Project #1 1979 Pontiac Sunbird TC

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Project #1 1979 Pontiac Sunbird TC

Postby patrick1151 » Mon Oct 08, 2007 9:01 am

Well I guess I should start a journal now, hopefully I will get some pictures on line soon.

Bought my Sunbird last month for $700 USD with a 99% rust free body. It would not start so I had to buy a new battery, cap and rotor right away.

Next we thought we should check the brakes as it had been sitting for at least 6 months. Oh yeah and the lovely grinding noises that we were hearing when we first drove it. Discovered the front brakes were completely shot. New pads, hard ware and rotors required. Thanks goodness my buddy had just bought some rims off of someone and they threw a pair of almost brand new rotors in the deal.

Made sure I got an oil lube and filter done before bringing her home.

Now up to almost $900.00 for the car. oh yeah, plus $70.00 in insurance and temporary permit fees. And the wonderful taxman. The border guy at the border didn't believe that I only paid what I paid for my car and made me pay more in taxes than I should have.

Drove the car home from Seattle on Sept 29th.

So far, I have spent over $300.00 more on parts. New shoes and wheel cylinders, new door seals and trim for both doors, upper and lower control arm bushings. And other misc parts and pieces.

This week so far:

I dropped and reinstalled the half full gas tank by myself, to replace the sending unit hoping to get my gas gauge working (not successful so far).
Pulled the door panel and trim off the drivers door as it was not opening (now opens, just got to figure out how to reconnect the rods).
Torn the dash partially apart twice, changing bulbs and now changing the gas gauge hoping that will give me a working gas gauge.
Torn the console around the gear shifter apart trying to figure out why the shifter won’t stay in gear. Know why that is now, the part with the teeth that should be holding it in gear is broken off. So I need a new shifter. Thank goodness I have a spare one from my parts car.

My buddy and I were beginning to regret paying the $350.00 that we paid for a parts car we bought in July as we have not been able to sell any of the parts. But now I am very happy I have all those spare parts. Even better yet, the parts car was a TC, the same as my Sunbird. :D

Maybe I should have listened to my buddy when he complained so much that these cars are nothing but a money pit.......NOT :roll:
Last edited by patrick1151 on Sun Oct 28, 2007 1:35 am, edited 1 time in total.
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1979 Pontiac Sunbird Coupe


More work

Postby patrick1151 » Mon Oct 08, 2007 11:15 pm

Well I inserted my spare gas gauge this afternoon and it didn't solve the problem. I guess I've got a wiring problem ARGHH I don't know anything about wiring. Well at least we saved all the wiring from our parts car. :)
Last edited by patrick1151 on Wed Oct 10, 2007 12:48 am, edited 1 time in total.
patrick1151
 
Posts: 1984
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1979 Pontiac Sunbird Coupe

More work

Postby patrick1151 » Wed Oct 10, 2007 12:43 am

Well had my backyard mechanic work on my car today.
He located the flasher for my signal lights and put in a new flasher. Wow now I have faster signal lights and hey now my gas gauge works :?: :?: What the? Didn't know they were connected.
Back brakes are done for inspection.
And hey the drivers door now has handles that work. Yay no more climbing in and over the passenger side seat.
Tomorrow, new mufflers and Tranny and Diff service.

Oh yeah, he thinks I am going to be needing a new tranny soon. When it hasn't been driven for a few days and until it warms up a bit, the tranny wont go into any gear.
patrick1151
 
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Location: Creston BC

1979 Pontiac Sunbird Coupe

Postby 92turbogtz » Wed Oct 10, 2007 2:59 am

How about some pics?
Image
Alex
1998 BMW 328is - Current
78 Formula Sunbird - Sold :(
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1978 Pontiac Sunbird Formula

More work

Postby patrick1151 » Fri Oct 12, 2007 3:05 am

Took my car out to Dave's Vega village today and had Dave do some work on it.

Had to replace my shifter completely. The piece that holds the shifter in place was completely broken off. When they put the TH350 in my car, someone welded a 2 inch sqare piece of metal to the shifter rod to get things to connect. Interesting.

Found out why I dont have back up lights. When they changed the tranny, they did not replace the nuetral safety switch and wiring. Gonna have to be rewired before safety. :(
Means I have to wait for two more weeks for Dave to be able to do the wiring before I can safety the car.

Got the doors, trim and interior all back together.

Interesting event though. While Dave and I were working on the car, I heard a noise, looked up and realized there was a small brown bear about 10 feet away from us. Fortunately the bear kept walking and mother bear was not around.
patrick1151
 
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Location: Creston BC

1979 Pontiac Sunbird Coupe

Dave's Vega Village

Postby patrick1151 » Fri Oct 12, 2007 3:10 am

For anyone looking for Parts, Dave still has a huge selection of parts available. No V8 motor mounts, pulleys, or other V8 parts left but lots of interior trim, glass, bumpers, mechanical and exterior parts left.

You can either PM me or email me as Dave does not have Computer access. :)
patrick1151
 
Posts: 1984
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Location: Creston BC

1979 Pontiac Sunbird Coupe

Postby patrick1151 » Mon Oct 15, 2007 12:31 am

Checked my block numbers online Friday to determine which engine is in my car and found it most likely is a 262. The rest of the running gear appears to be out of a 1975 Monza. The block number is 355909 which shows to be for a 262 or a 305 for 75-76. So seeing how the 262 or the 350 were the 75 engines, its most likely a 262.
I've never had one of these engines before so this is something new. I am wondering what performance parts may be available for these engines. I have read some old posts and seems like other H people say not to change the heads at least not to 305 or 350 heads so if anyone knows more about these engines, please speak up.
1979 Pontiac Sunbird 262/TH350
1977 Pontiac Astre Safari Wagon 151/TH350
1979 Ponriac Sunbird 3.8/TH350
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1979 Pontiac Sunbird Coupe

Postby cdnvega » Mon Oct 22, 2007 3:27 pm

Shannon, where are the pictures !!!!!!!!!!
1972 gt wagon
1972 vega h/b project
1977 astre h/b
1973 vega parts car
1975 astre wgn parts car
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1972 Chevrolet Vega Hatchback

Postby patrick1151 » Mon Oct 22, 2007 10:46 pm

Pictures are coming, Just having problems. I dont have the net at home and my buddy doesnt have a legal copy of XP on his computer. I just gave him an older one of mine with XP but as another friend of mine had it online with an account, we have to get switched over.

As for my Sunbird, still having issues. I cant find anyone to fix the wiring and I cannot do it myself. I took it into one shop today and his suggestion was that I do it myself. Finally I convinced him to do it and he said he'd get at it today. But I called him before I left for work and he hadn't even touched it today GRRRRRRR.

I need its parking space as I have another project and maybe two coming. I've got another Sunbird coming from Oregon, the one where if you bought the V8 parts, you got the car for free and this week while I am getting that taken care of, I am looking at an Astre wagon thats for sale cheap in Oregon.

My parents always taught me, if you get into something, get right into it. Anyone in BC got any available parking for rent?? I need like 5 spots.
1979 Pontiac Sunbird 262/TH350
1977 Pontiac Astre Safari Wagon 151/TH350
1979 Ponriac Sunbird 3.8/TH350
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1979 Pontiac Sunbird Coupe

Postby cdnvega » Tue Oct 23, 2007 2:14 am

shannon I have some room. just not that close to you.
1972 gt wagon
1972 vega h/b project
1977 astre h/b
1973 vega parts car
1975 astre wgn parts car
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1972 Chevrolet Vega Hatchback

Postby patrick1151 » Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:27 pm

Got the wiring finished tuesday and took it in for inspection.
Oh boy they failed it...
I need new ball joints, tie rods, Idler arm. They say my tranny needs to be rebuilt and they do not like where the external fuel pump is located, they say it is dangerous.
So now I need all these parts. Apparently everything but the idler arm is available so where do I get one of these?
I called my backyard mechanic and told him to be at my house first thing on my next day off. And where the heck am I supposed to relocate the external fuel pump too?? I had one member here offer me a V8 sending unit, so hopefully that will work.
More to come. Hopefully pictures this weekend if I dont have to go to Seattle again.

And just when I thought I could get the Sunbird on the road and start my next projects.
1979 Pontiac Sunbird 262/TH350
1977 Pontiac Astre Safari Wagon 151/TH350
1979 Ponriac Sunbird 3.8/TH350
patrick1151
 
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Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2007 7:50 am
Location: Creston BC

1979 Pontiac Sunbird Coupe

Postby cdnvega » Sun Oct 28, 2007 1:58 am

Shannon, does Dave have any front end parts?
you might have to ebay watch for the idler arm
unless some on the board has a stash.
here is one on ebay
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... 0173504218
1972 gt wagon
1972 vega h/b project
1977 astre h/b
1973 vega parts car
1975 astre wgn parts car
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1972 Chevrolet Vega Hatchback

Postby patrick1151 » Tue Oct 30, 2007 10:50 pm

Ok progress, The Sunbird went into a tranny shop today for a rebuild. I found a shop to rebuild the tranny with a 1 year warranty for $800.00-900.00 plus taxes. Hopefully it will be done by Thursday or Friday so we can start on the rest.

The front end is not quite so bad as he told me on the phone. They just want the left ball joint, both left tie rods and the idler arm replaced. The fuel pump can stay where it is, they just want it more secure and the wiring fixed up.

Looking better and better, hopefully it will be on the road by next week.

Now all I need is a nice quadrajet to go on my aluminum 4 barrel intake!!
1979 Pontiac Sunbird 262/TH350
1977 Pontiac Astre Safari Wagon 151/TH350
1979 Ponriac Sunbird 3.8/TH350
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Location: Creston BC

1979 Pontiac Sunbird Coupe

Postby HI WINDING MONZA » Wed Oct 31, 2007 9:25 am

Thats kind of pricey for a trans rebuild :shock: .................... You can get them down here for $299 carryout with convertor Turbo 350 . My Turbo 350 race tranny was $ 700 with a stock convertor. Jegs sells a street- strip one for $600. You should check into a used one www.car-part.com. Just check your providece in the search. Doug in Az 8)
My Old Monza now lives in Arizona with its newest owner.

The 90's just keep rollin' along........
1990 Chevrolet Silverado Regular Cab Long Bed 350 TBI V8 700R4 118K miles
1992 Pontiac Sunbird Coupe 2.0 OHC MPFI I4 TH125C 157k miles
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Postby SunbirdMan » Wed Oct 31, 2007 10:54 am

patrick1151 wrote:Checked my block numbers online Friday to determine which engine is in my car and found it most likely is a 262. The rest of the running gear appears to be out of a 1975 Monza. The block number is 355909 which shows to be for a 262 or a 305 for 75-76. So seeing how the 262 or the 350 were the 75 engines, its most likely a 262.


Mortec says:
355909.....305...76-79...2

Is your car a factory v8 car? What do you mean by the rest of the running gear being out of a 1975? What is the 5th character on your VIN number?
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