[77 Canamman]

What a bunch of aholes..

[77 Canamman]

If you haven't done so already, I would put those two part numbers into your saved searches feature on E-Bay. This will automatically alert you via e-mail if one is listed. I have obtained several NOS parts this way.

[77 Canamman]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1970-1973-Pontiac-Firebird-Delco-Brakr-rear-brake-hose-NOS-18002136-/262964242731?hash=item3d39e3e92b:gN0AAOSwv0tVDLu A&vxp=mtr

At least they finally changed the listing to reflect the proper part number!

[Formulabruce]

Whitepost can built a original hose if you send them the original.

[njsteve]

Has anyone had this done? Do they use your original ends???

[njsteve]

More tinkering. The heat buildup in the rear drums caused by the swelled up hose, ruined the original set of brake return springs. I replaced the entire set with some NOS ones I had as it seemed like the shoes were dragging and not returning to their original positions. After a test drive the rear drums were around 300 degrees. When I pulled the springs off, including the small ones that hold the shoes to the backing plate, all of them were permanently stuck in their stretched position, except the little ones that hold the shoes to the backing plates - they were permanently compressed. The brakes seem to be working properly now.

So now I have a little collection of original parts removed from the car - all nicely labeled in separate ziploc bags.

Another lesson learned: old brake components are not good to have on a survivor - if you want to survive driving it.

[frank.g]

Similar driver issues can be had with original belts, original hoses, original thermostats, original spark plug wires, original coils and original heater cores. But you already know about the heater core. Gotta love your old car, cause you need the love to get through these "fun" times.

[njsteve]

Yup, the old survivor curse strikes again!

[njsteve]

I was getting the old girl ready for a photo shoot today and took it for a half mile drive when suddenly the car starts wobbling. Yup you guessed it. Another one of the NOS 1973 Firestone 500 tires exploded. This was one I got off craigslist a few years ago. I had an NOS spare tire and rim from a 1974 T/A in the garage so I bolted that on the car and we were good to go. Those Firestone 500s are real widow-makers. I was only going 15 MPH at the time. I can't imagine what people went through with these things when they were new, back in the 1970's and Firestone denied that there was any problem whatsoever.

Here's what it looked like while still inflated. It continued snapping the steel cords and shredding as I was taking the photo.

[njsteve]

And after I deflated it. BTW, those are steel cords sticking out of there, not polyester.

[njsteve]

The photographer got some good shots on a nice day.

[Formulabruce]

I have a GR70 spare with white side wall 1973, very nice shape

[njsteve]

Is it a Uniroyal? I have a friend who has a car that was ordered with whitewall GR70x15 radials and his only remaining original tire is the spare Uniroyal white stripe. He's looking for more tires.

[njsteve]

I'm changing my lottery win choice: I just checked the Kelsey Tire site and they now offer the Goodyear Steelguard GR70x15 which according to Goodyear came out in late 1972 for 1973 cars. That might be the way to go for the future, for anyone else cursed with the Firestone 500 GR70x15 under the radial tire option. They offer them in both RWL and white stripe.

https://corporate.goodyear.com/en-US/about/history.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLK_nZeD834

http://www.kelseytire.com/pages/preformancetires4.html (4th tire from the left)

[Held for Ransom]

http://www.forums.maxperformanceinc....d.php?t=796460

If you're thinking about the Goodyear's, contact Rusty.

[Formulabruce]

The Tire I have is a GR-70 '73 BFG taken off a 15" Rally wheel in the trunk of a Pontiac Le Mans Sport It was its original spare.

[Held for Ransom]

Date code indicates a '74 mfg. date.

[Formulabruce]

Originally Posted by Held for Ransom

Date code indicates a '74 mfg. date.

Never really looked as I know the car and owner. , oh well.

[njsteve]

Just got back from the Hemmings Concours at Lake George NY. Great show. They had a 50th Anniversary Camaro and Firebird display for 1967 to 1981 F-bodies. The cars were selected by invitation only.

Some really nice cars were there. The SD wound up with a second place. Very surprising given the high caliber of the cars in the class and the fact that the SD is unrestored. I was up against several six-figure $$$ restorations. A restored green 1969 ZL1 Camaro got first and third went to a copper 70 L78 Camaro from Minnesota.

Phillip Borris did an exceptional job as the narrator and emcee of the class providing a car by car history of the F-body line given his expertise on the subject as the author of Echoes of Norwood. Here he is giving his spiel.

[njsteve]

I trailered the SD up there with my '95 Suburban (I just replaced the original 6.5 diesel engine with a brand new AM/Gen 6.5 diesel from the HUMVEE engine plant in Ohio). Boy, what difference in towing! With the aftermarket tune in the truck and all the exhaust mods I have made over the years, it makes around 500 lbs of torque and an extra 75 horsepower now. It even got 12 mpg towing 450 miles. (the old towing mileage was 10, if I was going downhill).