Today I... "Redux Edition"

[70_71_78]

It's funny, I have been trying for the last year or two to plan a trip that way for those reasons. Just have not found a good time mesh with other family member that would be interested and can do week day travels like us retire folks.

[roadking77]

Just got back the other day from a 3000 mi. circumnavigation of the midwest. I have been wanting to take a long road trip for awhile just because. On my bucket list was some bit of travel on Rt. 66. We left MD last thursday morning, through PA, then Ohio, Indiana, spent the night in Illinois. I didnt know at the time that we were only about an hour from Pontiac Ill. Unfortunately we drove through the area in the morning and although I was within 10 miles of Pontiac and a couple of museums, it was too early to stop so we moved on. I did cross over rt 66 if that counts at all  Will have to hit a drive on it the next time From Ill. we ended up in Iowa City. My wife is a huge Hawkeye fan and we had tickets for the football game on Sat. Which was our main reason for the trip. Sunday moved on to the KC area where I spent some time with a Trans Am friend. Left there Monday morning heading to Nashville for a couple of days, then onward to home. I am sure I passed a few TAC'ers along the way. Not many pics, but will post what few I have.

[roadking77]

Some of the sights from my recent trip
2023-10-31_07-39-16 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
2023-10-31_07-37-40 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
2023-10-31_07-38-01 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
2023-10-31_07-37-56 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr2023-10-31_07-39-05 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
2023-10-31_07-38-12 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
2023-10-31_07-40-10 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
The combine was in front of Kinnick stadium for the tailgating ritual. All painted up in team colours, the one side opened up and there were a couple of large flat screen tv's mounted. I have seen a lot of things tailgating but this one takes the top prize, LOL.

[roadking77]

2023-10-31_07-37-25 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
Big nostalgic drag race day at the local track on Sat. Passed this fellow on the road. Was trying to get there but other things came up.

2023-10-31_07-37-31 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
Then we saw this fellow at lunch, 53 chevy on bags.

[FormTA]

The combine is awesome! Rock what you got!

[Jack]

Just got back the other day from a 3000 mi. circumnavigation of the midwest. I have been wanting to take a long road trip for awhile just because. On my bucket list was some bit of travel on Rt. 66. We left MD last thursday morning, through PA, then Ohio, Indiana, spent the night in Illinois. I didnt know at the time that we were only about an hour from Pontiac Ill. Unfortunately we drove through the area in the morning and although I was within 10 miles of Pontiac and a couple of museums, it was too early to stop so we moved on. I did cross over rt 66 if that counts at all  Will have to hit a drive on it the next time From Ill. we ended up in Iowa City. My wife is a huge Hawkeye fan and we had tickets for the football game on Sat. Which was our main reason for the trip. Sunday moved on to the KC area where I spent some time with a Trans Am friend. Left there Monday morning heading to Nashville for a couple of days, then onward to home. I am sure I passed a few TAC'ers along the way. Not many pics, but will post what few I have.

Sounds like it was a fun trip, thanks for posting pics.

[ryeguy2006a]

Cool trip Kerry! Thanks for the pictures, that's really cool.

[FormTA]

Today I drove my Trans AM for probably the last time this year. I actually had to charge the battery.  I think my little mishap the time before killed the battery.  Some day I need to check the pinion and trans angle. I get a vibration over 60 mph. The carci pulled the engine and trans from was smooth and my car was smooth (if I remember correctly 25 years ago). I never checked it when I dropped the LS and 4L60E in so it's probably off. Maybe if I get time this winter and I want to take a break from working on the 49 Ford F1 I'll jack it up and see where they are at.

[roadking77]

Dont say for the last time I try to keep my car ready to go at anytime. As long as the salt hasnt hit the roads Im good to go. Besides, the motor runs better on cold air than hot
I have never had the battery die, but I dont have any phantom draw either. Was debating on getting a battery tender. I may get one for my son for Christmas, with a double bank I could tap into it just in case.

[nas t eh]

I thought yesterday was my last ride for the year, so I filled it up and parked it. But the weather has improved for the week, so I took the car to a local High end paint shop for some touch ups they say they can have done by Friday. Then I went and picked up a M20 I had at a shop getting rebuilt. The plan will be to install it next week once I have the car back.

Also will be installing the passenger side mirror and both door locks once the car is back. The paint touch ups are at both of those locations.

Usually I don’t have much forward progress without a number of stumbling blocks or setbacks, I’m expecting both before I’m actually able to accomplish any of the above work……So we will see how well it all goes.

[FormTA]

Found this photo on the web of the 1976 Detroit autorama Y88

[b_hill_86]

Can’t help but notice how high that car sits. I frequently see people post and complain how new suspension components, even when installed “right” make the car sit too high. A lot aren’t far off from that picture. My car was actually roughly that height. I lowered it about an inch+ to get a stance I liked that balanced header ground clearance. Sorry for the tangent lol. Just thought it was noteworthy.

[roadking77]

Cool picture. I love looking at period photos of cars, you get a much better idea of what they were originally as opposed to a 'correct restoration' which a lot of times is an over restoration. Agree on the stance, it may be that the car was put together a week before it hit the show? Also of note, its obviously an L.E. but there is no 'badge' on the fender below the trans am decal.

[72projectbird]

My 77 TA will be ending on BAT in about a day. So far is been a pretty good experience this time.

[Jack]

My 77 TA will be ending on BAT in about a day. So far is been a pretty good experience this time.

BAT?

[roadking77]

Bring A Trailer. Very popular online auction site.

Will have to check it out. Glad things are going good this time, hope the sale is good and it goes through. I have heard some good and bad as well. Please let us know how things end up.

[rkellerjr]

Today I .... did nothing

[Jack]

Me too, nothing wrong with that.

[scarebird]

Bring A Trailer. Very popular online auction site.

Will have to check it out. Glad things are going good this time, hope the sale is good and it goes through. I have heard some good and bad as well. Please let us know how things end up.

It worked out pretty good for the most part.  Took BAT a long time to get around to listing the car.  And they are really proud of their ad prose; you wish to change it for brevity or clarity and they get pissy.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1979-pontiac-firebird-trans-am-21/

[scarebird]

On another note I found out the cam I used in my LeMans has a drastically different grind than what was advertised.  This Gen V 5.3 was supposed to get the LT1 grind (200/207°) but was given the LT4 (188/223°) instead.

Not happy.

Also not the only one; the vendor notes they and other vendors got the wrong info about the 12664572 cam from GM on this.  Michigan Motorsports is making good - full refund, but I have to send the cam back.  I am replacing it with the 6.6 liter L8T cam (193/199°) grind.

[stros]

Happy Thanksgiving!  Today I spent my afternoon primarily in the trunk of my Trans Am

I had one of my 2 subwoofers driving me nuts with a static / buzzing noise.  Redid the wiring and adjusted some amp settings.  All better now.  This is the JBL Fuse subwoofer that splits into 2 sections that I’ve attempted to hide in the corners of the trunk.  Not gigantic amounts of bass but good enough for rock music.

[72projectbird]

Happy Thanksgiving!  Today I spent my afternoon primarily in the trunk of my Trans Am

I had one of my 2 subwoofers driving me nuts with a static / buzzing noise.  Redid the wiring and adjusted some amp settings.  All better now.  This is the JBL Fuse subwoofer that splits into 2 sections that I’ve attempted to hide in the corners of the trunk.  Not gigantic amounts of bass but good enough for rock music.

That's a clean install! I need to do over the trunk in my 71. I have two Kicker 10" subs, a Kicker 2 output sub amp, a Kicker 4 output speaker amp with 2 crossovers. It hits pretty hard, but I don't like how it's laid out. I didn't know how I wanted it when I installed it all, and now that I do it bugs me that I didn't take the time to figure it out the first time.

[FormTA]

[/quote]

It worked out pretty good for the most part.  Took BAT a long time to get around to listing the car.  And they are really proud of their ad prose; you wish to change it for brevity or clarity and they get pissy.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1979-pontiac-firebird-trans-am-21/
[/quote]

Congratulations on the sale!!! Hope you got what you wanted. Looks like you had a good bidding war.

[scarebird]

It worked out better than I thought it may.

I did not know at the time that it was picked by BAT for a special social media push.   I am told they highlight half dozen cars a day for this by a few friends who spotted it online due to this marketing push.

She is a pretty girl and you know how they are treated...

[nas t eh]

Got the car back from the paint shop on Monday then took it to the alignment shop on Tuesday for a second try at getting the rear end true on the springs and the springs true in the car. Picked it up this morning and happy to report that the two issues with the paint are resolved, I also had the shop install the door lock cylinders so I wouldn’t screw up the paint again. The rear alignment is complete and correct now. The drive home was great and the car is running pretty well.

Then I get a call from my son that our grandson has a cough and needs to come home from daycare, grandpa to the rescue. Straight to their home in the Firebird for grandson play time my son can go back to work.

[5th T/A]

[quote author=nas t eh link=topic=83337.msg19789#msg19789 date=1701203936

Then I get a call from my son that our grandson has a cough and needs to come home from daycare, grandpa to the rescue. Straight to their home in the Firebird for grandson play time my son can go back to work.
[/quote]

Your grandson has the coolest grandpa around!

[FormTA]

That's awesome! Can you post the most current picture you have of the car?

[FormTA]

Got new tool, kinda. I bought a power drive kit for my bead roller.

I bought a Woodward bead roller months ago and found a decent deal on a eastwood power drive kit (the Woodward and eastwood bead rollers are basically identical).


I have been collecting metal working tools so when I get to the 49 F1 front sheet metal I am prepared.  I haven't got to use the bead roller, shrinker/stretcher or the English wheel yet. We'll see how I do. I have a pretty good understanding of sheet metal and how it reacts as I'm pretty good with a hammer and dolly. But I'm excited to start learning.

[roadking77]

Sounds like fun Luke. I wanted to buy both a bead roller and shrinker/stretcher when I did my 77. I really could have used it as there was a ton of metal work. Another thing I wanted was a box break. I have a large break for aluminum work but its way too light to do any steel. I have plenty of experience bending stuff though IF I ever get to my next project I know I will need those tools.

[scarebird]

...trying to chase down a non-start issue with the LeMans.

[FormTA]

I can't remember, did you do a efi conversion on that? I'm thinking you did.

[scarebird]

Yes, initially Edelbrock Pro Flow 4 but now 5.3 Gen V.

May be a grounding issue since I painted the engine.

[scarebird]

It was a grounding issue - third ground behind the power steering pump was missed.

[FormTA]

Seems like all electrical issues are ground related.  Glad you got it sorted!

[72projectbird]

Today I bought a Hmmwv

[FormTA]

Really? That is awesome! Government surplus/fixer upper? Does it go down the road?

[72projectbird]

Really? That is awesome! Government surplus/fixer upper? Does it go down the road?

Government surplus out of Georgia. Listed as a non runner, although everything is there. I'm waiting on the government paperwork to go thru before I can pick it up.

[5th T/A]

Cool, a real off road vehicle.  I seem to recall they can climb over a 36" wall, or something like that.

[FormTA]

That should be a fun project for sure. If you feel like it I would be interested in a thread on it.

[76455sd]

72Proj.  You have quite the eccletic collection. Any movement/progress with the Corvette Summer car?