[72projectbird]

Thanks guys. I'm quite happy with it so far.

One of the things I need to fix is the hot start. Once the car gets a little heat soaked, it isn't too happy restarting. The other day the coolant temp only got to about 155°, but trying to start it a few minutes after sitting was a chore. Ended up having to hold the throttle to the floor.

Seems like the fuel might be boiling over in the carb? Right now I'm running a regular thickness carb gasket, non insulated steel fuel line from pump to carb, and the heat crossover on the intake isn't blocked off.

I have a feeling that's gonna have to change.

Originally Posted by VCho455

Great work! It's absolutely beautiful!


Originally Posted by*72projectbird*

Shaker scoop cut and buffed and going back together. Can't wait to see the flap opening!

Did the flapper get exercised on the drive? 😀

Unfortunately not yet! That's one of the things I need to diagnose why it's not working. Everything is new, so it shouldn't be too difficult.

[70 T/A Ram Air III 4 spd]

I just read your entire post and what a Beautiful build you have done!! I own a Lucy Blue 70 TA as well almost exactly same options as yours! I have had it since 93 or 94. Congrats! looks Awesome!

[napster1]

Ibeen have away from the board for almost a year. I have to say, you did a heck of a job on this car. It looks awesome!!!! Congrats.......WOW!!!!!

[Formulabruce]

Originally Posted by 72projectbird

Thanks guys. I'm quite happy with it so far.

One of the things I need to fix is the hot start. Once the car gets a little heat soaked, it isn't too happy restarting. The other day the coolant temp only got to about 155°, but trying to start it a few minutes after sitting was a chore. Ended up having to hold the throttle to the floor.

Seems like the fuel might be boiling over in the carb? Right now I'm running a regular thickness carb gasket, non insulated steel fuel line from pump to carb, and the heat crossover on the intake isn't blocked off.

I have a feeling that's gonna have to change.







Unfortunately not yet! That's one of the things I need to diagnose why it's not working. Everything is new, so it shouldn't be too difficult.

Idle circuit is lean.....
Put a gun on the T stat and the fuel bowl and get some accurate temps. ?/

[Tellyshavilli]

Carr looks fantastic. Congratulations.

[72projectbird]

Thank guys. It certainly has come a long way. Once it starts getting some real miles put on it, I'll grab some more pics.

Originally Posted by Formulabruce

Idle circuit is lean.....
Put a gun on the T stat and the fuel bowl and get some accurate temps. ?/

I verified temps with a gun. Water neck/cross over was 150-155°, but even running as cool as it is, it does not like restarting.

I'll have to revisit it soon. Been busy with a bunch of stuff lately

[3tas4me]

Originally Posted by 72projectbird

Very cool update, and story. It might be a little long, but definitely cool!

I was looking thru the original paperwork for the car the other day, and started studying the sales receipt from Village Pontiac. On the receipt was the original owners name, address and what he paid. He lived about 14 miles from the dealership.

I decided to look up the guys name to see what I could find. Turns out he owned a printing company in the same city he lived in. Unfortunately, I also found an obituary for him. He passed in 2007 at the age of 55.

While looking for info, I stumbled across a tree service company a few towns away that turned out to be his son. I called and left a message explaining that I owned a car that I believe he father bought brand new. I honestly didn't expect to hear back, as I figured it was a long shot. My phone rang about a hour later, and turns out he was the son of the original owner!

He remembered his parents talking about the Trans Am. He was blown away that the car still was around, and being put back on the road. He said he was going to call his mother and tell her, as she had a very strong connection to this car.

Here's where the story gets really cool:

I got a call from a woman the following day, and it was the original owners wife! We started talking about the car, and it has quite a cool story behind it. Turns out she was a car girl, and was really into muscle cars.

She explained that while on a date with her boyfriend (later, husband) she saw a 69 Mustang Fastback with a front spoiler. She was explaining to her boyfriend the importance of front spoilers, which he apparently took notice of, as not that soon after he surprised her with his new 70 Trans Am, complete with a front spoiler lol

She owned a 4 speed 69 Grand Sport, and he now owned a 4 speed 70 TA. Quite the cool cars to be running around in a congested city! She was talking about the places they went in the Trans Am, and the memories made along the way.

Here's a wild coincidence: It turns out that sometime between selling the Trans Am and now, she moved. Turns out she lives in the same town as me, and not just that, but only about a mile away! She is going to come over to see the car. She seemed a little emotional over knowing the car still exists, and it seemingly followed her. Makes you think, doesn't it?



So the car found me, after seeing it since I was in kindergarten, because the owner of it saw me driving my 71 on a random day when he was picking his wife up from the train station despite not living in the same town. Now the original owners wife lives a mile away. Crazy how things work out sometimes.

It makes me even more happy that this car was saved. Knowing what it meant to the previous owners, and the stories the car has makes it awesome.

I think getting the back story on these cars is one of the best things about owning them. I always try to contact the original owner if at all possible. I have been successful on many of mine. I found out from the original owner that my 1974 T/A was actually ordered as a SD455 4-speed, but the delay in the production of the car finally convinced him to change it to the 400 instead. If he would have had a little more patience, there would have been one more Super Duty built in 1974! The original owner of my 1971 T/A lives nearby and his father worked for Pontiac at the time. He shared some interesting pictures with me years ago of some experimental styling they were doing from the cars his dad would drive home. He ordered the '71 with the performance axle (3.73 gears) but it was missed when the car was built. Probably just as well as it sucks enough gas with the 3.42's!

[VCho455]

Originally Posted by 72projectbird

Thank guys. It certainly has come a long way. Once it starts getting some real miles put on it, I'll grab some more pics.





I verified temps with a gun. Water neck/cross over was 150-155°, but even running as cool as it is, it does not like restarting.

I'll have to revisit it soon. Been busy with a bunch of stuff lately

Might try checking the spark quality next time it acts up. It's possible the coil isn't happy when warm.

I've got one of these nowadays but for years I used an old spark plug that I modified by cutting off the electrode tang and replacing it with a piece of coat hanger I brazed to the plug so I could have at least a 1/2" gap for the spark to jump.

[72projectbird]

Originally Posted by VCho455

Might try checking the spark quality next time it acts up. It's possible the coil isn't happy when warm.

I've got one of these nowadays but for years I used an old spark plug that I modified by cutting off the electrode tang and replacing it with a piece of coat hanger I brazed to the plug so I could have at least a 1/2" gap for the spark to jump.

I'll definitely look into it.

The weather has been horrible here. 40s and 50s with rain almost every weekend, so the car has just been sitting. Looks like the weather should break soon though, so hopefully it'll be out and about.

The car was chosen to be in a invite only class at a large car show this June. It would be nice to actually drive the thing before taking it to the show lol

[72projectbird]

For those who have 70s, I find the rubber bump stops from a 69 Camaro fit the 70 only bump stop brackets well with slight trimming to the rubber. They look good

[72projectbird]

Took the car out for a brief little cruise. Ran good. Was about 85F° and stayed cool. The idle speed decided to creep up to about 1100rpm towards the end of the cruise, so I gotta check for vacuum leaks.

Shot a quick vid. Pretty boring, but figured since it's been about 27 years since its gone down the road under its own power, it be cool to document it.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RTaXLinTbLA

[72projectbird]

Took it to a cars and coffee this morning. Ran very good!

I'm trying to track down the cause of the shaker flap not actuating. So far this is what I've confirmed:

Two new solenoids

New grounds in shaker scoop, confirmed continuity between all grounds

Confirmed power at switch on carb

Confirmed power coming off switch going to shaker power inlet

Confirmed power at solenoids in shaker

I cant get them to actuate with the shaker installed on the car, but I can get the flap to actuate on the bench when powered with a cordless drill battery.


Any ideas?

[Formulabruce]

Referring to your axle bumper pic. I think you will find that those Rubbers are wrong. in 1970 They were a Bolt in affair that's really obvious. They do use the same slot though. Not any of my cars in pic)

[Formulabruce]

Originally Posted by 72projectbird

Took it to a cars and coffee this morning. Ran very good!

I'm trying to track down the cause of the shaker flap not actuating. So far this is what I've confirmed:

Two new solenoids

New grounds in shaker scoop, confirmed continuity between all grounds

Confirmed power at switch on carb

Confirmed power coming off switch going to shaker power inlet

Confirmed power at solenoids in shaker

I cant get them to actuate with the shaker installed on the car, but I can get the flap to actuate on the bench when powered with a cordless drill battery.


Any ideas?

Shaker assy is not grounding due to gasket on carb probably, IF the outter ring is connected well to the cross brace with the solenoids.

[jhein]

My shaker flap system is not operational but, there is a ground strap that goes from the air cleaner (IIRC) to the firewall.

[72projectbird]

Originally Posted by Formulabruce

Shaker assy is not grounding due to gasket on carb probably, IF the outter ring is connected well to the cross brace with the solenoids.

You're back! Haven't seen you around in a while.

Iirc 70 bump stops were push in style, 71+ were bolt on style.

Grounds on shaker scoop all seem to be playing well with each other. The ground I have at the firewall is working as intended.

I actually threw a batter charger on the car while diagnosing the shaker, and now when I engage the switch, the flap barely tries to open. So I think everything is working, but possibly not enough voltage when the car isn't running?

With the vehicle off and battery charged, I get 12.4 volts at the battery, but only about 11.2 at the shaker wiring.

[Formulabruce]

Boy I blew that axle bumper.. lol . Hope the cross bar for the solenoids isnt bent . Hows the rear end now?

[72projectbird]

Originally Posted by Formulabruce

Boy I blew that axle bumper.. lol . Hope the cross bar for the solenoids isnt bent . Hows the rear end now?

Cross bar is straight. I'm thinking the new solenoids are picky on the voltage they need to operate. No worries on the bump stops lol

Rear axle is back together and everything is awesome now. Put about 30 miles on it last week, and its been great.

[thepontiacman]

Very nice!!!