Author Topic: 72 Trans Am restoration 1/9/08  (Read 208256 times)

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Offline KeePat

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Re: 72 Trans Am restoration 1/9/08
« Reply #1005 on: July 09, 2011, 10:06:46 PM »
The 2011 Hot Rod Power Tour with my son Kurt in a 72 Pontiac Trans Am.

We started on Friday the 3rd of June with a 50 minute drive to the Amtrak Auto Train in Lorton VA. Two good friends one with a 1967 GTO and the other driving a 2009 SRT/8 Challenger also doing the HRPT drove with us to Lorton VA. I had booked the Auto Train back in January but never use the Auto Train before and was apprehensive as to how they would handle the cars. The price was incredible reasonable, just $425.00 for the Pontiac, sleeper car for two, a nice linen table dinner with all the wine you can drink, and continental breakfast the next morning. Every one of the Amtrak people we met from the front gate to the driver of our car, to the conductor and the people at the check in counter were friendly, helpful, and very cautious with our car. Before getting into the car they video the body for any damage, then put plastic over the seat and paper on the floor. The driver then slowly drove our car up the ramp and into the train car.




Day 1 ready to hit the road with 360 mile on the car after a 2+ year restoration.









With all 3 of our cars loaded on the train, along with 8 other HRPT cars we got on board the ¾ of a mile long train, the longest passenger train Amtrak runs.








After a 17 hour overnight train ride we arrived in Sanford FL. And with the same friendly & cautious attitude as the VA Amtrak people our car were driven off the train with a spotter checking the front spoilers at the bottom of the ramp. All the cars were damage free, just a little dusty. For the money it was a great deal and I would do it again!







The yellow 442 parked with us in this picture belongs to a conductor with Amtrak who was Long Hauling his 1st HRPT. He road with us most of the way to Detroit, great guy and a nice 442!





Not many pictures in Cocoa Beach but I did see another 72 Tans Am that is owned by the son of the original owner.











Georgia Motorsports Park was hot, but a Lucerne blue raspberry snow cone help cool things off!











A few pic on the way to Montgomery AL and a little cool off for the Goat at the exit for US-231 Eastern Blvd.








The T/A develop a rattle at start up that sounded like it was coming from the trans, so the next morning I parked in front of Tony’s Transmission shop that I found online with a 5 star rating. Tony Mcglaun the owner showed up at 7:30 and by 7:45 the T/A was on the lift. 10 minutes & 3 flywheel to converter bolts later it was back on the road. Tony was great and when I ask for the bill he said no charge! You can’t be that southern hospitality!






On the way to Nashville the T/A turn 1000 miles!





My best mirror shot.


No good pictures in Nashville but on the way out Joe Sebergandio with Motor Media stop us looking for a car to install a new Pioneer stereo system when we get to Muskegon, MI. I volunteered my friends 67 GTO and they agreed!




The next day in Indianapolis Joe ask if we could stop by the Pioneer tent to confirm a few things, and he had a gift for Kurt a UPS Nascar coat signed by David Ragan! That was cool! Thanks David & Joe!












Driving on the Indy 500 was hot & slow but for the last two turns where we made it to 75 mph.










The town & people of Muskegon, MI were the best on the tour! And the Pioneer people did an awesome job installing a complete stereo system in the GTO in about 6 hours.



 


On the drive to Detroit my navigator was a sleep.

















The GM Proving Grounds was awesome and a great way to end a great Power Tour!
Thank You GM & Hot Rod!











The 600 miles drive back home was uneventful and welcomed. Next time we do the HRPT it will be in Kurt’s 68 Bullitt replica!
Thank !

Offline eroc022

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Re: 72 Trans Am restoration 1/9/08
« Reply #1006 on: July 09, 2011, 10:18:01 PM »
Pat, I was talking with MdBandit today, we totally all need to get together and meet! maybe talk George into doing it as well.... you missed out on Saratoga by the way!
Eroc
Fixing the car that Restore A Muscle Car jacked up....

Offline CT Bird Fan

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Re: 72 Trans Am restoration 1/9/08
« Reply #1007 on: July 10, 2011, 01:12:09 PM »
What a beautiful car!! Looks like you have a fun trip, thanks for sharing!
Gone but not forgotten - 1979 Formula, 1980 Esprit.

Being birdless sucks!

Offline rad400

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Re: 72 Trans Am restoration 1/9/08
« Reply #1008 on: July 11, 2011, 07:03:56 AM »
Cool pics Pat.
Conrad
79 Trans am 400 t400 3500 stall #12 heads holley 750 vac carb. Torker II intake 3:73:1 gears 12 bolt rear.

Offline Justin

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Re: 72 Trans Am restoration 1/9/08
« Reply #1009 on: July 11, 2011, 08:42:09 AM »
Great pictures and documenting. I felt like I was on the trip with you as I was reading along. Sure looks like a great father/son team.
Justin
1978 Trans Am W72
1978 Trans Am W72 WS6 Marty
1979 Trans Am WS6 403

Offline Yukon Jack

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Re: 72 Trans Am restoration 1/9/08
« Reply #1010 on: July 11, 2011, 12:07:06 PM »
Wow, what a cool trip that looks like!
1980 Pontiac Trans Am, 455 Oldsmobile
1970 Blazer with a 400 sbc and 4" lift
1969 K20 with a 454, a bit of lift and 35's

Offline Rarebird

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Re: 72 Trans Am restoration 1/9/08
« Reply #1011 on: July 16, 2011, 10:23:12 AM »
Pat.. its good to see all your hard work on the asphalt. putting that many miles on a fresh resto does something to a man... "MAHOGANY"...great job my friend...
Virgil...
1978 W72 w/M21 T/A   

Offline Gunner

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Re: 72 Trans Am restoration 1/9/08
« Reply #1012 on: July 16, 2011, 10:47:58 PM »
Four things.

1) First and foremost. That car is so beautiful it is OBSCENE! And I KNOW you know the regs about posting porn on this site ;D It's not nice to taunt us with such a GEORGEUS car!

2) NOW you've made sure that I have to go on the power tour as well as going to the Nats next year! My wife is gonna KILL me

3) So now thats TWO trips I gotta take next year. My wife is gonna REALLY kill me

4) You need to keep an eye on that swamper of yours there. Looks like he's gonna end up bigger than you are. And yeah, I know, he SAYS he wants a Bullit Mustang, but I can tell my the pictures that what he SECRETLY covets, deep down inside, is his old man's ULTRA CHERRY 72 TA.

You got trouble freind............LOTS AND LOTS of trobule ;D

SWEET RIDE AND SWEET PICS MAN!

Gunner
Better Living Through Superior Firepower


Offline SoonerTA

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Re: 72 Trans Am restoration 1/9/08
« Reply #1013 on: July 17, 2011, 01:10:49 PM »
Awesome pictures!  Wow you have one beautiful car!  You have done a great job and looks like yall had a great time.

Offline Nexus

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Re: 72 Trans Am restoration 1/9/08
« Reply #1014 on: July 21, 2011, 04:08:52 PM »
That was a cool update!!!!

Thanks for sharing with us..

BTW...When did Kurt become old enough to drive?...lol

they grow up fast!! ;D
Charlie
1979 - Esprit (21 years and counting)

Offline stonewall61

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Re: 72 Trans Am restoration 1/9/08
« Reply #1015 on: July 30, 2011, 12:29:24 AM »
Hey Pat! Great to see the pics of everyone on the road trip..... what an awesome time that must have been! Your boy wont soon forget any of those memories! Sounded very eventful! The signed jacket and the Pioneer radio for the GTO was a great bonus! Love to see any of her future adventures, and the Bullit's too when she's done. Class act dude!

Offline Nexus

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Re: 72 Trans Am restoration 1/9/08
« Reply #1016 on: June 28, 2018, 12:19:29 AM »
BUMP!!

If you want some great ideas and a lot of motivation then go through this thread.

Pat did amazing work and his attention to detail on this project was second to none

just spent the last couple hours going through it again
Charlie
1979 - Esprit (21 years and counting)