[transam1972]

special thanks to PY forum member OL PINION HEAD for helping me with this missing rear alternator bracket...thanks to him I am almost 100% done finding those elusive missing parts most likely discarded in the 70s for a simple tune up..thanks again Rodger!!!..these are the 1972 assembly manual pages..the spacer looks to be part # 532874 spacer item #10, although I do not know the size...thank you!!

[transam1972]

the T/As starter had been replaced by 1985, so I opted for a rebuilt A/C DELCO..I am not certain how much they changed thru the years or even what year this rebuilt core is..but I think it looks fine...I added the repop shield that was an exact match to the original and I fortunately had the original mounting hardware...since I am adding a unitized distributor, soon I will photo the new engine harness,new pos. & neg. cables and leads to the new starter...and hope it works!!

[428RA4]

If you have the old shims, put them back. If the starter whines or grinds - let the fun begin~!

[transam1972]

I did put the original shims back...I know early cars used a starter brace...mine was missing, but the original bolt is in place so I was going to order a repop..I do not recall my 1976 having a starter brace...is anyone familiar with what years got them...and is a starter brace really important?? thanks

[2manyT/A'S]

Originally Posted by transam1972

I did put the original shims back...I know early cars used a starter brace...mine was missing, but the original bolt is in place so I was going to order a repop..I do not recall my 1976 having a starter brace...is anyone familiar with what years got them...and is a starter brace really important?? thanks

Original engineering thought it WAS needed and mid-70's bean counters didn't.

Removing it saved some weight and 3 LESS parts to inventory on the line....

I'm thinking that when the new lighter block came out in 75....they lost the starter brace...

[transam1972]

this is a stripe set that came in on 09 -04 -1981

[transam1972]

[transam1972]

I just ordered new Legendary deluxe perforated vinyl seat covers..I thought I would post some before photos for my and others







reference..the 1971 & 72 seat bottems are covered in material as opposed to the later plastic covers

[transam1972]

I have also opted to replace the 4o plus year foam...A.C.I. is the best...beware of lower cost inferior foam

[transam1972]

[transam1972]

[transam1972]

[Mezzo]

Transam1972, thanks for sharing this info. I will be posting the same when my seat covers arrive from Legendary.

[transam1972]

I debated to myself if I should post this...as to why it has burn marks I have no idea..I have lead a interesting life...on the back were my handwritten directions to a go-go bar so who knows...all I remember is the car cost $5000 dollars on Sept. 11, 1985...a princely sum in those days...what was even more insulting was she was getting back more than the car cost her!!...I will never sell this car...and even though it is not close to being finished, once the weather is warm I can set about getting the engine running again with my unitized distributor and get the seats all redone..part of the fun is just having it in the garage!...then figure a game plan for paint...this car is going to look damn cool when its done...everyone has there own twist on why there car is the best...I bought my GM sheetmetal 24 years ago...its replacement sheetmetal to me..I wanted no bondo and the quarters had to be replaced...I have been doing this long a long time....I have left as much as original on my car as possible...I also do not have the funds to do differently...If I was to go by the trim tag this car would be Lucerne blue standard interior and rally II...but I do not like that..It will be Cameo white,deluxe interior and honeycombs...then I will have a custom trim tag made and stick it over the original...in my world I like our cars 100% stock...but you do not have to follow the build sheet...you can add any option to your car that was available that year...you can paint your car any colour that was available... my restoration world is a lot friendlier....I am not thinking I want to recreate the moment the car came out the assembly line...do you also set the odometer back to 0?...to some people I am ruining this car...but I say you do your car your way and I will do mine my way...restoring a car is so much work and money, why not support each other and take the time to understand why someone is doing there car a particular way...I always wanted a 70 to 72 T/A white with a blue stripe...the closest I had was my 76 that was totaled...this car was bought to replace that one and to fulfill the original dream...and when dreams become reality...WOW!!..

[428RA4]

Funny thing. When I did my first total restoration, I set the odometer to 0. On the 2nd full rebuild, I did not bother because I figured that is how many miles I put on her since I owned the car back in 1988.

[transam1972]

was the engine rebuilt?...I am certain there are 2 sets of opinions on this...changing a cars odometer...I was actually just using that as a example as to me not understanding date coded spark plug wires...when you have them on your restoration or car what does it mean?...that the wires have not been changed?..they are not the original wires so who cares?...I believe I can poke holes in any of this car restoration process...do what you want...although I do not agree on setting odometers back...

[428RA4]

I was not the original owner. I believe I was 3rd. When a car was as far gone as mine was, I figured it's a brand new old car. It has had 4 brand new engines, 2 trans, 2 rear ends. Two paint jobs 3 tops and pretty much all NOS sheetmetal.

[transam1972]

the one advantage of buying a brand new car is you know everything about it...in my search for a used TRANS AM in the late 70s, early 80s I came across every car had something wrong...no internet to aid in a search...but I mostly knew what I was buying...it needing quarters was a surprise, but I would have still bought it...I do recall pulling out the carpet and wishing that the floor pans were o.k. and they were perfect!...I have no skills nor patience for that kind of repair...it is up to the buyer to know what he is buying...I knew the mileage was correct for 58k and not 158k by looking at certain items that show wear...if a car has had multiple owners and rebuilds you will see in the ad true mileage unknown so that solves the problem...I just found out I have a SR rim, so when you are so into a car and with the help of others who are more knowledgeable than me in these areas this P.Y. forum has helped me for the better of learning more about my TRANS AM

[Formulabruce]

Originally Posted by transam1972

I debated to myself if I should post this...as to why it has burn marks I have no idea..I have lead a interesting life...on the back were my handwritten directions to a go-go bar so who knows...all I remember is the car cost $5000 dollars on Sept. 11, 1985...a princely sum in those days...what was even more insulting was she was getting back more than the car cost her!!...I will never sell this car...and even though it is not close to being finished, once the weather is warm I can set about getting the engine running again with my unitized distributor and get the seats all redone..part of the fun is just having it in the garage!...then figure a game plan for paint...this car is going to look damn cool when its done...everyone has there own twist on why there car is the best...I bought my GM sheetmetal 24 years ago...its replacement sheetmetal to me..I wanted no bondo and the quarters had to be replaced...I have been doing this long a long time....I have left as much as original on my car as possible...I also do not have the funds to do differently...If I was to go by the trim tag this car would be Lucerne blue standard interior and rally II...but I do not like that..It will be Cameo white,deluxe interior and honeycombs...then I will have a custom trim tag made and stick it over the original...in my world I like our cars 100% stock...but you do not have to follow the build sheet...you can add any option to your car that was available that year...you can paint your car any colour that was available... my restoration world is a lot friendlier....I am not thinking I want to recreate the moment the car came out the assembly line...do you also set the odometer back to 0?...to some people I am ruining this car...but I say you do your car your way and I will do mine my way...restoring a car is so much work and money, why not support each other and take the time to understand why someone is doing there car a particular way...I always wanted a 70 to 72 T/A white with a blue stripe...the closest I had was my 76 that was totaled...this car was bought to replace that one and to fulfill the original dream...and when dreams become reality...WOW!!..Attachment 353476

Attachment 353477

Why bother with a new trim tag?. Anybody can PHS the car and find out it was changed.. Leave it be, aside from paint, you're doing "bolt on" s. Putting on two trim tags is sort of obvious too. Not worth the effort.....It is what it is........Most of us didnt order the cars when new, you like what you like....Why put yourself in the place of having to explain two trim tags to everyone who might see the car?? I wouldn't waste money on a trim tag you could put into Paint work.. IMHO...

[2manyT/A'S]

Originally Posted by transam1972

the one advantage of buying a brand new car is you know everything about it...in my search for a used TRANS AM in the late 70s, early 80s I came across every car had something wrong...no internet to aid in a search...but I mostly knew what I was buying...it needing quarters was a surprise, but I would have still bought it...I do recall pulling out the carpet and wishing that the floor pans were o.k. and they were perfect!...I have no skills nor patience for that kind of repair...it is up to the buyer to know what he is buying...I knew the mileage was correct for 58k and not 158k by looking at certain items that show wear...if a car has had multiple owners and rebuilds you will see in the ad true mileage unknown so that solves the problem...I just found out I have a SR rim, so when you are so into a car and with the help of others who are more knowledgeable than me in these areas this P.Y. forum has helped me for the better of learning more about my TRANS AM

You know...it's funny......that's about the time when I started looking seriously at 70-72 T/A's....and most EVERYTHING I found for sale was trashed or crashed,worn out, rusted out,miled out JUNK....AND expensive......Hemmings was the "candy store" back then.......but there was never anything close for sale .......and at that point,wasn't prepared to travel to buy a car...not too FAR,anyways...

In the early 80's.......I bought a running,driving,#'s matching 70 T/A automatic.......for less money than the carburetor is worth today.. ..it was a rusty "bondo bucket" but it was mine and I could drive it....and I DID........It was my "winter beater" ...... the late model T/A was parked at the end of October and the 70 T/A got the studded snow tires......hell,it was rusty anyways....we never get much snow around here but it was an interesting "winter car"...

The first 3 pics were taken on the way home...the day I bought it...