[OVERULD]

Dennis,
I agree, but every time I come look at this thread, it costs me some more on my project! Cause now I'm thinking - I know my seat tracks are rusty and need to be greased...and gee, I wonder how much these seat cushions have collapsed...and on, and on it goes! Cha-Ching!

BJ

[Formulabruce]

Bob, Looking great !! Quick Question . Is your pedal mount date coded? Had mine in the bead blaster yesterday and noticed its dated and P/N.. Thoughts?

[Norwood]

Wow a date code that is actually a date

[Judge273]

Wasn't that a 73 and above thing? The core support, fenders, hood all had legible stamped date codes?

[Formulabruce]

Originally Posted by Judge273

Wasn't that a 73 and above thing? The core support, fenders, hood all had legible stamped date codes?

Could be, my core support has a clear date as well, guess I never expected it on a part like this though.

[Bentwheelbob]

Jaun - I looked through all my pictures and can't see a code in any of the pictures. The assembly is bubble wrapped and tucked away now awaiting installation. I'll be sure to double check when that time arrives. The core support did not have a date code for sure.

[Norwood]

Wow that's some nice work on the belts.

[OVERULD]

Ditto! Those look like brand new material. Are they the same belts you shipped out to them Bob? Pretty amazing work.

BJ

[Bentwheelbob]

Well, this is a bit of a marathon post. It's been a while since I updated, and today was a long day with me and MPD working until after 8:00 this evening. A lot got checked off the list, and that's a good thing.

I've been collecting seat backs to try to get two really good ones and finally did. I got the two best cleaned and painted today with SEM Landau Black and they look much better than the old ones. I scrubbed them with Dawn, scrubbed them again with SEM Soap, sprayed with SEM Sand Free, and three coats of Landau Black. Pictured below are the old and then the new ones.

The seat frames came back from the powder coater this week as well and look great. The hinge arms on the front seat backs had to be painted so I taped off the paint line based on measurements taken prior to sand blasting. After taping off the line I scuffed the powder coat with green scotchbrite and shot several coats of gloss black paint.

The console also got a coat of Landau Black today to clean it up and even out the color. I did the same Dawn, SEM Soap prep, but used adhesion promoter instead of Sand Free. I'm really pleased with how it turned out, but now need to check out all the other pieces and get it reassembled.

The biggest project was the steering column as it was in rough shape. We got it partially disassembled, cleaned up, sanded down, prime and painted. It too is looking great, but need's to dry for a few days before reassembly. The Formula Wheel hub also has been bead blasted and painted with wrinkle paint. It looks like new.

Lastly, I got a 5/16" hose stamped for the EVAP system. This hose goes on the outby side of the charcoal canister and connects on each end of the steel EVAP line that runs around the lower side of the core support.

Here's a few pictures.

[Pepi]

Awesome work as usual, those seat backs turn out great.

[The Boss]

What did you use for the wrinkle paint Bob?

Finish looks spot on!

[Bentwheelbob]

Originally Posted by OVERULD

Ditto! Those look like brand new material. Are they the same belts you shipped out to them Bob? Pretty amazing work.

BJ

The ends and buckles are original, but refurbished. The metals ends are replated/rechromed, as are the chrome buckle parts. The sleeves and boots are original, but have been recolored. The belt webbing and tags are new.

Originally Posted by The Boss

What did you use for the wrinkle paint Bob?

Finish looks spot on!

It's Eastwood wrinkle paint, which unfortunately they no longer sell. Why they quit selling great products that work like their high temp manifold gray spray paint, argent silver spray paint, and now this wrinkle finish is surprising.

[Bentwheelbob]

Well, the steering column is now done and back together. All in all it turned out well. I painted it with SEM Trim Black Euro Jet Satin. It matches the paint on my '73 TA pretty well, maybe just a little more sheen. I tried to save the one sticker on the column, but unfortunately it partially peeled off when I removed the masking tape after painting. Also, I am not happy with the repro tilt lever. If anyone has a pristine original please let me know. Here's a few before and after pictures.

[necdb3]

Chris, I used the wrinkle paint from krylon. It looks perfect.

Dave

[77 Canamman]

The tilt lever is GM 9787072. Plug it into Partsvoice. Several come up. I bought one at the dealer about 5 years ago, but they are now discoed..

[Bentwheelbob]

Originally Posted by 77 Canamman

The tilt lever is GM 9787072. Plug it into Partsvoice. Several come up. I bought one at the dealer about 5 years ago, but they are now discoed..

Thanks for the heads up. I've got two ordered and will keep you posted. They were priced at $10.00, but when I said I would take two of them she knocked the total to $15.00 shipped. Hah. They had three, but she said the third was a little shelf worn.

[77 Canamman]

That's a great price. I hope the quality is acceptable. I bought one on E-Bay a year ago for $25, and the one purchased from the dealer 5 years ago was $15.

[charles bledsoe]

Hi Bob-

Looks fantastic as always! In your last picture did you have the gold colored bolts plated, or where they spray painted?

[Judge273]

I think theyre copper? Mine polished up nice?..

[Bentwheelbob]

Yes, they are copper plated and I'm curious why. If anyone knows, please share.

My originals polished up well also, but I needed to get new column mounting bolts and Firebird Central had a dirt cheap set that included very nice replacement copper bolts in the package. If anyone needs the old set, let me know.