Today I... "Redux Edition"

[roadking77]

Car is looking good. I too like Larry love the early cars.

[scarebird]

After 4+ months the Lemans finally made it home to Portugal.  Now the fight is to get it registered/insured...

[72projectbird]

I mistyped my first reply. What I meant to say was I am a huge fan of Early 2nd Gen (70-73) Firebirds. I like all 2nd Generation FB's, but feel the early ones look the best and are definitely harder to come by. I purchased my 73 TA, new in January 1973 and wish I still owned it.

I found your post in PY and now I know what you have been going through bringing this car back to life. What a project! This car was fortunate to end up in your hands. With the extensive amount of work needed, most people would have run out of patience, money and just given up.

Yeah, it was probably more of a parts car than a restorable candidate, but I definitely had an attachment to it since early childhood. Anything can be restored if you try hard enough.

I had a build thread on here before the site crashed. I didn't have it in me to start another.

[79GoldnTan]

Scarebird
That's nice!! Good luck

[b_hill_86]

Today I….. or October 2024, same difference right? I thought I posted about this back then but I must have forgotten in the hustle of life.

I’ve been approached a few times over the years at some local car shows to join a FB group of local Firebird owners but I never had a FB till recently. Once I had an account I joined them last year. With having our second child last summer on top of a 2 year old I didn’t get a lot of car time but in October we had a nice weather weekend and a small group of us met up. There were only 5 of us including me and the group administrator but they were a super nice group of guys. The group admin enjoys photography so here is a pic of our cars and some shameless pics of mine that he took.

I missed another larger meet the following weekend but I’m hoping to join their meet-ups and cruises they do more this year if possible. I’ll post as I’m able to

[b_hill_86]

Few more

[wheels78ta]

Nice pics.  Your trans am looks amazing.....inside and out.  I hope one day to see it, and others, in person.

[N PRGRES]

Love the color combo, one you don't see often

[b_hill_86]

Thanks Willie. In all honestly it probably looks better in pictures. It’s far from perfect but I drive it quite a bit so it gets some abuse and wasn’t a full-on restoration when I started on it anyway.

Dave, thanks. The car was originally silver but in desperate need of paint. Silver is the only color on the 77/78s I’m not overly fond of and I couldn’t decide what other color I’d do. In retrospect I wish I’d gone white as I really like those but I decided black while staying away from the gold decals. I thought the charcoal/red would work nicely and it does. I like subtle details that look like they could be factory but weren’t. The window trim for example along with the inserts on the snowflakes are painted grey. Different but not stand out.

[tajoe]

Hey Brian, I see your hedder collector flanges hangin down. Reminds me of those days, when in the spring time, I would disconnect them, and rotate the pipes sideways, and drive with open hedders. (thumbs up ). Bet you're lookin fwd to the winter to end, so you can get back out there, and row that stick shift. "Nice"

[scarebird]

That colored chicken is perfect here - even matches the Pontiac crest on the nose.  Amazed Pontiac did not offer it in the day.

[b_hill_86]

Hey Brian, I see your hedder collector flanges hangin down. Reminds me of those days, when in the spring time, I would disconnect them, and rotate the pipes sideways, and drive with open hedders. (thumbs up ). Bet you're lookin fwd to the winter to end, so you can get back out there, and row that stick shift. "Nice"

I am. It’s actually supposed to be in the 40s Sunday and it’s been raining all day today so hopefully washing all of the salt off the road. If the planets align, I hope to get it out Sunday.

That colored chicken is perfect here - even matches the Pontiac crest on the nose.  Amazed Pontiac did not offer it in the day.

Thanks. I seem to recall a service replacement for 76 cars that were black with the non LE decals. Apparently an issue with fading but the remedy was charcoal and grey as a replacement. I don’t recall where I saw that or if it’s accurate though.

[stros]

+1 on that color combo Brian.  That’s very cool how your sail panel emblems, center caps and fire chicken all match.  Mine has always felt like a bit of an odd mix of red and gold. 

[b_hill_86]

Thanks! I plan on switching back to my Rally II’s once I finally get new tires for them. Those have the earlier black center caps with PMD in red that I think should match nicely too

[Jack]

So much to catch up on in here. I see 72projectbird got another early bird and now has half of all early birds in MA.

[72projectbird]

So much to catch up on in here. I see 72projectbird got another early bird and now has half of all early birds in MA.

lol yeah they seem to find their way home with me. Congrats on the new job btw!

[FormTA]

Finally got some snow in the lower of Michigan this year. We've made 5 trips up there to get some trail and off trail riding done. Bought another backcountry sled (has bigger paddles on the track and other stuff to help them in deep snow).

My son just loves the deep snow and can really ride. He's on the red one with the skis pointed to the ski. I just can't get the weight transfer down yet.

[roadking77]

Those look like some serious machines. Must be a lot of fun. I was talking to my brother from another mother (he was my best friend growing up) last weekend and he was telling me about his trips to the Great White North to go 'sledding'. Something I have never done.

[72projectbird]

Doing final bodywork on the underside of the car. Smoothing out some things, little block sanding and will be primed for the final time.

[roadking77]

Looking good.
When I did mine I put a flat clear coat on the bottom. I figured it would help to keep it clean I have never put the car on a lift to clean it though,

[FormTA]

Looks great! Some serious work there!

Kerry, what brand of flat clear did you use? Did it lay out and look good?

[roadking77]

When I did the bottom of my car my local suppliers did not have any red oxide primer. All they had was grey and black. Originally my car was never undercoated (sold new in S Texas) and I had a very nice example of the original primer. So I took that to the paint store and had paint mixed to  match. I painted the entire under neath with a good primer, then painted with the primer coloured paint then I put a flat clear on top for protection. A lot of work for the bottom of a car I got the clear coat locally and it was a Sherwin Williams product. Not labeled SW but thats who makes it. Went on as easy as any other paint, or clear coat and it just looks like a flat paint.

[roadking77]

2021-03-17_05-07-37 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
This was taken when the shop had the car doing exhaust install.
2018-04-26_08-53-44 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
And heres my bike I painted about 10 years ago with the flat clear. It still looks good (when I clean it, LOL).

[5th T/A]

Projectbird & Kerry, love the immaculate undercarriage on your cars. I’m one of those who admire and really appreciate what you have done.

Luke, glad you got your machines out. Looks like a lot of fun!

Lately in Northern Illinois, we have had mild winters and not enough snow for these machines. As a young guy had several friends with snow machines. I never had the right gear so I got pretty cold. In the early 70’s one buddy bought the first machine to break 100 mph. I have fond memories testing it out.

[FormTA]

I've been having trouble finding a good flat clear

[roadking77]

I guess ignorance is bliss. My bike was the first thing I painted with the flat clear coat. I had no problems at all during the process. Afterwards I had a number of people tell me that flat clear is very had to get right. Unlike a gloss there is no second chance of wet sanding and polishing. I guess I just got lucky.

[FormTA]

I know that it's kinda tough to spray. Just though to find it anywhere other that amazon or Ebay and they seem to be offbrand or just rebranded.  I may just have to buy a couple different ones and try them....

[roadking77]

I will look and see if I can find what I used.

[scarebird]

After multiple delays I finally received the Lemans in Portugal.   The customs warehouse broke the exhaust moving it around by forklift as it would not start after sitting in a conex for 5 months...

Exhaust was mended and temp insurance finally procured, so driving it for a bit until it hits a phase in registration where I surrender the WA tags and wait for the PT units.   This car really causes a stir here:  most cars are silver, gray or black - not Lucy Blue.   So there is that.   And of course it looks like nothing else on the roads, which are pretty narrow - including the 25 de Abril bridge shown below:

[roadking77]

If you dont mind me asking what took you to Portugal?

[FormTA]

That's wild!

[scarebird]

If you dont mind me asking what took you to Portugal?

It was time for a change.   I retired early as supply chain issues were getting worse and could afford to.   My wife was stationed in l'Estartit (Loran station) while in the Coast Guard so she lived in Europe before.  The plan is to tour about the continent like they used to before the war.

Portugal is cheap, weather good and the people here are great.

[roadking77]

Thanks, I wasnt trying to be nosey, its just not everyday I hear of someone moving to Portugal. This is not meant as a slight to your new country, but it seems like a country that is not talked about often. I have been to Europe but never to your area. My sister was a Spanish teacher in HS and took a few trips to Spain over the years and I have a brother that loved it there. I know Spain and Portugal are completely different including languages, but I would imagine the geography would be similar. It sounds like you have a great plan to move forward with.

[scarebird]

No offense take at all.

It has 10 million residents, so prettty small.  (un?)fortunately it is at the ass end of the moon as far as Europe is concerned so driving will be quite a bit to get anywhere.

I am brokenhearted at what is happening in the US now.

On a lighter note the Tubarao Azul (Blue Shark) has a new home.  We had a breezeway converted into something more useful, like a small garage for the Pontiac.   Eventually a shop will be built and equipped.

[N PRGRES]

No offense take at all.
I am brokenhearted at what is happening in the US now.

Its ok unless you own a Tesla

[scarebird]

Its ok unless you own a Tesla

When the J6 insurrectionists were pardoned, the rule of law died here.