[Brewster]

Welcome to PY Martin1264!

Steve taking pictures early in the morning or late in afternoon goes for any color car not just white ones.
That pic looks killer though and should make a great poster.

[njsteve]

Originally Posted by Martin1264

Thank you ....I'm in Southern CT Redding/Newtown area.

Again Great Car... Was this in HPP a few months back?

Not yet in HPP. Hopefully soon.

[Hotrodizz]

Originally Posted by njsteve

The biggest problem with these wheels is the lack of a similar material for repair. Some people use bondo (too rigid) or silicone (too soft), but until now there was no real alternative.

Scratching me head, I was digging around in the lab and found two 10 year old tubes of 3M rubber bumper repair epoxy. This is the stuff used for filling and repairing the elastomeric/endura bumpers on Camaros, GTOs, Trans Ams, Cudas and the like. Mixed in equal parts, it cures fast, is extremely flexible, sands easy and can be painted. Since I had nothing to lose, I used it: I ended up stumbling onto the perfect repair material.

I cannot find a supplier for this 3M number. Closest I see is #05887, and while it says "flexible", it also seems like it is for plastic. Is there another alternative?

[Norwood]

Tom, I got it here. They are in Elgin.

http://www.autobodytoolmart.com/

[Hotrodizz]

Originally Posted by Norwood

Tom, I got it here. They are in Elgin.

http://www.autobodytoolmart.com/

I dont see that same number, i find : http://www.autobodytoolmart.com/p-10853-13297.aspx
and
http://www.autobodytoolmart.com/p-11165-16867.aspx

[FunctionalShaker]

Hotrod,

You can find examples of this stuff on ebay all the time. I think the numbers change because of the type of packaging and age, but they appear to all be the same product. I've used the 5887 on endura with great results. Numbers I found on ebay, right now, are 5887, 5895, 5896, and 8233

[njsteve]

I believe they stopped making the original stuff I used because the various manufacturers have improved the stuff over the years. Basically, anything meant for urethane flexible fascia repair is useable on these wheels.

[tommie69]

I bought and used the 3m 5887.I bought it on ebay with shipping $26!

[njsteve]

By the way, now that it's summertime, if anyone needs a correct temp sending unit, try the Wells TU5 if you cant find an original GM one. Autozone has them.

There has been a bunch of people in various threads asking about incorrect temp gauge readings, now that it is hot out.

Here is my original testing results in another posting from a year or two ago:

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...=632070&page=2

[Formulabruce]

Way back in the Wheel balance post Steve Showed us an adapter used for "Lug centric" balancing.( honeycomb wheels) My Tire place told me to "bring 'em the adapter"
LOL, NOT HARDLY!!>> http://www.npfequipment.com/product-p/wbopt3.htm

500 bucks, Im gonna tell them to make the "investment"

[njsteve]

Tell them you'll be happy to supply the adapter but they will have to rent it from you...which coincidentally will be $500. :-)

Most modern tire stores will have these units. Like I said, my local Midas Muffler shop has the modern balancer that uses its own lug-centric mounting flange.

[Formulabruce]

I will check at Midas, Thxs, I went to Town Fair first as they ordered the Indys for me.

[Tellyshavilli]

Steve , whens the next total restoration project going to start ? Have you picked up a candidate yet ?

[njsteve]

Well, after finishing up the rebuild on my Gramma's 75 Firebird in record time http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...=664082&page=5 , I am really looking for a nice 73 SD. If you know anyone who may be interested in a trade for the 72, I'd be happy to consider it. :-)

[Formulabruce]

Looking back at the pics from the Musclepalloosa ( sp) show.... I found it odd the parking arrangement. Usually at shows the first car takes a spot on the end, next car parks in the MIDDLE, on the line, of the next spot. next car on next line, each car essentially has 2 spots Leaving plenty of 2 door car activity with no accidents or wind and door issues.
The spots were not sub compact, but was just wondering...I get nervous, In fact I look at how many doors a car has ( length) next to me no matter what I am in these days!

[njsteve]

I know what you mean. Especially with the F-bodies and their long, heavy doors just waiting to fly open. That's another reason I tend to avoid car shows.

[njsteve]

Since we are in the midst of an apocaliptic heat wave here, (It was 108 yesterday), I took the 72 T/A out for a spin in the inferno, better known as New Jersey, today.

I went to a local cruise night but only 20 cars showed up due to the heat.

The car uses its original, four-speed radiator (no trans cooler) that was recored with a modern three row, copper core. She handled the climate amazingly well. Here's some temp samples:

Outside Temp: 102 degrees
Pavement Temp: 121 degrees
Pass-Side Radiator Tank Temp: 153 degrees
Dr-Side Radiator Tank Temp: 183 degrees
Thermostat Housing Temp: 197 degrees

A/C on Max, center outlet temp: 35 degrees :-)

Factory temp gauge reading: about a millimeter past the first hash mark on the gauge.

[RicksGTO]

great numbers especially in the record heat, and that a/c reading of 35 degrees is incredible!

[njsteve]

Today's 72 T/A Temperature Update:

Outside Temp: 92 degrees
Pavement Temp: 110 degrees
Pass-Side Radiator Tank Temp: 138 degrees
Dr-Side Radiator Tank Temp: 178 degrees
Thermostat Housing Temp: 185 degrees

Factory gauge reading: directly on the first hashmark

A/C still blowing nice and cold :-)

So there you have it, I guess the first hash mark is 185, even though it is exactly halfway between "100" and "210" on the dial.

[njsteve]

I spent a hour or so removing a valve train noise that I suspected was the crazy oil dripper contraption that the 455HO's used under the valve covers. It was a tinny/clanky sound that obviously wasn't a lifter but was definitely in the valvetrain somewhere.

It seems that the roller tipped rockers I am using were nicking the oil dripper indentations on the passenger side. I pulled both valve covers and removed the contraptions as they are not really needed with the roller tipped rockers. There is enough oil spray coming out of the rockers to lubricate everything that needs lubricating in there, anyway.

Top view:



Underside view:



Closeup view. Some of the nicks are old and some look fresh and shiny.





Now there are no more annoying noises that shouldn't be there. Just the annoying noises that should be. :-)