All the regret - 81 Trans Am

[Blackbirdws6]

Tonight was interesting. More prep work and sanding. Dad spent most of the day running a new fuel hard line. I tossed in a new coolant temp sensor and fired it up. All was well until I saw rain underneath the car. Pops attempted a hard bend and pop went the line with fuel squirting right on the muffler. After much evaluation, I decided to give things a go with a new hard line. I used much of his as a template which helped and learned how to flare the ends. We had an advance auto rental tool which I broke, repaired and improved with a C clamp.

I replaced the line, primed the pump and started the car. A factory hard line at the front now decided to leak. I decided to simplify things and ran the soft line from the regulator right to the new hardline which thankfully reached.

For now it's good and she runs again.

[LS1ow]

If/when the time comes for ballin lines, the guy me and kirk used does everything in satin black braided line

[Blackbirdws6]

Originally Posted by LS1ow

If/when the time comes for ballin lines, the guy me and kirk used does everything in satin black braided line

This was a "make sure the car doesn't become a fireball/runs/drives" situation. I need to get a gauge on the fuel line since I am assuming this thing is getting too much fuel. Old plugs had tons of carbon on them but still worked. The new plugs made a big difference. It does start up pretty well though and holds an idle lol.

[Blackbirdws6]

So it was quite the weekend. Pops was working on the body work Friday after the rain stopped and all day Saturday. While sanding, he broke through the primer in a few areas so those got a recoat late Saturday evening. He was probably out there until 11:30PM but it was now all one color again.





I loaded the truck with all the parts later in the day and planned to get the car on the trailer in the AM. With the car on the trailer, I noticed one of the tires looked low on air. I assumed I got a nail and sure enough....yep. Good thing I have a spare right??? The spare mount has two studs and nuts. It seems the trailer place that tossed this one for me crossthreaded one of the nuts but thankfully my impact got it off. I let it sit on the ground for a good while before attempting to handle it.





The spare went on and off we went to Pt. Pleasant. At this point, the AM didn't go as I planned and was now running about 1.5 hrs late. To say I was pissed and in a crappy mood was an understatement. Thankfully we didn't hit much traffic and it all got there safely. My Dad and I met up with my sister and Adam for lunch. Adam was nice enough to crack the shop open to plug and swap the wheel/tire.



Pops will be in Pt. Pleasant until the car is painted and put together as much as it can be. It's almost convenient he is down the shore in the summer time..... Almost like he planned it this way. Hmmmm.

Hopefully it will see paint within the next two weeks.

[IROCZman15]

awesome !

[LTb1ow]

Alan doing the work?

[LS1ow]

Why do the first 2 pics look like hes going 150mph

[Blackbirdws6]

Originally Posted by LTb1ow

Alan doing the work?

Yea.

Originally Posted by LS1ow

Why do the first 2 pics look like hes going 150mph

Turbo wheels play with your eyes.

[Jersey Mike]

Thought pops was floating in pic 2

[sweetbmxrider]

Originally Posted by LS1ow

Why do the first 2 pics look like hes going 150mph

He's an excellent sand beggar

[Blackbirdws6]

I haven't been at the shop but from what I'm told, all my Dad's hard work has been paying off. The car may get some color this weekend. Some frame to body alignment was needed which got done yesterday. The cars lines were good before and now they are outstanding.

[Jersey Mike]

Wow, panel gaps look tight, straight and even. Great job!!

[Anti_Rice_Guy]

Better than new!

[Blackbirdws6]

Its really wild how much adjustment they provide you from the factory. We will see how this weekend goes. I plan to stop by today after a meeting close to the shop to drop off some additional parts.

[Jersey Mike]

Everything is OEM I assume? To this day I curse my aftermarket hood.

[Blackbirdws6]

Originally Posted by Jersey Mike

Everything is OEM I assume? To this day I curse my aftermarket hood.

All OEM body. Only one area cut/patched for the drivers side footwell.

[sweetbmxrider]

Originally Posted by Anti_Rice_Guy

Better than new!

Exactly. Its coming out nice.

[Blackbirdws6]

Sneak peek. What color will it be?

[Blackbirdws6]

Well those of you on social media already know the color but for those staying off the grid, here is where she ended up Saturday night. Alan from All Time Auto Body did a great job laying down the paint. It is essentially a volvo metallic silver under lazer blue (somewhat translucent) with clear over top. There is a little "crushed glass" in there as well which will pop when the sun comes out. The depth and character of the paint is amazing. It will be dark in one image, light in another so it's like owning 6 cars at once. The outside images were thwarted a bit by overcast skies so we will see this thing really pop in the sun.

Next is sanding and a final buff to make this like glass.

Pops watching on patiently in the "delivery room". He decided to start a Vlog during this process which somehow led him to developing an italian's version of a southern accent.









Kchow!






I purchased a full suspension for the car today from Custom Works. I went with their 2G kit including Koni Red shocks. I also picked up new lower control arms as well from them.

[ThoR294]

So pretty

[Jersey Mike]

I love it.

[sweetbmxrider]

Come a longggggg way! Excellent work from everyone involved really helped nail this finish.

[MDSheds_SS]

Gonna look sick with those 28” chrome dunk wheels and low pro tires...

[LS1ow]

Brushed nickel faces with polished barrel CCW Classics are in the mail yet ?

[IROCZman15]

that color is amazing! all his hard work on the body lines paid off big time. very cool. great progress has been made!