[Transamric]

Originally Posted by Norwood

They do look much better on the blue car..

Agree!!

[njsteve]

Thanks to Norwood and his expertise (no doubt using surplus, Area 51 Alien replication technology), he has come out with another unique part for our cars. This time it's the heat riser shroud mounting bracket for the 72 455HO engines.

Here's is the problem. The only repro available for the 72's is the wrong style bracket that is used on the 70s and 71s. Pictured on the top and bottom, it has two big "ears" that come up to protect the vacuum hoses. This was not used in 72.



Here is a borrowed shot of an original 72 bracket on top, and Norwood's exact duplicate on the bottom:



And a borrowed photo of the 72-only shroud unit that employed a locater tab to engage in the slot in the bracket:



Compared with the repro piece that is sold by all the venders and mistakenly described as fitting all the 70/71/72 cars. The triangular piece needs to be trimmed down into a small tab, and then it works just fine with Norwood's bracket:



And the modified shroud and new bracket, assembled and mounted. (...and it looks like I need to do some detailing and repainting over the winter).

[njsteve]

BTW, Norwood, how about reproducing the correct 72 tubular shroud, as well?

[Lloyd-TX]

Originally Posted by njsteve

BTW, Norwood, how about reproducing the correct 72 tubular shroud, as well?

Great idea, Steve!

[Norwood]

Maybe...

[Father&Son73T/A]

Craig,can you make me a whole 72 4spd Trans Am please..........I'd appreciate it.

[Brewster]

Me Too! Ho-Ho-Ho

[Norwood]

It could only be considered a clone..........and you don't want that

[Father&Son73T/A]

Originally Posted by Norwood

It could only be considered a clone..........and you don't want that

...................

[njsteve]

Well, here is the update of the century. The 72 sold today to a very happy new owner. We were both quite pleased with the transaction. If the new owner wishes to announce himself publicly I will leave it up to him.

I know what you're thinking: how could you spend seven years working toward something and then sell it? Well, it's kind of like the biblical story of Jacob and how he had to toil for seven years under Rachel's father Laban, before being allowed to marry Rachel, only the morning after the wedding ceremony he finds out there was a switcheroo and it's Leah he married and not Rachel. So he had to work another seven years to get the girl (car) of his dreams, Rachel.

That was kind of how I felt every time I'd open the garage and see the 72 sitting there. All I saw was seven years of labor and not the good feeling of owning the car I always wanted. So, off she went and now I am hunting for "Rachel". :-)

This now leaves me with a bit of funding for the next project, whatever that may be. Hopefully something will come up soon. (or at least sooner than in the next seven years)

[The Boss]

May I be the first to congratulate you and the new owner. I know the feeling when you let go of a car that has been part of your life for so long, but some of the excitement is the hunt for cars & parts.

Enjoy the hunt!

[njsteve]

Yes, I enjoy the hunt far more than the kill.

The actual restoration process is more fun for me than owning it after its done. Only in this case the 7 years it took were about 6 years too long due to body shop hell. (something everyone has gone through at one time or another).

Here's hoping that the next project moves a helluva lot faster. :-)

[Norwood]

Rachel=SD?

[FunctionalShaker]

Rachel was the pretty one, so who is she? Guess that brings this thread to a close.

[stuta]

Congratulations Steve,
I met u and your amazing 72 T/A at raceway park,NJ a few years ago.
I was one of the many people that was blown away by your car.
There always comes a time to move on to the next 4 wheel conquest.
BTW...what is your dream car again ?
Best of luck with your search,
Stu

[njsteve]

Originally Posted by FunctionalShaker

Rachel was the pretty one, so who is she? Guess that brings this thread to a close.

I havent found her yet. :-)

Probably a 73 SD if anyone ever wants to let one go.

[Larry Navarro]

.......

[OVERULD]

Originally Posted by njsteve

Well, it's kind of like the biblical story of Jacob and how he had to toil for seven years under Rachel's father Laban, before being allowed to marry Rachel, only the morning after the wedding ceremony he finds out there was a switcheroo and it's Leah he married and not Rachel. So he had to work another seven years to get the girl (car) of his dreams, Rachel... So, off she went and now I am hunting for "Rachel". :-)

Great analogy except that in that story, Jacob kept Leah and still got Rachel...plus, both of their maidservants, Bilhah and Zilpah...and from Jacob and these four women came the fathers of the twevle tribes of Israel. So, you should have kept the 72, (Leah) and then found an SD (Rachel), and maybe you would have wound up with a couple more too (the maidservants)!

BJ

[njsteve]

Hey, one wife is hard enough! I cant imagine how they handled four or five....and that father in law, Laban - he'd always be snoopin around wanting me to work on his car, er..next daughter for another seven years.



This has to be a first: Usually most threads devolve into people yelling at each other and calling names.

This has to be the first time a thread "went biblical".

:-)

[Norwood]

I can't wait to see the restoration of Rachel. This is kind of a sad day here, almost like when your first child leaves for college....