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So…brownish color to the screws. Is this right guys? Or should I be touching these up with some flat black trim paint? Is this just faded anodizing / oxide coating?
Nice!
And no color difference when illuminated. So I think we’ll keep the drive side lamp in place for now.
As soon as the sun goes down, I'll head out to Woodward to test them out.
Looks really good Dave. I would have to guess that the new lens looks a lot better (when UNLIT) than the old original drivers side and may well be worth the price to get a new one on that side also. Just a quick tip on how to keep small screws on the end of your screwdriver. Get a roll of black STICKY DUM-DUM and put a small dot of it on the end of the screw. When you insert the screwdriver, it will keep it from coming off until you get it started and then when it's in, just rub the top of the screw and it will come right off.
The lens on the driver side is a lot more clear than the old one from the passenger side. I think the broken one took on some extra dirt and water inside, as that bullseye rock damage went all the way through. So for now, I'm going to let it ride. But yes, the next order from Hawks will have to include another one of those lenses.
We have a fantastic new facility here in Pontiac, MI, called M1 Concourse. Very high end luxury car condos, race track, and plans for shops, food, events…a fantastic idea. Something a lot of car guys had the vision for, but not the means to execute. I’m glad the fellow who got this up and running DID have a way to get it done. Not the first of its type, but the first around here that I know of.
This is an ex-GM factory site, turned build validation center (I made quite a few trips there when it was in operation in that form), closed when truck (full sized ute) sales crashed, and abandoned to Old Car Co. (the bankrupt assets of GM) and the RACER trust (a trust made of many brownfield GM sites to be disposed of at relative bargain prices). The buildings were razed, and the current facility imagined and built. Right on Woodward avenue (M1).
You can see info, an illegal after-closure tour, and a site map of the old facility here.
Admiring this nicely (factory) formed hood pad, with openings that actually line up with the vents in the hood, making them functional (unlike the ones on my T/A).
And another fellow POCI and Widetrackers Chapter 16 member, with a great looking GTA he’s owned since new. You might recognize this car from earlier in this thread, from a cruise night at Culvers, as part of a trio (his car, my car, and a black Formula that belongs to another forum member here).
Spent some time talking to this gentlemen…fascinating 4dr. convertible top…it’s a BIG convertible top/mechanism! Met up again later on Woodward. Nice fellow to speak with.
Last edited by DynoDave43; 07-17-2017 at 07:22 PM.
Reason: Updated with photo link from Flickr
Got my son moved off to college, so this is the first chance I’ve had to take the car out since before Woodward.
Our POCI Chapter receives a great deal of support from a local dealer, Golling Buick GMC (ne’ Pontiac). They have not been able to have their usual shows and cruises this summer do to major highway re-construction right in front of their dealership. So they partnered with the USMA (United Street Machines Association) and the local VFW for a Veterans Charity car show at a local park. I wanted to support the dealer, and the veterans, so off we went.
They had a nice turnout of about 50 cars, raised $600, and I won a nice 2nd place plaque.
Followed by a celebratory trip to the local ice cream shop.
The weather has been great so far this Holiday weekend here in Michigan. My brother is in town with his newest toy, a '73 Porsche 914. Lowered, hotter cam, dual Webers replacing the factory fuel injection, and an Ansa exhaust with a 5 speed and light weight. This little car scoots! We made it out to a local cruise night, and stopped on the way home for a quick photo.
Thanks to your guidance, I cut my air ducts yesterday for the Infiniti speakers. Now I just have to get some tape to close them back up! Mine was pretty easy since the dash was out and all the air ducts come off the back of the dash, so once I got them cut I pulled them out to make edge clean up easier.
I can't imagine doing it the way you did. Before I put it back in I think I am going to 1/4" closed cell foam the crap out of everything to try and abate any squeaks and rattles since I have it out anyway and that tin a foam shouldn't interfere with fitment
Hi instro84. Welcome aboard, and thanks for the comment.
No, there was a member here (who has now left the forum) who had a small number of sets made. He sold out of them several years ago. I bought these second hand from the "for sale" forum here, if I recall correctly.
A beautiful early fall day today. I couldn't resist taking the car out for a drive.
I had always eyed this building when it was a tired looking old place. Had dreams of fixing it up into a nice shop. Another fellow had the same vision, AND the money to carry them out. Good for him.
A beautiful early fall day today. I couldn't resist taking the car out for a drive.
I had always eyed this building when it was a tired looking old place. Had dreams of fixing it up into a nice shop. Another fellow had the same vision, AND the money to carry them out. Good for him.
Wouldn't that make a REALLY nice MAN CAVE with A/C-a lift-work bench-shelves-cabinets-tile floor-air compressor-built in sound system-frig-70" TV-full LED lighting-massage chair(really)built-in BBQ grill-Am I missing anything?
Wouldn't that make a REALLY nice MAN CAVE with A/C-a lift-work bench-shelves-cabinets-tile floor-air compressor-built in sound system-frig-70" TV-full LED lighting-massage chair(really)built-in BBQ grill-Am I missing anything?
That's pretty much what he did Ed. Went from a well worn commercial building, to the nice looking shop you see here. Don't know what all he has inside, but it is finished nicely there too. I've seen in when the door was open, but didn't want to look like a thief scoping the placing out.
Originally Posted by Faine
I've never seen those wheels painted red before! that looks awesome. Great looking car man!
Thanks Faine. Mantaguy was the first to point out to me that they are somewhat uncommon. 2 years maybe that they offered them in Bright Red? I thought they were OK when I bought it, and now I can't imagine them any other color.
Originally Posted by battman
Nice backdrop for a photo, car is looking great!
Originally Posted by mantaguy
Nice pic Dave,looking good.
Thanks guys. Winter is slowly creeping closer...have to get out and enjoy it whenever I can.
2 years maybe that they offered them in Bright Red? I thought they were OK when I bought it, and now I can't imagine them any other color.
In 1988 the 16" crosslaces could be ordered in red on Trans Ams.
At least that is what my product books tell me.
87 and 89 don't list a red option, neither do the others.
Yeah, it sort of is. He's a nice enough guy, an original owner of a very nice grey GTA, a POCI member, etc. I see him at several cruise nights a year. But he was just CERTAIN that they never offered those wheels in red. He'd spent his time since '89 when he got his car learning about 3rd gen. F-bodies, and had never seen or heard of red PW7s.
Of course, when I first bought my car and started posting here about it, I didn't know what a PW7 was, until Mantaguy taught me. So everyone gets a chance to learn something new from time to time.
Yeah, it sort of is. He's a nice enough guy, an original owner of a very nice grey GTA, a POCI member, etc. I see him at several cruise nights a year. But he was just CERTAIN that they never offered those wheels in red. He'd spent his time since '89 when he got his car learning about 3rd gen. F-bodies, and had never seen or heard of red PW7s.
Of course, when I first bought my car and started posting here about it, I didn't know what a PW7 was, until Mantaguy taught me. So everyone gets a chance to learn something new from time to time.
I had never noticed them before I bought my car either, NCC-2569. I come across another car with them every now and then, but only a few. Wish there was a way to know how many made, but that data just isn't out there as far as I've seen.
Running out of time for those fall events. Missed another big cruise night at the M1 Concourse (rained out) this week. Nothing much left on my radar aside from a show this coming weekend (and the forecast is not good for that one either right now), and a fall color tour / poker run / club meeting that is coming up in about 10 days.
No wonder I'm overweight. This club likes their food! Cider and donuts at the start of the run at 3:00pm, pizza dinner at 6:00pm!
Nice! Where do you store that thing in the car, though?
Well, that’s the $64 question, isn’t it? There really isn’t any better place to keep that soft case than there were the jewel boxes. So it will either lay in the rear foot well behind the driver seat, or be locked in the rear storage compartment. For now. But…I have a plan! It will be one of the many projects I hope to get to this winter.
But we’re not ready for winter yet. Our Pontiac Oakland Club International (POCI) Michigan Widetrackers (Chapter 16) had its fall color tour today. Despite threats of rain in the forecast early in the week, today turned out to be a beautiful, of brisk, fall day. A little lacking in fall color, but a great excuse to get out and drive.
We met at a local park at 3pm. Register, get a map, enjoy apple cider and donuts, catch up with members I haven’t seen in a few months.
You can see two 3rd gens in this photo. But there’s another one behind that black pickup on the right, and my car is at the end of the line on the left. So four 3rd gen. Firebirds…nice!
Then we’re off. One of my nephews rode shotgun to help navigate. Grab a couple of playing cards on the way out of the lot for the poker run that is part of this event, and down the road we go. Here we’re following a beautiful grey GTA, with a ‘78ish Trans Am behind me, and a 4th gen bird behind that. Two hours of driving, and about 80 miles.
Then back to our host dealer, Golling GMC/Buick in Lake Orion, MI. They are super supportive of our club, and of many cruises and shows in the area. Great people. This was our monthly club meeting (as well as post-tour dinner), and the dealer lets us set up on their service drive (a finished, heated and cooled auto-themed space). Can’t beat it.
Hopefully I’ll have a chance to do one or two more things with the car before the snow flakes fly.
And yes Ed, I missed the peak photo lighting by maybe 5 minutes. It was already getting just a few minutes too dark for the photos. Still good, but not quite perfect. For a spur of the moment photo op, taken with a cell phone, I'll take it.
I have a nicer digital camera, and I never seem to remember to bring it with me.
Had the BORLA system on my Formula and it sounded awesome. Nice rumble at idle and a roar at WOT. It is pricey, but how many times are you going to replace it? Plus if you spend the time (got all Winter) get out the chrome polish and shine that stainless up like chrome. One last thing, with the R.S. tailpipe, you can change the sound by using the different holes in the block off plates. Bonus is 10-12 extra hp than the stock unit. Also the dual dual tips look really cool.
We actually made a second cider and donut run this past weekend. Just a good excuse to get the car out and take a drive through the hills.
As for the exhaust, if I have some money to spend on the car this winter,
...and if I can get it into the front garage (electricity, heat, light) instead of the back, she does need a muffler. The factory original now has a hole the size of your fist on the driver side front edge. It's starting to get a little loud, in a bad way.
My plans have always been for a Borla or Magnaflow system. I really can't afford either one new, so it will likely depend on which I can find a good deal on used. My wife was just workforce reduced after 27 years with the same company, so money is pretty tight right now. Not to mention I work for the same company (same amount of time) and am worried about meeting the same fate, and our son is in college, company health care cost just more than doubled, among other financial demands. So lots of competitors for every dollar earned right now. If I would not have had such a guilty conscience about spending the money, there was a used Magnaflow system on Craigslist here just a few weeks back. But given all that's going on, I could not bring myself to pull the trigger. Would have saved $400 over new.
Just a quick thought, IF you buy it through eBay and use PayPal Credit, on anything over $100.00, you get 6 months to pay it off without ANY interest charges (IF paid off by then).Ed
Those are some beautiful pictures of your Bird with the fall colors! I hope to get out one more time with the TTA to take a few. Fingers crossed for this weekend. Things are at peak here.
08-07-2016, 03:58 PM
Ain't that a bit#ch,you gotta carry proof with you!! 
It will be one of the many projects I hope to get to this winter.
Ed 
