[transam1972]

so some 73s could have come from the factory with that black/stainless moulding?

[njsteve]

Yes, if the were ordered with the body side molding option.

[transam1972]

thanks..I was just on BWB thread and saw them on your/ his now car!..they are talking about ditching it..I think it should stay

[bird72]

wow, thanks for answers and pics on molding. confirms my 71 has aftermarket or dealer side molding as I knew as factory never put them behind rear wheels like mine has. I will be removing the far back ones as they look very bad and are incorrect and filling holes. I'll retain molding in factory location, but replace cheezy aftermarket that is missings ends and stuff anyway.

Question on the factory..... Do the clips w studs that attach to molding "float" in the molding? So you can move them to match hole location? Reason I ask is I doubt the hole location on mine matches factory.

I still am not opposed to the appartently narrower aftermarket style with white vinyl in stainless if I can source some high grade nice stuff. But that factory with cool ends is pretty nice though and correct is good.

[njsteve]

Yes, the studded clips can be moved to line up with your existing holes.

[Judge273]

Here what a white SD Formula would look like w/o side molding, but stripes, spoiler, and rally II bias tires...

[superdutybob]

Hey NJSteve - check out those black SD shaker decals on that white Formula.

[njsteve]

Originally Posted by Judge273

Here what a white SD Formula would look like w/o side molding, but stripes, spoiler, and rally II bias tires...

I am thinking that it may be the same one from the old magazine and my old photo, from 27 years ago, just freshened up with the side moldings left off.

[Judge273]

Is Rico coming to MCACN?

[njsteve]

No, Rick isn't attending, though it would have been really neat if he did.

[njsteve]

I just got back from the MCACN show in Chicago. Not an uneventful trip to say the least...

The engine in my tow vehicle blew up in Pennsylvania. Here's the play-by-play:

I bought this baby brand new back in 1995. K2500 Suburban, 6.5 diesel, 3/4 ton 4x4. Atlantic Blue and silver. 123,000 miles. Still has original paint and a perfect body. We were attempting to tow my 24 foot trailer from NJ to a car show out west. I got 130 miles into PA and pulled into a rest stop to use the facilities. She was running smooth as silk (always a bad sign!)

I then noticed whitish smoke puffing out the exhaust when idling. Almost like what you see on start up on a cold day. Only it was after 130 miles. When I stepped on the pedal, the white smoke was much more evident. Since I didn't like the looks of that we turned around and headed home slowly.

I got within 30 miles of home when the mushroom cloud of white smoke came out the exhaust and the coolant blew out of the bypass hose off the reservoir. The truck's coolant temp was only running 185 degrees at the time (verified by infra-red heat gun on the hoses, the block and the radiator). Looks like a blown head gasket.

I was able to limp the truck off the exit and only travel another 1/4 mile to a safe parking spot which just so happens to be only 2.9 miles from my co-driver's home (This becomes a rather important fact next...).

I then call the wife and ask her if she renewed the AAA like I asked her to a couple dozen times before. She of course says, "Oh, I was going to do that later today." I then tell her to do it now. She gets on the AAA web site, and it crashes. So she drives into town and renews. (all while I am sitting with broken truck and trailer).

She then calls me back and gives me the Good News/Bad News. Good news, we are members again...bad news; they only tow 3 miles during the initial 7 day waiting period. Jeez - isn't the national gun buying waiting period shorter than that?

Luckily the destination is just under 3 miles and we get the truck towed by AAA to a safe spot. Once there I check to see if the truck will start. The engine starts right up and immediately smokes again. So I shut it down after only a couple seconds.

I call to a buddy (I'll call him "Joe" since that is his real name) who then loans me his brand new Dodge Cummins 2500 HD. (Now THAT's a friend!) and we make the trip up and back to the show.

So, here we are a week later. I just got back from the trip and checked the truck. It does crank slowly- no hydro lock. I checked the oil and there is no water in it. It is still black and not milkshake. But, the oil level is about 2 inches above the fill line! Did the non-firing cylinder(s) filled the crank case with diesel from a damaged injector? I will note that immediately after the initial brake down I checked the oil and it was at its normal level, so this must have happened over the week of sitting?

I know the truck isn't worth much on the open market but we have owned it since new and it is a member of the family - you know the drill: this truck brought pregnant wife to delivery room, carried the kids home from the hospital when they were born, took us on family vacations, dropped kids off at college 18 years later, over the years carried several of my dogs home for burial when they passed away...

So, I could use recommendations on replacing the 6.5 or repairing this engine. I have heard about the AM General replacement engine but I would like some advice from those of you who have more experience with 6.5 diesel engine replacements and/or repairs.

Sadly, the book value of truck is around $4,500 and a new engine is almost double that price.

Who do you recommend?

Thanks, NJSteve

P.S. Buying a new truck is out of the question with current economic conditions and daughter in college, etc.

If only I had a penny for every viewing of my old '72 T/A restoration thread on here and on the Yenko.net site...104,814 + 1,990,194 pennies = $1,048.14 + $19,901.94 = $20,950.08. :-)


Oh, and I only have two more days of my mandatory waiting period before I can get my truck towed back here from my buddies house 30 miles away...

[The Boss]

Call Brian - he's found an engine for you - $1,400.

[njsteve]

That's awesome, I will. Now I have to find his card in the mess that is my luggage. Can you PM it to me?

[njsteve]

As I am still scrambling to get my broken truck attended to, I thought I would post a neat photo from the show. A really nice older gentleman came up and started talking to us during the load out after the show closed. He had heard about the engine fiasco and we were discussing the alternatives. He mentioned that he really liked my car. I happily offered him a seat behind the wheel:

Yes, that is the one and only Arnie "The Farmer" Beswick, the famous Pontiac racer.




This was right before we drove out of the building to the trailer. He REALLY seemed to enjoy seeing the car and sitting in it.

Hindsight is always 20-20, I should have had Arnie drive the car out...but then again he might have just kept going to his house. He did have that sly look on his face. :-)

[The Boss]

Texted

[Judge273]

Thats a great picture!

I got to pull out of show behind the Sox and Martin....That thing was loud and left some black ribbons on Balmoral!! I imagine Arnie would have left bigger marks in your SD....haha

There was a line of cheering fans along curbs hoping to see these cars "rip it up" in front of the convention center all the way down Balmoral. It was wild! Rosemont's finest also supported the parade of flying smoky rubber!!

[70RAlll]

Originally Posted by njsteve

I just got back from the MCACN show in Chicago. Not an uneventful trip to say the least...

The engine in my tow vehicle blew up in Pennsylvania. Here's the play-by-play:

I bought this baby brand new back in 1995. K2500 Suburban, 6.5 diesel, 3/4 ton 4x4. Atlantic Blue and silver. 123,000 miles. Still has original paint and a perfect body. We were attempting to tow my 24 foot trailer from NJ to a car show out west. I got 130 miles into PA and pulled into a rest stop to use the facilities. She was running smooth as silk (always a bad sign!)

I then noticed whitish smoke puffing out the exhaust when idling. Almost like what you see on start up on a cold day. Only it was after 130 miles. When I stepped on the pedal, the white smoke was much more evident. Since I didn't like the looks of that we turned around and headed home slowly.

I got within 30 miles of home when the mushroom cloud of white smoke came out the exhaust and the coolant blew out of the bypass hose off the reservoir. The truck's coolant temp was only running 185 degrees at the time (verified by infra-red heat gun on the hoses, the block and the radiator). Looks like a blown head gasket.

I was able to limp the truck off the exit and only travel another 1/4 mile to a safe parking spot which just so happens to be only 2.9 miles from my co-driver's home (This becomes a rather important fact next...).

I then call the wife and ask her if she renewed the AAA like I asked her to a couple dozen times before. She of course says, "Oh, I was going to do that later today." I then tell her to do it now. She gets on the AAA web site, and it crashes. So she drives into town and renews. (all while I am sitting with broken truck and trailer).

She then calls me back and gives me the Good News/Bad News. Good news, we are members again...bad news; they only tow 3 miles during the initial 7 day waiting period. Jeez - isn't the national gun buying waiting period shorter than that?

Luckily the destination is just under 3 miles and we get the truck towed by AAA to a safe spot. Once there I check to see if the truck will start. The engine starts right up and immediately smokes again. So I shut it down after only a couple seconds.

I call to a buddy (I'll call him "Joe" since that is his real name) who then loans me his brand new Dodge Cummins 2500 HD. (Now THAT's a friend!) and we make the trip up and back to the show.

So, here we are a week later. I just got back from the trip and checked the truck. It does crank slowly- no hydro lock. I checked the oil and there is no water in it. It is still black and not milkshake. But, the oil level is about 2 inches above the fill line! Did the non-firing cylinder(s) filled the crank case with diesel from a damaged injector? I will note that immediately after the initial brake down I checked the oil and it was at its normal level, so this must have happened over the week of sitting?

I know the truck isn't worth much on the open market but we have owned it since new and it is a member of the family - you know the drill: this truck brought pregnant wife to delivery room, carried the kids home from the hospital when they were born, took us on family vacations, dropped kids off at college 18 years later, over the years carried several of my dogs home for burial when they passed away...

So, I could use recommendations on replacing the 6.5 or repairing this engine. I have heard about the AM General replacement engine but I would like some advice from those of you who have more experience with 6.5 diesel engine replacements and/or repairs.

Sadly, the book value of truck is around $4,500 and a new engine is almost double that price.

Who do you recommend?

Thanks, NJSteve

P.S. Buying a new truck is out of the question with current economic conditions and daughter in college, etc.

If only I had a penny for every viewing of my old '72 T/A restoration thread on here and on the Yenko.net site...104,814 + 1,990,194 pennies = $1,048.14 + $19,901.94 = $20,950.08. :-)


Oh, and I only have two more days of my mandatory waiting period before I can get my truck towed back here from my buddies house 30 miles away...

Diesel engine dying with 130k miles??Always hated GM's diesel program.If I am not mistaken, that engine was not a diesel per see, but a sleeved gas engine converted to a diesel.A friend had a full size Jimmy or whatever their Bronco look a like was, and he went thru 2 engines before the warranty ran out. POS..Put a real diesel engineered engine in that truck.. Replace with either a Cummings or new Ford 6.7l diesel. lol..

And as far as a national wait for gun purchases, there is no wait for gun purchases in the US Steve.. sort of lost me why that would even be used as a comparison in a Pontiac thread? a little political slip of the tounge? May as well have compared to the wait to get a Butterball Turkey, same duration.. of wait.. there is a shortage of Butterballs this year. Butterball's would have been a valid comparison. Also, did you really think AAA was going to take your $59 or whatever it is and instantly provide a $300-$400 tow?? By instantly I mean within an hour of renewing?? Sorry Steve..but that is the funniest and at the same time most bothersome part of your story to me..even when we can, we should resist getting something for nothing. This "something for nothing, someone else will pay" mentality is a virus that is eating our country alive.. change must start with each one of us individually.. there is more than enough of that going on in modern day America .. sorry but you struck a nerve with me on the gun comment and trying to get AAA to absorb your tow costs.. Obamacare sounds like it will be perfect for you..Wait until you are sick and then sign up, no 6 month wait for preexisting conditions..Obamacare will pay without a 7 day wait. should fit you just fine..

[weranc55]

Originally Posted by Judge273

Thats a great picture!

I got to pull out of show behind the Sox and Martin....That thing was loud and left some black ribbons on Balmoral!! I imagine Arnie would have left bigger marks in your SD....haha

There was a line of cheering fans along curbs hoping to see these cars "rip it up" in front of the convention center all the way down Balmoral. It was wild! Rosemont's finest also supported the parade of flying smoky rubber!!

Did you see me pushing my Z down river road? I had two gallons of race gas in it and it ran for about 2 minutes and the gas was done. They made us wait forever before we could turn onto river road. I heard someone also lost a spare tire on a vette as he rounded the corner and sparks where flying everywhere. Luckily nowone ran the tire over.

[weranc55]

That 6.5 was not a great motor. Had one in a old hummer and even with a turbo it could barely get out of its own way. At least you made it back safe and now lets see the details on the motor swap. Thanks for bringing the car Steve. It was great having it there. Always nice to see a great original car.

[West Coast GTO]

I can't tell if the Obamacare comment was tongue in cheek but that was obviously a " political slip of the tongue." Here in the weird state of California, there is a TWO week waiting period and, the last time I checked, California with all it's faults is still in the US.

Steve, sorry about the truck but how was your car received at the event? Any more photos?

Originally Posted by 70RAlll

Diesel engine dying with 130k miles??Always hated GM's diesel program.If I am not mistaken, that engine was not a diesel per see, but a sleeved gas engine converted to a diesel.A friend had a full size Jimmy or whatever their Bronco look a like was, and he went thru 2 engines before the warranty ran out. POS..Put a real diesel engineered engine in that truck.. Replace with either a Cummings or new Ford 6.7l diesel. lol..

And as far as a national wait for gun purchases, there is no wait for gun purchases in the US Steve.. sort of lost me why that would even be used as a comparison in a Pontiac thread? a little political slip of the tounge? May as well have compared to the wait to get a Butterball Turkey, same duration.. of wait.. there is a shortage of Butterballs this year. Butterball's would have been a valid comparison. Also, did you really think AAA was going to take your $59 or whatever it is and instantly provide a $300-$400 tow?? By instantly I mean within an hour of renewing?? Sorry Steve..but that is the funniest and at the same time most bothersome part of your story to me..even when we can, we should resist getting something for nothing. This "something for nothing, someone else will pay" mentality is a virus that is eating our country alive.. change must start with each one of us individually.. there is more than enough of that going on in modern day America .. sorry but you struck a nerve with me on the gun comment and trying to get AAA to absorb your tow costs.. Obamacare sounds like it will be perfect for you..Wait until you are sick and then sign up, no 6 month wait for preexisting conditions..Obamacare will pay without a 7 day wait. should fit you just fine..