Hitman's Pontiac Trans Am Forum
Trans Am Photos => Restoration Projects => Topic started by: lwmartin67 on December 19, 2015, 10:40:38 PM
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A couple of months ago I bought a 1978 Trans Am from an old guy about 2 hours from my home. I was so excited when I got it home...until I went through it a little closer. The floors are rotted out, windshield busted up and rusty underneath, rear window rusted out and even speaker tray was rusted same as trunk. BUT worst of all the motor wasn't even a PONTIAC motor. It runs really well, but it's an Olds 307.
I just got done restoring my 1985 Jaguar XJS with a Chevy V8 (its in the background) and got this 78 TA now. Looks like I'll be selling the Jag to get the Trans Am done.
I'm starting the tear down and will post pictures as it progresses. I plan on leaving it stock on the outside but making a bunch of mods on the inside. You'll be surprised at some of my plans.
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Started gutting it out. The more I remove, the deeper this project gets and find lots more to do.
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That's not that bad
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Not that bad? Sure it's not completely rusted out or beyond repair, but I hate rust! Here's what I did this weekend. I'll cut out and patch the rust areas bit by bit.
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Almost done fixing the two cut outs.
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Anyone out there have a dash as bad as this? I'm working on this dash right now and have some ideas.
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I have been trying to find a dash like that. It looks like a fun project. I would fill it in with spray foam, sand then a filler, sand spray with SEM dash spray for texture, prime, then color. What are your plans?
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I am planning to do exactly what you suggested. I didn't know about the SEM Texture Coating. I just looked it up and think I'll try that. I was planning on a smooth fiberglass finish, but I think I may texture it instead. Here's what I have so far. More this weekend.
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Getting closer.
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Nice... Good Luck with the Dash,It gives me courage to do mine ..
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Looking good!
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Here's some progress with the dash. Looks like a piece of bread right now.
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Here's the front of it.
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Just sold my Jag so now I'll be doing a lot more work on my 78 Trans Am. I'll include "Frankenstein" in the titles so you'll know it's me. I'll finish up my dash next weekend...more to come.
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Here's the dash nearing completion...More fiberglass work. After I sanded down the several layers of fiberglass I then bondo'd the rest to fill in the low spots. LOTS of sanding.
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Now here it's starting to look like a real dash should.
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In the next couple of days I plan on painting the dash in the final color. Since I'm calling this car a Frankenstein TA, I'm not concerned with keeping it original.
Dr. Frankenstein
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Frankenstein is looking good
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Thanks Gilbert STA! Wait until you see all the body parts I'm throwing into the door panels after I get the dash finally done. I'm throwing in Mercedes wood trim panels, Jaguar XJS door handles and I'm sewing two tome pleather together for a crazy custom look. This will be one-off restomod.
Doc Frankenstein.
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Looks good keep up the good work. That dash came out great.
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Dash looks great! Just started mine this weekend, hoping it comes out as nice as yours.
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Thanks guys. Here's the update. I decided to paint the dash with Rustoleum Hammered gold. On this picture I cut out two slits to add a handle I took from a TA with the Custom interior.
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Since I was going for the gold look, I thought I'd try to do some gold highlights on the AC vent. So I sprayed some gold paint on a piece of cardboard and lightly pressed it on the paint. Came out pretty good.
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I went ahead and put the gauges and other stuff on. Here is where I'm at now. Can't wait to finally install it. But first I have some AC work under the dash before I put it back.
I hope this encourages some of ya'll to try fixing your own dash.
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Looks like that turned out really well...and you saved big bucks over buying new.
Any top side pix of the finished dash?
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Gold outline on the vent looks good!
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I noticed in the picture with the gold vent highlights, there's an area I need to fix.
Here's a top-side view of the dash.
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Here's another angle of the top.
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...And one final picture of the dash, top view. Not perfect, but not too bad for being my first dash repair. And yes, saved a bunch of money I could use to do more stuff on my TA.
My next project after I fix the AC stuff beneath and put the dash together is to find someone to weld my floor pans. Then its off to custom make my door panels. Stand by... more customizing on the way.
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Is the final texture of the dash formed by the foam/filler used or did you use a spray texture (like SEM, etc)?
Looks good!
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After I glassed the top I used bondo to fill in the low spots and to smooth it all out. The final texture is the result of first using SEM then the hammered Rustoleum spray gave it some texture as well.
Thanks for the nice comments.
After I put the dash in I'll add that picture here.