The New, Newer Project: Part Tres...

[njsteve]

Well, I finally found it.

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/Windowstickerp1A.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/Windowstickerp1A.jpg.html)

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/windowstickerp2A.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/windowstickerp2A.jpg.html)

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/orderform.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/orderform.jpg.html)

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/invoiceA.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/invoiceA.jpg.html)

[njsteve]

Click on the photo...

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/th_P1010115-1.jpg (http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/P1010115-1.mp4)

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

what a beauty.

Ryan

[njsteve]

18,000 miles. Completely untouched, unmolested. 100% Original paint. One of 43 built (33 Autos and 10 4-speeds).

"Survivor" would be an insult: This one actually thrived in hibernation.

Sold new in Long Island (pronounced &quot;Lawn Guy Land&quot;, Noo Yawk. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif

Then moved to Arizona in 1975 with 16,000 mile, and on to California in 1990, and returned East, back to Southern NJ in 1991 with 18,000 miles.

Even came with an extra NOS SD455 carb and set of the infamous recalled Firestone 500 radials. (I need a fifth to have the full set).

It was a complete fluke that I found it...or divine providence.

I randomly logged on to the Super Duty Forum at the Performance Years website on Labor Day morning and noticed that one of the guys posted the ebay link to this newly listed car that just showed up on ebay a few hours prior. It was here in NJ about 75 miles away. I called the guy and immediately drove down.

Weird Coincidence #1:
As many of you know I just sold my 1970 Hemi Charger that I had for 25 years. It was originally sold new at Suburban Dodge in NJ. When I arrived to look at the SD455, I looked at the back panel and there was a &quot;SUBURBAN PONTIAC&quot; dealer emblem on it. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/no.gif

Weird Coincidence #2:
The owner (great guy by the way) showed me an old magazine from 1990 that had this car in a three page feature. The very next feature car in the magazine was my old 1971 yellow hemicuda convertible. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/shocked.gif

Weird Coincidence #3.
Ten minutes after I saw the link to the ebay ad on the Super Duty forum at the PY website, the entire website at PY years crashed/went down for maintenance until after I finished inspecting the car and putting a deposit down on it. The website then came back up but by then the ebay ad was shut down as &quot;the vehicle was no longer for sale&quot;. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/naughty.gif

[njsteve]

Here's some photos:

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/P1010110-1-1.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/P1010110-1-1.jpg.html)

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/P1010084.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/P1010084.jpg.html)

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/P1010079.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/P1010079.jpg.html)

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/P1010108.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/P1010108.jpg.html)

[njsteve]

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/P1010088.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/P1010088.jpg.html)

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/P1010087.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/P1010087.jpg.html)

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/P1010089.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/P1010089.jpg.html)

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/P1010091.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/P1010091.jpg.html)

Even has the original shaker unit with the baffle still intact (and a stunt double with the baffle removed, on the car)

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/P1010075.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/P1010075.jpg.html)

[njsteve]

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/P1010073a.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/P1010073a.jpg.html)

Ashtray has never been used:

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/P1010107.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/P1010107.jpg.html)

Clear plastic delivery cover still intact on seat knob and black plastic carpet seat track covers still in place:

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/P1010101-1.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/P1010101-1.jpg.html)

The trunk is amazing:

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/P1010097.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/P1010097.jpg.html)

[njsteve]

Here's the Suburban Pontiac Emblem that sealed the deal:

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/P1010081.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/P1010081.jpg.html)

And the NOS Firestone 500 tires. This one is on an untouched original spare honeycomb rim. It's never been bolt onto a car. (Anyone have a fifth one so I can have a full set including spare, for show?)

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/P1010117-1.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/P1010117-1.jpg.html)

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/P1010119-1.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/P1010119-1.jpg.html)

Here's a link to the background info on these infamous tires:

http://www.autosafety.org/firestone-500-steel-belted-radials

[Xplantdad]

Steve....that's awesome. I love it. If I get to your area...I want a ride <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif

Congrats!!

[njsteve]

On which tires: the 25 year old Goodyears or the 40 year old recalled Firestones? <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif

[njsteve]

BTW, note the giant, brown, oil shmear under the hood from the original A-6 a/c compressor....


http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/P1010108.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/P1010108.jpg.html)

[KevinW]

Congrats Steve, A white one and a black one! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

Fantastic, congratulations.

Ryan

[Dave Rifkin]

Congratulations on purchasing this beautiful time capsule. The only problem I see is it's too nice; what kind of projects could you possibly dig up on such a perfect car? You're gonna be bored with it in no time.

[Xplantdad]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: njsteve</div><div class="ubbcode-body">On which tires: the 25 year old Goodyears or the 40 year old recalled Firestones? <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif </div></div>

Either set. I LOVE the sound of Formula Firebirds!!!

[njsteve]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Dave Rifkin</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Congratulations on purchasing this beautiful time capsule. The only problem I see is it's too nice; what kind of projects could you possibly dig up on such a perfect car? You're gonna be bored with it in no time. </div></div>

Lots of underbody cleaning to be done by hand. Can't use a pressure washer on this one because of all the paper parts labels still down there.

And I will always be cleaning up after that darned A/C compressor. So that will keep me busy. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif

[Xplantdad]

The Buick 'vert has that same deal under the hood.... <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif

[Tenney]

Awesome score - congrats!! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

[jannes_z-28]

Amazing find! Congrats.

Just clean it and leave it as is.

Jan

[bashton]

WoWoWoW!

And by the way.... <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/drool.gif

You know the rest...

Congrats Steve, couldn't have found a better home for that one.

Bashton
MCACN Managing Member

[PeteLeathersac]

W<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/drool.gifW!!!
Congrats to you and the car for finding each other!
<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif
~ Pete

[olredalert]

----Steve,,,If I would have ordered an SD it would have been this one. Really love the car without the TA stuff. Just so different. I thought very hard in late 73 about buying a leftover SD Bird in (I think its called) Brewster Green. I didnt buy it because of the green. I had no idea at the time that they were built in such limited numbers, and thought I could find a non-TA SD in a better color. By the time I figured it out the green one was gone.......Bill S

[mockingbird812]

Congrats STeve - she's a beaut! Love the white and the incredible condition!!!

[K code Mustang]

Very nice...you got my attention with the Suburban connection.

[grantprix]

Fantastic car! Congrats!

[StealthBird]

Congrats Steve! Beautiful car!

Those 73-74 SD455 cars really jumped in price several years ago, to the level of the high end 64-72 A-Body cars, and remain highly sought after. One of the best American automotive designs ever. They had style, great looks, great handling, the best all around American car at that time. And with the SD-455, they had straight line performance that rivaled and even surpassed many of the best musclecars of all time. And the SD-455 did it with a few points less compression, a lazy gear ratio, and straddled with emissions.

One of my fondest memories growing up was back in 1974, when we took my brothers 1969 GTO to a local dragstrip (St Thomas up in Ontario). We read all about these new SD-455 cars, but assumed it was all hype. They were &quot;pollution cars&quot;, not real muscle cars like a GTO or our friends 440+6 Super Bee. Well, at the track, there was a brand new Buccaneer Red 1974 SD-455 Trans Am, and we saw him make several passes. As luck would have it, he ended up lining up next to my brothers 1969 GTO, which ran low 14's at the time. I was in the passenger seat of my brother's Goat, and I was all of but 10 years old at the time, thrilled to get a ride down the track. I was excited knowing that my brother would be beating this new &quot;pollution car&quot;, that probably cost $5,500, and that this new Trans Am owner would see how cool old musclecars were. But I watched in amazement as the new 1974 Trans Am jumped off the line (they all had posi standard), and we watched his rear bumper all the way down the track. We ended up about 2 car lengths behind. Afterwards, we went over to look at this &quot;pollution car&quot; just after the guy returned from a run. He opened the hood, and it was all hoses and plumbing. He had an automatic, with a/c, so it had 3.08 gears. The engine was giving off those &quot;heat tick&quot; sounds that new engines do after being shut off. It had around 400 miles on the odometer, and the guy just bought it that week. I actually have an old Super 8mm movie of that day, one of my first times with the ol' Kodak camera.

All my brothers could talk about after that was to imagine what that new Trans Am would do with 2 more points of compression, an open scoop, emissions removed, and 3.55 gears.

Congrats again on your find! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif

[Norwood]

YEP...That's pretty nice....

[njsteve]

Finally took the lady for a ride tonight. The gas tank was empty so I drove 5 miles to the gas station. Filled her up and just before the tank was full, gas started trickling out from the front of the tank. I drove her home quickly and put a floor jack under the rear end to raise the back up and stop the fuel leak. Turns out that one of the vapor return lines had popped out of the two inch rubber connector hose at the front of the tank. I replaced the rubber hose section and all is well. While I had the wheel off I took these shots

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/P1010124.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/P1010124.jpg.html)

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/P1010121.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/P1010121.jpg.html)

I also found the source of the exhaust rumble - the tailpipe is about 1/64&quot; from the lower edge of the bottom of the quarter. I tried using some gentle persuasion to rock the entire system toward the driver's side. It is now 1/8&quot; away.

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/P1010122.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/P1010122.jpg.html)

[njsteve]

And here are a few shots of the black car and the white car together:

I have no idea what the bright sparkly thing is under the front of the white car. There is nothing in the other photos in that spot. Scary car spirits?

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/P1010131.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/P1010131.jpg.html)

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/P1010130.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/P1010130.jpg.html)

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/P1010134.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/P1010134.jpg.html)

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/P1010133.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/P1010133.jpg.html)

[njsteve]

In case anyone comes across a tan Pontiac wheel like this, give me a heads up. Since this car has a tan steering column and no mention of the Formula wheel on the purchase docs, it would appear that the (very expensive) 1973 Formula wheel was added later. I did the same thing on my Gramma's 75 Firebird a couple decades ago...and like an idiot I threw that wheel away shortly thereafter) <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif


There is still a debate as to whether the center of the horn pad should be woodgrain or black on the Firebirds, but either way, this wheel came on a lot of Firebirds and A-bodies as well from 1971-74

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/KGrHqVq8FDvSgKnk1BQ-duCEjvg60_3.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/KGrHqVq8FDvSgKnk1BQ-duCEjvg60_3.jpg.html)

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/1974SteeringWheel.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/1974SteeringWheel.jpg.html)

[KevinW]

Nice pics! The bright spot is the ghost of the Charger, annoyed there is a white Pontiac in its garage space <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif

[DaJudge]

Nice car Steve. I really like those SD Formulas .

[69 Post Sedan]

Very nice find Steve.....congrats.

Kurt

[njsteve]

Stay tuned ladies and gentlemen, I just spent an hour talking to Enrico Stein out in Arizona....and he is sending me the original steering wheel he took off in 1973 when he bought the Formula wheel that is currently on the car. It has been sitting in the box that the Formula wheel came in, for the past 40 years or so.....

[Xplantdad]

That's cool!!!! Hey, does Enrico drive a Suburban???? <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/shocked.gif

[njsteve]

Thanks to the assistance of a PerformanceYears.com member who happened to search the internet and found that there is only one Enrico Stein in the entire universe and that he lives in Arizona but used to live in Port Washington, NY, I was able to spend a magical hour talking to the man that ordered my 1973 Formula SD455, brand new.

Enrico has been a car guy all his life. In 1968 he bought the very first BMW 2002 that arrived in the US for around $2,000. Several years later he wanted to upgrade to a 2002 TII but none of the BMW dealers wanted to give him a break from the $6,000 price tag on the car.

Being the consummate car-guy, Enrico read all the latest car magazines and found out that a 310 horsepower Super Duty engine was going to be available in the upcoming 1973 Firebird. So he went around to the local Pontiac dealerships and asked about ordering the car. He was given the runaround and told that the engine wasn’t available.

Not satisfied with this answer, Enrico called the very same magazine writer who wrote the test drive article on the 310 horsepower Super Duty engine and got some insider info on the cars. He was told that there was an administrative hold on building the cars at the moment and that if they were going to be built it would be during the last two weeks of the model year in late summer, 1973.

With that info in pocket, Enrico went to Suburban Pontiac in Glen Head, New York and found a newly minted car salesman (who just happened to be a former dress salesman who was laid off from his prior job). The salesman took his order but the big-wig, zone managers in New York City said that they would not accept any orders for the Super Duty. Not taking no for an answer, Enrico hunted them down and told them in no uncertain terms that they will order his car, and they will do it now. (At the time, Enrico was 6’8” tall and 280 lbs.). The zone promptly allowed the order to go through.

It seems that Enrico was so “convincing” in his negotiations with upper management, that Suburban Pontiac was able to order a second Super Duty Formula for another young man. (This second car is known, and still exists). That car arrived shortly after Enrico’s car was delivered. This caused much consternation among all the other Pontiac dealers in the zone, concerning how one little dealership on Long Island could get two Super Duty Firebirds when the other big dealers got none.

When Enrico ordered his car, he was told it would be delivered with the fiberglass, twin scooped Formula hood. It arrived, of course, with the Trans Am shaker unit in its place. He was told that this was due to the drive-by noise regulations that were in place by the time the cars were built.

I asked Enrico about the tires on the car and he said that the car came with the infamous Firestone 500 radials. He mentioned that the car always had a severe pull to the left when he drove it. No matter what was done with the alignment, the pull would not go away. It wasn’t until much later when he replaced the tires that the pull magically disappeared. Enrico said that when the recall came out for the 500s, only the tires made after 1975 were listed. That is why his tires stayed with the car. I mentioned to him that there are four, not five Firestone 500s still with the car and he said that when he sold the car to a California collector in 1986, the collector’s driver insisted on driving the car from Arizona to California. Enrico warned him that he should buy newer tires for the car and reminded him that the 500’s were recalled. The guy didn’t listen and in the middle of night out in the desert wastelands between Arizona and California, one of the 500’s exploded. Luckily the car was not damaged.

I also asked about the front valance and was told that the car was delivered with the polyethylene front valance but it cracked soon thereafter and Enrico had the dealer replace it with the steel valance.

When the subject of what steering wheel came on the car originally came up, Enrico said he know exactly what wheel it came with because it was currently sitting in his garage, in the very same box that the Formula wheel that is on the car now, came in. He then asked me for my address so he could make sure it was reunited with the car!

He also asked if the paint flaw in the fender was still there? I confirmed that it was – there is a weird raised line and pieces of fuzz in the paint along the mid portion of the front fender near the headlight. It looks like an air hose for the paint gun was dragged over the wet paint. Enrico said the car was delivered that way and that it was never fixed.

Enrico owned the car from 1973 to 1986 when it was sold to a collector out in California. That collector had it until 1991 when he sold it to the man in New Jersey from whom I bought it. While in Enrico’s hands, the car never saw any winter use. After two years, he and the car moved out to Arizona where he and his wife have lived ever since.

As an aside, Enrico mentioned that the car had been stolen and recovered once. He was at work one day at a large marina when he got a call from the local AAMCO transmission shop manager who asked what he wanted done with his car? Enrico replied: “What the hell are you talking about?” The AAMCO guy then said that his car was there and wanted to know what work he wanted done to it. Enrico was always getting pestered by people about selling is car whenever it was parked in front of the marina. It turned out that one of these pesterers was a car thief who contacted the local Pontiac dealer and pretended to be the owner who lost his keys. The Pontiac dealer happily made the thief a new set. The thief then brought the keys to the AAMCO shop and told them that “his” car was broken down in front of the local marina and needed to be towed to the shop for work. The AAMCO guys happily sent a rollback and picked the car up. The only fly in the ointment was the AAMCO manager calling Enrico before the thief could come down to the AAMCO shop to pick up the car. When the disinterested AAMCO manager said that he was closing up for the day, Enrico told him “Oh no, you’re not! - That is my car and you just stole it.” Enrico then gathered up a bunch of guys from the marina and went there and immediately repossessed his own car. Sitting in the ashtray was the freshly made set of GM keys that the thief had left for later. From that point on, Enrico would park the car in the back of the marina. When the owner complained, Enrico told him that he was parking it there and if they didn’t like that, they could fire him now. They wisely backed down.

I feel very privileged to have had the chance to talk with Enrico. He is now around 80 years young and he is truly a unique person and a major car guy from the age of two (according to him). He has a photographic memory about every car he has ever owned. He also has a file on every car as well. He mentioned that he has photos of the car from when it was new and all sorts of paperwork as well.

Enrico is retired and still has a bunch of collector cars and motorcycles and is very involved with them. He also asked if I was interested in selling to car back to him. I told him that if I do, he is definitely first on the list.

[KevinW]

Steve, I do not know how you do that, but you have done it again. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif Lucky Man!

[napa68]

That is just SOOOOOOOOOOOO COOOOOOOOOOOOL Steve!

What a find and a story!

Tim

[69biscayne]

&quot;When Enrico ordered his car, he was told it would be delivered with the fiberglass, twin scooped Formula hood. It arrived, of course, with the Trans Am shaker unit in its place. He was told that this was due to the drive-by noise regulations that were in place by the time the cars were built.&quot;

Was this an SD only thing?

Steve

[njsteve]

Yes. All SD455 Firebirds, whether Trans Am or Formula had the shaker. It was not due to any performance upgrade but instead was due to the fact that the EPA only certified the emmissions and drive-by noise regulations on that precise set up. GM would have had to recertify the engine package from scratch just to use the Formula fiberglass hood. If you look at the window sticker you'll see a $27 credit for &quot;delete functional ram air&quot; as they had to rivet a blocking plate on the shaker opening to close it In order to pass the noise regulations.

There is some great spy trivia on how the Pontiac engineers tried to pull a fast one on the EPA by figuring out a special solenoid that would shut down the emission control systems on the production cars two seconds after the EPA test timed testing procedure was done. The EPA found out about it and GM got slapped big time. They had to completely redesign the emissions system and replace the camshaft with a milder one. That is why there is an initial rating of 310 hp and a production rating of 290 hp. That was one of the reasons that the engine package was delayed until the last couple weeks of production. It barely made it as the top brass at GM wanted to kill the whole deal but the engine plants had already built the 1,000 or so engines in a rush, seeing the writing on the wall. It would have cost too much to crush the motors, so they made the cars and got them out on the street.

[njsteve]

I changed the very black oil today and noticed this old A/C filter. Is this a repro or an original piece?

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6451-p1010176.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6452-p1010177.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6453-p1010178.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6454-p1010179.jpg

[njsteve]

I took the white car out for a spin tonight and went to the local cruise night. Got there extra early to get a good spot.

Don't you just hate it when you show up at the prom and another &quot;lady&quot; is wearing the same dress you are? ;-)

A friend who lives in town has this original paint 50,000 mile, Brewster Green and white 73 SD. This is the first time he has brought it out locally in years

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/P1010186.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/P1010186.jpg.html)

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/P1010188.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/P1010188.jpg.html)

[njsteve]

Enrico &quot;Rick&quot; Stein emailed me this evening while I was at the cruise night. Here's what he said:


&quot;Dear Steve,
Printed your e-mail this morning and impelled to write back. As I write this it is 9:45 a.m. MST here in Scottsdale and raining.

The sight of the old girl in your enclosed photos brought tears to my eyes. To me it is almost incredible that in all the years since I let her go none of the successive owners has attempted to &quot;improve&quot; on the factory original. I can tell from the photo of the rear that even the chrome exhaust tips are exactly where I put them. Additionally, your conformation of the slight flaw in the paint on the right front fender confirms that this car is a rare original, never restored or molested by an ignorant owner.

While I never had what is commonly referred in the collecting hobby as the &quot;build sheet&quot; or a &quot;broadcast sheet&quot; I will put my provenance on the car against anybody. In this case photo memory, total recall and obsessive compulsive syndrome serve as well.

Depending on class breakdown and other factors beyond your control you should easily win first place in Chicago.

In order to give you any edge that I can, along with the original steering wheel which, by the way, is in factory brand new condition I'm sending you the original window sticker as well as a original factory service manual. The steering wheel is being shipped in the factory original box that the Trans-Am steering wheel currently installed came in.

Any other pertinent data that I research from my files will follow when I've had a chance to go through them, Anything I can do to facilitate your beating the competition with &quot;my car&quot; let me know. I'll be happy to help.&quot;

Enrico A. Stein, Jr &quot;Rick&quot;

[njsteve]

What an amazing guy!

The exhaust tip story he is referring to is the fact that when the car was delivered it showed up with the tips looking cross-eyed, pointed heavily toward the center of the car and not straight out the back. He adjusted them so they point straight back (and incidentally rub the inner quarter on the passenger side.)

And the paint flaw consists of a weird couple of pieces of fuzz and hair in a line on the passenger side fender where the assembly line painter must have dragged the air line across the car when it was being painted.

[njsteve]

While changing the oil, I used the now oily camera to shoot some random detail shots:

The rear drum with the original copper Tinnerman clips still intact, holding the drum in place:

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/P1010136.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/P1010136.jpg.html)

Drivers side front rotor. I had no idea the original wear groove was supposed to be that deep!

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/P1010150.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/P1010150.jpg.html)

Passenger side rotor:

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/P1010147.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/P1010147.jpg.html)

Front sway bar with label and remains of grey paint on the edge:

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/P1010146.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/P1010146.jpg.html)

Oil pan bolt with shadowed area where the engine paint didn't reach:

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/P1010166.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/P1010166.jpg.html)

The block VIN

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/blockvin.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/blockvin.jpg.html)
And the trans part tag with the &quot;PQ&quot; code:

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/P1010175.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/P1010175.jpg.html)

[Xplantdad]

Neat stuff Steve...Keep sharing!!! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif

[njsteve]

BTW, I googled &quot;Suburban Pontiac, Glen Head, NY&quot; and look what popped up - the HP article on the other 73 SD Formula sold new at the dealership. It's a blue/white 4-speed.

http://www.highperformancepontiac.com/fe...la/viewall.html (http://www.highperformancepontiac.com/features/hppp_1202_1973_pontiac_super_duty_formula/viewall.html)

[njsteve]

Rick called this morning with more info. He said he ordered it with an automatic because that is what he wanted. He was not going to be drag racing it and didn't want the constant clutch work around the New York suburbs that the 4-speed would have entailed. He said there were no order prohibitions about A/C not being available with a stick, at the time he ordered the car.

When the car was due to come in he told the dealer that under no circumstances was ANYONE at the dealership allowed to &quot;test drive&quot; the car prior to delivery. Of course when it came in, the service guys ignored the mandate and drove it around town. Rick found out about it and tore them a new one. He said he was &quot;this close&quot; to telling them to &quot;stick the car where the sun don't shine&quot; when he found out that they violated his directive. But at the last minute decided to go ahead with the purchase.

Rick drove the car from NY to Arizona in July of 1975 where he started a chain of chassis dynamometer tuning centers. His vanity plate for the SD was &quot;TUNE-UP&quot;. He still has his original vanity plate and is sending it along with the steering wheel. He is still looking for the second file he has on the car that will have photos, etc., in it.

When he sold the car in 1986 it had 13,000 miles on it. When the second owner sold it, it had 17,080 miles (as written on the windshield inspection sticker from 1992).

[Dave Rifkin]

Funny, my Dad tried to order his 73 Trans Am as an SD but, his car was not built with the motor. He was told that, while he had ordered the SD it was not a guarantee.
Anyway, he ordered it as Buccaneer red, white deluxe interior and 4 speed. When we go to pick the car up at Haines Pontiac we see it in the service area being &quot;tuned up&quot;. A few short minutes later we hear this car burning out from the lot and someone was beating the balls outta the car.
My Dad was not too happy with the dealership when the car returned. I bet that scenario happened a lot with these types of cars.

[K code Mustang]

My dad was the one that did the prep and test drive on Steve's Hemi Charger. My dad, or my Grandfather were the only ones that did the preps on the hi performance cars at Suburban Dodge for just that reason. When I went to work there years later, I was the one that prepped the Shelby Chargers and Daytonas and turbo cars.

[njsteve]

I talked with original owner Rick again today. He confirmed that the oil filter in the photos is the oil filter he put on in the late 1970's or early 1980s. He only used factory parts to maintain the car. I sent him the link to the SD455 Registry and he was surprised that they built so many 73 Formulas with the SD455. He thought there were only a handful so the 43 total number came as somewhat of a surprise.

This evening I used a flashlight and an inspection mirror to look under all the seats and did not see any signs of a broadcast in the springs or on the floor. I pulled the spare tire out and used the mirror to look behind the cardboard bulkhead liner and did not see anything in there either. I don't want to needlessly pull that back seat since the bottom cushions are so hard to remove and replace without damaging the vinyl.

[njsteve]

Here's something interesting I noticed about the spare tire. What I thought is mildew is the protective film that is sprayed on the white letters. You know, that blue stuff that is on the sidewalls of modern new tires when they arrive. It seems to be on both sides of the tires.

In addition to the tire, the jack does not appear to ever have been used. - there are no paint chips where the post would mount in to the base.

Here's some photos:


http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6506-p1010037.jpg

The unpainted spot by the center cap opening appears to be a result of the method by which the factory must have had the rim held in a fixture when it was painted. The other NOS spare I have has the very same unpainted notch.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6501-p1010240.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6502-p1010241.jpg

Original valve stem and cap with small dome on the cap.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6503-p1010243.jpg


The jack in its original position

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6507-p1010246.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6504-p1010258.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6505-p1010259.jpg

[njsteve]

Here is a panorama of the trunk for you trunk spatter paint aficianados out there:

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6508-p1010250.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6509-p1010245.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6510-p1010246.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6511-p1010247.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6512-p1010248.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6513-p1010249.jpg

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

Incredible car.

Great find.

Ryan

[njsteve]

The white car now has a new garage mate. I still have to move things around so both of my Grandparents cars can sit next to each other, once again. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6514-p1010264.jpg


In case you missed the story of the Lincoln, here is the linc:

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbthrea..._a_L#Post539151 (http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/539151/Oh_Lordy_I_now_own_a_Fordy_a_L#Post539151)

[Dave Rifkin]

Steve,
Congratulations again on getting such a beautifully maintained '73 SD. Not that it's any of my business but, seeing that the car is something that could be used as a benchmark car for other 73 SD owners to use as a reference and the fact that it has such low mileage, are you going to be able to truly enjoy it by driving it?

I don't know you but, you don't strike me as one who would buy a car and let it sit as a conversation piece. Then again it would almost be a shame to put too many miles on such a wonderful car and risk something happening to it.

[mockingbird812]

Looks just <span style="font-size: 17pt"><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Black'">smashing</span></span></span> Steve! Gonna bring it to MCACN? <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/naughty.gif

[Woj]

Wow, what a beautiful car. Gets the Pontiac juices flowing.

Very nice.

Congrats. Phil Woj

[njsteve]

Oh yeah, I'm gonna drive it! It is almost at 19,000 miles as of yesterday.

And yes she is going to MCACN. I had the black car set for the barn find class but had to revise the invite for the Class of 73 SD455 Display. I bought it because Bashton was complaining that he didn't have any SD Formulas for his display.

I do still need a couple of old Firestone 500s GR70x15 for display use, if anyone has some sitting around. They were common on the mid-1970's Corvettes in case anyone is not using their old spare tires.

[67 442]

I believe the white stuff on the tire is a mold release in making the tire. If you use a hair drier to heat the tire up it will melt back to a nice black finish. I have to do this on my original tires for my 442 once in a while..

[njsteve]

Interesting. The white letter side actually has the blue stuff on the letters but you are probably right about the blackwall side.

[SS427]

Damn Steve, your threads are NEVER boring to read and full of information. My offer still stands..........! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/wink.gif

[njsteve]

Which offer? I can't remember it now... <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif

Here's a couple more shots:

The DOT code on the spare. The rust colored dots are not rust but seem to be a residue of tire lube used to mount the tires when new.
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6517-p1010261.jpg

The jack base and hold down parts:
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6518-p1010251.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6519-p1010252.jpg

A wheel weight with a white paint mark where it was supposed to be placed:
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6520-p1010253.jpg

[njsteve]

I started perusing the original documents this evening and there is a ton of stuff! It actually surpasses my old Hemi Charger in terms of a paperwork archive. There are two copies of the order sheet, a handwritten yellow pad of the options and costs, the hand written purchase order, the typed sales invoice, the two page window sticker, the original loan agreement for $2200, the paid off loan agreement, the satisfaction of lien certificate, a 1973 Pontiac brochure that lists the SD455 as an available option in the Lemans, and Grand Am, the Pontiac Wide Track records booklet with all the various warranty pamphlets, the two owner's manuals, the odometer statement, a letter from Pontiac congratulating Rick on his purchase, and even the adding machine tape denoting the sales price minus the loan amount:

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6526-orig_papers.jpg


And all of Rick's New York registrations from 1973 to 1975 and the Arizona registrations as well. It even lists the original license plate 956-LYS. I just ordered a reproduction of that plate from the same place that made the replica Ontario plate for my black car.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6525-orig_regs.jpg

I also have all the registrations and sales transfer docs from Rick to the second owner and third owners as well. It appears that Rick sold the car with 16,165 miles. The second owner sold it with 16,744 miles and the third owner sold it to me with 18,878 miles.

[njsteve]

And here is the Pontiac Historical Build Invoice:

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6530-sd_phs_1.jpg

[scuncio]

What a great story.

[Steve Shauger]

Wow, and congratulations. This car couldn't have gone to a better owner. Thanks for taking us on a journey and sharing this cars history.

[SS427]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: njsteve</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Which offer? I can't remember it now... <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif

</div></div>

To come to work for me and work your magic....... <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/worship.gif

[njsteve]

Here is today's conundrum. Looks like there were two different styles of the infamous Firestone 500 Radial.

My original spare and two of the unmounted tires are dated 18th week of 1973, confirming their original equipment status.

The NOS spare tire and honeycomb rim are dated 40th week of 1973, possibly a spare for the 1974 model year.

Note that the early 73 tire has a white &quot;F&quot; logo and the later 73 tire has an embossed black &quot;F&quot; logo.

Anyone out there have an early &quot;F&quot; Firestone 500 GR70x15 or two they want to sell? These came on Corvettes, too so if anyone knows any Vette guys out there, please forward my request.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6534-p1010241.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6535-p1010277.jpg

[KevinW]

This ebay one is not RWL <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/frown.gif http://www.ebay.com/itm/Firestone-500-Steel-Radial-/251080811207

[KevinW]

But these are possible ones

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/pts/4035792893.html

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Firestone Steel Belted Radial GR70-15 on a 15X8 Corvette Rally Wheel - $500 (North Raleigh)
This is a brand new, never been down, Original spare out of a 70's Corvette. It is a Firestone Steel Belted Radial. Size GR70-15. It is on a factory GM 15x8 Rally Wheel.


Call or email if interested,


Andrew
919-669-1706

Location: North Raleigh
it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

Posting ID: 4035792893

Posted: 2013-08-30, 1:43PM EDT

email to a friend
</div></div>

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&amp;item=261209072420

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&amp;item=290970824327

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&amp;item=121070150180

[KevinW]

Another one

http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/pts/4025862823.html

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Original Firestone 500 - $450 (Milwaukee)
I have 2 original GR70 Firestone 500's mounted on chevy rally wheels. Not reproductions! They still have the ink stripes on them! Took them off a 1973 Corvette. These were the first radial tires released back in the day. Never been driven on!

Location: Milwaukee
it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

Posting ID: 4025862823

Posted: 2013-08-25, 9:52PM CDT

Updated: 2013-09-10, 9:13PM CDT </div></div>

[njsteve]

Thanks Kevin. Looking at the photos, unfortunately most of them are the later model versions without the white &quot;F&quot;.

[67 442]

I had the person in Milwaukee send me this pic of his tires.
http://imageshack.com/a/img854/6681/jvr4.jpg (http://imageshack.com/i/nqjvr4j)

[KevinW]

Thanks, I wonder what the Raleigh one is. Steve, the Milwalkee tires certainly look like the ones you are looking for, right?

[njsteve]

Yes, they are the correct ones with the white &quot;F&quot; logo.

[Mr70]

Weren't those white logo 500 radial tires throwing their treads,so Firestone destroyed &amp; reissued them with the black logo,but it was too late as Corvette said good riddance?

[KevinW]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: njsteve</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Yes, they are the correct ones with the white &quot;F&quot; logo. </div></div>

Good luck getting them!

[njsteve]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Mr70</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Weren't those white logo 500 radial tires throwing their treads,so Firestone destroyed &amp; reissued them with the black logo,but it was too late as Corvette said good riddance? </div></div>

No, the black logo is still the same recalled tire.

The exploding Firestone 500s killed over 250 people before Firestone stopped stonewalling NHTSA and agreed to the recall. In the early days the dealers were told to blame the customer for hitting a curb or underinflating the tire. Numerous stories abound of tires being replaced by dealers after the customer was charged full price, and the replacement 500 exploding with a couple miles of the tire store on the way home.

Sound familiar...like the Ford Explorer/Firestone underinflated tire fiasco from several years ago???

The Firestone 721 was the official replacement.

If you google Firestone 500 you will get an eyeful. There was one recent posting on a Corvette site where the guy's original spare that had never been out of the spare tire well made a loud boom one day and the guy pulled the well cover off and saw that the tire self destructed - like the steel belts were under tension and finally let go.

I am just looking to complete a set for static display at MCACN (with the appropriate road flares, flashing lights, and danger cones set around the tires).

[firstgenaddict]

I doubt the car could have gone to a more deserving caretaker.
GREAT JOB STEVE &amp; CONGRATULATIONS!

[njsteve]

Thank you for the compliment. Just trying to have fun. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

[njsteve]

I took the white car over to my buddy's garage today to get some underside shots. I took around 140 photos of just about everything. Lots of neat stuff under there that I have never seen before on a second gen car. The camera didn't have a wide enough angle lens so I had to shoot the car down the center, then down the sides to get all the details. So here goes:


http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6542-dsc_0025.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6543-dsc_0026.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6544-dsc_0027.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6545-dsc_0028.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6547-dsc_0029.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6548-dsc_0030.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6549-dsc_0031.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6550-dsc_0032.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6551-dsc_0033.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6552-dsc_0034.jpg

[njsteve]

The right side. Note how little paint got on the lower portion of the rocker panels on the passenger side. The driver's side rocker bottom got a lot better coverage. Must have been a shorter painter on the left side of the paint booth that day.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6553-dsc_0046.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6554-dsc_0047.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6555-dsc_0048.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6556-dsc_0049.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6557-dsc_0050.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6558-dsc_0051.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6559-dsc_0052.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6560-dsc_0053.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6561-dsc_0054.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6562-dsc_0055.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6563-dsc_0056.jpg

[njsteve]

And the driver's side:

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6564-dsc_0036.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6565-dsc_0037.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6566-dsc_0038.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6567-dsc_0039.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6568-dsc_0040.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6569-dsc_0041.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6570-dsc_0042.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6571-dsc_0043.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6572-dsc_0044.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6573-dsc_0045.jpg

[njsteve]

Here's something interesting. I have never seen this bracket on the cross member the purpose of which is to retain the speedometer cable.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6575-dsc_0118.jpg

This clip is on the driver's side inner frame rail:

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6576-dsc_0117.jpg

This bracket is on the driver's side inner frame rail below the steering column:

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6577-dsc_0116.jpg

[njsteve]

French locks on the exhaust manifold bolt:

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6593-dsc_0138.jpg

Matching VIN on Turbo 400 transmission:

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6579-dsc_0115a.jpg

Unpainted, galvanized floor plug

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6580-dsc_0108.jpg

Emergency brake adjuster with single, nylock lock not.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6581-dsc_0104.jpg

GM stenciled fuel lines on subframe with color coded spring clamps:

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6582-dsc_0098.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6583-dsc_0082.jpg

Fuel pump part number:

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6584-dsc_0013.jpg

&quot;FU&quot; paper tag on front sway bar:

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6585-dsc_0014.jpg

Driveshaft color coded paint stripes:

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6586-dsc_0022.jpg

Limited Slip metal tag in factory installed position at bottom:

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6587-dsc_0020.jpg

Orange painted &quot;G&quot; on the bottom of the differential. The differential center section appears to be natural cast iron, with the tubes and mounting plates painted black.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6588-dsc_0021.jpg

&quot;LS2&quot; on the underside of the radiator support, denoting the SD455 option:

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6589-dsc_0002.jpg

Yellow crayon &quot;53 H&quot; on the inside of the passenger side subframe rail:

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6590-dsc_0083.jpg

Original spiral shocks all around. The car rides very nicely on them. You can see the black painted rear differential base plates:

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6591-dsc_0093.jpg

[njsteve]

And here's a comical one: Nice build quality/alignment on the rocker panel installation. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif It is sticking out about a 1/4&quot; from the bottom of the quarter panel. The passenger side is flush with the quarter.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6592-dsc_0142.jpg

[67 442]

Has the exhaust system been replaced?

[njsteve]

No, that is the original exhaust system, including muffler. The SD455s had a unique system made of multiple tubes that were welded together to make the long sections.

[njsteve]

Started tinkering yesterday. The original master cylinder was leaking badly at the rear seal by the booster. Brake fluid was running down onto the subframe. Luckily I still had the reproduction master cylinder left over from the black 72. So I installed that one as a stuntman for the original one while I send this one out to Whitepost.

From sitting for 40 years with the same brake fluid, the bottom of the reservoir was filled to about 1/4 inch with rusty colored goo. It was a bear to get the inner far piston out. That same rusty goo was in the bore area as well and not only pitted the bore but devoured the valve itself:

You can see that these master cylinders were painted a flat black originally. Not a lot of the paint remains but it is there in places.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6608-p1010292.jpg


http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6606-p1010288.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6607-p1010291.jpg


Here is the reproduction bleeder style master cylinder in place with the original cap and bail on it.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6609-p1010305.jpg

[njsteve]

And after driving it 75 miles or so in the past week I noticed that the car runs at 205 degrees on the temp gauge. I confirmed this with the infrared heat gun (so the gauge is actually accurate!). The temp would never rise above that, even when sitting in traffic or under throttle - very stable, just hotter than I would like.

Since the thermostat housing was leaking I decided to check the thermostat. Looks like it was the original thermostat with a Delco stamp and a 195 rating.

The unique &quot;LS2&quot; ID stamp on the SD455 intake, and the leaky thermostat housing:

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6610-p1010362.jpg

&quot;DELCO&quot; on the top side:

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6611-p1010364.jpg

&quot;195&quot; rating on the bottom side:

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6612-p1010366.jpg

Since I had a spare 160 thermostat on the workbench, I threw that in, replaced the gasket and tightened everything back up. While I was there I used a little Windex and gently cleaned the area surrounding the housing. With the 160 thermostat in it, the car runs much cooler now - like 160 or so - barely hitting the first notch on the gauge on a 75 degree day today.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6613-p1010371.jpg

[njsteve]

While under the car yesterday I noticed both valve covers were leaking oil. Not wanting to open the top of the engine I looked closely at the valve cover bolts and noticed that oil was seeping out from under them. When I shut the car off I could see a little bubble of oil oozing out from underneath one of them by the main leak trail. I went to tighten it and it was barely finger tight. So, one at a time I removed each valve cover bolt, wiped it off, applied a bit of sealer on the thread and tightened them down. Hopefully that will stop the leak(s).

As you can see, the wire retainer brackets were on the engines when they were painted:

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6614-p1010331.jpg

And the unique SD455 valve cover warning label:

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6615-p1010335.jpg

The SD455-only oil filler cap with the PCV within it. The PCV's on the SD455s were relocated to a valve cover oil cap from the intake manifold due to the increased internal pressures in the intake valley where the regular engines have them mounted.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6616-p1010351.jpg

The stenciled hose for the PCV filler cap.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6617-p1010353.jpg

[njsteve]

Everything back together for a test drive. She sure is a &quot;peppy&quot; little car. Chirps second gear without trying. Definitely pulls all the way up the RPM range. The next thing on the list is to start cleaning everything by hand to get the rest of the four decades of grease and dust off.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6619-p1010376.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6620-p1010375.jpg

[napa68]

Excellent Steve.......................just excellent!

Tim

[SS427]

Totally awesome. Thanks for sharing some of the photos. I see the backing plates were also painted with the wheel cylinders and bleeders in palce which I commonly see though most (including me) restore them in natural finish and natural bolts. Do you see any black paint on the rearend brake lines?

[njsteve]

Brake lines are natural. No paint on them at all.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6622-dsc_0075.jpg

[njsteve]

Here's another interesting thing. The hood torsion spring has a rubberized green end on it. And the radiator support is date coded.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6623-p1010312.jpg

Original A-6 compressor decal:

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6624-p1010309.jpg

And date coded POA valve:

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6625-p1010308.jpg

Timing/Emissions decal:

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6626-p1010313.jpg

Date coded antifreeze decal:

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6627-p1010314.jpg

[njsteve]

Next project is to reinstall the original 7043270 800 CFM carb. The man I bought the car from purchased an NOS 800 CFM, 17054910 service replacement SD455 carb from HO Specialties twenty years ago and installed it because he thought there was a problem with the carb. It turned out the problem was with the TCS system cutting off the advance, so he routed the vacuum advance directly to the carb and cut out the TCS system. The car ran fine then, but he never reinstalled the original carb. So I will get a carb kit and replace the needle and seat, and the accelerator pump with something that will tolerate the new ethanol blended fuels we have to put up with. Then the original carb goes back on.

Here's what's on the car now. 17054910 dated &quot;1140&quot; 114th day of 1980

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6628-p1010303.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6629-p1010302.jpg


And the original 7043270 dated &quot;0133&quot; 13th day of 1973:

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6630-p1010383.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6631-p1010382.jpg

[mockingbird812]

<span style="font-size: 20pt"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">Great</span></span> automotive archaeology Steve!</span>

[njsteve]

Thanks! One of the posters on the PY website asked about the master cylinder date code stamping. I didn't know there was one but here it is. It is stamped in tiny font on the front outlet. CS3190 is the CS master cylinder as documented on the paper tag on the retaining wire, 3190 is the 190th day of 1973.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6639-master_cyl_code.jpg

[njsteve]

The reproduction New York license plates arrived today. 956-LYS was the plate originally issued to the Enrico when the car was new. I still have the very first registration from the stack of registrations through the years. www.licenseplates.tv (http://www.licenseplates.tv) reproduces any plate for around $85. They do really nice work.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6687-p1010387.jpg

[Xplantdad]

Nice indexing of the license plate screws, Steve!

[njsteve]

OCD at its worst!

I was finagling with the original carb tonight and found this oddity in the fuel inlet. I have never seen a check valve in a filter cartridge before. The replacement Delco filter just has a paper gasket on the end. This rubber seal and check valve was pressed into the inlet of the original filter. It takes some serious pressure to unseat the valve. Was it an anti drainback valve?

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6688-p1010401.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6689-p1010399.jpg

[67 442]

I find these in Oldsmobiles all of the time and yes it is an anti drainback valve.

[njsteve]

I wonder what the efect is on flow restriction into the carb?

[napa68]

It was my understanding Steve, this was to prevent fuel flow in the event of a rollover. It takes fuel pressure to overcome the spring.

Tim

[njsteve]

I want to give a shout out to members &quot;KevinW&quot; in NJ, who found the Milwaukee craigslist ad for two NOS tires, and &quot;67442&quot; (Paul) in Wisconsin who then proceeded to play the middleman and run down to the seller's shop and pick up the tires for me and then wrapped and shipped them to me. I now have a full display set of 1973 date coded Firestone 500 Radials. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

The original spare (in the middle) and the two original tires (on the left) from the car are date coded the 18th week (late April) of 1973. The two NOS tires on the right were produced during the 25th week (mid June) of 1973, which makes them all perfect for the late July built car. And best of all they all have the unique, early 1973 white Firestone shield logo which was discontinued in late 1973.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6694-p1010403.jpg

I also got a tip from Paul on how to get rid of that white waxy stuff on the tire surface that no solvent would remove. Paul said it was the original mold release material that outgasses from the rubber over time. He recommended using a hair dryer to melt it and to let it soak back in. I used a heat gun set on low and whodathought but it worked great! I would heat the stuff and it would instantly melt into a glossy liquid which could be wiped away. Then another application of heat and the remainder would soak back into the tire!

Here is the original spare before:

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6696-p1010037.jpg

And after using the heat. (disregard the white in the treads, that is tire dressing that hasn't soaked in yet)

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6695-p1010407.jpg

[njsteve]

And before you ask...there is no way in hell that I will be driving on these tires. The recalled Firestone 500 Steel Radials are known to explode while just sitting, on display. There are several first hand accounts of Corvette owners experiencing these tires self destructing while stowed in the underbody trunk wells of mid 1970's Corvettes. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/no.gif

The car will be on display at the Musclecar and Corvette Nationals (MCACN.com) this November. I will be bringing them with me to mount on the car when we arrive. I won't chance the car jouncing in a trailer for 800 miles on these tires. They are like hand grenades with loose pins.

[KevinW]

Thats great Steve! Glad it worked out. looking great as usual!

[Xplantdad]

That's cool...Yenko.net members helping each other out!

[napa68]

The power of cheese <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif

[njsteve]

I rebuilt the original 7043270 carb last night. All of the jets and metering rods were the factory installed pieces. No one had messed with the internals. I installed one of Cliff's accelerator pumps, and high flow .135 needle and seat assemblies. Threw on some new gaskets and replaced the float which swelled and was wedged in the down position. So I was rather glad I opened the carb up to check how things were inside, after all. Also all the screws were barely tightened - I guess the gaskets shrunk after 40 years.

She runs great! It's hard to keep any traction when hitting the gas from a standing start!

[Xplantdad]

Cool!

[firstgenaddict]

So are you leaving air pressure inside the spare tire?

[njsteve]

I aired it up just to see if it would hold air. But it would be a good idea to deflate it. BTW, the exploding 500s in the Vettes were original spares with no air in them: the steel belts just seemed to violently unravel on their own.

[njsteve]

Looky what the FedEx man delivered today: The original three spoke steering wheel that Rick took off the car in 1975 and replaced with a Formula wheel.

For those who are not in the know, the &quot;Formula Wheel&quot; was the official name of the foam-rimmed, aluminum three spoke wheel that came standard on the Trans Am but was optional on all other Firebirds. Don't ask me why they didn't call it the &quot;Trans Am&quot; wheel...that would have only made sense. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif

Rick even shipped it in the original box (packaged inside another box so the original wouldn't be harmed) that the Formula wheel came from the dealership in:

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6804-p1010432.jpg


Shipped March 3, 1975 from PONTIAC, Michigan!!! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif


http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6805-p1010438.jpg


Rick even labeled it for posterity back in 1975:


http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6807-p1010442.jpg


Check out the grain texture in the rim. I bought several used rims off ebay recently before I learned that Rick had the original. All of them were worn smooth from use. This one is amazing.


http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6806-p1010437.jpg


And back on the car where it should be. Looks nice and classy and matches the interior and the saddle colored steering column, too. (Cars that originally came with the Formula wheel also came with a black steering column to match the black, crinkle finish, wheel hub on the Formula wheel.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6808-p1010450.jpg

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

Time capsule X100,000,000.

Unbelievable.

I am excited to see your car at MCACN, this car will stand out in the crowd.

Ryan

[StealthBird]

Steve, they called it the Formula steering wheel because it was patterned after the 1960's Momo F1 steering wheel. That steering wheel was very popular back then, so when Pontiac copied the design, they called it the Formula wheel, as in Formula 1.

As for the car, Pontiac used the name Formula in the same vein as Trans Am. They were both racing series (F1 and SCCA Trans Am). Pontiac had a knack for naming their high perf cars after a racing series, or a track, such as Bonneville, Formula 1, Trans Am, Le Mans, Grand Prix, Can-Am, and Grand Am.

And your new steering wheel looks awesome. What a great find! You're very lucky to have found an original owner that not only remembers the car very well, but still has an interest in its well being.

[njsteve]

And since the Polytech Autobody class started up again this week I started working on the polyethylene front valance that will be going back on this car. If you recall, I repaired a blue valance back in 2006 for the 1972 Trans Am. it ended up being a spare when I repaired the original white valance from the T/A. Here is the link from the original thread where I plastic welded the valance back together:

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/99647/23
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/99647/24

Since I had to recreate the outer edges of the valance with polyethylene welding rod, it was about 1/2&quot; too short to match up with the fender edges and the lower portion of the nose.

Similar to the process of making a fiberglass mold off of an original, I used masking tape to cover the mating areas on the car, installed the valance (after redrilling the mounting holes in the valance to match the location of the mounting points on the radiator support). I then used a liberal slathering of rubber bumper repair compound and let it cure.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6809-p1010412.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6810-p1010413.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6811-p1010414.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6812-p1010420.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6813-p1010421.jpg

I then pulled the polyethylene valance back off and started hand sanding to get the contours. I also added the bumper repair material to the back side to mate up with the new flange areas. I reinstalled the steel valance and I brought the polyethylene valance to the Polytech class last night and started prepping the rest of the valance for primer and paint.


http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6814-p1010427.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6815-p1010429.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6816-p1010423.jpg

[njsteve]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: StealthBird</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Steve, they called it the Formula steering wheel because it was patterned after the 1960's Momo F1 steering wheel. That steering wheel was very popular back then, so when Pontiac copied the design, they called it the Formula wheel, as in Formula 1.

As for the car, Pontiac used the name Formula in the same vein as Trans Am. They were both racing series (F1 and SCCA Trans Am). Pontiac had a knack for naming their high perf cars after a racing series, or a track, such as Bonneville, Formula 1, Trans Am, Le Mans, Grand Prix, Can-Am, and Grand Am.
</div></div>

I remembered about them naming it after another wheel but couldn't recall the exact trivia. Thanks for that.

So how do you explain the Pontiac Aztek?

Let's name a car after a group that tears the still-beating hearts out of their supporters and eventually goes extinct from its excesses...Oh, I guess they got that one right, too..... <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif

[njsteve]

Here's the brief article on the designer of the Pontiac Formula wheel:

http://www.highperformancepontiac.com/hotnews/1305_piece_of_pontiac_history_survives/

[StealthBird]

What's not shown or mentioned in the article (I met Ben Harrison in Dayton a couple years ago) is that the wheel he's holding in the photo has a &quot;1&quot; (in a circle) on the bottom spoke. I mentioned to him that this was the Momo F1 wheel (in his seminar, he could not recall the manufacturer) which was used extensively on F1 cars in the 60's, then popular on European cars. Then as we were talking, I noticed that the other two spokes had extra material that extended from the rim onto the spokes about 1.5 inches, but the bottom spoke did not, so that Momo could display the &quot;1&quot; down there. He then remembered that the interior department covered up that &quot;1&quot; to match the the other two spokes. They wanted Momo to supply the wheel, but there was no way they could rely on a low volume European company to supply potentially tens of thousands of steering wheels for a GM assembly line, so they copied the wheel.

What Ben Harrison brought to the table was the idea to use this wheel (which he loved) on an American car, and it turned out to be an iconic steering wheel.

As for Pontiac nameplates, anything after Lynn Myers arrived in 1999 as president of Pontiac didn't quite work out. She loved the Aztek, and it was her first major product release. Soon the old nameplates that had been around for decades began to fall away, like Firebird, Trans Am, Grand Am, Grand Prix, Bonneville, to be replaced with names like Vibe, Torrent, G3, G5, G6, and G8.

[SS427]

Awesome Steve as usual!

[StealthBird]

A couple more Formula SD455 cars...

[njsteve]

On the Performance Years website where I have the sister thread to this, a NJ guy chimed in that he went to the Konner Chevrolet Show in West Caldwell, NJ over the weekend and a 73 SD455 Formula was there. Original owner, a retired airline pilot, still has it and it has around 100k miles on it. Florentine red with burgundy interior and burgundy vinyl top. They made 3 autos and 4 four speeds in that color, out of the 43 total.
Very cool!


http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6822-197320formula20sd201.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6823-197320formula20sd202.jpg

[Xplantdad]

Ohhhhh....I am in love <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif

[TMagda]

Steve,

Really cool car. Thanks for all of the posting you do. I really enjoy reading them.

Why are you making a new front valance? For a better fit?

Thanks,

Tom

[njsteve]

The vast majority of the 1972's and 1973's came with the polyethylene valance but they broke very early in the ownership timespan. Some of them even broke while the cars were being driven onto the trailers at the assembly plant. It was a bad design, made out of never before used material, compounded by the mounting holes molded in the wrong place.

The original owner Rick, said the he had replaced the original poly valance with the earlier steel valance early on, when it cracked and shattered.

The poly valance has an upper cross bar that mounts against the underside of the nose and looks much more streamlined than the &quot;gap-tooth&quot; look of the replacement steel valance.

[napa68]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: njsteve</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I want to give a shout out to members &quot;KevinW&quot; in NJ, who found the Milwaukee craigslist ad for two NOS tires, and &quot;67442&quot; (Paul) in Wisconsin who then proceeded to play the middleman and run down to the seller's shop and pick up the tires for me and then wrapped and shipped them to me. I now have a full display set of 1973 date coded Firestone 500 Radials. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

The original spare (in the middle) and the two original tires (on the left) from the car are date coded the 18th week (late April) of 1973. The two NOS tires on the right were produced during the 25th week (mid June) of 1973, which makes them all perfect for the late July built car. And best of all they all have the unique, early 1973 white Firestone shield logo which was discontinued in late 1973.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6694-p1010403.jpg

I also got a tip from Paul on how to get rid of that white waxy stuff on the tire surface that no solvent would remove. Paul said it was the original mold release material that outgasses from the rubber over time. He recommended using a hair dryer to melt it and to let it soak back in. I used a heat gun set on low and whodathought but it worked great! I would heat the stuff and it would instantly melt into a glossy liquid which could be wiped away. Then another application of heat and the remainder would soak back into the tire!

Here is the original spare before:

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6696-p1010037.jpg

And after using the heat. (disregard the white in the treads, that is tire dressing that hasn't soaked in yet)

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/09/full-1359-6695-p1010407.jpg

</div></div>

I just found out who you bought those from. I was telling the story about your car to a customer of mine and WHAM....................the world got a little smaller.

[njsteve]

I just found another NOS early 1973 Firestone 500 so now I have three and need one more for the display set. (Not counting the trunk mounted spare that has never been bolted on the car).

I found this one on a Corvette forum. They guy had it for the past 20+ years. This size (GR70x15) was the same size used on the Corvettes in the 1970's.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/10/full-1359-6924-p1010464a.jpg

[njsteve]

I just got the original master cylinder back from Whitepost Restorations who installed a brass sleeve and rebuilt the internals. If you notify them beforehand that your master cylinder is from a survivor car and that you don't want it repainted, they will honor your request and leave the finish as they found it. I was very happy with their service. Got everything hooked back up this morning and I then bled the system. Looks good as old. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/10/full-1359-6925-p1010460.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/10/full-1359-6926-p1010459.jpg


And some close up shots of the stamped part number &quot;CS3190&quot; and the various paint markings and stickers.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/10/full-1359-6927-p1010458.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/10/full-1359-6928-p1010462.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/10/full-1359-6929-p1010463.jpg

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

I can't wait to see this car at MCACN.

I may have missed it earlier, but is it being certified for survivor status?

Ryan

[njsteve]

I am looking forward to the show. No, the car is not there for any certifcations or awards. Just there to have fun and hang out.

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

Good plan,

Ryan

[njsteve]

I took the white car out today and did a 100 mile round trip. I had to go to PA to run an errand. She sure does cruise nicely at 75 with the 3.08 gears. When I got back, I pulled one of the spark plugs. It looked perfect: nice off-white insulator with a little hint of tan on the electrode.

After two weeks of sanding, priming, and repeating the process, numerous times, I should be painting the polyethylene valance on Monday. So stay tuned for the install.

[njsteve]

After the three hour Votech class last night both sides of the valance are painted and ready to go. I got to wield the paint gun myself for this, so it was rather satisfying to see it go from broken pieces, to primer, and on to paint all by my own hands. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/10/full-1359-7084-photo.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/10/full-1359-7085-photo2.jpg

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

Looks great, your a one man band now.

Ryan

[njsteve]

Got the finished polyethylene valance installed today. It was reasonably uneventful. I made sure that all the lower mounting bolts have the large flat washers in place and are finger tight so the valance can move and flex with the nose. The upper mounts use #14 screws with attached washers. These, I wrapped in Teflon tape and finger tightened as well. The Teflon tape allows the screws to remain in their position even though they are not fully tightened to spec.

The front end sure looks a lot more streamlined with the polyethylene valance than it did with the warranty replacement steel valance that was installed by the dealer when the original poly valance shattered.

Before, with the steel valance:

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/10/full-1359-7111-p1010284.jpg


And after:

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/10/full-1359-7104-p1010628.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/10/full-1359-7105-p1010629.jpg

In this shot you can really see the difference in the hue of original paint on the bumper as compared to the front fenders. The flexible nose/bumpers were painted by the manufacturers and installed on the cars in their prepainted configuration, while the body sheetmetal was painted on the Norwood/Fisher Body assembly line.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/10/full-1359-7107-p1010625.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/10/full-1359-7106-p1010624.jpg

[GMC_Typhoon]

Beautiful car man,keep up the good work.

[67 442]

Just a suggestion in the spring I would take the valance off and leave it i the sun every once in a while and let it weather up a bit to match the fenders. The valance look a touch whiter than the fenders but that could be my monitor. Excellent job on making it fit so well and the paint looks real good.

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

The new/proper/original valance looks so much better than the steel/proper/warranty unit.

Ryan

[njsteve]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 67 442</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Just a suggestion in the spring I would take the valance off and leave it i the sun every once in a while and let it weather up a bit to match the fenders. The valance look a touch whiter than the fenders but that could be my monitor. Excellent job on making it fit so well and the paint looks real good. </div></div>

It's probably your monitor. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif The valance paint is much closer than the photos indicate. There are so many off angles and curves that a photo of the two panels at the same angle is almost impossible. The nose/bumper itself, is a noticeably different color than the fenders, hood, and valance, but that is the way they built them, so I don't want to mess with the patina.

Keep in mnd, also, that the polyethylene valances not painted when installed at the factory. They were molded in a variety of colors and were way off from the actual car color. So a bad mismatch would actually be more correct then a perfect paint match.

[67 442]

&quot;Keep in mnd, also, that the polyethylene valances not painted when installed at the factory. They were molded in a variety of colors and were way off from the actual car color. So a bad mismatch would actually be more correct then a perfect paint match.&quot;

I did not know that, great info to have tucked away.
When can we expect a book on all of the info you have on theses birds?

[njsteve]

When I retire!

While it was originally designed as a wire insulating material in WWII, polyethylene was such a new &quot;Space Age&quot; material in 1972-3, that they couldn't find a paint that would stick to it. So they molded them in body color as an alternative. It is still a very difficult process. For example, try spray painting a red or blue Solo beer cup and see if the paint sticks for long. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif

[njsteve]

It just occurred to me while looking out in the garage that I have seen this car's face somewhere before:

Is this one of those &quot;separated at birth&quot; photos?

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/10/full-1359-7117-joe_cool_snoopy.jpg

[njsteve]

OK, here is today's conundrum: I was looking at the hood latch assembly and it appears that the grommet that the hood cable goes through is partially broken (lower locating tab is broken off) and has been for a long while. The cable is actually sawing its way through the bracket. It also appears that the grommet that the pull handle passes through has a broken piece as well. Does anyone have the grommets? It appears that they may be the same grommet for both the upper cable guide and the lower handle guide.

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/parts/P1010666a.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/parts/P1010666a.jpg.html)

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/parts/P1010650.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/parts/P1010650.jpg.html)

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/parts/P1010650a.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/parts/P1010650a.jpg.html)

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/parts/P1010661.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/parts/P1010661.jpg.html)

[njsteve]

I believe the GM part number is 488442, in case anyone has a couple of them sitting around. Knowing Gm there have to be other applications for this grommet.

[njsteve]

Through the graciousness of PerformanceYears member 70Steve from down-under in Australia, a mint copy of the Sept/Oct 1990 issue of MUSCLECARS of the 60's/70's arrived today.

(BTW, the yellow hemicuda ragtop on the cover was my old car that I sold to Otis Chandler in 1987 - very weird coincidence that they are in the same magazine!)

Here it is:

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/parts/SDarticle.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/parts/SDarticle.jpg.html)

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/parts/SDarticle_0001.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/parts/SDarticle_0001.jpg.html)

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/parts/SDarticle_0002.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/parts/SDarticle_0002.jpg.html)

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/parts/SDarticle_0003.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/parts/SDarticle_0003.jpg.html)

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/parts/SDarticle_0004.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/parts/SDarticle_0004.jpg.html)

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/parts/SDarticle_0005.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/parts/SDarticle_0005.jpg.html)

[Xplantdad]

Cool!

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

That is so cool, your old car and your new car in the same magazine....

Ryan

[njsteve]

I located an NOS Delco Remy distributor cap for the car. The second owner gave it a &quot;tune-up&quot; in the late 1980's and must have tossed the original AC spark plugs and cap. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif

The correct cap should have the &quot;Delco Remy Patent 2769047 R&quot; embossed in a circle around the coil terminal. All the modern replacements (including the brand new AC Delco cap I bought), are blank on top. There is also a noticeable difference in the weight of the original caps versus a modern Delco cap. The old ones are glossy, heavy, and thick. The new ones feel almost like ABS plastic and are very flat and cheap looking.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/10/full-1359-7182-p1010667.jpg


http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/10/full-1359-7181-p1010679.jpg

[njsteve]

I was talking to the third owner, Mike, the other day. He mentioned that there is evidence of the exploding recalled Firestone 500 tires on the car. I recalled that the front of the driver's side rocker panel had a wire brushed look to it and that must have been where the separated tread flapped against it during the blow-out when the second owner bought it and drove it from AZ to CA. But he mentioned that on the driver's side of the hood there is a &quot;cat-o'-nine tails&quot; mark across it. And wouldn't you know it, I looked closely and there is a series of small chips in a flail pattern on the hood from the direction of the driver's side wheel well.

Here is the wide angle and the closeup of the battle damage:

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/10/full-1359-7183-p1010684.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/10/full-1359-7184-p1010684a.jpg

[njsteve]

The next item on the To-Do list is replacing the heater core. The car has had its heater core bypassed since before the third owner bought it, which in car-guy language means it must have been leaking at some point, early on just from sitting. So stay tuned for that funfest. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif

[SS427]

Remembering back to my schooling days as a mechanic going to Dunwoody Industrial Institute and if I remember the exact car (it was 1981 after all) we got a late 70's Firebird in for a leaking heater core with air conditioning. I about fell off my stool when I looked at the flat rate book and it was listed as 11 hours to replace a heater core! Had to remove dash, passenger seat, console and A/C box to get heater core out. I think we did it in something like 8 hours but there were two of us. I think the early years are MUCH easier.

[njsteve]

Yup. You got the time estimate right. Dash pad doesn't have to come out but passenger seat, console, all dash ductwork, and inner pass side fender does, to get to last couple of bolts.

[StealthBird]

Changing a heater core on 1970-1981 Firebird:

1) Remove body from chassis.
2) Remove interior.
3) Remove and replace heater core.
4) Reinstall body.
5) Reinstall interior.

<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/haha.gif

[olredalert]

----Steve,,,Have you considered moving south as an alternative??? Almost seems easier!........Bill S

[njsteve]

The car spent most of its life in the hot southwest. I have to call Rick, the original owner and ask him if he disconnected it since they don't need heaters in Arizona. Otherwise it was disconnected by the second owner who was the collector in California. The third owner said when he bought the car it was unhooked.

[mockingbird812]

<span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 11pt">Alright, let's just put this myth to bed. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/scholar.gif Yes, it is the &quot;hot southwest&quot; for 4.5 mos/yr, <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">BUT</span></span> we do have winters out here and the nights can and do get cold (relative term, sure) and yes we do (I mean, I used to...) turn our heaters on in the winter on many occasions to warm our tootsies. That and you can use your heater in the warmer months to dissipate some of that BB heat in stop and go traffic!</span>There - I feel better. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/blush.gif <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/whistle.gif</span>

[njsteve]

LOL. Now go back inside and turn up your A/C. You'll feel much better. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif

[Xplantdad]

Hey Steve...during the winter...it gets down to the teens sometimes around here <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

[njsteve]

Well, It took a few days or wrenching but I managed to replace the heater core. I had to remove all the lower A/C ductwork, the radio, the console, both front seats, the lower section of the passenger fender and inner fender, the rocker panel trim and bracket and several other things I am probably forgetting. None of the stuff showed any evidence of ever having been removed before. I was rather neat to see what the actual hardware was supposed to be rather than someone's version of what screw fits what hole.

I found some interesting things along the way...like this:

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/10/full-1359-7344-p1010692.jpg

Notice anything odd about the Turbo 400 kickdown switch on the throttle cable bracket? Yeah, the portion of the harness was never connected to it. It is still dangling behind the steering column. (The orange and pink wires) There are no marks or scratches on either of the two terminals on the switch. So I hooked it up for future use.

[njsteve]

After hooking up the kickdown switch I took some before shots so I knew where things were and what hardware held it in. Note the giant gap between the heater box and the defroster duct.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/10/full-1359-7345-p1010696.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/10/full-1359-7346-p1010697.jpg


And the heater core housing pulled free of the dash. There are two bolts from the inside going through firewall and three studs coming from the housing and into in the engine compartment. Two of the studs are behind the passenger side cylinder head and the third is under the heater blower motor which requires the lower mounting points of the fender to be unbolted, in addition to the entire inner fender. You then put a small block of wood to hold the fender far enough out so that you can properly slit your wrists on the sharp metal while quarter turning the ratchet to remove the single nut from the stud...and the remove the lower heater core hose from the core outlet. It then promptly wedges itself into the kick panel tranny hump and lower portion of the dash.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/10/full-1359-7347-p1010698.jpg


This is something like solving one of those twisted nail puzzles where there is only one way to get the two metal pieces to unhook from each other. I found the secret: You have to first push the housing toward the driver's side (the radio removal was critical to this move), then rotate the housing so the heater core outlets face the floor while pulling the housing diagonally toward the passenger door. It takes around 10 steps of pulling one inch, rotating one inch...lather, rinse, repeat, until the whole assembly can come out of the car.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/10/full-1359-7348-p1010701.jpg

[njsteve]

Here's the offending heater core. Still had the original foam seals intact.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/10/full-1359-7349-p1010706.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/10/full-1359-7350-p1010708.jpg

And the empty work area:

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/10/full-1359-7351-p1010709.jpg

[njsteve]

Once the new core was installed I prestaged the heater housing in the diagonal position and did the reverse move of push one inch, rotate one inch until the whole contraption just locked right into place. You do of course, have to remember to hook up the vacuum lines to the opposite side of the housing when you are halfway through the push and rotate process otherwise you will never be able to attach them once it is installed back in it's final position.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/10/full-1359-7352-p1010711.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/10/full-1359-7353-p1010712.jpg

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

Blow my bitchen hair back.

Ryan

[njsteve]

Since I had half the interior out already, I decided to pull the back seat and look for a broadcast sheet. No such luck in the search - not in the front or rear seats or behind the cardboard, or in the side panels (which I could look down into via the ashtray holes). The seats had never been out before. I did find the original cardboard trunk separator though. It is a two piece unit consisting of a large U-shaped piece and a smaller square that slots into it and covers the vapor separator unit. Very interesting.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/10/full-1359-7354-p1010719.jpg

[njsteve]

And another present from Rick arrived today: An original hat from &quot;INSTA-TUNE&quot;, his dyno-tuning business and the original vanity plate he had on the car when he moved to Arizona with it in 1975.
<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/10/full-1359-7355-p1010717.jpg

[Salvatore]

Nice work NJ!

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

No stone left unturned.

Ryan

[njsteve]

I did a bit of cleaning today. I covered the front end and the engine compartment with a giant plastic sheet and then cleaned the underside of the hood where 40 years of the A/C compressor had been spraying oil. I guess after all those years of emulsifying, the A/C oil residue actually dissolved some of the original overspray from the underside of the hood. I also pulled out the washer fluid and antifreeze overflow reservoirs and soaked them in hot water and detergent. They cleaned up nicely. Both of them had gunky residue layered at the bottom.

I then went for a ride to my buddy's garage and checked and see if the A/C worked. I wanted him to be looking at the sight glass when I turned the A/C on to make sure there was actually R12 in there. (I didn't want to just turn it on, just in case it was empty, and possibly burn up the overheat switch).

Miraculously he said that it was only slightly low on the fill. Looks like it has been holding pressure for all these years!

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/11/full-1359-7376-p1010721.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/11/full-1359-7377-p1010725.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/11/full-1359-7378-p1010726.jpg

[njsteve]

I also adjusted the rear brakes. I had noticed that the pedal, while firm wouldn't do anything until halfway down and then the front discs would grab very hard. I carefully removed the original Tinnerman star clips that hold the rear drums in place and pulled the drums. It was all untouched and original in there. The brakes really needed to be adjusted. It took two full turns of the adjusters to get the shoes out to where they would actually contact the drums. I then reinstalled the drums and the Tinnerman clips and went for a test run. It worked like a charm. Now it stops like a normal car.

When I got back from the test drive I pulled the Radial T/As and installed the set of 40-year-old, Firestone Steel Radial 500s (three NOS tires and one of the original tires from the car). She looks a lot different with the GR70x15 Firestones versus the 255/60x15 T/As.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/11/full-1359-7381-p1010736.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/11/full-1359-7382-p1010731.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/11/full-1359-7380-p1010740.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/11/full-1359-7383-p1010739.jpg

[Dave Rifkin]

Man that car is so pretty with the proper valance and the vintage tires; like stepping back in time.

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

I give it 999 out of 1000. If the backdrop was my driveway I would give an even 1000 points.

Ryan

[mockingbird812]

I'm liking it!

[m22mike]

That car looks sweet in White. Back when the Firestone 500 recall came down I had a good friend that worked at Firestone, and being from the Akron area, the standing joke was that anytime we ran into him the guys would always ask him if he still had those &quot;KILLER TIRES&quot; on his car... <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/naughty.gif

Mike

[njsteve]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: njsteve</div><div class="ubbcode-body">OK, here is today's conundrum: I was looking at the hood latch assembly and it appears that the grommet that the hood cable goes through is partially broken (lower locating tab is broken off) and has been for a long while. The cable is actually sawing its way through the bracket. It also appears that the grommet that the pull handle passes through has a broken piece as well. Does anyone have the grommets? It appears that they may be the same grommet for both the upper cable guide and the lower handle guide.

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/parts/P1010666a.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/parts/P1010666a.jpg.html)

</div></div>

And a big THANK YOU to PerformanceYears.com website member FormulaBruce, who found two of the unique, hood cable grommets for me! I installed them and it's amazing how much easier the hood opens when the cable isn't sawing through the radiator support bracket.

[KevinW]

Looking great as usual <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif Luckily the tires did not explode in your driveway <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/laugh.gif

[njsteve]

I keep going back to the garage to check every few hours. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/eek.gif

[auwrestling]

I'd go back every few hours to just to look at the car . That is beautiful

[njsteve]

I spoke with Rick today and he is finalizing the novel-length biography of the car. He doesn't do computers so he is typing it up and will then notarize it and send it to me. What a guy!

He had no idea that the kick down switch was disconnected all these years. He never disconnected it and no one before me had ever pulled any of the lower ductwork out to access that area. So the only logical explanation given the lack of any installation marks on the brass terminals, is that it was never hooked up on the assembly line.

I asked Rick if he ever ran his car on his own chassis dyno. Rick said he did run it once but the car had so much power that it tried to climb off the dyno! Their chassis dynos back then had two rollers - a driven roller in front of the rear wheels and a free wheeling roller behind the rear wheels to hold the car in place. They ran a special tuning program on their dynos: the car would maintain a steady 2,500 RPM run and more resistance would be added to the dyno wheel as test went on. The driver then had to gradually add power to maintain the 2,500 RPM with the engine. The more powerful the car, the higher the propensity for it to climb the front roller. It was a very dangerous situation as the cars could then jump the wheel chocks and launch out of the building. Unfortunately, Rick didn't recall what the results were, probably because he was too worried about the car launching into orbit, off the dyno roller at the time. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

Hi Steve

Is Rick coming to MCACN?

Ryan

[njsteve]

I gave him the info about the show but I don't think he is planning on attending. It would be cool, though to reunite him with his car.

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

I wouldn't let him get too comfortable, like an old shoe. He might have a separation anxiety attack.

Sure would be nice to have him attend, maybe another call would help, without being pushy......My Beautiful, Chevelle Loving Wife says patience is not my strong suit.

Ryan

[njsteve]

My wife says that my favorite saying is: <span style="font-style: italic">&quot;I want patience and I want it now!&quot;</span> <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: njsteve</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My wife says that my favorite saying is: <span style="font-style: italic">&quot;I want patience and I want it now!&quot;</span> <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif </div></div>

Great catch phrase.

Ryan

[njsteve]

I found a vintage set of AC R44TS triple green striped insulator, spark plugs on ebay. I got them for $14 from someone selling estate stuff from an old garage. I installed them today, replacing the recent AC R44TS set that was put in there a couple years ago. The car runs noticeably smoother. (Probably because one or two of the plug wires were not fully seated on the plugs to begin with).

The plugs I pulled out all had nice tan insulators and appeared to be burning nicely. The one thing I noticed was that the vintage green stripe plugs have a 3/8&quot; shorter insulator than the modern versions. Anyone have any idea why they made the modern ones longer?

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/11/full-1359-7688-sparkplug.jpg

[njsteve]

Rick Fedexed me his typewritten 16 page biography of the car today so I would have it for the show next week. He even signed, notarized and had it bound into a booklet for me.
What a guy! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: njsteve</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Rick Fedexed me his typewritten 16 page biography of the car today so I would have it for the show next week. He even signed, notarized and had it bound into a booklet for me.
What a guy! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif </div></div>

Wow, that is awesome.

Did he include any vintage pictures of the car?

Ryan

[njsteve]

Rick is still looking. His wife is in charge of the photo archives.

Rick took some photos of the car in 1973 when he brought it to a BMW club event and irritated the heck out of his former BMW buddies. (He sold his BMW and bought the SD because the new fuel injected BMW he wanted was way too expensive and the dealer wouldn't budge on the price).

[njsteve]

I was scanning some of the original documents from the car to get ready for the MCACN show next week. I found this interesting item. It's the original order blank. In reading it I see that Rick originally ordered both the black vinyl/stainless steel body side moldings and the vinyl multicolor tape stripe, but neither were installed on the car on the assembly line.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/11/full-1359-7780-order_sheet.jpg

[njsteve]

Rick was very meticulous about documenting everything and he was not happy that the car came with a shaker instead of the two scoop hood. Here is his original scribble sheet notes on what he wanted:

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/11/full-1359-7781-order_notes_1.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/11/full-1359-7782-order_notes_2.jpg

[njsteve]

I talked to Rick again today and he said he was initially going to get the side moldings until the dealer said they only came with a black insert. So he declined. The dealer then said they could install a white set...by drilling holes and screwing them onto the car. Rick then said no way.

As for the stripes, Rick doesn't know why they didn't show up on the car or why he didn't raise a stink about it when it arrived without them.

BTW, here's an article from the 1988 HPP with a white-on-white SD Formula with the stripes...and white dealer installed side moldings!

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/SDarticle.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/SDarticle.jpg.html)

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/sdarticlecenter.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/sdarticlecenter.jpg.html)

And what's really funny is that I have a photo of this exact car that I took at the Musclecar Nationals in 1986!

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/whiteSD1986.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/whiteSD1986.jpg.html)

[njsteve]

One of the more knowledgeable guys at PY had a possible reason for the stripes not showing up: if your salesman didn't know to check the box that over-rode trim conflicts, then the stripe wouldn't get installed. It seems that white cars normally got blue &quot;SD455&quot; shaker decals and since the stripe was black and orange, you had to over ride the trim conflict so the selected shaker decal would be black to match the stripes.

Rick's salesman was an unemployed dress salesman who had just started at Suburban Pontiac a week or two prior to his ordering the car, so he knew next to nothing about the cars

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

Thank goodness he didn't end up with those stripes.

Ryan

[Postsedan]

I see NO SD Formula.....I only see a 1971-72 Pontiac GTO, T37, Tempest Post Sedan <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

Dan

[njsteve]

If I recall correctly that was Dan Jensen's 455HO T-37???

[Postsedan]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: njsteve</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If I recall correctly that was Dan Jensen's 455HO T-37??? </div></div>

Even better <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

Dan

[Norwood]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: njsteve</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If I recall correctly that was Dan Jensen's 455HO T-37??? </div></div>

I was just looking at Dan's car on Tuesday. Its coming to MCACN and will be displayed with Mike Sparks GT37 455HO

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n250/crabs24/up%20rising/uprising005_zpsf525eebd.jpg (http://s114.photobucket.com/user/crabs24/media/up%20rising/uprising005_zpsf525eebd.jpg.html)

[njsteve]

Doesn't Dan's brother have one too? The car in your photo is a coupe and the one in mine is a post sedan. (or is that Mike's car?)

[Postsedan]

That is Mike`s T37 Coupe <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

Steve, it was finally nice to meet you face to face.

Best of luck with your Truck Rebuild.

Dan

[njsteve]

Since I am still scrambling to get my broken Suburban attended to:

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbthrea...the_#Post548112 (http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/548112/My_Truck_s_engine_blew_on_the_#Post548112)

I thought I would post a neat photo from the show. A really nice older gentleman came up and started talking to us during the load out after the show closed. He had heard about the engine fiasco and we were discussing the alternatives. He mentioned that he really liked my car. I happily offered him a seat behind the wheel:

Yes, that is the one and only Arnie <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">&quot;The Farmer&quot;</span></span> Beswick, the famous Pontiac racer.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/11/full-1359-8195-p1010816.jpg

This was right before we drove out of the building to the trailer. He REALLY seemed to enjoy seeing the car and sitting in it.

Hindsight is always 20-20, I should have had Arnie drive the car out...but then again he might have just kept going to his house. He did have that sly look on his face. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/naughty.gif

[67 442]

That sir was worth the trip to get this pic.

[mockingbird812]

<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/worship.gif Very cool!!

[njsteve]

Here's some photos from the MCACN 2013 show where we had two red T/As, two white T/As, two green T/As and one white Formula.

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/ChicagoCarShowpictures286.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/ChicagoCarShowpictures286.jpg.html)

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/ChicagoCarShowpictures287.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/ChicagoCarShowpictures287.jpg.html)

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/DSC_0037_zps783d3884.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/DSC_0037_zps783d3884.jpg.html)

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/DSC_0036_zpsf816fbc7.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/DSC_0036_zpsf816fbc7.jpg.html)

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/P1010800.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/P1010800.jpg.html)

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/DSC_0041_zpsfa093be4.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/DSC_0041_zpsfa093be4.jpg.html)

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/P1010795.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/P1010795.jpg.html)

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/P1010798.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/P1010798.jpg.html)

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/P1010791.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/P1010791.jpg.html)

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/P1010802.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/P1010802.jpg.html)

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/P1010812.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/P1010812.jpg.html)

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/P1010810.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/P1010810.jpg.html)

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/P1010809.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/P1010809.jpg.html)


http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/P1010806.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/P1010806.jpg.html)

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/P1010784.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/P1010784.jpg.html)

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/DSC_0038_zpsd0cbdae4.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/DSC_0038_zpsd0cbdae4.jpg.html)

[njsteve]

Oh, and by the way, I can actually say I survived driving on those infamous Firestone 500s. I drove the mile or so to our trailer from the convention center, without so much as a single tire exploding!

[Xplantdad]

Awesome! Just awesome. I love the gaggle(?) <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif of SD's <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/headbang.gif

[njsteve]

Since they're birds, I think it would be a flock of SDs <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif

[PeteLeathersac]

Totally flocking amazing gaggle is what it is!
Love the Farmer shot too Steve, sorry to read about the 'burban.
<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif
~ Pete

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

Hi Steve,

Nice to meet you at MCACN.

Sounds like you are not a disposable automotive type guy, so I am sure a re-powering of the Suburban is in the future.

Ryan

[Xplantdad]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: njsteve</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Since they're birds, I think it would be a flock of SDs <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif </div></div>

That works, too! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif

[DaJudge]

Steve, that red 73 TA on the cover is my neighbor's car. He is the original owner and of course still owns it. Small world

[njsteve]

I haven't really done anything to the SD since I got back from MCACN. I've been working on the truck and getting that all set. Truck is all done now and running nicely.

Back to the Firebird. I need to get rid of four worm-style, fuel hose clamps that were put on the lines to the fuel pump by the second owner. I need two original red and two green spring-style hose clamps. Anybody have any spares in their tool box?

[njsteve]

I just found this on youtube - a brief video of my car at MCACN from November:

MCACN video 73 SD Formula (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zhs6Q6S44eQ)

[twertsy]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: njsteve</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I haven't really done anything to the SD since I got back from MCACN. I've been working on the truck and getting that all set. Truck is all done now and running nicely.

Back to the Firebird. I need to get rid of four worm-style, fuel hose clamps that were put on the lines to the fuel pump by the second owner. I need two original red and two green spring-style hose clamps. Anybody have any spares in their tool box? </div></div>

I know Firebird Central has them but I don't think they're NOS.....

[bulletpruf]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: njsteve</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I haven't really done anything to the SD since I got back from MCACN. I've been working on the truck and getting that all set. Truck is all done now and running nicely.

Back to the Firebird. I need to get rid of four worm-style, fuel hose clamps that were put on the lines to the fuel pump by the second owner. I need two original red and two green spring-style hose clamps. Anybody have any spares in their tool box? </div></div>

Don't buy the reproductions; they have rounded edges instead of flat, like the originals. I looked for some for my car; took a while to find nice NOS ones. If you can't find NOS, you can always blast some crusty originals and mix up some paint to match.

BTW, my car was at MCACN, too - the Pepper Green/black guts 70 RAIV GTO with M21/4.33/dog dishes/bench/manual drums/manual steer, etc. Would have been nice to meet you in person, but I couldn't get away from work.

Anyway, gorgeous car and great thread. Just read all of it from start to finish.

Thanks

Scott

[njsteve]

Bulletpruf, I did see your car at MCACN - that's one awesome piece of machinery!

I know about the rounded edge repro clamps and have avoided them for that very reason. I need some original sharp edged, &quot;wrist slasher&quot; clamps. (If you have ever cut open your hand working around these clamps under a car, you'll know exactly what I am referring to). <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif

I would prefer used clamps since it will match the patina of the rest of the clamps on the car. So if anyone has a random green 3/8 or red 5/16 clamp, I'd love to give them a new home.
<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

[twertsy]

I thought the red were 1/4 and yellow was 5/16?? I can get my hands on some. 2 each of green and red right?

[njsteve]

I may be wrong on the smaller color clamp but I believe the 3/8 is green. Hard to tell what the smaller vent line is or if it was one of those weird in between fuel lines sizes like 11/32?

[twertsy]

I'm on the upper side of 90% sure that 3/8 is green, 5/16 is yellow and 1/4 is red...I guess is really doesn't matter though as you simply need 2 green and 2 red right?

[njsteve]

Might be the yellow if that is what the 5/16 is. So if could be two green and two yellow?

[twertsy]

Will see if I can snag a couple of each this weekend.........if he'll give them up.

[twertsy]

Apologies Steve, he has 2 of each left but has 2 '73s coming in over the next 6 months so he won't part with them. I will however keep you in mind going forward.......

[njsteve]

Last weekend I took the SD out for the first drive of Spring. That was after replacing the worm clamps on the front fuel lines with original old spring clamps (a couple donated from friends and a couple located in my tool box).

I even drove it on the Firestone 500s!!! I only went 5 miles or so to clean the moisture out of the exhaust pipes. Warmed her up in the driveway for a good half hour before. Just waiting for more real Spring weather and heavy rains to wash the rest of the salt off the roads. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif

[Norwood]

Nice, I'm looking to do the same

[njsteve]

I spoke to the original owner Rick last night. He is a funny guy with a great sense of humor. All this time he has been looking for original photos of the car from back in the day and has been scratching his head wondering where he put them...until he noticed that he was standing in front of the collage that his wife Lenora made for him years ago. In the center of the collage are the two photos of him and his wife next to the car when it was brand new. It was when he brought the car to the BMW Fall Fest in 1973 just after it was delivered and just after the BMW dealer refused to sell him a 1973 2002 TII for anything less than full sticker.

He is trying his best to get a close up of the photos (they are sealed in the framed collage).

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2014/05/full-1359-11606-dscn0648.jpg

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

How cool is that.

Ryan

[njsteve]

Rick came through with a better close up of the photos. They are behind glass so they are a bit fuzzy. Neat photos from the Summer of 1973. You can see the original polyethylene valance in place, the New York 956-LYS license plates, and the ubiquitous stainless steel mudflaps. And the really happy, really tall couple. :-)

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/DSCN0642a.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/DSCN0642a.jpg.html)

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/SD/DSCN0642b.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/nk15268c/media/SD/DSCN0642b.jpg.html)

[Xplantdad]

Very cool!!

[njsteve]

Went to my friend, Al's shop to add some R12 to the a/c system today. The system was a little low. According to Rick, the original owner, the car has never had its a/c serviced, so after 41 years it still had 75% of its original R12 fill.

I had a couple extra cans in the garage and my buddy Al is an expert at reading a sight glass in these old systems. It was 85 degrees today and now while driving, the test thermometer in the center outlet read 40 degrees on max a/c. Nice!

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2014/06/full-1359-12633-photo_1_1_.jpg

[KevinW]

Steve, I guess Al's is the place to go for classic repair, your SD, olds, mustang, C-10 and a Plymouth/Dodge on the rack? <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif Just the one modern SUV in front of your to run the pic <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/laugh.gif

[njsteve]

Yes, he really knows his stuff on the older cars. He's a great guy to know!

[njsteve]

My son and I drove the white car out to PA to the Performance Years show in Hatfield. It is about 40 miles but takes over an hour as it is in the middle of no-where. We had a bunch of fun. He has been looking for a 1998 to 2002 Trans Am and spent most of his time touring that area of the show. Nice to see that he is getting in to cars at a young age - gives us hope for the next generation of carguys!

Here's the white car on display in the field:

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2014/06/full-1359-12854-p1030128a.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2014/06/full-1359-12855-photo_1.jpg

[njsteve]

And on our way home we stopped at the local cruise night in Flemington, NJ. Another eclectic bunch of cars showed up last night. What's the odds of parking next to a white Karman Ghia and a white L79 Chevy II?

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2014/06/full-1359-12856-photo_2.jpg

[Xplantdad]

Cool pics Steve! Car looks great <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/headbang.gif

[njsteve]

Had to actually work on the white car the other day. It was having a weird brake pedal - when you pressed the pedal it would initially be hard and then creep down to a certain point, about 2/3 of the way to the floor and then become solid again. I bled the system a couple times but it still persisted. No leaks anywhere. The back brakes were also running very hot. I was thinking maybe it was the combination valve internally leaking, or the original master cylinder that I had sleeved, internally leaking. I even swapped to a known, good master cylinder but the same issue was there.

I told my mechanic buddy Al and he said it was the rear wheel cylinders. Of course he was right. Turned out that they were sticking in the engaged position, thereby dragging on the drums. Since who knows how long it has been this way and how hot those springs got, for safety sake, I replaced all the return springs, along with a new set of shoes. (I photographed, labeled and packaged all the original parts for posterity) and installed the new cylinders, and shoes. With the help of my son, we re-bled the system and now it works fine. Pedal is firm and doesn't budge.

[njsteve]

Well, it was one year ago today that Performance Years website member BentwheelBob gave me the heads up on the ebay listing for the SD. And then he blackmailed me into selling him my black 72 455HO. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/wink.gif

We have both been enjoying our cars in the intervening 365 days.

Here's Bob's thread if anyone wants to see what he has done with the black car - a lot, actually!

http://forums.performanceyears.com/forums/showthread.php?t=736820

It has definitely been an entertaining year!

<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

[StealthBird]

Saw Bob's car (a.k.a. Steve's old Bird) at the Trans Am Nationals. It drew a heck of a lot of attention. The car looked great! A black 72 Formula, with that beautiful Formula hood, and a 455 H.O. 4-speed combo, well, it has to be one of the coolest Pontiacs ever made. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

[njsteve]

Oh, go rub salt in the wound! Never should have let that one go...or any of the others I sold over the past 35 years. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/no.gif

P.S. Enrico just sent me a Happy Anniversary email. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

[njsteve]

Just traded emails with Rick as he was wishing me a belated happy birthday. Here is an excerpt from his email. He is such an amazing mensch: <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">&quot;On December 10th of this year I'll be 80 years old.

On December 19th Lenora and I will be married, to each other, 49 Years.

In August of 1973, when I took delivery of Samarkand, I was 38+.

In March of 1963, my team and I finished 4th overall in a Grand Prix motorcycle race at the Daytona International Speedway. We ran against the likes of Mike the Bike Hailwood who handily blew us into the weeds. Incidentally, he was personally a great guy and undoubtedly the greatest motorcycle racer who ever lived. His accomplishments are legendary. At that time I was 28+.

In 1964 we set the record for the circumnavigation of Long Island by a single engined outboard race boat. As far as I have been able to determine, the record stands to this day. Many bloggers, to this day, say our rig was dual engined but can't seem to find the second engine in any of the plethora of photos that were taken at the time. The picture taken as we crossed the finish line headed up all the ads for the Teleflex Corporation for over a year. At that time I was 29+.

In 1965 we won first overall in the Lake Michigan Regatta running a Glastron V-234 powered with a pair of 409 Chevys running thru MerCruiser Sterndrives. At the time I was 30+&quot;</span></span>

[njsteve]

In case you hadn't deduced it already, Samarkand was the name Enrico bestowed upon his SD455 Formula when he bought it in 1973. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/scholar.gif

[RPOLS3]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: njsteve</div><div class="ubbcode-body">In 1965 we won first overall in the Lake Michigan Regatta running a Glastron V-234 powered with a pair of 409 Chevys running thru MerCruiser Sterndrives. At the time I was 30+&quot;[/i][/b]</div></div>

That would be a neat rig to see today..........

[njsteve]

Had a post-Christmas &quot;garage day&quot; and got everything running and warmed up since it was almost 60 degrees and sunny here today. Took the SD out for a spin and it seems like everyone else had the same idea as well. Hanging out at Al's Auto Care in Flemington with a 1970 Challenger R/T, a 1966 Charger, a 1965 Buick Riviera GS with 421 and dual quads (in the garage bay).

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2014/12/full-1359-19979-20141227_132524a.jpg

And then took another ride around to look at the scenery. She drove very nicely today.
I forgot how much fun it is to ride in a 310 horse open sleigh. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2014/12/full-1359-19980-20141227_154627a.jpg

[Paul_S]

Very nice and a Buick 425... unless it's turning into a Pontiac. ha

[njsteve]

Sorry about that. Math was never my strongpoint. At least I had two of the three numbers right! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif

[Xplantdad]

Steve...you still owe me a ride in the SD <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif

[njsteve]

Well, come on up. Right now it's warmer up here in Joysey than down there in Arizona. I just emailed with Enrico and he said it was in the 40's-50's in Scottsdale where he lives.

[Xplantdad]

One of these days...Who knows, maybe next summer!?!

[njsteve]

Went out to the garage today and to see if any of the cars would start. Amazingly, everything cranked right up! Gramma's 1975 Firebird, Grampa's 1971 Lincoln, my old '93 Viper race car, and the SD Firebird. I let them all run for around 40 minutes while I attempted to shovel out a canyon in the ice/snow in front of the garage so the melting ice would flow off the driveway this week. The temps are supposed to be in the upper 40's after being in the single digits for the past few months. Come on Spring!!!! 12 days to go! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

[tjs44]

close to 80 here today,the bird drove great even with the windows down!LOL,Tom