About Us

Jim Robertson · 12-18-2008, 09:47 AM

Keep going! She's nearing completion and she is gorgeous.

How does that song go....ANTICIPATION...ANTICIPAY...ATION

And for all those that are in mid-restoration...Stay with it!

What does the membership cost to that Early 2nd Gen Trans Am Junkie support group?

Merry Christmas to all,
Jim

njsteve · 01-13-2009, 06:13 PM

Went to the shop today to check on progress. Still in the final stages of blocksanding. Hopefully in final primer next week...

njsteve · 01-13-2009, 06:16 PM

Cleaning up the dash panel area:

Working on the polyethylene valance. It takes some special primer/paint processes to get it to stick to the polyethylene. The left and right edges need some attention to get them to match to the contours of the front fender bottom.

aronhk_md · 02-16-2009, 04:36 AM

Steve...great job. The car looks beautiful. I was just referred here by Norwood from a different site. Twenty years ago I sold my 71 T/A 4 speed....and missed it ever since. After searching a while I just came home yesterday with a 72 T/A automatic that I drove 10 hrs to look at in SC, looked it over for 3 hrs, paid for it, loaded it, and drove home 10 hrs. It was a long weekend....lol.

Its all original except for the carb and a replacement trans, no rust to speak of (couple of very minor spots), one small area behind the pass. door that has a bit of bondo (I went over the car with a magnet that would barely stick to a battleship). It was a slight dent as I could see when I removed the plastic door vent.

Very happy with my purchase, but it is going to be a while before I follow in your footsteps. I'm going to do some basic things right now to preserve it and enjoy it for a while first.

I spent the last couple of hours reading all the posts here...terrific stuff you've done.

I do have one question though for you and maybe the others here.....

That front valence...mine is the steel version...and I'm not worried for now about showing the car at concourse events. But I also much prefer the look of the plastic version covering the lower unfinished edge of the endura nose. Would it be possible to take a steel version and weld in the top sections of sheetmetal to give the same look? Again, in the coming years I might look for an original plastic one to go with the correctly restored car I hope it will be someday.....but in the meantime.....

On another note I'm in Delaware. How many early T/A and firebird owners do we have in the region? It sounds like more than a couple.

Thanks, and look forward to seeing the completion of your work of art.

Aron

njsteve · 02-16-2009, 04:23 PM

Welcome to the site.

The steel valance and the plastic valance have two totally different opening locations. It would be quite a metal working project to make a steel version of the plastic valance but I wouldn't discourage any expert metal worker from trying. Just make sure you post photos of the project. I'd love to see it done!

JJKJ · 02-16-2009, 06:06 PM

What about the plastic repro replacement valances they make to replace the original metal ones? Do they have the top finished like the original plastic pieces?

aronhk_md · 02-16-2009, 06:31 PM

Steve,

Thanks, I didnt realize they were that different. But then again, if it is only temporary and eventually to be replaced, its real purpose would be to look similar AND cover that rough edge as I mentioned. In that case it would only have to hold up to the casual inspection and look good. I may look around for a spare one to play with....and also keep an eye out for the poly version at the same time.

Aron

Transamric · 02-17-2009, 08:08 PM

As JJKJ mentioned, there is a repro plastic valance available. They will usually require some working to get the fit nice, but at least they are fresh plastic. Any originals left out there are going to be somewhat cracked up, or at least, very brittle & ready to crack as soon as you bolt them on.

aronhk_md · 02-17-2009, 11:15 PM

Thanks...dont want to highjack Steve's thread but does anyone know what company they are available from?

njsteve · 02-18-2009, 01:10 AM

The Parts Place makes them and sells them at their website under part# BP1088F, and sells them to other vendors as well. http://thepartsplaceinc.com/ If you go back into this thread a ways you'll find a posting where I compare it to the original one, with photos.

njsteve · 09:25 PM

Still grey, but slowly progressing:

RicksGTO · 02-23-2009, 09:57 PM

almost there, looks like they are down to the last few spots to get it dead straight. Can't wait to see the white and blue on that car!

aronhk_md · 02-23-2009, 11:12 PM

Steve - almost there! I'm excited for you. Should be back home soon, and then you'll have it together in what.....a week or two? lol Of course the paint needs to cure a few months before the decals go on.

njsteve · 03-10-2009, 07:46 PM

Went out to the shop today to bring over the upper door stainless trim so he could drill the screw holes for the clips. Better to do it before the paint goes on.

They have been working on the scoops and stuff. Here are some step by step photos on the fiberglass items. The fender scoop had a crack that needed some attention and the shaker had stress cracks around all the rivet holes as well as a cracked edge.

njsteve · 03-10-2009, 07:49 PM

The shaker scoop:

njsteve · 03-10-2009, 07:51 PM

Some interesting work on the polyethylene valance.

They came up with an ingenous fixture to hold it in place so they could do the body work...they turned the nose/bumper upside down and clamped it to it. Now why the heck didn't I think of that. DOH!

(Hey it looks like a 71 GTO now!)

And here is the magic stuff they found to do the filler work. They actually found a flexible epoxy filler that works on polyethylene. The stuff was recommended for ATV fenders (which are made of polyethylene) It's called DYNATRON 660 and is actually made by the Bondo Company. It sticks to the valance material very well and feathers out when sanded. They were able to build up the sides to match the fender/bumper contours. That will also strengthen the sides of the valance immeasurably since that is the thinnest and most fragile part of the plastic valance.

cdoggy81 · 03-10-2009, 11:38 PM

good stuff!

njsteve · 05-19-2009, 05:55 PM

She's in the paint booth now. Some final finishing touches before cleaning and masking. Hopefully it will be white just in time for Memorial Day.

njsteve · 05-19-2009, 05:55 PM

Final detailing on the lower quarter seam.

njsteve · 05-19-2009, 05:56 PM

Some minor repairs to the dash edges. This is the spot where the water always collects on second gen F-bodies. The driver's side just had some minor pitting, while the passenger side had a small 1" square soft section that needed to be repaired.

Menu

About Us