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#1
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SD-455 coming to shop next month
I have an SD-455 TA coming to my shop next month for some work. Car has been in climate controlled storage for 41 years but hasn't run in 30-35 years. First order of business is going to be repair or replacement of the gas tank as I was told it's leaking and has 40 year old gas in it. Does any vendor offer a VERY HIGH QUALITY, OE looking tank for a 74? Need a tank worthy of a numbers matching, low mileage SD car, Or am I going to have to try and find an NOS tank? May be able to have this one repaired? Thank you for leads and/or ideas.
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#2
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I don’t think they are available.
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WWW.GLASGOPERFORMANCE.COM. Updated... Sort of! |
#3
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I believe the tank is the same from '74-'81. You might want to remove and save the fill neck from the original tank. I put a new tank in my '74 and we installed the original fill neck.
Looks like Rock Auto carries three different brands. https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...fuel+tank,6268
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1970 Trans Am 1971 Trans Am 1974 Trans Am 1978 Y88 Trans Am W72/auto 1979 10th Anniversary Trans Am 1984 Trans Am 1993 Trans Am 1999 30th Anniversary Trans Am 2001 10th anniversary Firehawk #104 2006 GTO |
The Following User Says Thank You to 3tas4me For This Useful Post: | ||
#4
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Original filler neck
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Might try Advance Autoparts, & if dented or scuffed, send it back.
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Buzzards gotta eat... same as worms. |
#5
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^^^^ this and use the 15-20% discount they usually offer (or Autozone)...that's how I got my Spectra.
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1970 GTO (Granada Gold) - 400 / TH400 |
#6
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Get a 75 tank and make your own cap
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The Following User Says Thank You to ladytata For This Useful Post: | ||
#7
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I have gotten two tanks for the 79 Camaro/IA and the 81 TA and they both looked pretty close with a neck installed already. Necks were a hair different in the nozzle area. 81 Tank I used a SS one(also in the 65 GTO when I did it a few years ago) and you can tell they are not a galvanized stock tank.
There is an old fashion radiator shop here that boils them out and solder repairs them if that one is not too bad.
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Skip Fix 1978 Trans Am original owner 10.99 @ 124 pump gas 455 E heads, NO Bird ever! 1981 Black SE Trans Am stockish 6X 400ci, turbo 301 on a stand 1965 GTO 4 barrel 3 speed project 2004 GTO Pulse Red stock motor computer tune 13.43@103.4 1964 Impala SS 409/470ci 600 HP stroker project 1979 Camaro IAII Edelbrock head 500" 695 HP 10.33@132 3595lbs |
#8
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Auto City Classic in Minnesota lists a gas tank for 1974-1977 Firebirds, although I don't know how accurate it is so you should call them to discuss: https://www.autocityclassic.com/firebird-gas-tanks/
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#9
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Lots of decent options it seems. I have used Spectra radiators and several tanks on regular customer cars and they seem to be OK. I guess I will have to compare the stampings to the OE tank and how the corners are put together. Nice to know the same tank was used for several years. Going to go look at the car in storage in a few weeks and determine how to get it over to the shop. The 40+ year old tires all hold air. Obviously, it will need a battery, fluids changed, oil pump primed, and a carb kit. I will call Cliff and get one.
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The Following User Says Thank You to mgarblik For This Useful Post: | ||
#10
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Any that say 74-77 are clearly a Chev-based parts supplier, but then, most are. 74-78 for Firebird, 74-77 for Camaro. Spectra Premium GM203 is the best, made in Canada. Or as the US says, North America.
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The Following User Says Thank You to Aus78Formula For This Useful Post: | ||
#11
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Thanks for the part number. I can buy Spectra through my regular channels as a NAPA master dealer. No shipping. Of course some of the "shipping" is built into the slightly higher prices. But NAPA will take care of me if there is any damage. Now a question for the SD-455 experts. Is there any known markings or numbers or anything to identify the OE tank as an SD gas tank? Trying to do a nice job for this owner and do not want to do anything to hurt the value of the car.
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#12
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Quote:
On the filler neck, I would save the original, even if you don't use it for now. 1974 was the last year for leaded gas so all the fillers after that had the restricted inlet in the end of the pipe to keep people from putting leaded gas in cars with catalytic converters.
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1970 Trans Am 1971 Trans Am 1974 Trans Am 1978 Y88 Trans Am W72/auto 1979 10th Anniversary Trans Am 1984 Trans Am 1993 Trans Am 1999 30th Anniversary Trans Am 2001 10th anniversary Firehawk #104 2006 GTO |
#13
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Quote:
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#14
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yes correct
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1976 LeMans B09 Freeway Enforcer, 455/M40 Smokey 1977 Trans Am, 400/M21 Black/Gold Bandit. 44K actual miles 2017 Sierra SLT 1500 Z71 4X4 2019 Canyon SLT Crew 4X4 |
#15
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"couple days to air out" why I have a carrier that mounts in the receiver for such. Under a Benjamin.
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#16
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The owner of this SD has been working away on the car the last few days. He sent me some more pics he said I could post. Of course those of you that are familiar with the SD cars probably know all this stuff, but I am fascinated with some of the details he has shared. When these cars were new, I was working at a Pontiac dealer and although they were special, they were transportation. We were getting paid flat rate money to fix them and get them back on the road. Not much time to ponder all the specific, tiny changes that were SD specific. Here are some general pics of the car. Then some interesting specific parts.
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#17
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Next little group of pics are the picky stuff. Pic 1 is the valve springs. I guess they were variable rate valve springs and the purple coils are supposed to face down toward the head. He found 1 intake was installed upside down yesterday. The one pictured is correct Pic 2 The specific SD-455 TCS solenoid. I remember at the dealer taking these off and throwing them in the trash and bypassing them so the car would run much better. Some we put BB's in the hoses to keep them on the car but disable them and the EGR valves. You have to remember, customer satisfaction was the number 1 goal, and the cars ran much better without these early, crude systems functioning. Of course, emissions suffered. Pic 3 is the idle solenoid, also SD specific. Pic 5 Original tailpipes. You can tell by the little scallop on the top of the pipe. None of the aftermarket tips have this, not even the mega-buck Gardner stuff. Pic 4 spare tire inflater All these details from the owner. I didn't know any of this stuff. Sorry pic 4 and 5 got switched somehow.
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#18
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Quote:
Eric
__________________
"Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth" noted philosopher Mike Tyson Life begins at the end of your comfort zone. “The mind, once stretched by a new idea, never returns to its original dimensions.” |
#19
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One member here went through several Spectra tanks before one was found not to be scratched and dented. Apparently they are not well protected once they leave the Spectra facility.
__________________
1976 LeMans B09 Freeway Enforcer, 455/M40 Smokey 1977 Trans Am, 400/M21 Black/Gold Bandit. 44K actual miles 2017 Sierra SLT 1500 Z71 4X4 2019 Canyon SLT Crew 4X4 |
The Following User Says Thank You to 77 Canamman For This Useful Post: | ||
#20
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I must have been lucky to get one shipped to Australia, barely had any extra packing inside box, if at all, but somehow still unmarked. Just took off the shelf and sent, that special touch of customer service, same for across the street as across the world.
https://ecat.spectrapremium.com/products/GM203 Last edited by Aus78Formula; 09-08-2021 at 07:57 AM. |
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