TAC Spotlight => Projects & Restorations => Topic started by: N PRGRES on June 30, 2023, 05:56:39 AM
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Hello all! Well it has been ages since I have posted. Work and starting (and ending) a business has sucked up alot of time. I got the TA running but little else. At least I could drive it but she got very little TLC. This year I am working to at least get her back on track and that started with a good detail. I have more work to do but I just needed to see her shine.
So here are some photos. The guy did a paint correction with a ceramic coat. Seeing it this shiny has me a bit torn. While I love a clean sharp painted car, I also feel like her imperfections tell the story of her life, maybe I am just cheap lol.
A quick recap. She is an 81 TA that was originally a 301 N/A. She spent most of her life in FL so she had very little must. The 301 was long gone when I bought her in 2012 and replace with a 73 400 coupled to a T350. I tore it down and redid quite a bit mechanically, basically its all new and the motor was tore down and rebuilt. I got it back on the road in late 2019 and have but about 1000 miles on it since then.
I have some things that need done. The left front fender needs fixed. I HAVE to get fuel injection, sorry but I HATE carbs. The seats need recovered as well as some minor interior detailing done.
First photo is the before and then the after
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Great to see you back posting! Last year I converted my '69 to F.A.S.T. fuel injection and I like it! Since your can is like mine (non-original) I say mod it like you want it.
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Beautiful car love that color, I have the sniper quadrajet also runs timing, love it.
Tom H
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Beautiful car love that color, I have the sniper quadrajet also runs timing, love it.
Tom H
Thats my plan, I have heard good things about that set up
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Since I brought my ‘79 ta and have been working on it I had picked out a color (cinnamon pearl) that I would like to finish it in but your pics…
If I promise never to drive in your neighborhood could you share more about the paint? That color is awesome .
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Car looks great, good to have you back and working on it. These cars are all works in progress, but we have to take time to enjoy them too.
I have the Sniper Quadrajet as well and it is highly unlikely that I would go back to the carb. The only issue is the idle is too high, but I need to put in timing control.
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FINALLY got the splitters put on, only took about 5 years but who's counting lol
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They look good. No sense in being in a hurry :grin:
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That's a beautiful TA. Love that color...nice to see something different.
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They look good. No sense in being in a hurry :grin:
Why rush a good thing? lol
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That's a beautiful TA. Love that color...nice to see something different.
Thank you! :grin:
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Don't know how I missed this. While the car looked good to start, I think the paint correction looks fantastic. I have an original paint 1980 TA that looks great from 5 feet away, but up close is showing its age a little. I have no idea what it costs, but think your car looks fantastic. The splitter tail pipes are also a huge improvement over what the factory did with the Camaro tail pipes.
Question about your 15X8" snowflake wheels. Did your car come with these, or did you add them? The reason I ask is mine came with Rally II's painted body color, but I am itching for the 15X8's like yours. If you purchased them, where did they come from? Any issues?
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Don't know how I missed this. While the car looked good to start, I think the paint correction looks fantastic. I have an original paint 1980 TA that looks great from 5 feet away, but up close is showing its age a little. I have no idea what it costs, but think your car looks fantastic. The splitter tail pipes are also a huge improvement over what the factory did with the Camaro tail pipes.
Question about your 15X8" snowflake wheels. Did your car come with these, or did you add them? The reason I ask is mine came with Rally II's painted body color, but I am itching for the 15X8's like yours. If you purchased them, where did they come from? Any issues?
Thank you! Yes the paint correction was a huge improvement. I paid $550 but it was the basic. He says he can get more depth and this winter I will probably let him. It’s cheaper than a paint job.
The wheels are from year one. Mine came with turbos which I hate. I have had to issues with them at all.
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My goodness its been awhile! I wanted to revive this thread as I have some projects planned for 2025. First thing is to get the exhaust fixed. As I have mentioned in other threads, it hangs a bit low and I need to correct that. Other immediate projects are replacing the chrome door handles with black, as well as the locks, and getting the drivers side window adjusted and secured. I'll post pics as they come.
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So I got my parts in today, a VSS generator for the transmission and a 16 point connector for the gauges, and trial fit the gauges and bezel. This is the first time the bezel has been “installed” since I got it back from Randy.
The wire harness for the gauges is from newradsolutions.com. Quality construction and it labeled to easily identify which wire from the OEM harness go to the new gauges. I am super happy with how the Speedhut gauges came out. I had the faces done to get as close to the oem markings as possible.
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They look good!
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Always hear good things about speed hut! looks great!
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Those look awesome! And I am glad for you that they were marked pretty good.
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Those look awesome! And I am glad for you that they were marked pretty good.
I actually had the markings done to replicate my stock gauges as much as possible
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+1 Bezel and gauges look great. Very happy with my SpeedHut gauges too.
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Got a small project done. The drivers door handle needed replaced so I got that done. I went with the black handles since all the trim on the car is black. The passenger side will need done also. It took 2 times to get one that wasn’t chipped. Forgive the dirty car.
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Those look nice.
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Not a ton to report other than I finally got the drivers side window 99.9% adjusted. The radius on the front still is off a bit but that could be more of a weather strip issue than the adjustment. It’s not a monumental change but it’s something I have been putting off for awhile. Yes the car is still dirty lol.
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From here it looks pretty good. I am not looking forward to that part with my car.
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Nice! I see you have coated blow out clips. Did you coat them? Looks good!
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Nice! I see you have coated blow out clips. Did you coat them? Looks good!
I haven't done anything with them, it came that way i guess
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Did some testing, ok playing with the new gauges. Trying to get an idea on how I am going to lay out the wiring and such. Won’t be too bad with that aftermarket harness I got. Photos of the tach with just the lights and it running. Overall super easy.
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Wiring up the gauges trying to get everything routed and cleaned up. Overall very happy with how Speedhut has the wiring set up. The downside is that in moving stuff around this summer, I lost the wiring for my temp/oil press gauge :x so I'll have to order that. Need to clean up that yellow tach gauge wire from testing :shock: :shock: The look once it's done is going to be really nice.
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I ran SpeedHut gauges in my 76 and loved them. Great choice!
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https://youtube.com/shorts/Yd-jBVeYPaM?si=d4-M4qkFDy7mGoUF (https://youtube.com/shorts/Yd-jBVeYPaM?si=d4-M4qkFDy7mGoUF)
Got the Spintechs on and wow I love them so much better than the Pypes. I still need to get the tail pipes connected, it may need to go to the shop for that
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Great to see progress on the old girl Dave, I like the "black out" handles on the doors.
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I have been wanting one of these for awhile and finally scored one today
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Nice. I have a GM version somewhere on the shelf. I was gonna restore and put it in my 77. Not a high priority though. I have heard people that put them in say it was not worth the effort but they are cool to look at and have in place.
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It’s a good conversation starter and I hear it adds 15 HO! :shock: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin:
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The GM version would be interesting to see
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Nice. I have a GM version somewhere on the shelf. I was gonna restore and put it in my 77. Not a high priority though. I have heard people that put them in say it was not worth the effort but they are cool to look at and have in place.
I put a GM 1968 version out of a GTO in my 71, it did not work as well as my friend's 70 Cutlass SX factory unit. It did not like the 200-4R kit either...
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It’s a good conversation starter and I hear it adds 15 HO! :shock: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin:
:lol: :lol: The GM unit looks just like the standard shifter. If you did not know what it was you would miss it. I think I know where it is. I will post a pic if I can find it easily enough.
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It’s a good conversation starter and I hear it adds 15 HO! :shock: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin:
:lol: :lol: The GM unit looks just like the standard shifter. If you did not know what it was you would miss it. I think I know where it is. I will post a pic if I can find it easily enough.
Cool
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Talked with speedhut and another member on here and realized I need the speedhut sensors to get my oil press and temp gauges working, which isn't a huge deal. Luckily GM put a nice big hole in the middle of my firewall for the computer engine control wire harness so I have easy access. I ordered some new grommets from Amazon and hopefully will get these installed this weekend.
If nothing else I need to get the exhaust buttoned up this weekend, which shouldn't take more than an hour, so I can get the TA moved back to it's home that just got insulated.
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Gone some work done on the gauges yesterday as I wait for the temp and oil sender units. I also noted I got 4' wire harnesses for those sensors and not 8'. I have to say the customer support from Speedhut, while maybe a little slow, has been outstanding. They realized that they sent the wrong harnesses and immediately sent out the right ones. They also have been very patient with all my questions on getting these running.
The first photo is some of the wiring. I got it all cleaned up and organized into harnesses last night. The turn signals, high beams and digital display are now all connected. I have yet to hook up the VSS to the trans and run that wire, and of course install the sensors mentioned earlier.
Overall I am over the moon happy with this layout. Its one I have wanted to do for years, since I got the car 11 years ago, and its turned out much better than I thought it would.
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Its nice that everything is coming together as it should. Those gauges do look nice.
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I had never really given thought of putting in aftermarket gauges but those do look nice. The snowflake wheels look great on the car as well.
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Gone some work done on the gauges yesterday as I wait for the temp and oil sender units. I also noted I got 4' wire harnesses for those sensors and not 8'. I have to say the customer support from Speedhut, while maybe a little slow, has been outstanding. They realized that they sent the wrong harnesses and immediately sent out the right ones. They also have been very patient with all my questions on getting these running.
The first photo is some of the wiring. I got it all cleaned up and organized into harnesses last night. The turn signals, high beams and digital display are now all connected. I have yet to hook up the VSS to the trans and run that wire, and of course install the sensors mentioned earlier.
Overall I am over the moon happy with this layout. Its one I have wanted to do for years, since I got the car 11 years ago, and its turned out much better than I thought it would.
Wow that looks awesome!
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Thanks Guys, Sadly 12 hour shifts for the last 3 weeks have put a bit of a hamper on things
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I havent been working that much but yes, I know how you feel. I too was moving along pretty good but got busy with work that slowed the car work down a bit.
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We should go back to our normal 8 hour - 5 day schedule today, I'll probably sleep for a week
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I would think so. Fortunately I have never worked shift work, but over the years have done a few jobs that had to be done after hours (banks/restaurants). We would work an 8hr day. Go home get dinner and start back up around 9pm or so and work until 3am or so. Get a few hours sleep and go back to work. I was not fond of those jobs! These days I dont make as much as I should but I can pick my schedule/hours.
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Yes, the Speedhut gauges have a nice professional look, kind of a step up. It satisfying to do an organized job of wiring where everything goes through a few main plugs.
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Awesome, beautiful car. What are the tire sizes?
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We should go back to our normal 8 hour - 5 day schedule today, I'll probably sleep for a week
I've always said, "who-ever invented 40 hr work weeks, need-ta be shot". And OT, don't get me started. Keep up the fwd progress.
Coming along nicely.
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Those definitely look awesome! Really crisp/ sharp.
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We should go back to our normal 8 hour - 5 day schedule today, I'll probably sleep for a week
I've always said, "who-ever invented 40 hr work weeks, need-ta be shot".
Actually when the 40 hour week was started by Henry Ford, it was a reduction in weekly hours worked! :? :? Thanks for the compliments!
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Awesome, beautiful car. What are the tire sizes?
Thanks! The tires are 255/60-15 all the way around
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Nothing monumental to report. Finally got my Speedhut temp and oil press sensors connected. Now working on the speedo. Will be nice to have that again, it's been a few years lol. Lets see, I also changed the oil, no pics of that lol
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Got all the gauges wired up, will be nice to have a speedo again! If you look on the dash you'll see that little panel that goes into the dash. This is being modified with a cell phone mount and charging port. After that I am awaiting on a few small parts, LED bulbs and such, to close it out. Hopefully this weekend the dash will be back in the car.
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FINALLY got the dash done. Added the cell phone mount and charging port on that panel in the lower right corner. Also, I made sure to get a short charging cord as I hate how they dangle all over the place.
Also ordered the insert for the scoop from restore a muscle car. I think it gives a more finished look to the open scoop.
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FINALLY got the dash done. Added the cell phone mount and charging port on that panel in the lower right corner. Also, I made sure to get a short charging cord as I hate how they dangle all over the place.
Also ordered the insert for the scoop from restore a muscle car. I think it gives a more finished look to the open scoop.
The gauges look perfect. Wish I went that route instead of buying the Classic Industries repop gauges.
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Ya, dash looks really good!
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FINALLY got the dash done. Added the cell phone mount and charging port on that panel in the lower right corner. Also, I made sure to get a short charging cord as I hate how they dangle all over the place.
Also ordered the insert for the scoop from restore a muscle car. I think it gives a more finished look to the open scoop.
The gauges look perfect. Wish I went that route instead of buying the Classic Industries repop gauges.
I was pretty picky on them. I wanted the dual gauge for the Oil press and temp, and even though they are from the side instead of top and bottom, I feel it keeps the look somewhat. I also didn't want the gauges "gawdy" with extra graphics and such. Just enough change to notice they are different while still looking "stock"
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Ya, dash looks really good!
Honestly, it came out better than I expected.
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Just ordered new door panels, pretty much the last large interior item but I wanted them before the Pont Nationals in July. Currently they have about a 40 day lead time so I should get them installed before that
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I actually changed the order and went with the standard interior panel. I actually like these a bit better and there are some plans that these will be better for in the future.
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I used the Legendary panels on my TA. I had issues with the push in tabs pulling out and ended up using trim screws.
Were I to do this again I would look at velcro.
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I used the Legendary panels on my TA. I had issues with the push in tabs pulling out and ended up using trim screws.
Were I to do this again I would look at velcro.
The metal or plastic tabs?
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Like everyone else, spring projects have taken up a slew of my time. I am getting my new garage/shop wired so that's a plus. I did get the tail pipes put on Friday. I am not 100% sure I am sold on the mufflers. I like how the spintechs sound but I might have a model that is louder than my liking.
I also worked on getting my seats straight in the car. The universal brackets seem to have them sitting cocked towards the doors (on each side) so I am working on that.
Photos soon I promise.
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I love those SpeedHut gauges!! Nicely done.
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I love those SpeedHut gauges!! Nicely done.
I do as well however they are hard to see IMO during the day. They seem to have a bit of a glare. I will probably wire the lighting circuit to have them lit all the time instead of just with the headlight switch.
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Part of this project has been to always add little clues of things that are either a modern spin on old parts, or adding something from the era of the car, for instance I really want to find my tassel from high school, because that is something you would see hanging from a rear view mirror back in the day. Anyway, my modification now is the his/hers Hurst shifter. Its rough so I started the clean up and restoration of it. I got a rebuild kit from the shifter-dr on eBay and another little gem you'll see in the last photo. This is an item that would be period correct and something you might not notice right off the bat unless you were looking for it. . I'll be sandblasting alot of the items and I bought a buffer kit for my dremel so it should clean up nice.
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Got the door panels yesterday from legendary, very happy with the quality as far as I can tell. I probably won't get them installed for a few weeks but I'll post when I do.
You may notice I went with the standard and not the deluxe that the car came with. The reasoning is that there will be 6.5" speakers going into the door and I liked how it would look better (see photo with spacer ring). The speaker will actually be going onto the door, as it's a Moreal Nano carbon and very shallow. That will allow me to have the speakers more in the cabin area without cutting any metal. It also frees up the kick panel area for the AC when I get that back going again.
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Since I mentioned the speakers, I thought I would include a link
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_210VNC62/Morel-Virtus-Nano-Carbon-62.html (https://www.crutchfield.com/p_210VNC62/Morel-Virtus-Nano-Carbon-62.html)
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I used the Legendary panels on my TA. I had issues with the push in tabs pulling out and ended up using trim screws.
Were I to do this again I would look at velcro.
The metal or plastic tabs?
Plastic.
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New door panels will make a big difference. I like the screen on the scoop. I bought some mesh just like that from Ryan years ago. When I was cleaning out the office after my fire I found the box! So now when I get a chance I can add that to my 77.
I have my HS tassle hanging from my rearview :-D
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New door panels will make a big difference. I like the screen on the scoop. I bought some mesh just like that from Ryan years ago. When I was cleaning out the office after my fire I found the box! So now when I get a chance I can add that to my 77.
I have my HS tassle hanging from my rearview :-D
Yeah I am pretty excited to get them on. Sadly I won't have time to do them before the Pont Nationals this weekend =(
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I was looking at those Morel thin speakers initially too. Let us know how those sound - was worried they wouldn’t sound great given how skinny those are. I just barely managed to fit my Infinity speakers into the kick panel area.
I like your idea of trying to fit them in the door. Losing my kick panel fresh air vent controls on mine wasn’t probably the optimal solution.
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I was looking at those Morel thin speakers initially too. Let us know how those sound - was worried they wouldn’t sound great given how skinny those are. I just barely managed to fit my Infinity speakers into the kick panel area.
I like your idea of trying to fit them in the door. Losing my kick panel fresh air vent controls on mine wasn’t probably the optimal solution.
I won't be putting them in till next year but they have gotten great reviews. I am also a bit skeptical on the sound but a midrange shouldn't need to work too hard if you have a sub
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I have been really happy with this model of the Morels.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczMB8Ajyg3gXDc5tMU2sEs84K7RDzLBQz4rH9Yd4E_crNSVuJwss8IJ3jCVJInN6OyE6pSseJQ9c9By9lS_PP2n9hDJtd-aVfPrWBGP32iW0BHabFzO_=w600)
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I have been really happy with this model of the Morels.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczMB8Ajyg3gXDc5tMU2sEs84K7RDzLBQz4rH9Yd4E_crNSVuJwss8IJ3jCVJInN6OyE6pSseJQ9c9By9lS_PP2n9hDJtd-aVfPrWBGP32iW0BHabFzO_=w600)
Nice!