My new 1988 T/A

[DynoDave]

LOL...yeah, I couldn't scrape the ice off the van windshield this morning...hands hurt too much.

I'm guessing re-anodizing will be too expensive. May leave it as is, or consider having it powder coated. But that too will probably be more money than I want to put into this $10 part. In a few years, the rest of the trailer will match it, and I'm not polishing that bad boy.

[MP81]

I can't imagine it would be oppressively expensive, but more than likely a couple hundred bucks, due to the size.

[farmington]

Maybe finish cleaning it by hand then shooting a few coats of clear on it.

[DynoDave]

I think you are right Kyle, and a few hundred bucks is going to be too much for this this $10 part. Job 1 is UV protection, decent appearance is required, but it's not a show piece.

I may just spray bomb it in clear. Won't last too long, but there are quite a few spots where the anodizing is compromised. Without some kind of protection, it will look pretty bad in those spots pretty fast.

[DynoDave]

While it's tough to do much with an anodized coating, I tried polishing an area of it with Flitz. Section on the right and middle have been done, the left side has not. It helped bring it back to more of a silver color, and less of a milky white look.



I think this is about as far as I'm going to go. Stripping the anodizing, and having it reapplied is just more money than I want to put into the old part. I may clear coat it, but that's about it. My finger tips are not looking forward to finishing this job.

[DynoDave]

Sort of like potato chips...I just couldn't stop.

Went around once with the Flitz, and was very pleased with the progress. Took a nylon panel beating hammer and straightened a bend near the latch. And looking it over thought, this one spot didn't come out well...and that lead to going over the whole thing a second time. Made a great difference, and now I AM DONE. My arm, shoulder and fingers demand it.




The centers arrived in the mail too. One for the front, one for the back.

[farmington]

Damn. Looks new.

[MP81]

Impressively done!

[DynoDave]

Just completed my registration for the 2019 Trans Am Nationals!

Anyone else registered yet?

[DynoDave]

Registration card for the T/A Nationals came in the mail this week. #27!

[DynoDave]

When we bought our Trans Am a few years back, I put some cash into it, and borrowed the rest. Just a cheap used car payment was all I could afford. With two kids in (or about to be in) college, I couldn't justify tying up a lot of money in a toy. So borrowing allowed me to have my cake, and eat it while I'm still young enough to have some teeth. Most importantly it allowed the kids to enjoy some time in the car before they left home.

I'm sure this is not terribly interesting to others, but the loan is paid off as of last week, and she's all ours.

With several other project cars (IE: not running), I promised I'd leave this one alone until it was paid for. So the original date coded hoses, plug wires, etc. have all remained in place. But now, as time and money permits, I can allow myself to make a few small changes.

She comes off storage insurance on 4/1, and I can't wait to take our first drive of the 2019 cruising season!

[farmington]

Congrats.

[MP81]

Always nice to pay off a vehicle, good work!

[farmington]

Always nice to one less payment every month too

[DynoDave]

Thanks guys.

Yes, by coincidence, the house and the T/A paid off on the same day. No complaints here!