[Bentwheelbob]

Originally Posted by 77 Canamman

I replaced a couple of parts last night. My front license plate bracket was tweaked, so this nOS beauty was installed after it was given a couple of coats of SEM trim black..



I had a blower performance issue, and an annoying rattle under the passengers side of the dash. The culprit was the lower A/C duct, as is typical with many of these 2nd gens..

I used the Parts Place repro duct, which is a very close, good fitting part. The original part was not a good design to begin with. It is a fragile, thin wall plastic, with not many mounting points.

Thanks for the info. Several years ago the consensus was that this repop duct was a bad facsimile of the original and did not fit well. It sounds like this issue has been corrected. Is that right? Also, what did you use to seal the duct to the heater/AC box? I don't believe they are repopping that foam seal and would like to know what you used.

[77 Canamman]

All mounting holes of this reproduction lined right up, and it was manufactured out of the same or very similar plastic.

[77 Canamman]

[Bentwheelbob]

Looks good. Thanks for the follow up.

[77 Canamman]

I used this to glue it to the duct:

[77 Canamman]

When I was underneath the Trans Am while servicing it, I noticed that the clutch fork boot was destroyed. GM still sells them new under part number 14007355. Another old number was 3993851. The linkage was in great shape, as it should be with only 43500 miles. I cleaned and greased everything. The return spring was difficult to put back on the fork.

[77 Canamman]

I found this nOS beauty for a song. Looking for the other side... GM 486051 LH rear sway bar link. The decals will be removed, and this will get a few coats of satin clear to protect its natural beauty.

[gilg]

Originally Posted by 77 Canamman

The Battery in your car is a Reproduction or a topper?? this is the correct one for 1977 from factory

[77 Canamman]

Originally Posted by 77 Canamman

The W72 is stock other than the headers and rejet/recurve. The topper is one I made from an original R89WP battery I found in a parts car I purchased

The battery top has a 1977 date code. My car is an early 1977, so I went with this since I had it. I've seen Freedoms in other '77's.

[gilg]

Originally Posted by 77 Canamman

The battery top has a 1977 date code. My car is an early 1977, so I went with this since I had it. I've seen Freedoms in other '77's.

all the 1977 Build Sheet with standard Battery i review more than 30 even in late production 77 indicated "BATT 240" = GM 1980240 = R87P
Where you found that Topper??

[77 Canamman]

I made it from an original, old R89WP that was wasted. I cut the top off, and simply set it on the modern Delco battery in the car. I then used the original hold down. Looks like day one.

[gilg]

Originally Posted by 77 Canamman

I made it from an original, old R89WP that was wasted. I cut the top off, and simply set it on the modern Delco battery in the car. I then used the original hold down. Looks like day one.

Excellent good job

[Skip Fix]

Originally Posted by Bentwheelbob

Thanks for the info. Several years ago the consensus was that this repop duct was a bad facsimile of the original and did not fit well. It sounds like this issue has been corrected. Is that right? Also, what did you use to seal the duct to the heater/AC box? I don't believe they are repopping that foam seal and would like to know what you used.

Even factory ducts form parts dept. the plastic was very thin where it bolts under the glove box and breaks. I usually fill it with urethane or silicone .

[77 TRASHCAN]

Man, I remember the original battery in my car didn't last long...

I had a couple of Die Hard's that both died hard.

Started working in a parts store in 1985.
We sold Delco batteries, they were the absolute best battery you could buy. Even my co-worker, who was a ford fanatic pushed the Delco batteries.
We had a cheaper line of batteries. I always tried to up sell the customer on the long life and power of the Delco batteries, which was the truth. Many thanked me after years of awesome service from their Delco battery.

[77 Canamman]

Originally Posted by gilg

Excellent good job

Thank you. I was super happy to find it in a parts car that I had originally bought for the 455.

[77 Canamman]

More to come...

[Poncho Dave]

So you cut the roof yet?

Does someone remake that hurst sticker?

[77 Canamman]

I am very close. All templates have been made, and measurements taken several times over. The interior has been disassembled.

The Hurst decal is a repro, but has been modified by me to correspond to the 12/7/76 build date of my car.

[Bentwheelbob]

Good luck, but be ready to open your pocketbook. You are opening a whole can of worms, and I wish you well.

I like the inverse of the measure twice and cut once philosophy. When running trim, building furniture, or doing other fine work the best method is measure twice and cut three or four times. You can always cut more, but once you have cut too much you are screwed. I look forward to following this “journey”.

[Poncho Dave]

I’m not sure how you anticipate cutting the roof, but you may want someone to help push on it to limit it’s flexing. I’ve cut a couple, but each is getting fresh paint. It is a little scary how much they will flex. Pretty sure Hurst had a fixture as I think there are dimples left on the inner structure. I would probably cut through the middle of the masking tape as the tape would help hold the paint together to limit chipping as well. Good luck!