Patrick, it would be kinda hard, that was So. Cal , hard to find palm trees in Missouri and I don’t think he has that jacket anymore !
Other than looking for an original GM belt for the Alternator and the A.I.R. Pump (I’m hoping someone here can help with) I’ve done about all I can for the engine bay.
The story on The Survivor is the original owner worked at UAW Buick plant in Flint and ordered the car, you couldn’t pick it up at the plant so it was delivered for $18.00 to the nearest dealership in Davison, Michigan, Belford Motors, which is within 5 miles of the Plant. This is why there’s no Dealership noted on the original paperwork, order form or window sticker. I had this Frame made and also found this UAW commemorative plate they gave to employees back in 1980 that I thought would look good in the front.
Something you 1970-72 owners can’t do that we 73-74 guys can, use our front bumpers as a side table or even a picnic table for food!
Finally found and installed the 2 correct GM belts the car was missing, alternator and AIR pump, installed and happy. The old Gates alternator belt was gonna die soon anyway.
Well, the right guy got this car. I run stuff at the Pure Stock Muscle Car Drags. I made a verbal deal on the car after driving it, then on the drive home talked myself out of it. I started adding up costs of all the things I was going to replace to race it..... 2&1/2" mandrel bent x pipe exhaust, 15" rally wheels, Tires, belts, hoses, shocks, pull engine, change Cam, gaskets,etc. Service trans, shift kit,etc. Added all this stuff up in my head on way home, and car got expensive real quick. Left as-is, as a survivor is exactly what needed to be done. Kudos to you. It looks great preserved and improved. I wouldn't have been able to leave it alone, it would have ended up, not a survivor, not restored, nor heavily modified, would have been just a good running, nice old car with some minor underhood restoration of paint, decals, etc. Looking good my friend. I already have a 73 GS455, and on the trip home I was like, if I'm going to do all that stuff to a 73, I might as well do it to mine.
Thanks Tom, I appreciate your thoughts, last year when yours came up for sale I seriously considered it because I was looking for a 73 for a long time but I’m kinda a Stage 1 snob, but this car fit me perfectly. In a weird way I got Lucky because of you>>>>>>thanks!
I did take several detailed underhood pics of that car. It's like a rolling assembly manual. Everything is as it should be, inspection marks, decals, correct finishes,etc. And I know the guy who has it now that can provide more pics to us 73 nuts.
The last 2 days have been spent on finding why the seatbelt warning light and buzzer didn’t work. At first I thought it was just the bulb but no, then with help from guys here on V8 providing information on how the whole system worked I looked into the retractor assembly. First the wire in the retractor had been cut to disable it, then due to 50 years of use the contacts within had some slight carbon/ wear to it so I sanded it lightly and cleaned it, replaced the bulb which was ok but put in a new one anyway and now it’s all working g as it should. And just a note the door buzzer and the seatbelt buzzer are separate, not the same one.
hey there Brent, car looking awesome can't wait to see it in person. A question for you, would you know where I can find the original upper radiator hose part number? I would like to find a picture or something that I can have a rubber stamp made to reproduce the look. I need someone that has a parts book. ps: Tom Miller if you can help me find this info I would greatly appreciate it. thanks Fernando
I have the parts book at home… will look it up when I get home later tonight. Edit: This is what the October 1976 Chassis and Body Parts Catalog shows: Upper Radiator Hose - 1972-1974 455 / 1247987 Lower Radiator Hose - 1971-1975 455 / 1234738
Sent this photo to Fernando. Only one I have now. It is not sharply focused. Car are in storage. If and when I have a chance to take another photo I will.
Is it too late to say I'm green with envy? Years ago their was a 73 350 for sale near my work. It had some small rust issues in the usual places and it would have emptied out my checking account. Still, it was a reasonable price and decent overall. Still regret passing on it. Wrongly figured another one would come by. Congrats on one heck of a score!
Got a pair of original Wittek tower clamps from a member here for upper radiator hose. I also replaced the heater control valve clamps with these, can anyone tell me if they will stand up too the pressure on the heater hose, I don’t know, it had ugly worm gear ones on it.
