72 TA : New Project

[njsteve]

Got the shaker back today. Assembled all the guts (linkage, wires and the two solenoids that are the same as a 69 Camaro cowl induction hood) and it actually works. 1972 was a weird year. Pontiac got smart and instead of using an entire Rube-Goldberg contraption working off the carburetor with a ton of extra parts, they used the existing turbo 400 kickdown switch and worked the solenoids off of that. That is why every '72 Trans Am, regardless of it being a 4-speed or automatic, has a turbo 400 kickdown switch attached to the gas pedal under the dash.

The only problem was adjusting the metal bracket to allow the switch to operate but not restrict full, wide open throttle. That took about an hour of assembly, test, remove, bend, reassemble, test...lather, rinse, repeat. You know the drill.

The switch:



The shaker, installed:



The contraption in action:

[mockingbird812]

<span style="font-size: 20pt"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Black'"><span style="color: #CC0000">Sounds gutsy when she opens up! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/[/img]</span></span></span>

[njsteve]

Found a guy on ebay selling the correct reflectorized month decals for California plates:

http://cgi.ebay.com/RED-DEC-california-l...=item53ddb426b1

So now I have the correct year and month expiration for the December, 1971 delivered car.

[MrsBillyBobcat]

COOL [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

[427TJ]

FYI Steve, I don't think CA went to the month decals (DEC) until the '80s. I think you want just the '72 decal and nothing on the other side if you want it to look as-delivered/new plates. Perhaps another CA veteran like Charley or ? can elaborate.

[njsteve]

Anyone with California knowledge feel free to comment. I have seen some vintage photos of cars with the month sticker on the left side. Either way it covers the later &quot;73&quot; sticker that someone stuck there.

[jbsides]

I can tell you for certain that the indetation for the month sticker has been on the plates since '63, and every original black plate I have had has had a month tag afixed to it. Not sure about the pre '63 yellow plates.
Did this car really come from Roseville up by Charley? I stay in Marysville all the time, and just had dinner in downtown Roseville a couple weeks ago, and I did not see or recall any GM dealer there. I wonder if it is still there.

You're car is flippin' awesome, BTW.

[John Brown]

My 63 California plates had the depressions on both sides but came with no sticker on either side. I bought them new in 1963 and there was never any sticker on them. I brought the car back to Indiana late in 63 so I can't say what happened in 64.

[njsteve]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jbsides</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Did this car really come from Roseville up by Charley? I stay in Marysville all the time, and just had dinner in downtown Roseville a couple weeks ago, and I did not see or recall any GM dealer there. I wonder if it is still there.

You're car is flippin' awesome, BTW. </div></div>

Thanks!

Yes, the car was sold new at Reliable Pontiac Cadillac in Roseville in December of 1971. Reliable is still in business but now is a mega-dealer in a different location.

http://www.reliablepcbg.com/HomePage

[x Baldwin Motion]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 427TJ</div><div class="ubbcode-body">FYI Steve, I don't think CA went to the month decals (DEC) until the '80s. I think you want just the '72 decal and nothing on the other side if you want it to look as-delivered/new plates. Perhaps another CA veteran like Charley or ? can elaborate. </div></div>

This is the original plate on my son's Nova. I guess not registered since 97. Can't make out the sticker in the photo, I'll take a closer look in the morning.