[79 Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Baron Von Zeppelin

Let's just presume that carb was no good anyway - no loss.
Keep on Truckin'

I like that assumption!

[79 Phoenix]

Got the rebuilt Quadrajet all installed except I need to drill a slightly larger hole in the throttle linkage before I can hook up the cable. I should get time to do that this afternoon or tomorrow and fire it up. Hopefully it will run great!

I did replace choke spring assembly with the one from my original carb because it looked better and worked well. Also transferred vacuum hoses and plugs from the original carb and installed a new fuel filter. I also removed the AC solenoid because mine is a non- AC car.

While I was awaiting delivery of the carb, I worked on cleaning out and resealing front and back windows (not as simple as it sounds). There was some significant rust through on upper driver's side which I cleaned up and filled with fiberglass filler. Also, one tiny rust through on passenger rear lower corner. After cleaning out as much rust, dirt and old sealer as I could, I sprayed with Rust Reformer and then re-sealed with DOW U-428HV Windshield Urethane Adhesive Primerless Automotive Glue Sealant. Seems to be a great product, but VERY messy to work with. If you ever use it try to keep it off your skin because it's very hard to get off. I also replaced about 10 of the molding clips with new. It's 99% finished --just a little fine-tuning left to do.

[67Lemons]

Great job so far, just be sure not to lay too much material in the windshield channel. I had a car with a repair done & they laid a little too much material which made it incredibly difficult to install the windshield moldings. I bought the car with the moldings included in the trunk, when I went to install the moldings I found out why.

[79 Phoenix]

Originally Posted by 67Lemons

Great job so far, just be sure not to lay too much material in the windshield channel. I had a car with a repair done & they laid a little too much material which made it incredibly difficult to install the windshield moldings. I bought the car with the moldings included in the trunk, when I went to install the moldings I found out why.

Thanks for the heads up... I think I do have too much in there. I plan on using my dremel to cut excess material away especially around the clips so they flex as they should. But I will probably need to go all the way around both windows to cut some material away. Here are some pictures of windshield channel. Does this look like too much? Any suggestions based on what you did?

[67Lemons]

I’m not sure if it’s too much, I never pulled my windshield to fix it. I would lay the glass is in the frame & see where it ends up.

[79 Phoenix]

Originally Posted by 67Lemons

I’m not sure if it’s too much, I never pulled my windshield to fix it. I would lay the glass is in the frame & see where it ends up.

Okay, I hadn't pulled the windshield but just cleaned out & patched the channels and re-caulked with new clips. But I do think I have too much material in there and will have to trim some of it out. I'm out of town for a week so that's what I'll do when I get back.

I did get my rebuilt carb on and drove it. Needs some adjustments before I know exactly how good it works. I think it will be fine though.

[rolling money pits]

If I’m looking at what I think I’m looking at…
That’s way too much sealant. That, to me, looks like the shade tree fix for a leaking windshield.

[79 Phoenix]

Originally Posted by rolling money pits

If I’m looking at what I think I’m looking at…
That’s way too much sealant. That, to me, looks like the shade tree fix for a leaking windshield.

Yes, that's what it is. But I think it will last another 20 years, especially since this car will most likely be garaged by whoever owns it.

[79 Phoenix]

Not a lot of obvious progress these past few weeks but have made some decisions that are unfolding.

First, I have decided that I'm just not going to be satisfied with the manual steering. When I was deciding on replacing my original steering box with a new manual one, someone here had suggested considering converting to power steering. I wish I had listened! Anyway, I have a rebuilt pump and am in the process of getting the right brackets, pulleys and steering box figured out to make that conversion.

Secondly, my shifter is original and is quite sloppy. I had replaced the rubber bushings and clips last winter but the mechanism itself is just worn. So, I have a rebuilt one ordered. I will use existing rods and handle.

In the meantime, I made some more adjustments on the rebuilt carb and it runs pretty good. Only issue is some fluctuation (100-150 RPM) in the idle speed that I want to reduce. It may be a small vacuum leak. Need to do more investigation.

Also, as I mentioned earlier, I need to remove some of the sealer I put around the front & rear windshields. Rear is all finished. I may get more done on front today. We'll see.

[79 Phoenix]

Got my rebuilt shifter in today. WOW what a difference! Crisp, positive gear change! The original one had probably never been touched. It worked but was vague between gates. Lots of slop.

Haven't road tested yet but will as soon as I get my steering back together.

Also finished trimming out the sealer around the windshield. Hoping that stops a good bit of the leakage onto the front floor but suspect there may be other issues --maybe cracked seam sealer on the cowl??

[79 Phoenix]

A lot of tedious, slow work in the past month. .A semi-success on the sealing of front and rear windows... Finished the sealing and after testing with a wash job, trunk is bone dry. Driver's side front (which was the worst) bone dry. Passenger side front still has a little leak which I will need to figure out... It's definitely not the windshield...

But I now have power steering! A lot bigger deal than I was expecting but really nice now that it's done. It's easy to maneuver even backing up in tight spaces.

Also, the new shifter works great!

Next steps are to fix the passenger side front leak then put down sound proofing, carpet, fix headliner and re-furbish the whole dashboard. And, of course, refurbish the door panels, package tray and re-do the seats. I've got most of the parts...

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

Great steps in progress . Congrats
I still vote on keeping it Black with Gold stripes

Somebody will want that combo when it's done.

[Shiny]

Great stuff, nicely done!

What was the hassle with the power steering?

[79 Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Baron Von Zeppelin

Great steps in progress . Congrats
I still vote on keeping it Black with Gold stripes

Somebody will want that combo when it's done.

Thanks Baron for the input! I am still planning on Black with gold stripe

[79 Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Shiny

Great stuff, nicely done!

What was the hassle with the power steering?

Thanks Mike-- With the power steering it was a little challenging to find the correct original brackets, bolts, pulleys and spacers. OPH helped me a ton on that!

The harder part was buying the right rebuilt power steering pump and steering box... There are some variations on those with the diameter of pump shaft and pulley type and different thread sizes (SAE VS Metric) on the pump and box hose fittings. Everything has to match up.

Also, I usually put things back together the way I took them apart but since I was putting completely different parts (manual to power steering), I had to figure out how to assemble. Shop manuals not always super clear. Again, OPH was a huge help on re-assembly.

[79 Phoenix]

The car had hit something pretty hard on LF valence before I bought it. This was hard enough to bow the fender out and jam it into the door. It also had bent in the fender mount bracket that's welded to the cowl. My theory is that this cracked some brittle seam seal and created a leak.

Well, I have been able to seal up what I assume was a gap in a seam in the cowl on the passenger side front. I used aerosol undercoating with a 24" tube extender. I sprayed in through the cowl opening under the hood and also (after removing kick panel) spraying up through from kick panel openings.

Now no leaks!

Also had the front end aligned correctly. Drives straight and normally now.

I had it out on the highway yesterday for the first time. There is a nasty vibration once I get up to 65 or 70. It also vibrates when I back off till it get's below 55 or so. Not sure what this is... I don't feel it in the steering wheel primarily or through the shift handle... It happens with clutch in or out. U-joints are new... Rear has plenty of oil. Maybe just worn rear end bearings and bushings? Car had 190,000 miles when I bought it.

Another new annoying problem is that my trunk lock cylinder which is only a year old broke a couple days ago. It seems the spring inside has broken or fallen out. I will attempt to remove the lower latch bolts by using long extensions through the back seat openings.

Finally, I went to an all-Pontiac show sponsored by the regional GTO club. Lot's of GTO's, Lemans and Firebirds plus others. It was fun! A few pictures below.

[79 Phoenix]

...A few more pictures. A beautiful 62 Bonniville, 65 GTO and 72 GTO... There was at least 1 genuine JUDGE there and a few clones. Also some Lemans GTO clones. Mine was the ONLY GT-37 there...

[OCMDGTO]

Originally Posted by 79 Phoenix

...A few more pictures. A beautiful 62 Bonniville, 65 GTO and 72 GTO... There was at least 1 genuine JUDGE there and a few clones. Also some Lemans GTO clones. Mine was the ONLY GT-37 there...

79, Nice meeting you at the SVGTO show. Your car will look great with that black ext/gold side stripe

[79 Phoenix]

Hi Chris--Nice to meet you too! That was a nice show with lots of nice cars. I've never been to an all-Pontiac show. Planning on returning next year. Are you from SE PA?--Kim

PS--Now I remember! You are from Ocean City. Right??

[79 Phoenix]

"I had it out on the highway yesterday for the first time. There is a nasty vibration once I get up to 65 or 70. It also vibrates when I back off till it get's below 55 or so. Not sure what this is... I don't feel it in the steering wheel primarily or through the shift handle... It happens with clutch in or out. U-joints are new... Rear has plenty of oil. Maybe just worn rear end bearings and bushings? Car had 190,000 miles when I bought it.

Another new annoying problem is that my trunk lock cylinder which is only a year old broke a couple days ago. It seems the spring inside has broken or fallen out. I will attempt to remove the lower latch bolts by using long extensions through the back seat openings."


Discovered the cause of the vibration... Driveshaft was just a little off-centerd. I corrected this and took it for a ride up to about 70... Smooth as can be! Last winter when I put the driveshaft in last, I was tired and the garage floor was cold I wasn't as careful as I needed to be Just relieved it is now okay!

Also was able to reach the two 7/16 bolts holding the lower trunk latch through the back seat with about 45" extensions. Took the bolts out and trunk opened. The spring and rod had fallen out. It seems a piece of the main cylinder body that the spring fastens to had broken off.. Anyway, a new cylinder is on its way. Next will be the interior!