[OVERULD]

I, on the other hand, think it looks awesome like it is. You will never see another one like it anywhere. Steve, you should bring it to the TA Nats in Dayton next month.

BJ

[Held for Ransom]

If it were me, I'd be on the lookout for another set to play with. That way you could go back if the look doesn't do it for you. Formula's and Trans Am's had the black out look.

[njsteve]

Sounds like a plan. No comes the hard part of locating a decent set.

[pontiacstogo]

Originally Posted by njsteve

Sounds like a plan. No comes the hard part of locating a decent set.

You could always go with the 74 versions instead - you'd need to also source the turn signals as they move to the lower valance.

[Held for Ransom]

He already wrote about the '74 vertical (but I think he meant horizontal slats) not as appealing as the '75 horizontal slats w/turn signals (and 2 vertical slats).

[njsteve]

Here's the 74 (vertical slats) versus 75 (horizontal) grills.

[77 Canamman]

I prefer the argent grilles on this car.

[njsteve]

I blacked out the frills using the "Paint" app on my computer. I like the silver grills. They compliment the chrome and silver accents on the car.

BTW, an update on the fuel lines: Jugs and Rightstuff couldn't get the FGL7503 vent line set shipped to me because the part numbers are changed. The correct passenger side fuel vent line is 965-FEM06.

So for future reference:
Driver's side brake line from metering valve to rear diff: FIN-7401
Driver's side 3/8 fuel line 2-piece: RightStuff: FGL-7501
Passenger side fuel return line 2-piece: RightStuff FGL-7502
Passenger side vent line 2-piece: RightsStuff FEM06

[njsteve]

And another part on order. The original dash speaker stopped working recently for the factory AM/FM mono radio. I pulled out the A/C ducting and accessed the wiring. I was able to confirm the bad speaker by using a jumper wire to an old Kraco 6x10 speaker.

I ordered a replacement speaker from Electro-Tech. I have bought their 4x10 oval replacement speaker before and it worked very well and fit perfectly into the factory under dash bracket. They are the correct 8-ohm rating that will work with the factory radios, versus all the 4-ohm replacement versions out there that will fry your original radio eventually.

With shipping it was around $59

http://www.turnswitch.com/speakers.htm

[Held for Ransom]

OMG, I need to stop looking at others vehicles and start admiring mine again. How could I have forgotten mine are vertical??? Maybe turning them around in the garage can be a start...

[OVERULD]

Originally Posted by njsteve

And another part on order. The original dash speaker stopped working recently for the factory AM/FM mono radio. I pulled out the A/C ducting and accessed the wiring. I was able to confirm the bad speaker by using a jumper wire to an old Kraco 6x10 speaker.

I ordered a replacement speaker from Electro-Tech. I have bought their 4x10 oval replacement speaker before and it worked very well and fit perfectly into the factory under dash bracket. They are the correct 8-ohm rating that will work with the factory radios, versus all the 4-ohm replacement versions out there that will fry your original radio eventually.

With shipping it was around $59

http://www.turnswitch.com/speakers.htm

Steve, that is the same front speaker I put in my 74. I am intimately familiar with all that AC duct and reaching up there to get it in. I had my radio rebuilt and added an MP3 Jack, and both front and rear speakers were bad, so they are new. Sounds really good. The guy at Electro-Tech was great to work with and I had the new speakers in just a couple days after ordering.

Originally Posted by Held for Ransom

OMG, I need to stop looking at others vehicles and start admiring mine again. How could I have forgotten mine are vertical??? Maybe turning them around in the garage can be a start...

Mike, we were just waiting for you to figure it out! LOL

BJ

[njsteve]

I spent a couple hours today installing the speaker. You have to drop the steering column and remove the gauge pod to access the speaker and get to the screw that holds the speaker bracket in place. Removing the A/C plastic ductwork really helps also. At the same time I replaced the non-existent foam seal on the main A/C duct. The original had turned to dust decades ago, leaving a 3/4" gap between the heater box and the main duct. Got everything buttoned up and now the front and back speakers sound just like new (like 1970's new, that is)

[22687]

Originally Posted by njsteve

I spent a couple hours today installing the speaker. You have to drop the steering column. Removing the A/C plastic ductwork really helps also. At the same time I replaced the non-existent foam seal on the main A/C duct. The original had turned to dust decades ago, leaving a 3/4" gap between the heater box and the main duct. Got everything buttoned up and now the front and back speakers sound just like new (like 1970's new, that is)

Could I ask what you used for the replacement gasket? Is there a repop or did you fabricate one out of foam? How does it attach to the duct - contact cement?

Thanks.

[njsteve]

I just used some adhesive backed foam insulation in roll form that I got at home depot in the plumbing aisle. It worked fine. Just cut four pieces to make a rectangle and you are set.

[OVERULD]

I had to do the same thing on mine Steve, including replacing that gasket, which had turned to dust! While I had it all torn apart, I washed every piece of AC duct to get the dust out of them.

BJ

[njsteve]

I took her to a cruise night last night. Definitely improved the air flow from the middle dash vent- always the weakest output vent in the system.

[njsteve]

The other day I spent a few hours trying to solve the "bent nail puzzle" of removing the original transmission cooler tubes and replacing them with new ones from Inline Tube. Quite an entertaining conundrum of turn, twist, pull, (curse) and repeat X10. Eventually got it all done with only a minimum amount of tranny fluid on the floor.

The original set had some bad kink/twists where they were over tightened onto the fitting at the transmission case decades ago. I was worried that they'd spring a leak one of these days at the least opportune moment.

So I now have successfully replaced every corroded steel line in the car over the past couple months. What did I win?

(piece of mind, I guess) :-)

By the way, I did not use the front sections of the driver's side fuel line that goes from the front fender well to the pump, and both passenger side vent and return line sections that go from the back of the subframe to the charcoal canister, and the fuel pump. My originals were still perfect from being covered in grease all those years. Does anyone need those lines? I believe they are unique to the 74/75 to 81 cars?

[Scarebird]

Use this link:

https://www.airnav.com/fuel/local.html

[njsteve]

Looky what I found!

A NOS set of the same brown/tan/orange/yellow-ish "Plasticolor" floor mats that my Gramma bought for the car when it was new. The original set got rather chewed up by four and a half decades of foot travel.

Found them on ebay for $115. I have been searching for years for a set and got the search alert on Saturday morning at 6:30 AM. I immediately ht the buy-it-now button. They just arrived today.

Just need some scrubbing and cleaning and they will be fine.

[Pepi]

Nice score!!