[Judge273]

4birds has been busy! Plus the fun part is left too. How long did this take you? Any cool discoveries? What the rebuild hp projections?

[Brewster]

Yes, very nice looking car indeed.

[Bentwheelbob]

Looks great. This is my kind of deal. Buy a really nice car and start tearing it apart as soon as you can. Some details on the engine would be nice. What are you doing in the engine compartment? Looks like the cowl is getting stripped down.

[4birds]

I bought the car on Valentines Day. Brought it home and immediately started to inspect every square inch of the car. It had LOTS of minor issues (which I already knew about most of them when I bought it) that I started fixing one by one. First, I took out the interior to clean and find the source of the "Stank". The rear carpet and seat cushion material was starting to rot from being wet from the rear window being broken out and sitting outside for a while. Floor pans survived unscathed!
I put in new carpet and had the rear seat materials replaced and got the interior nice and clean and put back in.
Then I got all the electrical issues solved and fixed. Then moved on to the brakes to make sure it would stop OK, and take care of the rattling pads and loose wheel bearings with very little grease!
Then I disassembled the rear end to find out the cause of the noise back there. Got that solved, cleaned up and detailed nice.
Drove it around the block, came home to try and get it to run better. (didn't want to idle) I messed around with carb jetting, power piston springs, metering rods, ignition timing and advance curve with no success. The manifold vacuum was unusually low, the choke thermostat was not working and cold. I decided to pull the intake off to see if the heat riser was blocked off and maybe find a vacuum leak.
I didn't like what I saw and decided to see what else was in there. So on Friday 4/17, I pulled the engine and trans out for disassembly and inspection.
The engine was rebuilt less than 2000 miles ago and the block, cylinders, .030 forged pistons, rotating assembly and bearings looked really good, which was a huge relief. (although I put new rings in) The comp 268 cam and lifters on 3 lobes were showing signs of premature wear, so I tossed them. The heads looked really good and somewhat fresh, but the valve springs were only single springs with a damper. I checked the seat pressure and found it was 70-74 lbs. So I tossed them and the valves. I had a set of 1 piece stainless steel valves on the shelf, so in they went with new Comp double springs, 10 degree locks, retainers, and positive valve stem seals. I'm going to try out a Summit 2802 cam with Comp lifters. It should run pretty good. Not too far from stock really. Still 8.4:1 compression ratio.
The motor will be back together this weekend. Next I plan on cleaning and detailing the under hood area, sub frame and suspension. I will probably pull the front sheet metal off and change out the 74 radiator support with the correct 72 unit I just happened to have!
To answer your question Mike, yes I found tons of cool things about the car.
Two build sheets, 1 under each front seat. Too bad they were from cars on the production line the same day of manufacturing, one with a VIN 3 cars after mine and the other one 56 cars before mine. Lots of original 72 dated parts, etc.

To be continued......

[4birds]

Bob, the plastic cowl screen is off and you are seeing the original red oxide primer underneath the cowl plenum. I'm not going to do anything to the cowl or firewall other than clean it up and install a new cowl seal.

The engine is the original matching # YB, bored .030, stock rods with ARP bolts, original stock 455 crank, Sealed Power forged pistons with moly rings, balanced. 7F6 Heads have minor port work done in the bowls below the valves. I port matched the intake to the heads, as they were off by a mile! Summit 2802 cam with. 468/.488 lift. RARE 2 1/2" exhaust manifolds, 7042270 Q-jet, 72 HO intake.

[Bentwheelbob]

Sounds the car has found a great caretaker. You might think about replacing the wiring harnesses while you're in there. If so, keep in mind that often M&H is working on a 8 to 12 week lead time. Good luck and have fun.

[71GP76TA]

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb...042181702.html

[keith k]

Originally Posted by 71GP76TA

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb...042181702.html

Seems very reasonably priced for a one owner car with mostly original paint and solid body, IF it's got the original motor (seller didn't mention that...).

[dlcable]

I just went to see this car and unfortunately it is NOT an HO.
I think it is a real Formula 455 but it’s definitely a D port.
I didn’t look at the numbers much after I saw that it wasn’t what I came for.
The car is VERY clean, complete and rust free. The rear quarters and drop-offs look
perfect. It’s lived here in Southern California its whole life and was built here at the Van
Nuys plant. It would be a great car for someone looking for a formula 455.
I told the guy not to expect 16K for a non HO car and he knows he has to come down a
lot if he wants to sell it. If anyone is interested and wants more information, feel free to
PM me.

[Judge273]

Thanks for the report!

[bossbirdta]

something new for those looking for a project car.....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ponti...b7c047&vxp=mtr

[2manyT/A'S]

Just needs.........EVERYTHING.....

[71GP76TA]

Originally Posted by dlcable

I just went to see this car and unfortunately it is NOT an HO.
I think it is a real Formula 455 but it’s definitely a D port.
I didn’t look at the numbers much after I saw that it wasn’t what I came for.
The car is VERY clean, complete and rust free. The rear quarters and drop-offs look
perfect. It’s lived here in Southern California its whole life and was built here at the Van
Nuys plant. It would be a great car for someone looking for a formula 455.
I told the guy not to expect 16K for a non HO car and he knows he has to come down a
lot if he wants to sell it. If anyone is interested and wants more information, feel free to
PM me.

Looks like its on ebay now.



http://www.ebay.com/itm/251999546112...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[72projectbird]

Originally Posted by 71GP76TA

Looks like its on ebay now.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/251999546112...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Sharp looking car! I like the spoilers combined with the 71 fenders, its a unique look.

I see it also has the very rare big block option

[bird72]

Looks added spoiler which isn't end of world except if trunk lid falls shut that ruins it... some can't resist flares I guess, more common add than we think.... black tail and vents looks amateur... but looks like decent car at quick glance... in spite of the in spite of stuff, in the 20's for sure worth IMO...

[The Boss]

I'd drive it!

[Brewster]

What is the correct Heat Shroud for a 72 f-body?

1) ram air III style (punched pressed)
2) ram air IV style square sharped corner style (bent)

[Judge273]

For F-body too.

http://www.455-ho.com

[SD73]

Originally Posted by Judge273

For F-body too.

http://www.455-ho.com

Am I wrong? I thought that was pre-72. Where as 72-73 round ports shared the rounded edge style.

[4birds]

Hey Brian,

Your car should have the stamped shroud (rounded edges) as pictured below. Sonic Motors was making an excellent reproduction a while back for around $175 IIRC.

Personally, I have never seen one of the square folded shrouds from the factory on a 72 F-body.