I put a deposit down on another F-body!

[jfo6900]

That bad boy def needs some love but oughta be a monster and look ama-ng when yer finished...gonna do an all original restore or customize?

[WMCC Doug]

Derek, I think we're having almost as much fun as you are with this project. Very cool development.

[banditXXX]

Well, I'm finally figuring this posting stuff out. This is just too crazy that you have my dad's old car. The past few months I have got the itch to get a 70's T/A. So finally I found the deal of the decade on my '78 and picked it up this past Sunday. I was just digging through some boxes at my mom's Monday lookin at pics of my dad's old '73 and the next thing I know someone was calling me Tuesday morning telling me her husband and her were restoring a '73 and found his old ID card in the dash, in Wisconsin of all places. This has been a crazy couple of days. My mom can't believe it, especially 25 years after selling it, she's definatley convinced that my dad is lookin over me. I hope you can bring it back to life. I'll definately send ya any pics and docs I find at my mom's on it. Thanks again for contacting me, I can't wait to see what ya do with it.

[92conv]

Well, I'm finally figuring this posting stuff out. This is just too crazy that you have my dad's old car. The past few months I have got the itch to get a 70's T/A. So finally I found the deal of the decade on my '78 and picked it up this past Sunday. I was just digging through some boxes at my mom's Monday lookin at pics of my dad's old '73 and the next thing I know someone was calling me Tuesday morning telling me her husband and her were restoring a '73 and found his old ID card in the dash, in Wisconsin of all places. This has been a crazy couple of days. My mom can't believe it, especially 25 years after selling it, she's definatley convinced that my dad is lookin over me. I hope you can bring it back to life. I'll definately send ya any pics and docs I find at my mom's on it. Thanks again for contacting me, I can't wait to see what ya do with it.

Wow guys!!! Now this is cool, congrats on putting the pieces of the puzzle together, and on getting in contact with each other. I really look forward to watching this car come back to life too!!

[meissen]

Last name was Meade? That's Craig's (9T8W66) last name too - maybe y'all are related? Congrats on the cool find!

[Xelerator]

Well, I'm finally figuring this posting stuff out. This is just too crazy that you have my dad's old car. The past few months I have got the itch to get a 70's T/A. So finally I found the deal of the decade on my '78 and picked it up this past Sunday. I was just digging through some boxes at my mom's Monday lookin at pics of my dad's old '73 and the next thing I know someone was calling me Tuesday morning telling me her husband and her were restoring a '73 and found his old ID card in the dash, in Wisconsin of all places. This has been a crazy couple of days. My mom can't believe it, especially 25 years after selling it, she's definatley convinced that my dad is lookin over me. I hope you can bring it back to life. I'll definately send ya any pics and docs I find at my mom's on it. Thanks again for contacting me, I can't wait to see what ya do with it.

Hey Bandit! Thanks for taking the time to post on this thread! This is exciting and any info you can give me (us) would be awesome. The more history I can tie to the TA, the more incentive I have to bring it back to it's glory. Please give me some time as this will not be a quick restoration (rust issues and lack of funds)

Now that you have seen the pictures, what do you think? She is rough! The TA has been sitting untouched, outside, in Wisconsin since approx 1991 and I am pretty sure it was rusty when parked in 1991! One thing I can tell you that we need closure on is that this TA was sold in Minnesota! Like you and I talked about, it probably ended up on the east coast (early 80's) because the Minnesota owner was also in the service and brought the car with him to the east. What I have to find is, who was this Minnesota person??

Bandit, I hope we can stay in touch, and any information you can find, let us know!

[Xelerator]

Last name was Meade? That's Craig's (9T8W66) last name too - maybe y'all are related? Congrats on the cool find!

Brian

I blocked out the card holder's last name. Meade stood for (what I believe) is Fort Meade, Maryland.

I am hoping to find some more cool stuff after I tear apart the defroster plenum/heater assembly!!

[Xelerator]

Here is an update, I removed the engine/tranny combo on 11/1/09. Not much to see here other than to show that I am still working on the 73 TA!
I will have some more pictures soon of my first restoration project for the 73, the distributor.
small_11-1-09 004.jpg

small_11-1-09 035.jpg

small_11-1-09 042.jpg

[Xelerator]

Ok, Here are some pics of the Distributor, this work was done on 11/29/09.


small_455 Alternator 049.jpg
Before

small_455 Alternator 050.jpg
Before

small_455 Alternator 061.jpg
Notice the blue paint over-spray, I took this shot to show the paint and the overall condition of the Aluminum before I glass beaded it. I wonder if the engine was painted from the factory with the Dist. installed?

small_455 Alternator 093.jpg
Taped off the machined surface to help preserve the machined look. I later took a purple Scotchbrite to bring back the machined/polished look

small_455 Alternator 096.jpg
After Bead Blasting

small_455 Alternator 097.jpg
Current State of Casting

[M_Juntti]

wow man, it looks like this car couldnt be in better hands. Cant wait to see her all done!

[TylerT/AZ28]

if you need parts im using, classic industries, paddock, performanceyears,NPD, ames, and butler, hope to see how it comes out

[Xelerator]

if you need parts im using, classic industries, paddock, performanceyears,NPD, ames, and butler, hope to see how it comes out

Are you offering me some parts, ha? I have heard of these guys but the Ames is new to me. Thanks for the heads up.

[Xelerator]

Since the shop where I do most of my winter restoration work (when it's cold and wet out) is over an hour away, I have not spent much time on the 73 TA.

However, I now have a bit more motivation since a low mileage 73 TA auto just sold on Barrett Jackson for 55k!! YIKES.

BUT, the big discovery as of yesterday (for me) was Goodmark is now going to reproduce the most desirable panel for the 70-73 Firebirds, the TAIL PANEL!! I can't believe it! Like I said in an earlier post, these panels in NOS form have brought as much as $1700.00!! Looks like Goodmark is going to reproduce these for just over $329.00!!

http://www.goodmarkindustries.com/pr...204321-850-701

I hope to have more project progress news in a few months from now.

[MP81]

Goodmark FTW! That's one hell of a price difference!

[Xelerator]

Wow, I have not posted an update since January 2010, I am sorry guys.

However, until recently, not much restoration has taken place. I recently left my current employer for a much better offer (note, a competitor of my current company recruited me) well to make a long story short, I left my current company, and after much begging and pleading to keep me, they walked me out the door. Shortly after that day, I got a nasty letter from current company's lawyer likewise so did my new company. After a couple of days of deciding how to handle these nasty letters, the company that recruited me just dropped me!! Now I am job less and have had some time to work on my 73 TA. I will say, the company that I left has been gracious enough to take me back, I think I may just do it just to keep a job.

Anyways, I will post up some progress pics here soon.