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#201
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Thanks, Dennis. I checked the Ames catalog and they do indeed carry them (need to be ordered separately from the "crossmember back" exhaust system).
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keith k 70 Trans Am RA III / T400 / Lucerne Blue / Bright Blue 70 Trans Am RA III / M20 / Lucerne Blue / Sandalwood 70 Formula RA III / M21 / Lucerne Blue / Bright Blue |
#202
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RAIII Formula 400 Update
Dan was able to install a fresh temporary TH400 & 13" stock convertor while the original PQ tranny gets checked out and cleaned up. Dan had to install a new tail panel license place light assembly as the original was long gone??? Don't know why it was removed...maybe when it was repainted and misplaced?...who knows! Anyway, now it has a repop unit (Ames) installed and it works great. It also was missing the passenger side mirror gasket where a new repop replacement is now installed. The missing inside door escutcheons (black with chrome edging) are also installed with new repop replacements. We still need to find and install the dash Bird emblem.
The old kink-bent headpipes has to be cut off to allow the tranny to drop, so this was an opportune time to replace the downpipes with the new Pypes 2.5" mandrel bent pieces. We have found these to make the biggest single hp gain (roughly 50%) when improving your exhaust system, while an X pipe, flow-thru mufflers, and a full 2.5" system making up the other 50%. We are leaving the new Magnaflow exhaust system on it as it is...well...new, and tucks up fairly high. It ain't perfect, but it's not bad...we'll see what it sounds like inside and out, and hoping that it doesn't drone. We still have to remove, or cover the blue overspray that seems to be everywhere under the car. We wish they would have taken a little car to mask the bottom of the car off when the repaint was done. Dennis |
#203
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If the Nats get cancelled We may have to do a road trip to Michigan to see this car
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#204
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Quote:
Dennis |
#205
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We had the Formula out yesterday since it was such a nice day and discovered that the power steering pump needs to rebuilt or replaced as it chatters and fights turning in either direction. There will probably be a few more surprises that will pop up as we go along.
Dennis |
#206
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Dan replaced the original power steering pump with a nice remanufactured pump and now it steers smoothly and quietly...and ready for the first road trip since she came home last December. Next thing to do is to remove the Lucy Blue overspray all over the bottom side of the Bird.
Dennis |
The Following User Says Thank You to SD455DJ For This Useful Post: | ||
#207
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We finally got a chance to test the Formula out on the road and made a 4 mile drive. Everything was tight, no squeaks or rattles, exhaust even sounds good with no drone from the little 14" straight-thru Magnaflow mufflers. The TH400 shifted firmly and the 3.55 12-bolt was quiet (2800 rpm at 60 mph). We aren't pushing the motor too soon to make sure everything sounds alright before opening the secondaries. Sure wish the car had factory tach & gauges to keep an eye on the vitals going down the road. I have some nice small Autometer under-dash gauges (oil, water, volts) and a small tach to hide away under the dash that I think we'll install.
Dennis |
#208
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Very nice to hear! I really like this car....
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. 1970 GTO Judge Tribute Pro-Tour Project 535 IA2 http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=760624 1971 Trans Am 463, 315cfm E-head Sniper XFlow EFI, TKO600 extreme, 9", GW suspension, Baer brakes, pro tour car https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...ght=procharger Theme Song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zKAS...ature=youtu.be |
#209
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We get to pick up the Formula's PQ TH400 trans this Friday after getting a good once-over by our tranny guy. It was in great shape and just outfitted with fresh seals and gaskets. Even the original vacuum modulator was still functioning perfectly and will be retained. I believe the original torque convertor was good too and just flushed/cleaned for reuse. The car wasn't thrashed like a lot of these cars were over the decades (!). We are leaving it stock...no shift kits this time. It had nice firm shifts stock.
Dennis |
#210
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I took a couple minutes to re-read this thread and stumbled upon this:
Quote:
Curiously, the trunk latch area has damage that I don't remember noticing in the past, and it appears to have a GM replacement catch along with the paper tag still there (it's illegible though). Dennis, I really like how you and your brother do your cars justice. I really enjoy reading your threads.
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1970 Formula 400 Carousel Red paint on Black standard interior A no-engine, no-transmission, no-wheel option car. Quite likely one of few '70 Muncie three speed Formula 400's left. 1991 Grand Am: 14.4 @ 93.7mph (DA corrected) (retired DD, stock appearing) 2009 Cobalt SS: 13.9 @ 103mph (current DD; makes something north of 300hp & 350ft/lbs) |
#211
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Thanks Jonny...Dan and I are reliving our youth...doing the things we couldn't afford, time and money-wise, when we young and broke. Now, we are old and broke...haha.
Dennis |
The Following User Says Thank You to SD455DJ For This Useful Post: | ||
#212
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We picked up the original PQ transmission yesterday and checked it over a bit now that it was degreased and clean. What was interesting is the aqua 'PQ' ink stamp is still faintly visible up on the passenger side bellhousing (somewhat hard to see) and the 'PQ' tag is easy to read now. The original torque convertor has a small 'D' (?) stamped into the case and possibly some light green paint daub remnants. I'm not sure if they mean anything, especially the paint which may just be a simple paint spill and not a 'daub' at all.
I forgot to check to see if the vacuum modulator has any color stripes on it that another thread in the Street forums is discussing. The PQ trans was given a clean bill of health and was all factory inside. It did get all new frictions, seals and gaskets. The modulator held 15 in. vacuum over night and lost only .5 in. in the test, so was kept. The original TC checked out well too. We'll be swapping tyranny's again and getting to work cleaning the bottom of the car of LB paint overspray and general cleaning. Dennis |
#213
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My convertor had an ink stamping on it.
http://www.forums.maxperformanceinc....d.php?t=470878 And, the '71 colored tag. http://www.forums.maxperformanceinc....d.php?t=455882
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So long, farewell. |
#214
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Thanks for the links Mike. I never did look at the flex plate side of the convertor...I'll do that to see it there are any ink stamps on the case like yours. It's also interesting that our tag is black silk screen and yours is pink, but you said yours was a PQ from a '71? Was pink for '71 and black for '70???
Dennis |
#215
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And 69 was yellow PQ
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
#216
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Quote:
Original '71 PQ tags have a turquoise background on the tag, same as '71 PX & PR coded tags.
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Buzzards gotta eat... same as worms. |
#217
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I guess these tags weren't color/year specific. The Formula is a Norwood assembled car, not that that means anything, and is an 04D date build on the trim tag...time of production significance??? The tag is stamped PQ - 70 - 1343. Is 343 is the sequence of production number???
Dennis |
#218
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Have never been able to figure out the sequence number on original turbo 400 tags.
The valve body's have color daub color codes too to identify what they originally belonged in.
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Buzzards gotta eat... same as worms. |
#219
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I've found most years are color specific. I don't know when or why they changed to a pink tag in '70, as most are a black background.
Checked my notes and you guys are right... '69 PQ Yellow '70 PQ Black, then Pink. '71 PQ Blue '72 PQ Yellow '73 PQ Pink '74 PQ Blue The serializing, I can't comment on.
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So long, farewell. |
#220
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Quote:
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keith k 70 Trans Am RA III / T400 / Lucerne Blue / Bright Blue 70 Trans Am RA III / M20 / Lucerne Blue / Sandalwood 70 Formula RA III / M21 / Lucerne Blue / Bright Blue |
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