[Bentwheelbob]

Now for the bad.

Several issues that immediately jump out. The exhaust system is crap from the manifolds to the muffler. The car has a true dual exhaust with no catalytic converter. The installation was shoddy to start with and time has not helped it any. It will be replaced very soon, but I need some suggestions on good systems for a 1978. On the transmission the dust cover is missing - if any one has a dust cover please send me a pm. The engine really leaks oil and the rear main seal will need to be addressed this winter. The paint shows more wear than you would like, but at the same time it looks pretty darn good for a 53K mile survivor. The drivers side window needs adjusted, and the sway bar end link bushings are totally missing. All in all - not too shabby. here's some pics.

[W72-Bandit]

All in all it looks like a very nice T/A. A little TLC on the underside will really make a difference and should clean up nicely. Curious about the sheet metal extension on the pass. side of the subframe? That's a new one on me.
Congrats Bob it looks right at home in the garage!

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by Bentwheelbob

Now for the bad.

Several issues that immediately jump out. The exhaust system is crap from the manifolds to the muffler. The car has a true dual exhaust with no catalytic converter. The installation was shoddy to start with and time has not helped it any. It will be replaced very soon, but I need some suggestions on good systems for a 1978. On the transmission the dust cover is missing - if any one has a dust cover please send me a pm. The engine really leaks oil and the rear main seal will need to be addressed this winter. The paint shows more wear than you would like, but at the same time it looks pretty darn good for a 53K mile survivor. The drivers side window needs adjusted, and the sway bar end link bushings are totally missing. All in all - not too shabby. here's some pics.

Looking good & congrats again.

IMO & '78 T/A 6.6 W72 WS6 experience - note:

- the missing end link bushings were urethane from the factory for WS6. IIRC most ALL parts books will just show standard rubber end-link bushings which will work but without the urethanes the difference in handling is like night and day. A simple fix that dramatically increases suspension performance as designed by Herb Adams & Pontiac Engineering for WS6.

- the stamped subframe extension was installed as a heat shield for fuel lines from the OEM CatCon that was offset and positioned in the passenger footwell area.

- exhaust replacement is what you want it to be IMO. Personally both our T/A's have true dual w Dynomax Turbo style Muffs w factory Splitter tips. The '78 has a simple "H" pipe with factory manifolds...and ran 14:89 @ 95mph w closed shaker

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by Alvin

Looking good & congrats again.

IMO & '78 T/A 6.6 W72 WS6 experience - note:

- the missing end link bushings were urethane from the factory for WS6. IIRC most ALL parts books will just show standard rubber end-link bushings which will work but without the urethanes the difference in handling is like night and day. A simple fix that dramatically increases suspension performance as designed by Herb Adams & Pontiac Engineering for WS6.

- the stamped subframe extension was installed as a heat shield for fuel lines from the OEM CatCon that was offset and positioned in the passenger footwell area.

- exhaust replacement is what you want it to be IMO. Personally both our T/A's have true dual w Dynomax Turbo style Muffs w factory Splitter tips. The '78 has a simple "H" pipe with factory manifolds...and ran 14:89 @ 95mph w closed shaker

Check out a 1978 PONTIAC SERVICE MANUAL Exhaust System

pages 6F-9 (Fig. 6F-12 F Series Exhaust Systems Chart),
pages 6F-10 (Fig. 6F-13 Exhaust Manifold Connections F-Series) (Fif. 6F-14 Converter Attachments F Series),
pages 6F-11 (Fig. 6F-16 Dual Exhaust System F Series),
Pages 6F-12 (Fig. 6F-17 Dual Tail Pipes Muffler and Attachments F Series Vin codes Z...)

- The factory installed manifold "EFE Valve" is usually long gone
- Note the 2-piece bracket hangers used to support the heavy OEM CatCon from the Trans crossmember, also usually tossed long ago
- Factory exhaust Muffs were "Turbo" short style

Interesting the factory manual lacks the illustration and documentation of the W72 Automatic Trans Only Dual Resonator exhaust...but that's not a concern for your 4-spd Y88.

Hope this info helps.

[Judge273]

Nice survivor car Bob! That will be a fun one to document and decipher.

Alvin cut back on the coffee....

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by Judge273

Nice survivor car Bob! That will be a fun one to document and decipher.

Alvin cut back on the coffee....

O-tay Buckwheat!

[Bentwheelbob]

Alvin - keep drinking the coffee. I appreciate your help.

Mike - thanks for the kind words. Underhood this one has more needs than the Sundance Kid.

Well, it took all of 15 hours in my possession before the car was rendered inoperable. The process has begun...Mission creep is on the horizon and I can taste it. Before My Pal Dave and I tore into it though we took the car on a 15 mile run and I've got to say I am really pleased. Despite the sway bar issue and 15 year old out of round tires, this car is tight. It also is surprisingly powerful and the engine runs very good despite needing some serious tuning, and despite there being a number of unplugged vacuum lines that are disconnected. In addition, the distributor cap was only half secured. This car will do fine once its had some attention. The foundation is great with no discernible issues. The interior is incredible, with the only nits being the gold gauge bezel and the sunvisors which have "floppy" vinyl on them. Everything works - clock, lighter and eight track included. Pretty damn awesome...

The carb, intake, heads and block are all the right numbers, and the block VIN checks out. While I thought that the intake and right head had mismatched paint, it is actually just the intake and valley pan. They are the right pieces, but they have been painted navy blue??? MPD and I are wondering based on the way this thing runs if at some point last century there may have been a cam swap. It is difficult to imagine why someone would have had the intake and valley pan out otherwise and they were clearly painted while off of the engine. The date codes on the heads are B098 and B038. The intake is L087.

I'm going to need a lot of help figuring this thing out and finding all the pieces. I appreciate all the help in the past, and all the help to come. I'll have some more focused posts coming that drill down on specific issues and questions. For now, here's a few pics.
The last two pictures show two vacuum points neither of which are hooked up. If anyone has any education to provide on these, please do so.

[Alvin]

Thxs BentWheel

The ported vacuum switch on the front of the intake manifold should be bright blue...and here's some easy "tuning" info you may find interesting and has always "worked like a charm" on my T/A 6.6's: