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Bentwheelbob · 06-27-2015, 08:43 AM

I have seen a number of well restored 1978 TA's that have a yellow paint splooge on the right head beside the "OK" stamp. Can anyone verify the accuracy of this and if so was it sprayed or brushed? Here is an example.

Alvin · 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alvin

Paging Bob: Our '78 W72 motor front passenger side of engine had a bright yellow paint splotch on top of the factory blue engine paint, and a black ink "OK-2" inspection stamped on the yellow paint.

A while back, there was a PYr who made up several diff stamps and was selling them for Resto use.

Did your motor have the same?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Judge273

Alvin, where's your pictures of this?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alvin

Ours was painted over during a previous detailing...picture taken before w 35mm analog camera, not able to lay hands on the exact photo...

However, ours looked very similar to the one show on page one below - EXCEPT - ours had the previously mentioned "yellow paint splotch" between Pontiac engine blue painted passenger head and the stamp as shown below HERE

Note: refer to same T/A engine w OK-2 stamp image on page 169 in Gary Witzenburg's FIREBIRD!

Edit: FWIW referring to our Van Nuys built '78 W72 Stick. What box(s) on build sheet will tell build date?

Looking @ Box 1. reads:

Job Sequence Number
004267

Sched No Date
15-4267
03-16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Held for Ransom

Your scheduled date of 3-16.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alvin

Thx for verification - thought it was a March 16 built. Know of any good links to decoding all Buildsheet boxes information?

Here's the photo (below) w the OK-2 stamp similar to that on ours...

Food for thought: Wondering out loud if the Norwood vs. Van Nuys W72 engines were inspected and/or stamped differently?

Thxs!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bentwheelbob

I have seen a number of well restored 1978 TA's that have a yellow paint splooge on the right head beside the "OK" stamp. Can anyone verify the accuracy of this and if so was it sprayed or brushed? Here is an example.

Reposting these posts on topic above from page 15 here on your thread Bob.

Somewhere I've a poorly lighted engine photo of ours that the yellow paint is located under the OK-2 stamp - yellow paint directly under the OK-2 stamp - and the yellow paint appeared to have been "slapped on" quickly with a brush or wide tipped paint gun as most other inspection paint splotches are throughout the GM vehicles. But until I can find photographic "proof" consider the source.

.
FWIW - over the yrs when TAs were still untouched I've noted W72 engines w the 3 variations* of:

1. No yellow paint,
2. Yellow paint to the side as your included image above, and
3. Yellow paint underneath the OK-2 stamp like ours.

Suggestion: Perhaps you could PM Keith Seymour who has 1st hand assembly line knowledge and experience specifically about this? He's added a great deal of real life scenarios back stories such as in the Echoes of NORWOOD assembly line book thread...

*Perhaps the application location varied by inspector (#2, 3, etc.) and shift worked (night or day) when inspected?

Alvin · 10:20 AM

Echoes of Norwood PY threads

Mezzo thread
http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...=Echos+Norwood

Dld thread
http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...=Echos+Norwood

Edit: Can't find the exact thread that Keith and I posted images of 1978 FBody Firebird & Camaro line (SD or early 2nd Gen section?) and he commented on procedures. He's prolly archived the links specific to your OP topic here Bob...just as a suggestion

Bentwheelbob · 06-27-2015, 06:39 PM

Well, a lot got done today and it won't be long. All the accessory drives and brackets are installed. The rear A/C bracket worked perfect as modified despite the valve cover spacers needed for the roller rockers. Clutch is hooked up, wiring harness installed and connected, distributor cap and wires hooked up, exhaust shroud on, ....

Hopefully this bitch will be breathing on her own the weekend after July 4th. There is plenty left to do, but we have it on the run. I am real pleased with how it is coming together. I can't wait to smoke the tires...

Here's some pictures.

roundportponchos · 06-27-2015, 09:48 PM

My 78, stick, has yellow spray

Bentwheelbob · 06-27-2015, 10:06 PM

Thanks Eric. Is it original?

Formulabruce · 06-27-2015, 10:07 PM

Looks sweet!!

The Boss · 06-28-2015, 09:30 AM

Damn! The details!

6 Grrrs · 07-07-2015, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alvin

When MPD and you're finished "screwin round" w that GOLD car here's another NSX for 'da shop:

@ http://repairablecars-forsale.com/

^^That makes me cringe a little bit.

Bentwheelbob · 07-09-2015, 09:56 PM

So how cool is this...Our very own Mike Noun is now doing 1978 window stickers and I just received mine for the Gold Car. It looks great. If any of you want one his email address is [email protected]. It cost $35.00 for the original and $6.00 for an additional copy.

Thanks Mike for providing this service.

The Boss · 07-10-2015, 07:21 AM

Very nice - now, is it burnout time or not???

68ragtop · 07-10-2015, 07:22 AM

Oh wow! those look really, really good.

schneidsd455 · 07-10-2015, 07:04 PM

Just want to say that your engine bay is looking fantastic! I appreciate your posting all your pics as they will be a good reference for when I eventually do my 78. Thank you.

Bentwheelbob · 07-10-2015, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Boss

Very nice - now, is it burnout time or not???

No, but it's getting closer. Hopefully it'll get it fired up this weekend. July 4th and the fireworks interrupted progress, but tonight the suspension all got torqued down and greased, and the drive belts installed and tightened. Just need to get inner fenders in, radiator and shroud, and A/c plumbed and filled. Hopefully there will be a video before the weekend is over with the car at least running.

Quote:

Originally Posted by schneidsd455

Just want to say that your engine bay is looking fantastic! I appreciate your posting all your pics as they will be a good reference for when I eventually do my 78. Thank you.

I appreciate your kind words and hope it helps. I look forward to seeing pictures of your project. Let me know if I can provide any advice or help.

Alvin · 07-11-2015, 07:02 PM

Bob, after all of the "info" received on the PS hose thread did you get it sorted? Was gonna suggest that you use the take-off hose as a match... IIRC - last one I purchased for our 78 TA W72 (pwr steering pressure hose) was sourced thru local auto parts chain store. Did have an issue @ 1st to get it to seat correctly into the pump housing...but that was with shroud, inner fenders etc. and was a fitting & o-ring alignment issue as I recall.

Looking great Thx for sharing your artwork.

Bentwheelbob · 07-11-2015, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alvin

Bob, after all of the "info" received on the PS hose thread did you get it sorted? Was gonna suggest that you use the take-off hose as a match... IIRC - last one I purchased for our 78 TA W72 (pwr steering pressure hose) was sourced thru local auto parts chain store. Did have an issue @ 1st to get it to seat correctly into the pump housing...but that was with shroud, inner fenders etc. and was a fitting & o-ring alignment issue as I recall.

Looking great Thx for sharing your artwork.

Alvin - Thanks for asking and for the comments. The power steering pressure hose I had is exactly like the one on my '72 Formula 455 HO. The difference is on the Black Car the alternator mounts behind the power steering bracket which spaces it away from the head and provides clearance for the line to bolt into the pump and still clear the cylinder head. Although I am not sure that the hose is correct for a '78, I wanted to use it if possible. I know the line that was on the Gold Car when I got it was not correct. I took the new line to three different hydraulic hose shops to see if they could shorten the metal line and still re-flare the end, but none could or would do it because the nut was too close to the flare to allow the flare tool to grip the line. We ended up doing it here by shortening the metal line and straightening it enough to slip the nut back and provide room for the flare tool and then bending it back once it was flared. Hopefully it won't leak.

Well, a lot got done today, but the car is still not breathing on it's own. The accessory drives and belts are all installed, the radiator and shroud are in, the inner fenders have been installed, the A/C is almost plumbed. I also got a few of the vacuum lines installed and the lines run to the charcoal canister. I don't really want most of the vacuum lines to do anything but look good so I mounted the vacuum check valve backwards so no vacuum will actually get through it. There is not much left to do. Hopefully tomorrow it will come to life. We'll see...

Here's a few pictures.