The New, Newer Project: Part Tres...

[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. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif[/img]

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.

[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:

[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. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif[/img]

[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.

[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/haha.gif[/img]

[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. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/scholar.gif[/img] 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. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/blush.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/whistle.gif[/img]</span>

[njsteve]

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