[Norwood]

Van Nuys cars are all rusted out because of bad primer

[TA455HO]

There are exceptions. I owned this Van Nuys 1971 for 17 years. Matt M. bought it from me and then sold it to Brad about 1.5 years later - anyway, that Van Nuys car is not showing much of any rust. I imagine there is some in the roof and a little on the inner quarters inside the trunk, but overall that was a very nice car.



Chad

[Norwood]

Chad, what’s the build date on that beauty ?

[Grand73Am]

Originally Posted by Norwood

Van Nuys cars are all rusted out because of bad primer

I was afraid of that. But, maybe if they stayed out of the rust belt, they held up okay.

[TA455HO]

Originally Posted by Norwood

Chad, what’s the build date on that beauty ?

That is a 12B - I believe it was held up by the nationwide strike at the time.

The build sheet, which I cleaned some in turpentine and got to where it was much more readable, had the original date scribbled out and rewritten in pencil. I'll post before and after of the build sheet here in a while.

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...6&postcount=26

Chad

[TA455HO]

Before



After cleaning in a pan of turpentine.



Zoomed in on the upper left corner you can probably see the 12-14 scribbled out and the 1-25 penciled in.



This was a fairly well featured car, too. Between the rear seat shoulder harnesses AS4 (less than 160 '71 Firebirds got this option) and the cassette player U55 (not 8-track)(369 Firebirds got this option), AM-FM Stereo U58 (2,160 Firebirds), tilt wheel N33 (3,021 Firebirds), A/C C60 and rear window grid defroster C49 (1,640 Firebirds) - well, there are probably not many left with this set of options.

Chad

[TA455HO]

Car also had a U26 Underhood Lamp listed on the build sheet. I do not see that as a Firebird option., so that's a bit different, too.

Chad

[Norwood]

Great stuff

[eaglesan13]

It's been my observation that the Van Nuys cars rust from the inside out because there is no primer inside all the "nooks and cranies." After the body shell was built, the Norwood cars were dipped, so the metal is protected inside all the panels. Since the Van Nuys cars were not dipped, (the primer was just sprayed on), they don't have the same protection as the Norwood cars. Over the years, as the window seals and weatherstrips fail, water gets into the car and is held there by the carpet, jute, and upholstery. Therefore, it stays moist in the car, and the Van Nuys cars rust from the inside out. Ever since I took my Norwood built 70 Formula apart and saw how nice the metal was due to the primer bath, I've preferred the Norwood cars.

Originally Posted by Norwood

Van Nuys cars are all rusted out because of bad primer

[Grokk]

My 69 Firebird was built in Van Nuys, had A lot of rust, I'm restoring it. I have pictures check out the western Washington firebird club on Facebook look under album.

Sent from my SM-J700T using Tapatalk

[RAJ7395]

I have a 70 Van Nuys Firebird Formula 400 4-spd that isn't rusted out. It's got some surface rust under the rear seats, the corners of the dash are rusted out, and a small area of one of the rear quarters has holes. The rest is pretty darn solid.

[Aus78Formula]

It's a very general reference which also boosts their own car status in their own minds, that's important.

[Norwood]

Originally Posted by Aus78Formula

It's a very general reference which also boosts their own car status in their own minds, that's important.

It’s a tongue in cheek comment that defenently has a basis of truth to it.

[TA455HO]

Originally Posted by eaglesan13

It's been my observation that the Van Nuys cars rust from the inside out because there is no primer inside all the "nooks and cranies." After the body shell was built, the Norwood cars were dipped, so the metal is protected inside all the panels. Since the Van Nuys cars were not dipped, (the primer was just sprayed on), they don't have the same protection as the Norwood cars. Over the years, as the window seals and weatherstrips fail, water gets into the car and is held there by the carpet, jute, and upholstery. Therefore, it stays moist in the car, and the Van Nuys cars rust from the inside out. Ever since I took my Norwood built 70 Formula apart and saw how nice the metal was due to the primer bath, I've preferred the Norwood cars.

I agree with you Chris. The Van Nuys car I had (above) was well garaged the entire time I owned it and the prior owner did, too, which helped a lot I'm sure. I could lean over into the trunk and look up along the inside of the rear quarters and there was definitely some surface rust up in there. It wasn't too bad or getting to where it was eating through anything, but it sure was there and didn't look like a good long term trend.

Chad

[RAJ7395]

04B Van Nuys

[Grand73Am]

Originally Posted by RAJ7395

I have a 70 Van Nuys Firebird Formula 400 4-spd that isn't rusted out. It's got some surface rust under the rear seats, the corners of the dash are rusted out, and a small area of one of the rear quarters has holes. The rest is pretty darn solid.

Does your 70 model Van Nuys Formula have original black primer underneath?

[unruhjonny]

Originally Posted by TA455HO

These pictures are also from the same book about the Norwood, OH assembly plant. I'm guessing some of you have not had a chance to read it?

...

Chad

I actually sent an email yesterday(?) to inquire about shipping on a copy for myself...
I'll probably buy on either before, or after Christmas.

[Grand73Am]

Originally Posted by TA455HO

There are exceptions. I owned this Van Nuys 1971 for 17 years. Matt M. bought it from me and then sold it to Brad about 1.5 years later - anyway, that Van Nuys car is not showing much of any rust. I imagine there is some in the roof and a little on the inner quarters inside the trunk, but overall that was a very nice car.



Chad

What color primer was the bottom?

[RAJ7395]

The bottom is black with no signs of red oxide.

[Grand73Am]

Thanks!