[72blackbird]

Cdoggy,
Who's repro trunk pan did you use? I need to change mine out as well.

Geno

[cdoggy81]

I got one from NPD b/c they are 30 min from me & didn't have to pay oversized shipping.

[Region Warrior]

Started follow'n along.
Looks good.
BTY, i keep two tubes of super glue in the tool box...regular and gel

[cdoggy81]

Thanks Mike. The gel is a good idea as that stuff likes to drip & run all over the place when you don't want it to

[JC455]

Looking pretty nice!

[cdoggy81]

Thank you John

[cdoggy81]

Got to looking at my rocker panels & as you can see they need to be fixed so..... I got some replacements. Not sure I like the fit that much or is that just the way they come? What do I do with that big bent up piece at the end? Cut it off & bend it up? Not sure what to do here. Any advice?

[x-bird2]

don't cut it off! that's the end of the rocker. look at your 2nd and 3rd pics carefully. the outer wheelhouse will get welded to the tabs to the left of it that are folded to the inside of the rocker and to the backside of that tab at the end. the rear lower edge of the quarter will come down and be welded to the skinny flange that's just past the hole in the rocker. it looks like it got bent in a little during shipping, that last section should continue straight--you need to carefully tweak back out so you don't crease it.

[Wareagle]

Pretty sad--a once proud Pontiac turned into a Chevy .

[Tazzz2]

Exciting project cdoggy81.....It sure is looking good and I look forward to hopefully seeing it at some show/s this summer....Do you plan to go to the "Trans am Nat's" this year ??? if so I'll see you there most likely with my 70 Formula project..

[Wareagle]

This should be moved to the non Pontiac motors in Pontiacs section ? .
Basically you can get the same motor in the Vette & New Camaro .

[stuta]

Yo Chris,
It's about time i got a chance to check out your project. I can't wait to see this bad boy out on the streets! I still have to get that "care package" out to you from the Hosp. Looks like you'll need it buddy. ( KNOCK ON WOOD )
Well, i'm in the camp of... do it the way YOU want it !!!!!!!! So i love the project.
I'm sure i'll be talking to ya real soon.
Stu

[keith k]

Originally Posted by Wareagle

Pretty sad--a once proud Pontiac turned into a Chevy .

This kinda falls into the category of .... if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it.

[Wareagle]

Originally Posted by keith k

This kinda falls into the category of .... if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it.

Lotsa nice things to say about a correct 70 T/A RAM AIR III - IV etc.

[FLYNLOW]

Originally Posted by Wareagle

Lotsa nice things to say about a correct 70 T/A RAM AIR III - IV etc.

Like "slow" "unreliable" and "uncomfortable" based on todays standards for daily driven performance vehicles?

Feel free to "save" this "poor" T/A and offer the guy money he can't refuse and buy it yourself to restore. Maybe then you'd actually have a Pontiac instead of simply jocking other peoples rides and bashing other setups? Gets pretty old.

cdoggy - great work so far.

[cdoggy81]

Wow, thank you all very much for the positive support!!!

X-bird, I will look at it again as I think now I will keep them & make them work vs, cutting out small sections & making my own small patch sections.

Tazzz2, I will be there... one day... just not in the next 1-2 years.

Stuta, ya know I luv ya man When are you going to come visit sunny FL again?

Keith K, thank you!

Flynlow, thank you too! BTW, do you have any build pics of your conversion I could look at? It is always good to know some 2nd-gen'ers who have done this as well

[cdoggy81]

Not a lot of progress as I have been screwing around about what to do with the tail panel & Fabulous Firebirds...

As most people fixing up 70-73 firebirds know you can't get squat for those years. The tail panel being no exception. You can find NOS ones that pop up from time to time on eBay but they usually run $1500 to $2000 so F THAT! Another option is donor car. So I called Fabulous Firebirds in MO & they guy tells me he has a perfect one with 1 small rust hole the size of a pencil tip. Great I'll take it... 4 days later & an additional $90 in shipping & this is what I get:











As you can see I was not too happy... 1 small rust spot, HA!, try 10 good sized ones. Good shape, HA!, how about full of mud. After spending almost $600 I was only offered a measly $75 credit & I had to even fight for that! The kicker is that this all started Dec. 9th & I STILL have not received closure or $ from them!

So, be ware of the new owner & guys that work there as they are not the same as what Larry was doing in the past when he owned it...

[x-bird2]

just to make you feel a little better, that big gap on the side next to the taillight is pretty much factory original. i've seen them as big as what you have and smaller, but there's always a gap. factory filled it with the yellow urethane type sealer. interestingly enough, there is a tab on the factory quarters that will fold over and seal that hole, which is how i did mine when i installed my nos quarter. if you look at the rear valance pan, lower portion, every one i've seen (original) has a bigger gap to the quarter than the passenger's side--that's reflected int he pics you have there with the driver's side gap being bigger by the taillight. the top side--well that's a mess, but if the bottoms good and you can use your original trunk opening channels up top, you can at least get it all back together. not defending the description or price, but i think you at least have something workable, just going to take a little extra .

[Father&Son73T/A]

Originally Posted by cdoggy81

I still can't get my radio out of the GTO to take apart the rest of the dash so I thought I would work on the firewall. Here is what we got so far:





I want to thank Mark in California for sending me the cardboard template to make this easier. You rock!







That is all for now. A few more welds & then it is grinder time...

not married huh?,then what the heck is that thing on your your left hand finger?

[cdoggy81]

Nice try Columbo, but that is my buddy Doug Baril... ( http://www.highperformancepontiac.co...ird/index.html )