77TA Resto Reboot - a long journey to an LS swap

[stros]

Have you had a chance to calculate your mileage?

I haven’t paid much attention to the MPGs.  I’ll track it next time I fill it up.  I have 3500 miles on the LS3 now.

[stros]

http://www.transamcountry.com/community/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=83837.0;attach=7362;image

Is your rear bumper cover still the rubber type? I noticed the 499735 strip installed. My 78 bumper cover was close to immaculate but had slight ripples or waves between each hole where riveted. So I've also sourced a couple of the strips to clamp it all down. Not original, don't care. The jacking brackets often had me thinking too. Originality aside, not going to ever use them and they are a tad clumsy otherwise. Could just as easily unbolt, leave off and panel over the cutouts if respraying covers. I'm sure others have done it but not really noticed. And cheaper to do nothing.

It’s the original urethane bumper that I had a shop near me repair.   The fiberglass ones I could never get to fit.

[stros]

The stereo project is done.  As mentioned in another thread I also decided to swap out my center dash speakers.  That was a bit of an effort but in the end not that bad.  Added two 4” Infinity reference speakers to the dash in addition to the 6.5s in the kick panels and 6x9s in the rear deck mentioned earlier. 

I still have the JBL Fuse split subwoofers hidden in the trunk with the dedicated SSL amp ($90 1000 watt 2 channel amp off Amazon). 

I added a new JBL 8 channel DSP amp to power the 6 new speakers.  Using 6 of the channels as it doesn’t have enough power for my subs.  A pretty good deal for <$300.  The DSP allows you to specifically tune every single speaker separately.  Given the unconventional speaker setup it’s really great at allowing me to put different amounts of power to each speaker so they sound better together.  It’s a bit complicated to dial in but I think I’m happy with my settings now.  I’ll continue to fiddle with it. 

The DSP amp has no presets and it has to be adjusted using a windows laptop.  Would’ve been nice to adjust it on your phone instead. 

I have a couple of issues I decided to deal with some other time - my quartz clock died again…it was working fine before I removed it.  It’s a repop Classic Industries tach that I’ve had replaced under warranty due to the last clock dying.  This one lasted a few years.  It seems super fragile.  I’m going to live with it not working.  Maybe an excuse to go with digital gauges for a future project.  My light socket behind the fuel/battery gauge - which wasn’t working earlier - also completely snapped off when I was trying to replace the bulb. 

[stros]

Pics of the new grills on the kick panel speakers that clear the parking brake much better and also included a pic of the DSP windows app in case you’re interested (this is a generic image not my current settings).

[b_hill_86]

So, is that OER tach the 79-81 version (function, not font) or is it the earlier version jist with a quartz clock? It’s too bad you have a 77. I have a nice set of 79 gauges. I may have that secondary gauge bulb socket if you want one.

[stros]

Thanks Brian.  I actually ordered a replacement socket already. 

The OER tach gauge is the one for the 1977.  Not going to spend another $360 on another one.
https://www.jegs.com/i/OER/691/5659065/10002/-1

[b_hill_86]

Alrighty no problem