while everything was out of the car, i noticed the heater core was leaking on to the pass floor, today. I ordered a new one this morning and the interior will wait til that gets done. Glad it happened now and not after i put it all back together.

Re: The New Project: Part Deux!
 

Today I tackled the trunk area. This car was Ziebart rustproofed back when it was new and that stuff is nearly impossible to remove. Solvents just smear it. It's almost like roofing tar and it's about 1/8&quot; thick. A different, and thicker, but equally adhesive version was over-applied later, on the GM replacement quarters and tail panel that were replaced in the 1980s. The hot water seemed to work but VERY slowly. Like around 5 seconds of close up blasting to remove one square inch. It was mind-numbing and carpel tunnel initiating to say the least.

Here's the before shots:

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/P1000460.jpg

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/P1000461.jpg

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/P1000462.jpg

Re: The New Project: Part Deux!
 

And after about 6 hours of blasting.

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/SDC11231.jpg

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/SDC11230.jpg

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/SDC11254.jpg

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/SDC11236.jpg

I tried to save as much of the original splatter paint but in some spots it came off very eaily while in other areas, it was hard as rock. The Ziebart stuff worked as the only rust I found in the trunk floor were the four tiny pinholes in the lower right of this photo to the left of the drain plug. The rest of the dark areas are due to the surface not being completely dried off yet.

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/SDC11235.jpg

Re: The New Project: Part Deux!
 

When I was done with the trunk I spent an hour or so with a rag soaked in a little diesel fuel to clean off the underside of the floor pans. Here's what they looked like with a little elbow grease appled:

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/SDC11261.jpg

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/SDC11260.jpg

Re: The New Project: Part Deux!
 

In looking at the frame rail damage/rust it doesn't appear to be as bad as I initially thought. (I hope).

The undersides of the lowest portion of the rear rails by the front leaf spring pocket both have the outer layer corroded on the bottom and sides. It is also evident on both inner and outer sides of that area, next to the E-brake cable. There are three separate panels that sandwich together at that point and it looks like just the outer one held the crud and rusted, as this is the lowest point on the rail (lower than the drainage hole unfortunately). It also didn't help matters that the delivery truck driver used that spot as the hold down for his cargo chains. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif[/img]

Pass side:

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/SDC11211.jpg

Driver's side:

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/SDC11224.jpg

Re: The New Project: Part Deux!
 

The other rail problem was in the rear where the aftermarket exhaust had all it's weight on the tailpipe hangers after the crummy, universal hangers that were sheetmetal screwed into the rear bulkhead, ripped out. It appears that the reinforcement section of both rails were not properly tack welded in originally, as the pass side area pulled away and cracked the frame under the panel.

Pass side:

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/SDC11203.jpg

Driver's side:

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/SDC11215.jpg

Re: The New Project: Part Deux!
 

And the solution:

I bought a pair of the new reproduction frame rails to use for donor sections.

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/SDC11197.jpg

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/SDC11201.jpg

I also bought a set of the repro sway bar mounting brackets as the ones on the car have been welded so many times, they actually welded a bolt across one of them to keep it together.


http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/SDC11199.jpg

Re: The New Project: Part Deux!
 

and so it begins...........again. Can't wait to see how nice this one turns out. I am amazed at the knowledge and skills that so many people on this site possess.

Re: The New Project: Part Deux!
 

Perseverance and tenacity at their finest! Good job once again Steve.

Re: The New Project: Part Deux!
 

Thank you for your morale support. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Today's project was getting the heater core out. It actually went rather well. You have to remove the pass side inner fender to do it properly in order to access the lower studs and the heater hoses. Otherwise you will spend hours with extensions, lost sockets and scraped hands. It took me ten minutes to pull the inner fender and then another ten minutes to get the nuts off the studs. Once inside the car you have to pull the glove box door, glove box and the A/C ducts from one side to the other. That way the heater assembly comes out easier. In total it took about an hour to get everything out of the car. Now I have to wait for the new core to arrive....

While the heater was out I was able to see the VIN stamped in the firewall which was a reassuring thing. I then wiped the giant black seam sealer waterfall away from the area and was able to do a pencil tracing of it. Remember it is upside down and backwards since it was stamped from the engine side - so don't have a heart attack if you try this on your car and it at first doesn't match. Take your tracing and hold it up to mirror and it will magically transpose. Or you can always just flip the photo in your photo editing program.
[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/scholar.gif[/img]

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/SDC11275.jpg

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/SDC11273.jpg

Re: The New Project: Part Deux!
 

After the heater core removal was accomplished I crawled back under the car and started scrubbing some more with the diesel fuel and a rag. That took the rest of the day.

Here's a shot of one of the sway bar mounting brackets. Looks like a junior high school shop project on &quot;Learn How To Weld Day.&quot; They acually tried so many times that they burned through the rail under the bracket.


http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/SDC11281.jpg

Re: The New Project: Part Deux!
 

And here is the final result. After these photos were taken I snaked the old exhaust back over the axles and reattached it so at least I can drive the thing again. I will probably be getting the Gardner Exhaust for this car like I did with the 72 T/A. I'll have to wait til after the frame repairs get done, though. Though they go together very easily, that is one system that you want to install once and not take apart again. (looks too pretty to risk scratching it up).

You can see the original black overspray nicely, in these shots...and the spots I missed under the fuel/brake lines. I'll wait til its time for the frame repairs to remove those lines and clean underneath.

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/SDC11297.jpg

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/SDC11296.jpg

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/SDC11295.jpg

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/SDC11292.jpg

Re: The New Project: Part Deux!
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: njsteve</div><div class="ubbcode-body">........Gardner Exhaust for this car like I did with the 72 T/A. I'll have to wait til after the frame repairs get done, though. </div></div>

Might want to order it now as the last few times I have ordered a system they are about 6-8 weeks out. Not an issue with me as I have the time to wait but you might not.

Re: The New Project: Part Deux!
 

And the final item of the day was adjusting the clutch, which was grabbing way too high. On a hunch, I pulled the actuating rod and noticed the same wear that was on my other car. This groove was cut halfway through, eventually it would have snapped off. I will be replacing both rods: the bellcrank to fork rod, as well as the pedal to bellcrank rod as they both tend to exhibit the same wear patterns.

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/SDC11283.jpg

Re: The New Project: Part Deux!
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SS427</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: njsteve</div><div class="ubbcode-body">........Gardner Exhaust for this car like I did with the 72 T/A. I'll have to wait til after the frame repairs get done, though. </div></div>

Might want to order it now as the last few times I have ordered a system they are about 6-8 weeks out. Not an issue with me as I have the time to wait but you might not. </div></div>

Good point. Makes for a great Father's Day gift. I will start dropping hints now. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img]

Re: The New Project: Part Deux!
 

I wonder if this one'll get to a million views? [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/naughty.gif[/img]

Re: The New Project: Part Deux!
 

I got the new heater core installed and the box is back in the dash again. I can never understand how something can drop out so easily but take so much finagling and manhandling to get the darn thing back into the car. It took over an hour to figure out the exact angle and turns to get the heater box back under the dashboard. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/no.gif[/img]

Re: The New Project: Part Deux!
 

Steve, You taking your new ride to Flemington on Sat? I am going to take the ride up with Jinx since the weather will be nice.

Re: The New Project: Part Deux!
 

Still waiting for DMV to do get me my title. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif[/img] At least they started the process since I got a letter yesterday asking for the original MSO or Canadian title and the prior owner's registration.

I called the DMV foreign title unit this morning and reminded them that cars in BC dont have titles (she agreed I was right). They still wanted the prior ower's reg, which luckily I had and sent it to them today, certified mail.

BTW, the original list of docs they requested never mentioned the prior registration. We will see what next week brings...

Maybe I'll take Gramma's Firebird to the cruise.

Re: The New Project: Part Deux!
 

[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif[/img] gotta love DMV! NOW the weather is saying some chance of T-storms on sat. Which means I am going to make my decision on sat right before I leave [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/frown.gif[/img]

Re: The New Project: Part Deux!
 

Found some more stuff I need:

1) The little bracket/tab/guide plate that holds the hood release pull bar in position.

Here is the shot of what is on my Gramma's 75 Firebird:

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/SDC11343.jpg

And the spot where one should be on my 72 (I removed the bracket he had installed for the inside hood release as it doesnt line up with the original location for the metal pull bar).

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/SDC11342.jpg



2) I also need a clutch fan blade for the 72 since the prior owner had installed an electric fan and a solid mounted fan blade on the engine.

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/SDC11344.jpg

Re: The New Project: Part Deux!
 

And here is something for the archives: an original rear package tray. Looks like I was the first person to ever remove this thing from the car. Very interesting cutout for the single rear speaker with the center bar between the cutouts. The other funny thing is that the factory punched speaker mounting holes were all 1/2&quot; too narrow. The factory speaker grill studs had to slot out the carboard holes 1/2&quot; farther than the outer holes in order to line up with the factory stamped holes in the rear deck.

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/SDC11333.jpg

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/SDC11340.jpg

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/SDC11334.jpg

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/SDC11337.jpg

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/SDC11339.jpg

Re: The New Project: Part Deux!
 

----So the question is; Do you do the new package tray the same way???......Bill S

Re: The New Project: Part Deux!
 

Yup. I placed them on top of each other and traced the outline of the opening and the mounting holes with a pencil. I also placed the new package tray on the rear deck and traced the outline of the stamped holes in the rear deck. They all lined up nicely.

Interestingly enough, the four factory stamped stud holes in the rear deck are a circular stamp with a slot that lines up with the slots in the cardboard package tray. Looks like a little lack of communication from the engineers and the manufacturers back in the day. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img]

Re: The New Project: Part Deux!
 

Started putting the interior back in the car today. Lots of tugging and maneauvering to get the new carpet in the right spot and locked down in place. Running from one side to the other constantly to make sure I didn't pull too far and have the other side short of the sill plates (one bitten, twice shy). I tossed out the old carpet because it reeked of the ziebart/cosmoline rust proofing goo that was all over the floorboards and trunk. Now the car no longer smells like a refinery inside. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/sick.gif[/img]

After one of the pulling sessions I get out of the car and there is this little critter sitting right outside the driver's door. He wandered around the driveway for 10 minutes until the dogs annoyed him enough to walk back to his herd out in woods.

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...20609-1128.jpg

Here is the current progress:

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/SDC11365.jpg

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/SDC11367.jpg

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/SDC11366.jpg

Re: The New Project: Part Deux!
 

Hi Steve
Do you need anything else from me that will make your DMV work faster?Do you need a copy of the top portion of the BC car reg,that the buyers portion is temoved from?
I just bought a car in the Seattle area,and I followed all the Border rules to a tee,and I had it home in four days after I purchased it,and got it Provincially inspected one hour after crossing the border,and an hour later had plates on it and insurance until October when it comes off the road for the winter.
Grant

Re: The New Project: Part Deux!
 

Nice. Gotta love how smooth the BC system is. The Peoples Republic of New Jersey doesn't trust its own people at the local offices to do the paperwork on asylum-seeking automobiles. Hopefully they have everything now. Otherwise I'll have to return the car back to you. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img]

So what did you buy???

Re: The New Project: Part Deux!
 

New project name.......Bambi....???

ktownkid [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]

Re: The New Project: Part Deux!
 

More like The Raven, for all the black crows that keep pooping on the car while I'm working on it outside. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Re: The New Project: Part Deux!
 

Well, the interior is finally finished and back in place. I also pulled the door panels and greased and readjusted the power windows, so they go up and down nicely now. One of the power door lock solenoids doesnt work so I pulled that one and need to hunt down a replacement.

I also pulled the front dash speaker since it wasnt working. The radio had never been out of this car before, amazingly all the wires were intact including the single green wire that runs from the radio to the front speaker.

Here is a shot of the passenger door which still had the factory watershield in place, and the Norwood Assembly Plant parts sticker.

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/SDC11368.jpg

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/SDC11370.jpg

Re: The New Project: Part Deux!
 

And here is the finished interior. Other than the carpet and the package tray, everything that came out, went back in (though a lot cleaner and tighter, especially the seat covers). Even the 40 year old original floor mats are back in place. I will probably redye to steering wheel next week. That SEM Landau black interior spray dye is awesome. I misted most of the interior plastic parts and the stuff rejuvenates black interior pieces like magic. Just a light dusting evens it all out. And it dries in seconds.

I also pulled the gauges and tried rebuilding the clock but it wasn't the points, the clock's electrical windings are bad. So I'll add a clock to the shopping list.

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/SDC11376.jpg

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/SDC11378.jpg

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/SDC11379.jpg

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/SDC11371.jpg

Those white circles are dust specs on my hand-me-down garage camera. Sorry about that.


http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/SDC11383.jpg

Re: The New Project: Part Deux!
 

Here are some photos of the power door lock solenoid I need for the driver's side, in case anyone has one or knows someone that does:

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/SDC11398.jpg

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/SDC11397.jpg

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/SDC11399.jpg

Re: The New Project: Part Deux!
 

I was able to locate a replacement power door lock actuator down in Florida, along with a rebuilt clock, so those items should be coming soon. That door lock solenoid is one bizarre piece and rather hard to find, it seems.

Yesterday I did a quick mask and respray with the SEM Landau Black on the original Formula wheel. This wheel is the best one I've seen in years. I guess the lack of sun in the Great White North, never got a chance to roast the foam. I came out really nice.

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/SDC11413.jpg

Today, I stopped by the local locksmith to see if they could get me an original GM ignition key cylinder. The owner walked into the basement and came up five minutes later with an NOS GM piece. The ignition key/cylinder in the car was an aftermarket replacement put in in the 1980s when the car was broken into and they tried to steal it, but only succeeded in breaking the ignition switch. The aftermarket key switch didn't have an accessory position - a common problem I have encountered over the years with the crappy knockoff parts. While I had the wheel off I swapped out the ignition key cylinder in the column. It went rather smoothly. (other than reassembling it twice since I first reassembled it without the horn ring under the lockplate) [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif[/img]

After that I bolted on the original rear bumper guards that the car was ordered with when new. The prior owner had them rechromed years ago and never got a chance to reinstall them.

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/SDC11409.jpg

Re: The New Project: Part Deux!
 

looks great Steve [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]

Re: The New Project: Part Deux!
 

You never sleep......

Re: The New Project: Part Deux!
 

I love it when you have a new project. I don't need to start one myself then!

Re: The New Project: Part Deux!
 

It's an addiction, I tell ya!

This evening I cleaned the rear tail light harness. It was completely embedded in that rustproofing goop, like a fossilized bug in amber. I ended up having to soak it in diesel fuel to loosen the stuff. It finally came out clean and I stripped off all the old wrapping and rewrapped it in the new harness tape. I'm glad it stripped it out as I found an entire section of five wires that had been cut and hand twisted back together, all in the same spot. An electrical fire waiting to happen. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif[/img]

The tailights are now all working again. Even the reverse lights!

The new engine harness should arrrive tomorrow. The existing one had a whole bunch of bad splices and burnt sections. It was also missing the a/c compressor power wire and the TCS harness section was left hanging on the exhaust and melted away.

With all this work, I'm only trying to make the car safe and dependable.

I wouldn't want to jeopardize its &quot;As Found&quot; status for this Year's MCACN. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img]