[etd66ss]

New to this site, bought a 72 GTO and have some questions You can visit this link to see the "story" of the purchase: http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=782370

Ok, so I inspected the car a lot closer yesterday, found a few minor things I'll need to fix. Here is the full album of pics of the car: http://imgur.com/a/NvOUg

So it's been over 20 years since I worked on a car of this vintage in terms of wiring, my first issue is in this pic http://i.imgur.com/kjfOnXi.jpg

Last night Googling I learned that this is the AC compressor fuse and not a resistor. http://www.ebay.com/itm/A-C-COMPRESS...9b11b6&vxp=mtr Does that entire wire harness I am holding there belong to the AC circuit? Can I just remove that wiring for now?

This connector (http://i.imgur.com/jZ7pkY7.jpg, http://i.imgur.com/JJlR6JU.jpg) was hanging down by the transmission on the passenger side. Is that for the oil pressure idiot light?

The next issue is the reverse lights are not working. Google search tells me the switch is on the steering column right before the firewall?

The next issue is the vacuum modulator. The nipple on the module points pretty much right at the exhaust. http://i.imgur.com/zjvwmjM.jpg Sorry for the blurry pic, I had a wide angle lens on my camera and the auto focus would not always focus on what I wanted, it was too hard to manual focus while lying on the driveway.

It seems I remember those modulators coming in a version with a 90 deg nipple on them, anyone know where I can get one? That might not make sense as if they did you'd not be able to adjust the diaphragm. Maybe I can buy a piece of hose molded into a tight 90 degree bend? Like that hard plastic tubing on the newer vehicles...

The next issue is all the ball joint boots are popped/torn. http://i.imgur.com/jJYXwif.jpg For now I can just grease them, but I will want to replace all the ball joints eventually.

The car seems to have a lot of new parts on it like a new power steering gearbox http://i.imgur.com/wBJEZKO.jpg and a new Pypes stainless exhaust system http://i.imgur.com/S0S3RqQ.jpg

I won't be using the washer pump anytime soon. http://i.imgur.com/BWnkDFz.jpg

I don't even see a washer fluid reservoir anywhere... It's a shame, I had a box full of those style wiper motor/washer pumps in my Dad's garage. he took them to the scrap yard like a year ago on me...

Gee, this doesn't look like an original console door lol. http://i.imgur.com/proqBov.jpg

I assume there is supposed to be some kind of insert in the console here for storage? http://i.imgur.com/2htqXM6.jpg

The headliner falling down is probably the worst part about the interior. http://i.imgur.com/hjYChGB.jpg Also looks like there are some trim pieces missing from the corners of the glass at the back of the package tray?

Should there not be clips to hold up the shoulder belts? http://i.imgur.com/waMkUcb.jpg

The previous owner took out the seatbelts as they were somewhat rough, I was going to put them back in but they are quite rusty and didn't want to just bolt them on to the new carpet. I guess I may look into getting a set of new seatbelts. Where is the best place to get those?

The steering wheel is in very rough shape, someone tried their best to "fix" it, but I may need to look into trying to find a nice used original. http://i.imgur.com/GlK2py7.jpg - I've been Googling, I can't find out what steering wheel this is, seems as it originally had molded foam rubber over a steel core. Then I read that the correct steering wheel for a 72 GTO has 2 spokes not 3, I'm quite confused.

The next issue is an oil leak from the front of the oil pan. It looks like someone put rtv on both side of the gasket when building the motor and the gasket squirted out in one spot, that's kind of a rookie mistake http://i.imgur.com/FDcziFN.jpg It's not a very big leak so I'm going to leave it for now.

Last but not least is I hear a vacuum leak under the dash. I assume there is something from the climate control under there that is vacuum actuated?

So, there are a lot of little issues with the car, but all in all it's quite solid.

Oh yeah, it unfortunately looks like the rear bumper is a repo.

I know this is a lot of questions for a new guy, but I'll greatly appreciate any help!

[Judge273]

Welcome! 72 GTO with tuxedo interiors are sweet. My old old had the deluxe white. Noted you need white console. Wood grain dash and dash pad with Pontiac embossed in it.

Looks nice!



BTW: the GTO on door panels was added.

[etd66ss]

Originally Posted by Judge273

Welcome! 72 GTO with tuxedo interiors are sweet. My old old had the deluxe white. Noted you need white console. Wood grain dash and dash pad with Pontiac embossed in it.

Interesting, so it seems the dash pad and console were changed at some point?

The PHS docs show a console option, I wonder why it was changed out with a black one...

As far as the wood grain dash the previous owner says the insert was falling off so he just peeled it off all the way.

[Judge273]

A little more interior. Shoulder belts on chrome clips too.

[etd66ss]

Originally Posted by Judge273

A little more interior. Shoulder belts on chrome clips too.

awwww, the clip is just out of view. I was looking at my headliner yesterday and I don't see where clips were ever mounted. I don't see any holes, and this seems to be an original headliner, maybe it is not...

It's just one clip per side correct?

[67drake]

Welcome to the Pontiac world. Once you go Ingin,you'll never go back to Chevy.
I didn't look at your links,but if you have the white interior with black carpet/counsel/dash,that's the same combo as on my '71 (mine's a 4 speed though).

[Judge273]

Originally Posted by etd66ss

awwww, the clip is just out of view. I was looking at my headliner yesterday and I don't see where clips were ever mounted. I don't see any holes, and this seems to be an original headliner, maybe it is not...

It's just one clip per side correct?

One clip per side and it is just at top right partial.

[marxjunk]

ive seen tuxedo cars with black consoles it may be a supply thing..

[etd66ss]

Originally Posted by marxjunk

ive seen tuxedo cars with black consoles it may be a supply thing..

That makes sense, but what about the dash pad not being embossed with "Pontiac"? This definitely has the look of an original dash pad and not a repo.

[Judge273]

Originally Posted by marxjunk

ive seen tuxedo cars with black consoles it may be a supply thing..

Not sure I've ever seen a original tuxedo 72 a body with auto console on floor not white? If so maybe others have?

First I've heard this and seen a few too...

[Jack Peters]

My father had a '70 Chevelle white interior w/black carpet, dash & console.
I know not a Pontiac, but......

[etd66ss]

Maybe you guys can help me decode all these factory options in the PHS docs I got with the car: http://http://i.imgur.com/GwK9KL8.jpg

The car has a rear spoiler, but that looks to be a dealer addition or even added when this car was painted ~8 years ago.

Another point of confusion for me is the Ram Air hood. Are the non-functional and functional hoods the same? I was told I cannot put a tach on this hood due to the understructure being different than a "true" Ram Air hood. That doesn't sound correct to me...

[The Boss]

The hoods were the same, the RAM AIR hood had a pan that attached to the underside.

You could most definitely put a hood tach on it, the bracing got cut for it.

BTW - I love the metal flake paint - you should get some old school pin striping on it to complete the look!

[marxjunk]

tuxedo car..black console..i dont know if its right or not

http://www.ebay.com/itm/361341014371

[The Boss]

Mark - 72 got a white console with the white/black interior.

['ol Pinion head]

Not sure if anyone is taking into consideration, that many '72's have gained nice used (and in some cases not so nice used) replacement consoles over the years. Am sure many would agree, the IVORY colored plastic seat backs, plastic side panels, and when used, lighter colored kick panels didn't hold up that well in the heat/UV exposure. Have never ran across an original '72 IVORY interior 2door LeMans with an as factory installed '72 black console. Have owned over the last 25 years over 3 dozen '72 LeMans, and over a dozen '72 Lux LeMans, most as partscars. Have also pulled select parts in yards in near 30 states since '81. Extremely nice interior plastic has always been at the top of my list. Currently, own four '72's with the ivory interior, (3 partscars, one project), and again, the console cars rolled in with their ivory consoles.

[etd66ss]

Why doesn't my dash have the embossed "Pontiac" like some of them have?

[The Boss]

Either got replaced or more than likely has a cap on it.

['ol Pinion head]

It's either been replaced with a '70-71, or has been altered via vinyl repair guy, or has a $100 shell type cover, or has one of several different company's vacuum molded replacement dashes.

[marxjunk]

k..i believe the white console thing..ive just seen them both ways