[unruhjonny]

I'm north of you all!

I feel the pain!

I actually found my car's 100% correct transmission in Spokane!!

@ pvp44, I know that the inclination is to look south for parts, but with the exchange rate being what it is, you might want to look north;
I know a guy here who can get almost anything, and I believe he goes down every month or so to pick up parts at the border (Coutts/Sweetgrass)… I also know another guy in the 'lower mainland' who is goo for getting stuff too.


What you Americans get (and sometimes don't realize ho good you have it) is cheap shipping across the USA via UPS.


I saw the post "Priest Lake Idaho", and though to myself, "sweet, I should see where that is!"... lol

[pvp44]

Thanks for sympathising, guys! I once threw out this hypothetical situation to a fellow early 2nd.Gen TA enthusiast: In 1975, a driver of a 1972 (or 71 for that matter) was involved in a traffic crash that caused front end damage. He wisely chose his GM Dealership to repair the car. The service manager concluded that it was more cost effective to replace the hood rather than have the bodymen repair it. He sourced the replacement hood from his parts department.
Did they install the "wrong" hood, or just a service replacement.I guess the problem I have is the word "wrong" being used for these parts.Can we just call them "service replacement". I am only trying to help fellow restorer
entusiasts going through the same.

[unruhjonny]

what you're asking, is a tiny bit different that what people in the investment side of the hobby are concerned about;
The service replacement hood would be the hood which was available through the parts network at the time.

I'd wager that 98% of the people who would be incline to look at a car like this wouldn't car about the idiosyncrasies of original versus a later part - but once the car gets priced into "investment" territory, then it will get noticed.

To answer your question, the correct hood was installed - which would have been a brand new "1975" (service replacement) hood.

The price gap from a good driver collector car, to "investment" category car, can be observed by the level of detail that a car will go through when being done... and frankly it can be staggering.

I'd wager that any person looking at, and contemplating spending north of $55k for an early TA, will be looking at the details of "original" (read: 100% authentic to the timeline from when the car was built) versus "correct".

A really easy part that I can use to distinguish is an OEM carb, versus a service replacement carb - both are "correct", but the service replacement will be stamped different, and sometimes have different parts - even though functionally it is identical.

Another easy to point out detail is a correct dash insert with a printed overlay versus a nice original or restored original unit.

I hope that makes sense.

You should look up the "new caretaker of the black car" thread - or several others where members here take nice driver cars, and bring them up to nearly stupid levels of correctness... not that it's a bad thing - even though I used the adjective "stupid", I find it down right impressive.

I aspire to build my car with correct/original parts...

[pvp44]

Point taken Jonny, good info. Park Place realizes the car will probably not bring all of the asking price, but hopefully we are still in the ballpark pricing wise.

[Transamric]

Originally Posted by pvp44

Yes, I have a "seasonal" service station business here in Priest Lake Idaho and in the winter when we are slower I get to spend time on my lifelong hobby, Pontiac muscle! I appreciate the compliments and comments and agree with most. I have heard of Randy Coombes on the forum here and in retrospect would send the bezel out. I think one of the biggest obstacles I have faced in the restoration process of these cars is the fact that I am in a fairly remote area and just do not have services and sources close by, that and my lack of patience! I am well aware of the differences in inner bracing of the early vs later fenders of these cars, hood underside bracing, etc. But at some point a line must be drawn, at least from a restorer with some sort of budget point of view, as to what is feasible to complete this process within some reasonable time frame.When it comes to "truck freight" shipping items like fenders, hoods, etc. you are somewhat limited to what may be available at any given time within your 300-500 mile radius. I hope it does not sound like I am trying to make excuses for the car, but hopefully there are others out there on this forum who can relate! Having the knowledge of what is correct on a particular year Trans Am is one thing, rebuilding these cars in 2018 is another. I want to keep enjoying this hobby and "rebuilding excitement as long as I am able, and would rather not be discouraged from doing so for fear of incorrect fender bracing.

Well said and I'm in total agreement. Even though I live in Western WA. only 5 minutes from I-5, I find that not only are there no high quality services near here, but even finding someone who will do near perfect work that you can trust, is getting harder all the time.

[Transamric]

Ok, not finding your '72 in Park Places inventory today. Does that mean it has sold already? Would have liked to have a look too.

[Transamric]

BTW, on the white '70, I am impressed with the front spoiler and flairs fit! I've never been able to get mine that spot on regardless of the amount of time spent.
The chrome rear sway bar really got me. How does the plating stay on a part that will be flexing a bit? Seems like it'd crack and fall right off.
Also, 3.08 gears in a 4 speed w/o A/C? Don't think that was an available combo.

[TA455HO]

Originally Posted by pvp44

Yes, I have a "seasonal" service station business here in Priest Lake Idaho and in the winter when we are slower I get to spend time on my lifelong hobby, Pontiac muscle!

We used to go to Priest Lake every summer for family vacation when I was a kid. Fun place for water sports.

Don't let my comment about the fenders discourage you even slightly. We need more Pontiac muscle on the streets around here.

Chad

[unruhjonny]

.. I just looked it up;
That is beautiful country down there;
When I drive to my cousin's in Portland, which used to be at least once a year, we enter the 'states via the Kingsgate/Eastport crossing and follow #95 to Coeur d'Alene before heading west, then south...

[pvp44]

Rick, I just contacted Park Place and there appears to be a glitch on their website, my link to the ad was broken also. They have the car on E-Bay on a fixed price listing if you want to check it out there. Pete

[1971455HO]

Originally Posted by Formulabruce

1970 clock knob

I like this shot Formulabruce...80mph & only turning 2200. I need less cam and a taller gear.

[JUDGE3]

Originally Posted by eaglesan13

That dash bezel looks peculiar to me, it looks like maybe it has been recovered with something, maybe an appliqué? It looks like it's been trimmed around the Light and Wiper openings, and also near the bottom of the headlight switch and the right lower corner of the dash vent.

Its peculiar because it is the foil stick on engine turn. done in-correctly and poorly!

this is how you do it.

[1971455HO]

No expert here. I read through all the what about this and what about that. I agree it isn't quite investment quality, but it's nice. Like someone said, somebody will love it and not give a hoot about the correctness.

I did notice one thing I've never even heard of...."Grease Fittings" on the front sway bar bushing straps. Is that correct? Was it '70 only?
I never saw that on my '71. Just a solid strap.

[Formulabruce]

Originally Posted by 1971455HO

I like this shot Formulabruce...80mph & only turning 2200. I need less cam and a taller gear.

and I was going uphill ! on a Flat it will do barely under 2,000.

Stage 3 .. 200-4R
.67 OD and 3.42 Gears

[1971455HO]

Aaaaah, the old O.D. trick, Cool. I'm assuming the stage III treatment makes it stout enough to survive a big Pontiac motor while calling on it through the first 3 gears. Nice set up. So, you can have it all!

Sorry for being off topic, just liked what I saw.

[72projectbird]

Originally Posted by 1971455HO

No expert here. I read through all the what about this and what about that. I agree it isn't quite investment quality, but it's nice. Like someone said, somebody will love it and not give a hoot about the correctness.

I did notice one thing I've never even heard of...."Grease Fittings" on the front sway bar bushing straps. Is that correct? Was it '70 only?
I never saw that on my '71. Just a solid strap.

The 70 that I'm restoring had greasable sway bar straps. I don't know if they're original, but they look old enough.

[Judge273]

Is there a working link?

[keith k]

Originally Posted by 72projectbird

The 70 that I'm restoring had greasable sway bar straps. I don't know if they're original, but they look old enough.

Do you have a pic of those?
I've pulled apart a number of '70s, and never seen a car with grease fittings anywhere on the sway bar... , but there were lots of production oddities with these cars.

[eaglesan13]

http://www.parkplaceltd.com/used-car...X228870N130932

[weranc55]

Originally Posted by eaglesan13

http://www.parkplaceltd.com/used-car...X228870N130932

Those are aftermarket. Poly bushings.