New project has arrived. Having recently sold my green 72, I was looking for a project car that I could do a lot of the work on and make all the important decisions on instead of just buying somebody else's creation. Looking to see if I'm up to the challenge of transforming this rough survivor into a clean, reliable driver that I can have some fun with without the worry of putting a scratch on the car.

Bought this car from the original owners family. Bought new in Michigan and stayed there a short while before relocating to Georgia. Have a picture from 1973 with the great grandparents standing with the car. Also have the broadcast card showing the W29 option.

Original color is Viking Blue with white hood and side stripes but was repainted a darker blue at some point. All sheet metal on this car is original with no patches anywhere. Floors are great. There has been some water in the trunk from a leaking rear window so the trunk pan is scaly but no apparent holes. Also, some issues around the package tray. Front cowl area is clean with no visible issues.

Code 'M' 350, 4 bbl, dual exhaust. Numbers matching drive train. Motor is free but hasn't been run in several years. Original OAI car. Missing ram air setup...DANG! Hood is nice with one crack in the fiberglass, metal frame is real nice with no rust. Other options buckets/console, SS1's, AC, AM/FM, courtesy light package, disk brakes, factory rallye pack with fasten seat belt pod on dash.

Car needs a lot of TLC but is mostly all there and mostly all original. Solid starting point for a nice driver with some rare options. Still has the rear end stamp on the frame rail and inspection markings on the firewall.

Let the FUN begin!!

 

Nice find Scott! That should be fun. Was it a vinyl top car? Also, the rims look to be pontiac....?

 

Not a vinyl top car. Also, the rims are a matching set of 72 SS1's but you're right, they do resemble Pontiac rims with the faded center paint. The spokes definitely need a good shine. Thanks for the comments!

 

Very nice looking project and looks pretty solid from the pics. What happened to the mirrors? Finding a one owner car after all that time is really amazing; plus the fact that it really appears to have been cared for!

When you get a chance can you post a pic or 2 of those cowl stampings? The Firewall Stamping Thread

 

Great find Scott. I look forward to seeing it in person. Call me if you ever need a hand with anything.

 

I think you ought to do a budget build and note the costs of your project from start to finish including the price of the car. To see how it reflects on the comparison of purchasing a finished one.

 

Nice car! One owner, all there and a driver.....my kind of fun...good luck!

Ted

 

Looks great! I like the rebuilding/restoring process as much as driving them. You definitely have a good eye for cars.

 

Great find.

 

Nice car and great project

 

Thanks! A budget build is definitely the plan. Total budget including purchase price, etc is $10K. I realize this will never be a high dollar car so having fun and possibly acquiring a few new skills in the process is the objective. Throwing money at the car and replacing every piece with a pit or scratch on it is not in the plans. Original parts to be restored, rebuilt and not replaced. Anyway, here is a pic from 1973 so the car was probably less than a year old at that point. sorry, the pic is small. It was converted from a 'pdf' and couldn't figure out how to resize. Obviously, the car was not the focal point of this picture!

 

Bigger pic.

 

That is a great looking car and it is way cool to have a vintage pic like that

 

Great Score! Why can't I find one of those! Even if I have no more room in the garage! haha

 

What was the actual purchase price? I bought mine for $5k and setout on the same path as you, I'm up to about $16k now.

 

The old pictures are awesome. I just got 3 pictures of my car from the original owner from 1972. I will post them later on my thread.

 

Well, months later and I'm still cleaning the engine compartment. Wasn't originally planning to detail or paint much under the hood until I had at least driven the car for a season but the MAW disease has reared it's ugly head.

So, have just been cleaning/de-greasing/painting as I go. Having a real hard time finding a Satin black that I'm happy with. Found a semi-flat at the parts store that is close for now. Just don't want to spend $20/can for the correct underhood black.

Anyway, the power steering reservoir was damaged from fools prying against it to tighten the belt. So, straightened that out the best I could and repainted. Also, bent my pulley trying to get it off. Thanks OldsPackRat for the replacement pulley.

Carb looked like it needed some help so took it apart and rebuilt. Never did see the clip that holds the needle to the float so not sure how it could run like that. Also, the pump rod was bent, gaskets brittle and leaking, etc. Glad I took the time to do this. For cleaning, soaked the parts in Purple Power in a 5 gallon bucket for a few days. Took them out and brushed some of the tough spots and rinsed off...looked great.

Working on the core support now. Appears to have some minor issues around the battery tray but everywhere else looks great.

 

Looks really nice Scott!

 

Just rescued these powder coated 15's from a life on an S-10. Like the look and thinking about running these without the trim rings...I have the center bezels to reinstall. But, I do need a set of centers if anybody has an extra set, let me know. Thanks.

 

Been a long time since I posted anything on my 442 but work continues at a snails pace. Motor is back together and running after many years (15-20). Interior is back in with the exception of the door panels. All of the sheet metal on this car is original (and rough), the interior including carpet and seats are original, drive train is original, I have the matching factory set of SS1's. I went through all the coins that I found in the car and the latest I could find was 1992 so it's been off the road a while but slowly getting it sorted out...with a Big assist from Steve (SAMPSON)!! Next plan of action is getting the factory OAI hood repaired and back on the car. Just sent my hinges out to ***** (Muscle Car Hinge Repair) in Virginia for a rebuild. Will be nice to have the car whole again after the last several years. Anyway, for those that like pics, here is a link to a photo album that I've been updating along the way. There are a couple pics showing my broadcast card discovery. That was actually card #2. The seller also gave me one when I bought it. Happy New Year!!!!!!!!

https://picasaweb.google.com/1114930...eat=directlink

 

Glad to see your still at it and doing well. How's the budget thing working? There is only 1 picture in your album. Happy New Year to you and yours also.

 

Link should be corrected. Budget? What budget?? Actually, I'm pretty close to where I wanted to be at this point which is under $5K ... total. Still, lot to be spent on paint/body...if I decide to do that...may just drive 'as is' for now and enjoy the survivor look although looks more like a junkyard dog at this point.

 

Great work! I was wondering about you a couple weeks ago. Hadn't seen any posts lately from you.

 

Kool W-machine, congrats.

Btw I have a pair of sport mirrors available for 71-72 if you need them.

 

Nice find

 

Wow, a great find. Will be a nice driver with the M-code 350 engine. Also nicely optioned with a nice mixture of performance and luxury items. Body is in good shape for an original Michigan car.