[Uncle Judge]

Originally Posted by SD455DJ

UPC-WU2, That is one awesome website you created and I visit it often. Yes, you are correct that there wasn't a 15" wheel option available on the non-GTO A-bodies in '71.

Dennis

Though I never say never, I have not personally seen a 71 NON-GTO with 15" wheels but I have seen the Y-99 Handling package and 15" Rally II's on 72 NON-GTO's. Pat Brown's car is one of them.


Dennis, Here is the location of the original hood tach A/C box fitting in my 71. A friend of mine in MI may have an extra fitting that he removed from a car years ago. I will have to ask him if he still has it.

Cool car you have there. I seriously contemplated that car myself. Out of room and too many projects already though. Looking forward to seeing that one back on the pavement!

[SD455DJ]

Jeff, Thanks buddy! Those are great pics of the suitcase! I'd be interested in the fitting for sure.

Yep, know about the crazy '72 A-bodies geting the 15" wheels with the Y99 and WW4(?) options. I too have never seen and real '71 non-GTO A-body yet with a 15" wheel option.

Dennis

[SD455DJ]

Originally Posted by 455HOGT37

IIRC, I replaced the inner suitcase becasue the original had a sizable hole in it when I bought it. It's probably off a GP, which used to be such an easy, seemingly endless source of parts back in the late 80's.

Mike, That helps to know and it did look like the inner suitcase was removed to us, so we wondered if it was original.

Dennis

[north]

What a neat car, so unusual to see a GT-37 optioned up like that, maybe the original owner was trying to stay below the insurance radar by not buying a GTO?

The inner suitcase is from a GP, hence the big G on it, not sure how the were different since they seem to be otherwise identical to the A body ones.

Best of luck and success on the project, sweet car!

[455HOGT37]

Has it been established that all cars had the hood tach vent? I cant recall ever seeing the fitting on the suitcase, remnants of a hose, or the nipple on the bottom of the tach.

Take all that with a grain of salt however.

[SD455DJ]

Originally Posted by 455HOGT37

Has it been established that all cars had the hood tach vent? I cant recall ever seeing the fitting on the suitcase, remnants of a hose, or the nipple on the bottom of the tach.

Take all that with a grain of salt however.

Mike, I believe that only the northern colder climates got the vent/defogger and the nippled hood tach. I say this and yet I have never seen one here up north in person. Do you know if the hood tach on the car is the same one when you bought it? It doesn't have the nipple.

Dennis

[SD455DJ]

Originally Posted by north

What a neat car, so unusual to see a GT-37 optioned up like that, maybe the original owner was trying to stay below the insurance radar by not buying a GTO?

The inner suitcase is from a GP, hence the big G on it, not sure how the were different since they seem to be otherwise identical to the A body ones.

Best of luck and success on the project, sweet car!

Thanks much north! It's been an automotive archeological dig so far. I did not know that the big G meant Gran Prix. There probably is a subtle difference that can only be noticed when side by side with an a-body case. Is the back side different between the two as well?

Dennis

[455HOGT37]

Originally Posted by SD455DJ

...Do you know if the hood tach on the car is the same one when you bought it? It doesn't have the nipple...

Im sure the top part is original, but I may have replaced the bottom plate with another one I had laying around. That said, I've never seen one with a nipple in person so I'm nearly positive the tach on the car didnt have one.

[SD455DJ]

Thats good to know the shell is original. The base was glued on and not factory, so that confirms what you said Mike.

If you find any old pics of the GT-37 we'd all love to see 'em!

Thanks, Dennis

[trishieldchief]

Originally Posted by 455HOGT37

Has it been established that all cars had the hood tach vent? I cant recall ever seeing the fitting on the suitcase, remnants of a hose, or the nipple on the bottom of the tach.

Take all that with a grain of salt however.

All ,1971 and 72 Buick GS /GSX cars and Lemans /GTO factory ordered with UB5 hood tach should have tach vent assembly.

It was also installed in late 1970 as well. I own an Oshawa built 1970 GTO Judge factory hood tach car, 06B, 2nd week of June 1970 car and it has the hood tach heater nipple on top side of heater box.

[SD455DJ]

Rich, I imagine all cars that were factory ordered hood tach cars got the defogger/vent no matter where assembled and delivered. I'm planning to put it back together that way. Can you post pics of your Judge's heater box nipple?

Thanks, Dennis

[SD455DJ]

Progress from yesterday's visit of the GT-37...removed the driveshaft (gotta get a new proper one), the M-13 3-speed (heavy with its cast iron box), bare engine block (freshly bored and honed .060" over), and the radiator & Dan shroud. Next to come out is the dash and underhood a/c stuff to assess the needs.

Block date code is G090 with matching VIN

Dennis

[455HOGT37]

Also noteworthy is the factory applied crayon marking on the firewall. That is original paint.

[SD455DJ]

Mike, the cowl & firewall are very nice and original like you said.

I tore the hood tach apart yesterday and took a picture of the back side of the face....August 67 stamp date , part number and a red ink hand note. It also had a blue tinted light bulb....not sure if that was just a custom touch replacement or factory? Also lightly cleaned the face with a damp cloth hoping some of the original colors would come back, but no luck.

Dennis

[SD455DJ]

I also received a nice gift from a friend of Uncle Judge (Jeff), Mark Hienze, who donated a very rare piece to the cause. A big THANK YOU! goes to Mark and Jeff who I owe a few cold ones when we get together next. I'm sure most of you know what it is and it came off of a 72 455 HO GTO with A/C. Mark has had it for over 25 years and certainly made my day.

Dan also got a nicely restored 927 alternator properly dated for his 71 GTO from Mark. It was like Christmas in June!

Dennis

[trishieldchief]

Originally Posted by SD455DJ

I also received a nice gift from a friend of Uncle Judge (Jeff), Mark Hienze, who donated a very rare piece to the cause. A big THANK YOU! goes to Mark and Jeff who I owe a few cold ones when we get together next. I'm sure most of you know what it is and it came off of a 72 455 HO GTO with A/C. Mark has had it for over 25 years and certainly made my day.

Dan also got a nicely restored 927 alternator properly dated for his 71 GTO from Mark. It was like Christmas in June!

Dennis

Nice, those nipples are not reproduced and impossible to find.

[455HOGT37]

Ok, its coming back to me now. The guts of the tach you have are from a 68 400 firebird 4 speed I once owned. The GT baseplate was busted up pretty good so I just threw that tach together to fill the hole in the hood. I'll bet I still have the upper shell from the Firebird and the guts from the GT in a box somewhere. I'll keep an eye out.

[SD455DJ]

Originally Posted by 455HOGT37

Ok, its coming back to me now. The guts of the tach you have are from a 68 400 firebird 4 speed I once owned. The GT baseplate was busted up pretty good so I just threw that tach together to fill the hole in the hood. I'll bet I still have the upper shell from the Firebird and the guts from the GT in a box somewhere. I'll keep an eye out.

Mike, That is interseting history and nice to hear more history on the car!

Dennis

[455HOGT37]

First off, where's the updates? Seems likey the car would be completely restored by now based upon your earlier progress!

As an off topic, the 68 400 Bird that I sold 25 years ago (which donated parts of the tach) is still with the same guy I sold it to. The guy tracked me down out of the blue last week - after 25 years! Small world.

[SD455DJ]

Originally Posted by 455HOGT37

First off, where's the updates? Seems likey the car would be completely restored by now based upon your earlier progress!

As an off topic, the 68 400 Bird that I sold 25 years ago (which donated parts of the tach) is still with the same guy I sold it to. The guy tracked me down out of the blue last week - after 25 years! Small world.

Hey Mike! Unfortunately, I haven't had an opportunity to get back in the garage to tear out the rest of the dash, but I did pick up some new used parts at Norwalk a couple weeks ago (nice uncut black dash, A/C suitcase, dash & underhood wiring harnesses, seat hinge covers courtesy of 66carguy). I almost bought a real '70 - '71 hood tach with the vent line and dryer, but thought better of it. I'm now in the process of buying engine parts and having the M-13 opened up and inspected. I'd like to put together another 455 HO motor and save the original numbers matching pieces, but that takes some cash to do. The fall and winter should offer more time to work on it since I have the other cars done (enough) now.

By chance have you found any other old photo's of you and the car yet?

Also, if the owner of your old '68 Firebird 400 would like his Hood Tach guts back, I'd be willing to let him have it for just the shipping cost.

Dennis