[67drake]

Similar here.
Our local volunteer fire department is having a car shows at a big festival in town next weekend. The Starchief has 1200+ miles of bugs on it, and I see a busy week ahead so figured I’d start cleaning now. Washed today, detail tomorrow, then cover.

[Verdoro 68]

Originally Posted by 71GP76TA

Cleaned up the SD Formula today. Taking it to a car show in Livermore next weekend. A few other people are taking 70-73 Firebirds and parking together.

I hear that's a pretty big show. A few of the GTO guys got together last weekend at the Danville show. I was laid up with a kidney stone so I missed the action.

The weather was perfect today and I've been holed up in the house over the last week so I took the Goat out for a bit. Grabbed some lunch, went to the record store, then stopped by the weekly cruise night on the way home. Saw this cream puff '68 that looked extremely original aside from an old repaint. The owner said it was the first time he's had it out in 5 years. Local car from Petaluma complete with dealer license plate frame. Super cool.

[71GP76TA]

Originally Posted by Verdoro 68

I hear that's a pretty big show. A few of the GTO guys got together last weekend at the Danville show. I was laid up with a kidney stone so I missed the action.

The weather was perfect today and I've been holed up in the house over the last week so I took the Goat out for a bit. Grabbed some lunch, went to the record store, then stopped by the weekly cruise night on the way home. Saw this cream puff '68 that looked extremely original aside from an old repaint. The owner said it was the first time he's had it out in 5 years. Local car from Petaluma complete with dealer license plate frame. Super cool.

I have been to the Livermore show a couple times as a spectator. This will be my 1st time taking a car there. It is a pretty big show. About 700 cars.

Been to the Danville show a few times. It has been several years since I have attended.

Went to the Clayton show a few times when I lived in the Bay Area. That was always a good one since there are a lot of shade trees.

[tom s]

Have the Crusin for a Cure cruise and car show the 28th.Took the cover off the Lemans to make sure all good.For any So Cal members its at the OC Fair Grounds in Costa Mesa.Huge show,one to put on your must see or attend.Will be in the Los Alamitos building.Tom

[DanC]

Friday I drove the '78 Firebird to another town 30 miles away to get rid of the Flowmaster mufflers for some stainless steel turbos that were suppose to be quieter.

Well so much for that, I think the new ones are louder, but they do have a little deeper tone. Not happy and definitely not worth $300!!!

But it was a nice day for a drive and fun in the ol' Bird though

[67drake]

Spent 4 hours cleaning the interior of the Catalina. I ran out of time really, I could have easily spent 4 more.

[Jack Gifford]

Didn't do anything "with a Pontiac today", but continued working toward more space for storing Pontiacs and their parts. For years I've put off cleaning out the basement of my old barn, so I got started on it a few weeks ago. It was built in 1927 and been accumulating junk ever since. I've hauled away 6,000 pounds of trash so far- loading and unloading every piece on/off the trailer by hand- wishing I had started before I turned 84! Only about another 1,000 pounds to go.
Under one pile of trash was this mummified cat... Ugh....

[kingbuzzo]

[QUOTE=71GP76TA;6527666]I have been to the Livermore show a couple times as a spectator. This will be my 1st time taking a car there. It is a pretty big show. About 700 cars.

Stone Roses...that is a blast from the past <added to playlist>...is Gilligan still in the band?

[67drake]

Still cleaning. Today I finished interior, then got the front half cleaned up.
If I have time tomorrow, back half and door jambs.

[nUcLeArEnVoY]

Had to pull the Super T-10 from the T/A for the second time to address a persistent leak. It's always looked like it's originating from where the midplate interfaces with the extension housing and main case on the passenger side, and lightly drips from the bottom of the midplate and runs all the way to the back where the rear seal is. Same area it leaked when I first got the car and pulled it to replace all the seals and gaskets in early 2023. All the other common leak points are bone dry.

This time, to address possible warpage of the midplate causing the leak, I'm replacing it with an upgraded billet aluminum midplate and will replace the front and rear bearings while I'm at it (gears and synchros look great and it shifts good). I'm also replacing the extension housing.

I also learned another new thing. As it turns out, you're supposed to use sealer on the long case bolt nearest the fill plug on the passenger side of the trans, according to service manual procedure. I didn't see sealer on this bolt when I first pulled the trans last year (somebody was in it before, I could tell), and I omitted it when I serviced it last year as well because I didn't know this bolt needed sealer. Sure enough, the leak DOES look like it may potentially becoming from somewhere around that area because I see oil and dampness around that bolt head. It's weird because don't see ANY recommendation ANYWHERE on ANY forum, youtube video, or walk-through that this bolt needs sealer, but here it is, black and white straight out of the service manual:


As it turns out, if you look at this particular bolt hole, you'll see it is not blind. Just like the 4 front retainer bolts, it goes through to the inside of the main case and is exposed to gear oil. Now I'm wondering if this was my leak. This is why it's so important to have a service manual.

Also, another cool tidbit. In order to avoid having to drop the counter/cluster gear this time, I was able to track down a vintage purpose-built tool referenced in the service manual J-6654-01 off eBay from a closed dealership. It's basically a bearing pulling jig that clamps around and is perfectly sized for the front bearing in the snap ring groove, and then a standard bearing puller yoke and extension will thread right into the two holes on either side of the bearing opening and you can pull the front bearing off.






Removing the front bearing gave me enough clearance to pull out the main gear drive without having to drop the counter gear (which is the official way to do it - you remove the counter gear AFTER), which was a huge relief because last time I had the trans open, I replaced the counter gear shaft and had a bear of a time repacking all the needle bearings because of the heat and humidity here in SoFlo. Didn't want to have to do that again if I didn't have to. It really is amazing how easy it is to service these cars when you have some of these old application-specific tools that the dealers got when these cars were new, as I've collected several over the years and they make these jobs a walk in the park.

So hopefully, with the combination of upgrading the midplate; replacing the extension housing; and adding sealer to this bolt and anywhere else it's needed, I'll finally nip this damn leak in the bud.

Also determined I was overfilling the transmission, too. Factory fill is only 1.20 qrts (2.44 pints), which is way below when it starts spilling out the fill hole.

[67drake]

Nothing. I rarely wash my cars, and I also rarely go to car shows, but my small town is having a festival this coming weekend, including a car show,and I figured this is kinda my ‘55’s coming out party, so I have her all cleaned up and covered.
I did order a new set of tail lights for it yesterday. Not a huge priority, but with this nice shiny paint, the rough condition of the passenger side lens and trim ring look totally out of place. I have the engine out of the LeMans that I’m “overhauling” , tons of projects planned on the Mercury, so I have to kind of pace myself money wise as I can easily see dropping $10,000 into the things I plan on fixing. So a set of tail lights is all it’s getting for now.

[Scarebird]

Wondering whether my Lemans is under cover at the shipping facility in Fort Lauderdale.

I could ask but they would probably lie regardless. These guys have been less than impressive.

[Verdoro 68]

Back on the Ventura at the school shop. Finished the back brakes - new hard lines, hose, wheel cylinders, shoes and hardware. I tried muscling in the rebuilt lower control arms but got frustrated trying to work around my son doing the spark plugs. I did get a good laugh at him cursing while trying to change out the passenger side spark plugs working around the A/C.

[b-man]

Tested out my new hood ornament.

[67drake]

My engine builder said my LeMans heads are done. He machined them to 92 cc so that should put me at 8.0-8.2:1 area on CR. No more detonation worries. I already have a Summit 2800 and Hy lift Johnson lifters to throw in.
I talked to him a week or two ago about him cleaning up the block as long as I have it out. The cam bearings look pretty rough too, so I’m going to drop the block off so he can tank the block and hone it, polish the crank, and install new cam bearings. I’ll do the assembly.
Feel like my 400 engine project was stalling out, so it feels good to be moving forward again.

[tom s]

Took my 63 Lemans to the Orange County Fair Grounds for the Crusin for a Cure car show and cruise.Couple thousand cars will be there I’m told.Tom

[tom s]

Pic

[67drake]

I won a trophy, bad part it was the “kids choice” award.
Came in second for best of show.
Guess I’ll take what I can get.

[Bills Auto Works]

Finally got around to running the buffer over the GP (heavy & light again) to get some over spray off & fix a couple of nastys that bothered me. I also finally addressed the left front brake pull....Leaky wheel cylinder & some moron put the shoes on backwards! Too bad it is so late in the season, but it will definitely be ready for next year.

God Bless
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...closed.614419/

[OCMDGTO]

Drove mine to a local show today, really nice drive on some country roads. I think this 29 won best of show