Restoration Tips

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=168 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <A HREF="http://www.78ta.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.78ta.com"><U><IMG SRC="401b83830.jpg" border=0 width="131" height="131" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A> <APPLET CODE="joybutton.class" WIDTH=126 HEIGHT=409> <PARAM NAME="GENERATOR" VALUE="CREATED WITH THE APPLET BUTTON FACTORY WWW.COFFEECUP.COM"> <PARAM NAME="GENERAL" VALUE="14|10|000000| |2|0|0|1000|Loading...|000000|FFFFFF|000000"> <PARAM NAME="BORDER" VALUE="0|000000|1|0|28"> <PARAM NAME="TEXT BOX" VALUE="-1|37|1|1|0|12|0|FFFFFF|1|0000FF|000000|1"> <PARAM NAME="0" VALUE="125|29|0|0| |2|12|1|FFFF80|000000|000000|http://www.78ta.com/photo/photo.htm| |0|0|3|1|24|C0C0C0|000080| |2|0|0|Trans Am Photos ~ |0|16|2|2|0|0|0|000000|FFFFFF| | |1|808080|0|000000|0|0|0|0|3|1|24|C0C0C0|000080| |2|0|0|Trans Am Photos ~ |0|16|2|2|0|0|1|000000|FFFFFF|My 78 Trans Am Photos, Visitor Photos, and More....| |1|808080|0|000000|0|0|0|0|3|1|24|C0C0C0|FF0000| |2|0|0|Trans Am Photos ~ |0|16|2|2|0|0|1|000000|FFFFFF| | |1|808080|0|000000|0|0|0| |"> <PARAM NAME="1" VALUE="125|29|0|29| |2|12|1|FFFF80|000000|000000|http://www.78ta.com/links.htm| |0|0|3|1|24|C0C0C0|000080| |2|0|0|Trans Am Links ~ |0|16|2|2|0|0|0|000000|FFFFFF| | |1|808080|0|000000|0|0|0|0|3|1|24|C0C0C0|000080| |2|0|0|Trans Am Links ~ |0|16|2|2|0|0|1|000000|FFFFFF|Trans Am Links| |1|808080|0|000000|0|0|0|0|3|1|24|C0C0C0|FF0000| |2|0|0|Trans Am Links ~ |0|16|2|2|0|0|1|000000|FFFFFF| | |1|808080|0|000000|0|0|0| |"> <PARAM NAME="2" VALUE="125|29|0|58| |2|12|1|FFFF80|000000|000000|http://www.78ta.com/restoration.htm| |0|0|3|1|24|C0C0C0|000080| |2|0|0|Restoration Tips ~ |0|16|2|2|0|0|0|000000|FFFFFF| | |1|808080|0|000000|0|0|0|0|3|1|24|C0C0C0|000080| |2|0|0|Restoration Tips ~ |0|16|2|2|0|0|1|000000|FFFFFF|Tips on Restoring that old Trans Am| |1|808080|0|000000|0|0|0|0|3|1|24|C0C0C0|FF0000| |2|0|0|Restoration Tips ~ |0|16|2|2|0|0|1|000000|FFFFFF| | |1|808080|0|000000|0|0|0| |"> <PARAM NAME="3" VALUE="125|29|0|87| |2|12|1|FFFF80|000000|000000|http://www.78ta.com/cowl.htm| |0|0|3|1|24|C0C0C0|000080| |2|0|0|Cowl Data ~ |0|16|2|2|0|0|0|000000|FFFFFF| | |1|808080|0|000000|0|0|0|0|3|1|24|C0C0C0|000080| |2|0|0|Cowl Data ~ |0|16|2|2|0|0|1|000000|FFFFFF|Cowl Data Information| |1|808080|0|000000|0|0|0|0|3|1|24|C0C0C0|FF0000| |2|0|0|Cowl Data ~ |0|16|2|2|0|0|1|000000|FFFFFF| | |1|808080|0|000000|0|0|0| |"> <PARAM NAME="4" VALUE="125|29|0|116| |2|12|1|FFFF80|000000|000000|http://www.78ta.com/vin.htm| |0|0|3|1|24|C0C0C0|000080| |2|0|0|VIN Numbers ~ |0|16|2|2|0|0|0|000000|FFFFFF| | |1|808080|0|000000|0|0|0|0|3|1|24|C0C0C0|000080| |2|0|0|VIN Numbers ~ |0|16|2|2|0|0|1|000000|FFFFFF|VIN Number Information| |1|808080|0|000000|0|0|0|0|3|1|24|C0C0C0|FF0000| |2|0|0|VIN Numbers ~ |0|16|2|2|0|0|1|000000|FFFFFF| | |1|808080|0|000000|0|0|0| |"> <PARAM NAME="5" VALUE="125|29|0|145| |2|12|1|FFFF80|000000|000000|http://www.78ta.com/build.htm| |0|0|3|1|24|C0C0C0|000080| |2|0|0|Build Sheet ~ |0|16|2|2|0|0|0|000000|FFFFFF| | |1|808080|0|000000|0|0|0|0|3|1|24|C0C0C0|000080| |2|0|0|Build Sheet ~ |0|16|2|2|0|0|1|000000|FFFFFF|Build Sheet Information| |1|808080|0|000000|0|0|0|0|3|1|24|C0C0C0|FF0000| |2|0|0|Build Sheet ~ |0|16|2|2|0|0|1|000000|FFFFFF| | |1|808080|0|000000|0|0|0| |"> <PARAM NAME="6" VALUE="125|29|0|174| |2|12|1|FFFF80|000000|000000|http://www.78ta.com/misc.htm| |0|0|3|1|24|C0C0C0|000080| |2|0|0|Trans Am Info ~ |0|16|2|2|0|0|0|000000|FFFFFF| | |1|808080|0|000000|0|0|0|0|3|1|24|C0C0C0|000080| |2|0|0|Trans Am Info ~ |0|16|2|2|0|0|1|000000|FFFFFF|Trans Am Information| |1|808080|0|000000|0|0|0|0|3|1|24|C0C0C0|FF0000| |2|0|0|Trans Am Info ~ |0|16|2|2|0|0|1|000000|FFFFFF| | |1|808080|0|000000|0|0|0| |"> <PARAM NAME="7" VALUE="125|29|0|232| |2|12|1|FFFF80|000000|000000|http://www.78ta.com/special.htm| |0|0|3|1|24|C0C0C0|000080| |2|0|0|Special Edition? 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Info"><U>Misc. Info</U></A>   |   <A HREF="feedback.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Feedback"><U>Feedback</U></A>   |   <A HREF="media.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Media Files"><U>Media Files</U></A>   |   <A HREF="special.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Special Edition"><U>Special Edition</U></A>   |   <A HREF="nats.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2006 Trans Am Nationals"><U>2006 Trans Am Nationals</U></A></div> <div> ___________________________________________________________________________________________________</div> <div> Restoration Tips<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#C0C0C0" FACE="Arial" > <STYLE TYPE="text/css"> BODY { scrollbar-3dlight-color: bright red; scrollbar-arrow-color: white; scrollbar-base-color: black; scrollbar-darkshadow-color: black; scrollbar-face-color: black; scrollbar-highlight-color: bright red; scrollbar-shadow-color: black} } </STYLE>  </FONT></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="7f250fc0.jpg" border=0 width="336" height="252" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>Details about fixing up and restoring your old Trans Am.</B></div> <div> ( If a word is underlined, click on it to be taken to the page that describes what I did for that phase)</div> <bR> <div> <B>     </B>I know I have been kinda behind in updating this page with the projects that I have completed for the Winter of 2003/2004.  But, stay tuned because I have completeed alot of interior projects like recovering the seats, <A HREF="http://www.78ta.com/resto/headliner.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.78ta.com/resto/headliner.htm"><U>replacing the headliner</U></A>, replacing the back deck, and replacing the carpeting.  So, I am working on those pages now and will have them posted up here in the next few weeks.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Here are some of the Projects that I did in the Winter of 2002-2003:</B></div> <bR> <div>      I started by replacing my <A HREF="http://www.78ta.com/resto/idler.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.78ta.com/resto/idler.htm"><U>idler arm</U></A> because I had some play in my steering.  That was an easy job and didn't take that long.  I have also replaced my <A HREF="http://www.78ta.com/resto/leafspring.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.78ta.com/resto/leafspring.htm"><U>rear leaf springs</U></A>, which wasn't so easy of a job, but not that bad.  If your Trans Am has <A HREF="http://www.78ta.com/resto/seatfix.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.78ta.com/resto/seatfix.htm"><U>leaning seats</U></A> like mine did, here is an easy fix for that.  I have also updated the <A HREF="http://www.78ta.com/resto/parts.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.78ta.com/resto/parts.htm"><U>Price/Parts</U></A> page on what I have spent so far, I let this go for a while, but now it is up to date.  Check out the bottom of this page for the link.  Last Spring, I did put a brand new <A HREF="http://www.78ta.com/resto/exhaust.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.78ta.com/resto/exhaust.htm"><U>exhaust system</U></A> on my car and flushed out the <A HREF="http://www.78ta.com/resto/radiator.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.78ta.com/resto/radiator.htm"><U>cooling system</U></A>.  I have also posted information on refinishing those <A HREF="http://www.78ta.com/resto/rims.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.78ta.com/resto/rims.htm"><U>Snowflake Rims</U></A>. As you my have noticed in that in any of my projects I never talk about jacking up the car.  That is because I do the projects in the Winter and I already have the car up on jack stands for a few reasons.  Check out this page to see what you need to do to <A HREF="http://www.78ta.com/resto/jack.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.78ta.com/resto/jack.htm"><U>store the car</U></A> for the Winter.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1c79fc80.jpg" border=0 width="159" height="200" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>  If you have no idea what you are doing, then I would recommend taking your car in to a qualified mechanic.  I have worked on cars before, but I am by no means a mechanic.  With all of these jobs that I did to my TA, I had help from Hayes manual (to right -->).  This manual breaks down these tasks in more detail and specifics  than I have on the following pages.  If you know your way around the car, then you should be able to perform all of the things that I have done.  If you don't know your way around, then please take your TA into a professional.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Here are some of the Projects that I did in the Winter of 2001-2002:</B></div> <bR> <div>      I already redid the <A HREF="http://www.78ta.com/resto/frbrakes.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.78ta.com/resto/frbrakes.htm"><U>front brakes</U></A>, <A HREF="http://www.78ta.com/resto/rbrakes.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.78ta.com/resto/rbrakes.htm"><U>rear brakes</U></A>, and <A HREF="http://www.78ta.com/resto/mastercyl.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.78ta.com/resto/mastercyl.htm"><U>master cylinder</U></A> because when I brought the car out for it's last ride I was able to push the pedal all the way to the floor.  I don't think that it is a good sign.  Once your are done with these projects, you need to <A HREF="http://www.78ta.com/resto/bleed.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.78ta.com/resto/bleed.htm"><U>bleed the braking system</U></A>.  Stay tuned and will mark more pages as new when I complete a project.  Over the years, I have done some minor cosmetic changes to the car.  Just replacing parts here and there to keep the car looking good.  I placed them all on the same page because they don't need their own page.  Also on this page is how to <A HREF="http://www.78ta.com/resto/cosmetic.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.78ta.com/resto/cosmetic.htm"><U>remove window tinting</U></A>.  Go check it out <A HREF="http://www.78ta.com/resto/cosmetic.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.78ta.com/resto/cosmetic.htm"><U>HERE</U></A>.</div> <bR> <div> <B> </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Here are some of the Projects that I did in the Winter of 2000-2001:</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div>      As the winter approaches, I have decided to take apart the engine first and give it a full tune up and fluid change. I started by doing the normal <A HREF="http://www.78ta.com/resto/oil.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.78ta.com/resto/oil.htm"><U>oil & filter change</U></A>, then went on to change the plugs, plug wires, cap, coil, & rotor, air filter, PVC valve, fuel filter; <A HREF="http://www.78ta.com/resto/carb.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.78ta.com/resto/carb.htm"><U>rebuilt the carb</U></A>, which included accelerator pump and choke pull-offs (I had help from Dave across the street for this one); changed all of the <A HREF="http://www.78ta.com/resto/hoses.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.78ta.com/resto/hoses.htm"><U>vacuum hoses </U></A>; <A HREF="http://www.78ta.com/resto/transmission.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.78ta.com/resto/transmission.h"><U>transmission gasket & fluid change</U></A>; <A HREF="http://www.78ta.com/resto/rear.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.78ta.com/resto/rear.htm"><U>rear gear gasket and oil change</U></A>; changed the <A HREF="http://www.78ta.com/resto/valve.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.78ta.com/resto/valve.htm"><U>valve cover gasket</U></A>; flushed the coolant system; <A HREF="http://www.78ta.com/resto/scoop.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.78ta.com/resto/scoop.htm"><U>replaced the shaker scoop sea</U></A><A HREF="http://www.78ta.com/resto/scoop.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.78ta.com/resto/scoop.htm"><U>l</U></A>; replaced the <A HREF="http://www.78ta.com/resto/window.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.78ta.com/resto/window.htm"><U>window runs</U></A>; replaced the leaky <A HREF="http://www.78ta.com/resto/steering.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.78ta.com/resto/steering.htm"><U>power steering</U></A> pump; and slightly modified the exhaust. I had to do this because my engine was running too rich because of choke problems and the Catalytic converter basically melted from the inside out. The car was also riding really hard on the street, so I replaced the front <A HREF="http://www.78ta.com/resto/springs.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.78ta.com/resto/springs.htm"><U>coil springs</U></A> and shocks all the way around.  I also put in a new <A HREF="http://www.78ta.com/resto/stereo.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.78ta.com/resto/stereo.htm"><U>Stereo system</U></A> with 6-disc CD changer, 400 watt 4-channel amp and 10 inch subwoofer.  Since I did that upgrade to the stereo, I also put in a new higher output <A HREF="http://www.78ta.com/resto/steering.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.78ta.com/resto/steering.htm"><U>alternator</U></A> to handle to power needs of this.  Back in August, my <A HREF="http://www.78ta.com/resto/heater.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.78ta.com/resto/heater.htm"><U>h</U></A><A HREF="http://www.78ta.com/resto/heater.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.78ta.com/resto/heater.htm"><U>eater core</U></A> blew out, so I had to replace that as well.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> If you want to know how much I have spent so far, go here:  <A HREF="http://www.78ta.com/resto/parts.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.78ta.com/resto/parts.htm"><U>Parts</U></A><A HREF="http://www.78ta.com/resto/parts.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.78ta.com/resto/parts.htm"><U> </U></A> </div> <div> If you want an alphabetical listing of these Projects: <A HREF="http://www.78ta.com/resto/restoalpha.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.78ta.com/resto/restoalpha.htm"><U>Click Here</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> © 2001-2008 <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="mailto:hitman@78ta.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:hitman@78ta.com"><U><U>Hitman's Trans Am Page</U></U></A></FONT>. All rights reserved.</div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>