72 TA : New Project

[njsteve]

Here's the remainder of their arts and crafts activities for the day. We replaced all of the marks that were found on the rear as it was in the car, no extras, just the orginals. I printed out photos of the marks and gave them to the kids to duplicate. Here's the 5-year-old's masterpiece. They are available for contracting out on outside restoration projects. They now consider themselves "Semi-Random Paint Application Restoration Technicians."

[njsteve]

Anyone ever see one of these? I found it in the bottom of my driver's side fender last year and didn't think it belonged to the car so I tossed it in the garbage but it missed and landed on the back of my workbench and it's been there ever since. The other day I was perusing the 71 and 72 Pontiac repair manuals and found this diagram that explains exactly what it is! Turns out it is the original horn relay cover, installed at the factory. I have no idea why they used it but I guess I'll put it back on since it came from the car.

[shor]

That's great getting the kids involved.
I am sure they will remember that for a long time!

[njsteve]

Just got the original power brake booster back from Steve Gregori in California. He does an awesome job on these units. I have the entire brake system done now but have to clean up the rear leaf springs before I can reinstall the finished rear and hook up the rear brake line.

The master cylinder is a 5470409 but it doesn't have the bleeder screws. The original one on the car was the same way: no bleeder screws. So I am still wondering if the car, being a late 71 build should have a master cylinder with the bleeders or not? Anyone have an opinion on this???

[DaJudge]

Nice detail work Steve, your TA is looking good ! The master cylinder should have the bleeders, I may have one in my attic above my garage and will check for you. It was off a 71 TA I used to own 15 years ago. I had my 10 year old daughter help me out with some paint daubs as well. She really liked it as well.

[njsteve]

That would be great if you could find one. I've been checking all the parts stores and it's kind of the luck of the draw whether you get one with the bleeders or not. So far, not.

[njsteve]

I've spent some time away from the T/A doing the holiday thing. But back to work now. With the rear dif all finished, it's time to hit the springs. I disassembled one of the leaf spring assemblies by gently tapping the spring clamps to each end with a wooden mallet so I wouldn't have to try to unbend them. I then removed the center bolt and wirebrushed each spring leaf, washed them, coated them with oxy-solv rust killer and then painted them in cast iron engine paint. I then greased the plastic insulator pads and reassembled the spring pack and then tapped the clamps back into place. The spring steel that the leaves are made of is really rough and pitted, even without having been rusted. I guess that's just the quality that came from the steel mills back in 1972.

I have been thinking about how to duplicate the factory stenciled part number and ended up with this solution: I took a photo of the part number next to a ruler, uploaded the photo to my computer and then reduced the file size until the image of the ruler on the screen was the exact size of a ruler I held up to the screen. I then printed the photo out in black and white and cut the letters out with a razor knife...and voila, a perfect stencil for the original PL-461612 1972 455 HO with a/c rear leaf spring assembly!