Re: 77 W72 trans am Restoration

I found this 77 t/a. #'s mach W72 400 auto. I got the interior out, and the back glass, and the old seam sealer scraped off the floor. its better than I thought. the left front must of had a bad heater core . full of pin holes. but ware the seam sealer was still looks like the day it was put on. This one is my wife's car so you'll see pics of her working on this one. MAYBE


junk pile



























not as bad as I thought it was going to be. I remember 10-15 years ago a t/a in this shape would of been parted. but you could also buy parts cars for a few hundred bucks to. those day are gone.

Is this it's current state, or have you made more progress? Keep us updated on this project. A lot can be learned by the other members,

Nice Videos. I really like the one of your garage.

Rick H

Nice original 1977 Trans Am! The car looks like a really nice find. It has a strong motor, matching numbers W72 Pontiac 400 engine and is an automatic. There is more rust than I would like to deal with, but it looks like it can be corrected .. nice job cutting, welding in new metal and replacing panels. This project car is a nice find and will be a great car when you are finished with the restoration.

When will Final Assembly take place? Can't wait for a video when you take her out the first time.

I hope its done for 2011 Bandit Run. but I'm in no big rush on it. I just got the doors and fenders back from Aesthetic Finishers , they baked them @ 800* for 4 hours them glass beaded them. I will be sending the doors to another place to have them dipped in some kind of metal sealer primer. trying to prime the inside of the doors will be a pain.

http://www.afipowder.com/industrial-commercial-service/thermal-stripping/

Nice job on this restoration and rebuild.

Hats off to a quality project. Nice link to the thermal baking process to remove paint...very different but great idea.

almost waveless. we put the t-top frame in to stiffen the roof. it will be ready to prime again Fri. then 400 wet block sand it. if it looks good after that , we'll move on to the other parts. and 600 wet sand the body later with the other parts.
and I pick up the rear end Fri. also got the rear spring install kit.

You're making Great Progress. Thanks for posting the new pictures and keeping us up to date.

Doug,

Looks like you are making good progress.

I always enjoy watching the body work that you guys do...it takes some talent to take a rough project and restore a car to make it perfect.

Nice job.

thanks guys, I dont know how perfect it will be. but the plan it to be better then stock. like body lines and lows and waves left in them from GM.

also I got the bullet proof the new eaton diff is installed

the body is about ready, so I thought I would prep the under side for paint. I started to dry sand it with 400 grit. to take the smooth off the epoxy so the paint will stick. the frame had rust pits in it. and the more I thought about what it would look like painted , the more it bugged me. so now I'm filling the pits.
the paint is a Dr. jekyll mix from my paint supply place. a base/clear and the clear is a semi gloss.




no more pits.


I also worked the front floor toe area that I replaced. it looked like crap.
before


you can see the lap of the toe and floor is backwards. so with a little trimming ,welding and the magic of glass work , it looks like this now.

I can officially call this a rotisserie restored t/a now.
its good to friends in the t/a community.

Doug what's it's scheduled revel date?

right now? know clue on getting it done. I was really hopping to have more done on it by now. I wanted it painted before it gets to cold.

but Im not going to rush it. I'm going to try for a POCI gold next year in Bowling Green Ky. we'll see. are you going to bring yours to Ohio next year? Norwalk or Dayton?

I'm good! I would hate to pay someone to do this. there is about 20hr's in it.

That's some excellent work there Doug. Looking good.

Me and my wife's uncle finished up all the body last night. And I got up early and washed it and gave it a quick coat of epoxy w/reducer to fill the 220 marks and seal the body work. Next it will get dry 180'ed then a reduced coat of urethane primer and wet sanded.
it might see paint before snow..

well I stoped on the 77 for about a week. my son became a dad last Sunday. all is well and my new grandson is just fine.

SO,, back to the 77. I hung the doors for a test fit. (good there)



the body was block sanded dry and fixed a few spots.

I added 5 new t-8 6 bulb lights to the garage. boy are they bright.




I took it off the rotisserie today and time for the wet sanding to start. I hope this is the last coat of 2k primer.
I'm ready to see it another color, and soon.
PS. the pics were taken without the flash. thats how bright it is in the garage now.
with only 5 t-8, 6 bulb lights.

Doug,

The body and doors look very straight.

You are making good progress on the body work.

The T-8 6 bulb light racks that you have are awesome...really lights up the garage.

You can probably light up our high school Foolball field for a night game...lol..

Nice job... oh yes, congratulations on the birth of your grandson too.

69_RAG_TOP wrote:

The body looks good... finish sanding is time consuming....I am sure you guys will get it sanded smooth as glass.

how about this pic. and this is just the first wet sand @ 220 grit.