[njsteve]

I had mentioned that I ordered the brake lines and the passenger side vent/return lines. The order arrived yesterday.

This is what I ordered from The RightStuff via Jegs:

FIN 7401 front-to-rear brake line
FGL7502 2-piece pass side vent line 1/4"
FGL7503 2-piece pass side fuel return line 5/16"

What showed up was:

FIN 7401 front-to-rear brake line
FGL 7501 2-piece driver's side fuel line 3/8" (same one that I already installed last week)
FGL 7502 2-piece pass side vent line 1/4"

They are shipped directly from Right Stuff so they were the ones that messed up, since the invoice showed I ordered it properly but they boxed up the wrong parts.

I called up Jegs and they told me to box up the FGL7501 and return it to them on their dime. But they aren't shipping out the 7503 until they receive the return. This is kind of pain in the butt since I have to replace the vent and return lines at the same time as they route together with the same clamps. So that job is on hold for the time being.

So What I did today was replace the driver's side front to rear brake line which was kind of crusty looking. I also replaced the rubber brake hose that goes from the rear differential to the steel line. I bought the AC/Delco replacement. The car still had it's original hose and it was not gonna budge from that fitting. I pulled the entire line out with the hose attached and then had to place it in a vice to get the hose off. This was so I could recover the bracket that bolts to the frame and secures the hose assembly. All in all it took a leisurely four hours including brake bleeding.

[njsteve]

The stripes arrived yesterday and I put them on with some soapy water and a squeegy. The hard part is trying to get them symmetrically located on both sides. That took a couple hours. I think it worked out rather well in the end. Nice and subtle. The stripes seem to fade away in direct sunlight but in the shade they really pop.

[Held for Ransom]

To me, there's something wrong with the look.

I think the grilles would look better if the back was blackened out.

[njsteve]

I like the argent grills. That’s the way they came orIginally. I’m kind of nostalgic that way.

[Held for Ransom]

I suppose you have to keep one thing original.

[OVERULD]

I, on the other hand, think it looks awesome like it is. You will never see another one like it anywhere. Steve, you should bring it to the TA Nats in Dayton next month.

BJ

[The Boss]

Originally Posted by Held for Ransom

I suppose you have to keep one thing original.

Have to admit Steve, it's hard to argue for originality when you're talking about the most heavily modified car in the fleet.

[J GLASGO]

Originally Posted by Held for Ransom

To me, there's something wrong with the look.

I think the grilles would look better if the back was blackened out.

Totally agree.

[njsteve]

Originally Posted by The Boss

Have to admit Steve, it's hard to argue for originality when you're talking about the most heavily modified car in the fleet.

LOL. Some things I like about the 75's versus 74's. The horizontal grills with the signal lights look kind of like canine teeth versus the 74's vertical, widemouthed grills.

Due to how faded out the original grills were, I never actually noticed if they had a black inset. From photos on the interweb it appears that the last inch of the grill (including the slats) on some models were all blacked out to begin with. Was this the same across the board in 75 from base model to T/A? I'm beginning think the Esprit had all-silver grills? Be that as it may, maybe this is on the list for a winter project. That sure would take a whole lotta masking to keep the silver front area intact.

Here's a photo of the original grills back in 2011 before I repainted them.

[njsteve]

Originally Posted by Held for Ransom

I suppose you have to keep one thing original.

My one "never change" original item is the steering column. It still has the wear scratches above the ignition switch from Gramma Rose's manicured thumbnail when she turned the key. She always had perfect nails and got a manicure weekly. Now, come to think of it, I think it was her version of physical therapy for the severe arthritis in her hands. The joints in her knuckles and fingers were so swollen they looked like the hands of a heavyweight boxer.

What a woman!

[Held for Ransom]

If it were me, I'd be on the lookout for another set to play with. That way you could go back if the look doesn't do it for you. Formula's and Trans Am's had the black out look.

[njsteve]

Sounds like a plan. No comes the hard part of locating a decent set.

[pontiacstogo]

Originally Posted by njsteve

Sounds like a plan. No comes the hard part of locating a decent set.

You could always go with the 74 versions instead - you'd need to also source the turn signals as they move to the lower valance.

[Held for Ransom]

He already wrote about the '74 vertical (but I think he meant horizontal slats) not as appealing as the '75 horizontal slats w/turn signals (and 2 vertical slats).

[njsteve]

Here's the 74 (vertical slats) versus 75 (horizontal) grills.

[77 Canamman]

I prefer the argent grilles on this car.

[njsteve]

I blacked out the frills using the "Paint" app on my computer. I like the silver grills. They compliment the chrome and silver accents on the car.

BTW, an update on the fuel lines: Jugs and Rightstuff couldn't get the FGL7503 vent line set shipped to me because the part numbers are changed. The correct passenger side fuel vent line is 965-FEM06.

So for future reference:
Driver's side brake line from metering valve to rear diff: FIN-7401
Driver's side 3/8 fuel line 2-piece: RightStuff: FGL-7501
Passenger side fuel return line 2-piece: RightStuff FGL-7502
Passenger side vent line 2-piece: RightsStuff FEM06

[njsteve]

And another part on order. The original dash speaker stopped working recently for the factory AM/FM mono radio. I pulled out the A/C ducting and accessed the wiring. I was able to confirm the bad speaker by using a jumper wire to an old Kraco 6x10 speaker.

I ordered a replacement speaker from Electro-Tech. I have bought their 4x10 oval replacement speaker before and it worked very well and fit perfectly into the factory under dash bracket. They are the correct 8-ohm rating that will work with the factory radios, versus all the 4-ohm replacement versions out there that will fry your original radio eventually.

With shipping it was around $59

http://www.turnswitch.com/speakers.htm

[Held for Ransom]

OMG, I need to stop looking at others vehicles and start admiring mine again. How could I have forgotten mine are vertical??? Maybe turning them around in the garage can be a start...

[OVERULD]

Originally Posted by njsteve

And another part on order. The original dash speaker stopped working recently for the factory AM/FM mono radio. I pulled out the A/C ducting and accessed the wiring. I was able to confirm the bad speaker by using a jumper wire to an old Kraco 6x10 speaker.

I ordered a replacement speaker from Electro-Tech. I have bought their 4x10 oval replacement speaker before and it worked very well and fit perfectly into the factory under dash bracket. They are the correct 8-ohm rating that will work with the factory radios, versus all the 4-ohm replacement versions out there that will fry your original radio eventually.

With shipping it was around $59

http://www.turnswitch.com/speakers.htm

Steve, that is the same front speaker I put in my 74. I am intimately familiar with all that AC duct and reaching up there to get it in. I had my radio rebuilt and added an MP3 Jack, and both front and rear speakers were bad, so they are new. Sounds really good. The guy at Electro-Tech was great to work with and I had the new speakers in just a couple days after ordering.

Originally Posted by Held for Ransom

OMG, I need to stop looking at others vehicles and start admiring mine again. How could I have forgotten mine are vertical??? Maybe turning them around in the garage can be a start...

Mike, we were just waiting for you to figure it out! LOL

BJ