The next project....1970 Trans Am 400

[jasonL78]

Just took in my next project.... a 1 owner 1970 Trans-Am 400 4sp with 73,000 original miles. I have to install a drivers side floor pan take it down to bar metal and give it a new paint job. Minor body work this should be a nice winter project.

Who is the best supplier of Pontiac trans am parts?

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/transam_zps4213bc39.jpg (http://s35.photobucket.com/user/jasonchale/media/transam_zps4213bc39.jpg.html)

[auwrestling]

Looks like good car. What part of ny u in ?

[njsteve]

Performance Years or Ames are good suppliers. Avoid Classic Industries.

http://www.performanceyears.com/

https://secure.amesperf.com/

Here is the 70-73 thread forum over at PY:

http://forums.performanceyears.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=437

Lots of good advice on these cars in that section.

[MosportGreen66]

Love those cars and will assuredly own one...

[jasonL78]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: auwrestling</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Looks like good car. What part of ny u in ? </div></div>

Just outside of Albany NY

[jasonL78]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: njsteve</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Performance Years or Ames are good suppliers. Avoid Classic Industries.

http://www.performanceyears.com/

https://secure.amesperf.com/

Here is the 70-73 thread forum over at PY:

http://forums.performanceyears.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=437

Lots of good advice on these cars in that section. </div></div>

Thanks Steve just joined

[firstgenaddict]

I always liked to deal with Ames their comparisons of reproduction parts vs original with attention to fit and details was never matched with any other reproduction parts vendors. You knew what you were getting (good, bad, or indifferent) and how much time it would take to alter the reproduction part, they told you upfront .... this is the best available and it will take 5 hours for your body man to fit it correctly.

I know Ames was bought out in the last few years however I hope the policies have not been altered since the business was sold.

[jasonL78]

Well the driverside floor pan and toe board are in.(Pictures to follow) As I get into the car I find more issues as I expected... but I'm sure the owner isn't expecting. So after I joined the Pontiac forum they tell me the car has a 73 nose on it a 1 year only part. I'm like the original owner didn't tell me that. So I asked his friend, did he wreck the car at sometime. He said he sold the car and that guy wrecked it. Then it sat in a garage for 10 years before that guy put it back together. Then the original owner bought it back. I'm not even sure the original owner knows it was wrecked and has the wrong nose on it. I still have to break the news to him. I am going to replace the passenger side front floor pan it's a little thin and has a couple of holes. After I dropped the gas tank because it was leaking I found the trunk floor already has been patched. It needs a new truck pan thanks to the rubber trunk mat. At one time a skin was put onto the drivers side and poorly installed without replacing the outer wheel well or trunk drop off. This will all need to be replaced to do it correctly. He has the funds so I don't think it will be a problem. I just hate to give bad news.

[njsteve]

The extended beak portion of the urethane nose on the 73 is little different than the 70-72 nose. And the grill inserts are different as well, they don't fit flush to the opening and sit a couple inches back. The hood latch is also under the bumper on a 73 versus in the driver's side grill insert on a 70-72. All this had to do with the new for 1973 5-mph bumper laws. There is also about 50 pounds of extra steel bracing behind the nose piece on a 73. A 70-72 nose cone won't be that hard to find. Easier than finding a 73.

Post some underhood shots and I can tell you if they replaced the fenders as well.

Here's a 72, notice how the grills extend to the opening? Also, every year had a different grill insert with a different grate texture - 72 had the honeycomb grills.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2014/12/full-1359-19553-001.jpg

[njsteve]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jasonL78</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Well the driverside floor pan and toe board are in.(Pictures to follow) As I get into the car I find more issues as I expected... but I'm sure the owner isn't expecting. So after I joined the Pontiac forum they tell me the car has a 73 nose on it a 1 year only part. I'm like the original owner didn't tell me that. So I asked his friend, did he wreck the car at sometime. He said he sold the car and that guy wrecked it. Then it sat in a garage for 10 years before that guy put it back together. Then the original owner bought it back. I'm not even sure the original owner knows it was wrecked and has the wrong nose on it. I still have to break the news to him. I am going to replace the passenger side front floor pan it's a little thin and has a couple of holes. After I dropped the gas tank because it was leaking I found the trunk floor already has been patched. It needs a new truck pan thanks to the rubber trunk mat. At one time a skin was put onto the drivers side and poorly installed without replacing the outer wheel well or trunk drop off. This will all need to be replaced to do it correctly. He has the funds so I don't think it will be a problem. I just hate to give bad news. </div></div>

Be very careful when buying the trunk floor and drop offs. A lot of suppliers incorrectly list the Camaro parts as correct when they are obviously not. Also, they try to sell the 1974 and up Firebird dropoffs as good for 70-73 when there are also not even close. If you want me to help you with parts selection I'd be happy to look at your shopping list. I can also guarantee you that it will need a tail panel (a one piece panel which includes the rear valance). They are always damaged and rusty. They only just started reproducing that part a year or so ago.

[The Boss]

I have at least one bumper if you need it &amp; have a tail panel too.

Cool car, looking forward to the build.

[jasonL78]

Thanks Steve I just ordered the trunk pan from a local rep so I hope it is correct. That is good to know about the trunk drop offs. From what I can see that rear tail panel looks good. But I do see some filler from a previous repaint.

[jasonL78]

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/photo_zpsb70b5812.jpg (http://s35.photobucket.com/user/jasonchale/media/photo_zpsb70b5812.jpg.html)

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/grill_zps57a6d430.jpg (http://s35.photobucket.com/user/jasonchale/media/grill_zps57a6d430.jpg.html)

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/front2_zpsa44ca26f.jpg (http://s35.photobucket.com/user/jasonchale/media/front2_zpsa44ca26f.jpg.html)

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/fronttop_zps8ce0cb92.jpg (http://s35.photobucket.com/user/jasonchale/media/fronttop_zps8ce0cb92.jpg.html)

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/enginebay_zpsdee772d2.jpg (http://s35.photobucket.com/user/jasonchale/media/enginebay_zpsdee772d2.jpg.html)

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/floor_zps3d6d4bf4.jpg (http://s35.photobucket.com/user/jasonchale/media/floor_zps3d6d4bf4.jpg.html)


I was already told it had a complete front nose because the fenders have ridges I guess but here you go steve.

Jason

[njsteve]

That is the entire front clip from a 73. Including radiator support, fenders, nose, grills. Probably the hood as well. Each year had its own hood, differentiated by the way the underside stampings were cut out. The 73 fenders differ from the 70-72 in that they have the two bolt mounting boss for those flat, steel reinforcement bars. They did use the 70-72 hood latch and jury-rigged it through the grill. The 73 used a cable setup because all of the 5-mph bracing got in the way.

The 70-72 radiator supports are impossible to find. They had a flat top without the two recesses for the 73-only, slab steel, fender reinforcement bars, that were also part of the 5 mph crash rules. Here is what it should look like:

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2014/12/full-1359-19557-img_3945.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2014/12/full-1359-19558-img_7876.jpg

[jasonL78]

Thanks Steve,

I haven't talked to the owner yet to see if he knows about the nose change. All good info to pass along to him.

[70TA]

I have a 70 radaitor support that needs some repair under the battery. PM me if you need it.

[jasonL78]

Well I talked to the original owner today. As I suspected he had no idea the front clip was changed. It must have been done after he sold it. He's just happy to own the car again. So he just wants to leave the 73 front clip on it. He plans on driving the car. I'm just going to fix the problem areas then hang quarters and paint it. This is the driver side floor pan all done.

Before

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/floor_zps3d6d4bf4.jpg (http://s35.photobucket.com/user/jasonchale/media/floor_zps3d6d4bf4.jpg.html)

After

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/photo_zpsb593c518.jpg (http://s35.photobucket.com/user/jasonchale/media/photo_zpsb593c518.jpg.html)

I still need to add the seam seller. I will do this after I finish the passenger side.

[leach]

Looking good so far Jason <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/flag.gif

[tom406]

I don't blame the owner for not wanting to deal with something he didn't even notice. But with all of the good work he's having you do, eventually he will regret not going ahead and having you fix it properly. Even if its not until he or his family sells it, it would still be better to deal with it now. Perhaps after it sinks in for a few days ask him again. In terms of selling (or even appraising its value, which is what I do professionally) the value of the car will essentially be diminished the cost of redoing the front end and painting to match or repainting. At any rate, thanks for sharing and good luck:)

Tom Breske
Vintage Viewpoint LLC
Seattle, WA

[jasonL78]

Moving forward just finished the top and bottom of the passenger side floor pan. It wasn't as bad as the drivers side but still needed to be replaced. Onto the trunk pan.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/photo22_zpsfe0805f3.jpg (http://s35.photobucket.com/user/jasonchale/media/photo22_zpsfe0805f3.jpg.html)

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/23_zps8b073ba6.jpeg (http://s35.photobucket.com/user/jasonchale/media/23_zps8b073ba6.jpeg.html)

[jasonL78]

Trunk pan 90% done. a lot of work here. Just got some of the rear quarter off last night. Glad we are doing full quarters outers and drop offs the car really needed them.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/2_zps00fe1b54.jpg (http://s35.photobucket.com/user/jasonchale/media/2_zps00fe1b54.jpg.html)

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/4_zps31a88ecb.jpg (http://s35.photobucket.com/user/jasonchale/media/4_zps31a88ecb.jpg.html)

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/3_zps8fe14a43.jpg (http://s35.photobucket.com/user/jasonchale/media/3_zps8fe14a43.jpg.html)

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/5_zps850c7a7e.jpg (http://s35.photobucket.com/user/jasonchale/media/5_zps850c7a7e.jpg.html)

[jasonL78]

Quarters and tail pan done.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/photo%201_zpsmygktwah.jpg (http://s35.photobucket.com/user/jasonchale/media/photo%201_zpsmygktwah.jpg.html)

[jasonL78]

Back half of the car is all in primer, epoxy then high build. I’m getting all the little pieces primed and ready for paint. I need to hang the doors and block the car out to make sure everything is straight. It’s getting there.


http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/IMG_1523_zpspnflfxhb.jpg (http://s35.photobucket.com/user/jasonchale/media/IMG_1523_zpspnflfxhb.jpg.html)

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/IMG_1524_zpshxflumxv.jpg (http://s35.photobucket.com/user/jasonchale/media/IMG_1524_zpshxflumxv.jpg.html)

[Norwood]

very nice

[scuncio]

Wow, nice progress. Floorpan repairs are undetectable!

[jasonL78]

Finally back from paint only took 5 months lol. Time to put her all back together.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/IMG_0213_zpsl7wjtev3.jpg (http://s35.photobucket.com/user/jasonchale/media/IMG_0213_zpsl7wjtev3.jpg.html)

[bbbenny]

Jason, Your work is is second to none. Great job! BBBenny

[jasonL78]

Thanks Benny. I still wish he had me paint it. Never again will I have someone else paint a car for me. It took six months to get it back and I did all the hard work. A lesson well learned. I should have listened to you.

Jason

[firstgenaddict]

The Trans ams look so much better than the Z28's even RSZ28's... the interiors, the nose, the flares... <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/3gears.gif

[Zman1969]

Looking very nice jason, makes me miss my 72 T/A