1978 Pontiac sunbird safari wagon 2.5

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Re: 1978 Pontiac sunbird safari wagon 2.5

Postby Kenova » Mon Aug 10, 2015 9:46 pm

I have to say Larry, you are some kind of detail savant. Your attention to detail is equal to or better than many who do this for a living.
Keep up the good work. :th:

Ken
My other car is a Nova.
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Re: 1978 Pontiac sunbird safari wagon 2.5

Postby lleelduo » Tue Aug 11, 2015 8:39 am

A true complement. Thank :oops: you
Larry Leitz

1978 Pontiac Sunbird Safari sport wagon
1969 Chevrolet Impala SS 427 convertiable
2016 Chevrolet Volt
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1978 Pontiac Sunbird Safari Wagon

Re: 1978 Pontiac sunbird safari wagon 2.5

Postby zeke » Tue Aug 11, 2015 9:38 am

Car is looking great, assembly stage is the best part.

I wonder if those wiper arms are same as Monza, they look close. Do you have a link to where you ordered them from?
Chris

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Re: 1978 Pontiac sunbird safari wagon 2.5

Postby lleelduo » Tue Aug 11, 2015 10:20 am

The Monza arms were a different pt# from GM. I don't have access to a monza to tell the difference. I got the arms of ebay from D&R Classic Automotive. Part number M00319-EB. I know the Monza even had different arms for hatchback and coupe. The hatchback was Pt# 1702639 and the coupe was PT# 1704498. I had access to a Camaro to compare the arms to my stock ones.
Larry Leitz

1978 Pontiac Sunbird Safari sport wagon
1969 Chevrolet Impala SS 427 convertiable
2016 Chevrolet Volt
2016 Chevrolet City Express
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1978 Pontiac Sunbird Safari Wagon

Re: 1978 Pontiac sunbird safari wagon 2.5

Postby HI WINDING MONZA » Tue Aug 11, 2015 4:40 pm

Kenova wrote:I have to say Larry, you are some kind of detail savant. Your attention to detail is equal to or better than many who do this for a living.
Keep up the good work. :th:

Ken


X's 2
Looks like Larry is getting ready for the Quaker City and Monzaque shows in 2016! :th:

Doug in P.R. 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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Re: 1978 Pontiac sunbird safari wagon 2.5

Postby stage169 » Tue Aug 11, 2015 6:34 pm

Larry what a nice job! Hope I see it on the road in Indiana some time! Brian
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Re: 1978 Pontiac sunbird safari wagon 2.5

Postby lleelduo » Sat Aug 15, 2015 9:52 am

I got all the tailgate trim done. I decided on the Black/Chrome vertical moldings, and I used a Sunbird coupe trunk name badge. The coupe plate is smaller and fit better between the moldings. I put the modified Firebird rocker moldings on. They fit fine. I polished the original wheel opening moldings and reinstalled them. Only had one flaw in the paint job that I could find. A run in the clear coat on the front valance panel. The guys at the body shop fixed it up, and I got the front end put back together. I like the look of the car without the ding molding running the length of the car. It looks cleaner. I need to install the front fender name plates. To locate them properly, I have to run a tape down the side like I installed the ding molding. that will make sure I leave enough room if I ever want to install the ding moldings. Now clean the interior. Lots of body shop dust! Final project is the "SAFARI" stuff.
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Last edited by lleelduo on Sat Aug 15, 2015 10:09 am, edited 1 time in total.
Larry Leitz

1978 Pontiac Sunbird Safari sport wagon
1969 Chevrolet Impala SS 427 convertiable
2016 Chevrolet Volt
2016 Chevrolet City Express
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1978 Pontiac Sunbird Safari Wagon

Re: 1978 Pontiac sunbird safari wagon 2.5

Postby HI WINDING MONZA » Sat Aug 15, 2015 10:01 am

Just dont park anywhere Larry, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiOFcH0ujY0 :lol: :lol: :lol:

Doug in P.R. 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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Re: 1978 Pontiac sunbird safari wagon 2.5

Postby Vegabee » Sat Aug 15, 2015 10:36 am

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Re: 1978 Pontiac sunbird safari wagon 2.5

Postby lleelduo » Wed Aug 19, 2015 8:25 am

I started installing the "SAFARI" panels last night. The panels are made of a odd fiber board/fiber resin material. Over the years they have warped. the fit is not the best, I hate to try and straighten them for fear of cracking the material. I ended up using multiple layers of 3M adhesive tape and some windshield urethane. there is still some fit problems but it is the best I could do with what I had to work with. They look pretty good, maybe I am too much of a perfectionist. The trim moldings were originally installed with 2 small clips per molding. I used 3M adhesive tape the length of the molding for a more secure fit. The door rear molding is installed under a shortened upper window frame scallop molding. There is a small "BLOW OUT" retainer that screws into the door panel and clips under the window run channel. All in all, very secure and tight. The drivers side panel is more warped. I may have to compromise on fit to make sure they are attached well.
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Larry Leitz

1978 Pontiac Sunbird Safari sport wagon
1969 Chevrolet Impala SS 427 convertiable
2016 Chevrolet Volt
2016 Chevrolet City Express
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1978 Pontiac Sunbird Safari Wagon

Re: 1978 Pontiac sunbird safari wagon 2.5

Postby zeke » Wed Aug 19, 2015 8:30 am

They look good from here, really alter the look of the car for the better. Are they rare?
Chris

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1979 Chevrolet Monza 2+2

Re: 1978 Pontiac sunbird safari wagon 2.5

Postby lleelduo » Wed Aug 19, 2015 9:25 am

They were originally from a 1976 only Vega "NOMAD" option. I guess they are rare, only about 4000 made by my info. Option Z05. I found them from a guy that was parting out a car in Oregon. I got all the "NOMAD" parts, inside and out, luggage rack, and rear spoiler for $300.00 plus shipping. Quite the find.
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Larry Leitz

1978 Pontiac Sunbird Safari sport wagon
1969 Chevrolet Impala SS 427 convertiable
2016 Chevrolet Volt
2016 Chevrolet City Express
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lleelduo
 
Posts: 303
Joined: Wed Jul 03, 2013 4:47 pm
Location: Bluffton IN.

1978 Pontiac Sunbird Safari Wagon

Re: 1978 Pontiac sunbird safari wagon 2.5

Postby Vegabee » Wed Aug 19, 2015 1:04 pm

Those Nomad panels look great.
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Re: 1978 Pontiac sunbird safari wagon 2.5

Postby HI WINDING MONZA » Wed Aug 19, 2015 4:56 pm

Looks good from my house :th: ..........................( and I cant see Russia, either :lol: )



Doug in P.R. 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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Re: 1978 Pontiac sunbird safari wagon 2.5

Postby lleelduo » Wed Sep 09, 2015 3:22 pm

Some final details The Astre grill and a Sunbird header emblem did not look good. So I put the grill emblem from a sunbird coupe on and left the header emblem off. A much cleaner look. It just took some washers on the back of the emblem to hold it in place on the grill egg create. I panted and installed the "SAFARI" panel inside trim. to finish them off. I am off to the Pontiac/Oakland/GMC museum in Pontiac Ill. on the 18th for a Pontiac only car show. It will be interesting to see what people think of the car.
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Larry Leitz

1978 Pontiac Sunbird Safari sport wagon
1969 Chevrolet Impala SS 427 convertiable
2016 Chevrolet Volt
2016 Chevrolet City Express
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1978 Pontiac Sunbird Safari Wagon

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