[72projectbird]

Originally Posted by 77 Canamman

Great to see it driving again! It is a most worthy candidate of a high quality resto.

It's getting a nut and bolt rotisserie resto on it starting this winter. I basically have all the sheetmetal I need for it. NOS quarter, hood, and a 1 piece floorpan. I have a mint radiator support out of another 77, so that'll be correct looking and even date code correct.

I'll probably start tearing it down around December.

[72projectbird]

Question for you guys:

What operates the reverse light switch at the base of the steering column? The switch itself works, and the lights turn on, but whatever is used to move the switch is missing.

The entire back drive linkage is still present and working flawlessly. The neutral safety is still hooked up and working. It's funny how the reverse switch is the only thing not working.


It's not a big deal if they work or not, but I figure might as well give it a shot.

[Trevor78]

What's hand painted trim?

[77 Canamman]

Originally Posted by 72projectbird

Question for you guys:

What operates the reverse light switch at the base of the steering column? The switch itself works, and the lights turn on, but whatever is used to move the switch is missing.

The entire back drive linkage is still present and working flawlessly. The neutral safety is still hooked up and working. It's funny how the reverse switch is the only thing not working.


It's not a big deal if they work or not, but I figure might as well give it a shot.

The back drive or reverse lockout linkage is connected to the steering column arm via a rod. If you can shut the car off without shifting it into reverse, then the linkage is not present or way out of adjustment.

Since my car has tube headers, the original back drive linkage would not work. I used an early '60's Corvette reverse switch and linkage mounted directly to the ST-10 trans, since those car used the T-10. I made a harness connecting the original reverse plug under the dash to the new switch on the trans.

[77 Canamman]

A crude exploded diagram of the linkage

[77 Canamman]

from FSM

[77 Canamman]

You definitely have the lower rod, which is the one that is usually tossed..

[72projectbird]

I have everything I think. I can't get the key out unless it's in reverse, so everything is working correctly. I just don't have whatever hooks up to the reverse switch.

[77 Canamman]

The switch is at the base of the steering column under the dash close to the firewall. There is a plastic tab on the switch that fits into a slot in the shift tube in the column. The back drive linkage connects to an external arm on the column which is connected to the shift tube. If you need to place the car in reverse to lock the column and remove the key, then there is an issue with the switch itself, or it's way out of adjustment.

[77 Canamman]

[72projectbird]

Ok, I think I'm getting closer to understanding this lol

So that's exactly how my switch looks. It's mounted to the column, but there's nothing there that I can see that will move the switch.

I removed the switch from the column, plugged it in and can activate the lights with the switch, so the switch itself seems to be good.

[77 Canamman]

Originally Posted by 72projectbird

Ok, I think I'm getting closer to understanding this lol

So that's exactly how my switch looks. It's mounted to the column, but there's nothing there that I can see that will move the switch.

I removed the switch from the column, plugged it in and can activate the lights with the switch, so the switch itself seems to be good.

The tab on the switch is inserted into the slot on the shift tube as circled:

[Skip Fix]

Linkage it adjustable as well as the switch having slots.

[72projectbird]

Originally Posted by 77 Canamman

The tab on the switch is inserted into the slot on the shift tube as circled:

Ohhhh, I see! I'll get under there again and see what's up. Maybe it was out of adjustment, and the previous owner just disconnected it instead of adjusting it? Because the switch works and the lights light up.

Thank you for the help!

[77 TRASHCAN]

Originally Posted by 77 Canamman

The tab on the switch is inserted into the slot on the shift tube as circled:

What headers (brand), size pipes, brand of system, mufers do you have your car???

[77 Canamman]

Originally Posted by 77 TRASHCAN

What headers (brand), size pipes, brand of system, mufers do you have your car???

Hooker Super Comp ceramic coated, Pypes SGF70 transverse 2.5" system with the single Race-Pro muffler.

[gtohurstjudge]

East bound and down! I almost sold my GTO to buy a new 1977 SE T/A
and couldn't bring myself to do it. Knowing what I know now, I would have
bought four of them and set them aside for my retirement. I never could have
imagined back then what these cars are worth now. I did own a 400 4 speed
SE T/A built with every factory option from 1982 to 1992 (one of 1107 400 4speed
SE's built and probably one of just a handful built with every possible option.
That car stopped traffic everywhere it went and I have no idea why I sold it.....dumbest thing I ever did. The guy who bought it flipped it to a guy who
exported it to Tokyo. In 1992 I sold it for 13,000 dollars which was all the money back then......the original sticker on the car was about 11,000 dollars. God knows what it would be worth today as it was a perfect 12,000 mile car when I sold it.

[77 Canamman]

Originally Posted by gtohurstjudge

East bound and down! I almost sold my GTO to buy a new 1977 SE T/A
and couldn't bring myself to do it. Knowing what I know now, I would have
bought four of them and set them aside for my retirement. I never could have
imagined back then what these cars are worth now. I did own a 400 4 speed
SE T/A built with every factory option from 1982 to 1992 (one of 1107 400 4speed
SE's built and probably one of just a handful built with every possible option.
That car stopped traffic everywhere it went and I have no idea why I sold it.....dumbest thing I ever did. The guy who bought it flipped it to a guy who
exported it to Tokyo. In 1992 I sold it for 13,000 dollars which was all the money back then......the original sticker on the car was about 11,000 dollars. God knows what it would be worth today as it was a perfect 12,000 mile car when I sold it.

I think many in the hobby are in disbelief regarding the 1977-78 SE market. No doubt the star power from the late great Burt Reynolds has a lot to do with it. These cars most certainly have the looks, and were just about the only car in its day to still have any level of competent performance. Never mind the fact how easy it is to modify them to achieve early '70's level of performance.

As for estimated value of a perfect full option 12k mile '77 4 speed SE- my opinion has it anywhere between $175k to the current high water mark of $400k if marketed properly at the right venue.

[kingbuzzo]

Burt's influence is not fading and only helping our investments...

Amazing what the SE's are fetching.

My old rusty 74 T/A went to Kuwait last year and I can only think the movie had something to do with it...lol

[72projectbird]

Took it out for a spin tonight. It's pretty cool driving it around after a 27 year slumber in the woods of Maine.