Hi All!

[Dave80USATA]

I'll PM you with some photos of life here, say by summer for sure. Winter's not so photogenic.

I mentioned that we had a few things in common!

I should have taken "automotives" in school, instead of construction shop, although I can build a couple things around here, etc, I'm not as good with grease for some reason.

However, I do look cool filling up my tires with my "Nascar" "Mechanix" gloves I wear!!

Thx for the feedback on my recent lifestory. I would actually do it all again if I had the time and $$$$$.

Just a thought, is asphalt an option where you are? (Wuz just thinkin' again. I'm sometimes good at that.)

They sell those giant tent like awnings that sort of block the sun, but I don't know how wind proof they would be.

A book on Ultimate Garages I have, a guy obtained an old traditional church building, and converted the sanctuary into a car showroom! Couldn't believe it at first, but it looked really nice!

Maybe there's a lonely building in your neighborhood!

Dave.

[WarbirdTA]

Ha!
Even in this little town, property is very $$$!
They build a new small shopping center, and charge $2.00 a square foot.
Then, theowner's of any old small shopping center raise their price to $2.00 a square foot.
Guess what?
The businesses leave the old shopping centers for the new ones.
I don't blame them!
Even out here in BFE, commerical property is over 1 million dollars!
For dirt in the middle of nowhere!
Hard to believe.
One problem with asphalt out here, is that we can get up to 122 degrees during the summer.
Just a little too hot for the dogs, and the cars, as the temps of the asphalt get to over 145 degrees!
Pretty much my whole back yard would be done (did I tell you I like to drive around my garage sometimes at pretty good speed?
Kinda like my little own race track. ;D
The tent things fall apart pretty fast out here.
Even car covers last about 4-6 months here, with the wind blowing all the time.
I may get some of those metal carports soon, for a few of the cars.
And even those have to have some cement poured under the supports, to bolt them down, to keep the wind from taking them away.
Highest wind we have seen , were gusts arounf 60 mph!
Most of the time, 15-30 mph, sometimes weeks at a time.
But, we don't get mud slides, fires, earthquakes, tornados, Hurracanes, or major flooding (although my backyard may get some water.
Snow only comes about once a year, although we got it twice this year.
Just lots of sun!
And that I like.
I can take the heat and sun, just not the cold and dreary days all the time.
I am never one for winter sports.
I would love having an old car dealership, including a showrrom, to display all my stuff. ;D

George

[Dave80USATA]

I bet the lot would fill up, as would the stockroom....and showroom!

*******************************************

I was doing some homework on my car last night.

"My car" led a pretty sheltered life.

It was built in Norwood, Ohio on ...01-10 (1980)?

www.80transampacecar.com/Norwood%20Assembly%20Plant.htm

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwood_Assembly

and Shipped out to:





Acon Pontiac, Inc. in Midland, Pa. a whopping 250 miles away!





(I installed a "Midland" CB Radio

www.ewis.ca/onlinestore/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=1468

not realizing the historical connection!)

The name of the original owner was found on junk paper, and I threw it away, not realizing what it was.

Titles list him from Ohio, so the car went back there when purchased. He didn't have it for long.... as in 1984, the nice lady I purchased the car from, obtained the car, and preserved it for the next 24 years, back in Pennsylvania again.







To protect them, I won't list details, but it was a whole whopping 20 miles, from the dealership for all of that time!

That was, until I purchased it, and gave it the piggyback ride of it's life, all the way up here to Calgary, Canada!






Where the car, like all endangered species, enjoyed the rest of its days in peace and tranquility.



D.

[WarbirdTA]

Glad to see you have the build sheet!
I have never seen the invoice like that, did someone copy them for you?
The photos are fantastic!
I love seeing all the shots of places where the car was, and now.
Along with shots of your city!
Beautiful!
Of course, seeing the "new" owners is neat too!

George

[Dave80USATA]

The build sheet and dealer invoice were all part of the purchase of the car.

Together with other "surviving" documents, it was nice to have the "paper trail" to go with the car.

Not as perfect as some of those "high" sellers on Ebay, but I was happy, nonetheless.

[Dave80USATA]

I finally mounted up my new tires/rims!

A friend in our club had the rims, and I took them in for refinishing!








To see the full photo session, click here: (slideshow format)

s312.photobucket.com/albums/ll352/davidnicc/Trans%20Am%20Shoot/?albumview=slideshow

[WarbirdTA]

Very nice!
I like both the Snowflakes and the Turbo wheels.
Are you keeping the original wheels?
How did your move go?
My brother is trying to get me to move to Daytona Beach, Florida.
Very nice area, and I have fun every time I go out there.
Since I now live in the desert, any area that's green, looks nice! ;D
I just got back from a trip to Texas, and I even like it there.
The pictures look super!

George

[TAdan]

The car looks great!

[Dave80USATA]

Thx guys. I appreciate informed opinions!

I like both sets of wheels as well, but strongly prefer the snowflakes, as they are what I was used to, having had them before. These new rims now look about 10 times better than the ones I had many years back. I guess I'll be keeping the "turbo wheels" for a while, at least until I find out if it has any bearing on the cars' potential value during a vehicle appraisal.

Some of my electrical problems remain. After being dormant, and not presenting itself for over a year, many repair bills later, ...it just turned off, and would not restart for some time.

Very frustrating. I am afraid to go far with it again, for fear of being stranded at random, wherever I happen to go.

I have essentially decided, that instead of a trailer, I should spend the 10G on a new crate motor. We have a shop in town here that is very good. I would just need to prebook a few months ahead, when I have the money. They are connected with Year One for supplies, as well as many other part suppliers. I am considering a Pontiac 400, or an Olds 403, as possible replacements.

I am becoming more comfortable with my wife's camera.

I am determined to learn photography....to become better at photographing classic cars, a field which is underserved in any market, that's for sure!

Will keep you all apprised!

[WarbirdTA]

You know,
You need to stop by and visit me.
Besides all the diecast I have, I also have a 400 engine. ;D
As for the Turbo wheels, if that's whats listed on the Bill Sheet, just keep them off to the side if you can, even if you have to store them in the attic.
I wish I had kept all my '81 TTA parts, but back then, when I bought my car, even early Trans Am were not worth much money, and who would have thought they would be worth so much now.
Even my Turbo wheels I sold.
Oh well, if I get so bummed about it, I'll just buy another '81 TTA.
My brother wants me to move east to Daytona Beach, and although I do love it there, there are a few things keeping me from doing it.
The main one is that I have double the stuff now, than when I moved out here 6 years ago!
The other thing is, I have quite a few projects here on the house to get done, and besides costing $$$, I would have to get them all done, so I could sell and move somewhere.
For now, I will remain here.
Besides, the surf back there isn't anything compared to what I am used to.
The girls on the other hand................................... ;D

Good luck with your move,

George

[Dave80USATA]

Thx. I'll ask about your motor again in a few more months, as well!

For the time being, I have the assistance of a great local member, of our club, who is helping me troubleshoot, the current issues under the hood.

Will let you all know how that turns out...so far, I am able to take her out on longer drives, which is a big improvement!!

[transamfan1981]

Awesome car Dave.

Are your louvers the Hammond louvers? I was thinking of buying a louver set for my car and saw hammond for sale in the NPD catalog, if so what do you think of them?

[Dave80USATA]

Sorry, can't really say for sure. They are the original ones that were installed so long ago....

Just exactly as I remembered they should be. I remember for a while there was a plastic version of them, with rounded corners.....

I appreciate the positive feedback! Took a long time...and might take a while longer, too!

I have a short list of little things to attend to.

Look forward to seeing more of yours as well!

[transamfan1981]

The one's I'm looking at are made out of aluminum.

Yeah, I'm just workin on small things also, today was starter shims. May be awhile before I do anything worth picturing. Don't think I'm taking the car to the shop during winter, probably spring.

Thanks.
Steve B.

[Dave80USATA]

View my newly restored thread, here..... (includes a few new photos, as well.)

www.calgaryfirebirdclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=666