The W72 engine was upgraded...
The W72 engine was upgraded with an 0.020 overbore, forged pistons, 9.3:1 compression, bowl-ported heads, and a hotter cam. Nyle had Dupont match the engine paint to the factory paint located in a concealed area of the flexplate. He also relates that some engine compartment components have a higher gloss black than the subframe because they were higher gloss when the T/A came apart.
Nyle says, "After final stripping with a DA sander, the body was etch-primed with Dupont products and then smooth-coated using Marsons Platinum Plus body filler on every panel. This was followed by blocking with 80-/100-/180-grit paper, in succession. Then it was primed and long and short-board blocked with 100- and 180-grit. This process was repeated until the body was straight.
"Next, two coats of Dupont primer filler were applied and wet-sanded with 220-, 320-, and 600-grit. Just enough Dupont sealer to get color on the car followed; then four coats of Chroma Premier G9900S Super Jet Black base (code 19, Starlight Black for Pontiac), and four coats of 72500 urethane clear were applied. Wet-sanding the clear was done with 1,000-, 1,500-, 2,000-, and 2,500 grits.
"A three-stage buffing process that employed an extra cut, mid-cut, and fine-cut using the 3M Perfect It system followed. A wool pad was employed for the extra cut, and a waffle pad was used on the last two cuts."
Chassis And Suspension
Since this S/E is not equipped with WS6, its gold Snowflake wheels measure 15x7 instead of 15x8 and differ in appearance. Brian says, "The 15x7s are prettier with the snowflakes' lathe-turned edges protruding into the face." Regarding the wheel code on the buildsheet, "YJ indicates gold, but the stamping on the wheel is KJ and the gold is painted on," he explains. The stock 1.25-inch front and 0.625-inch rear stabilizer bars were retained. Though the suspension was rebuilt to stock using NOS and reproduction parts, the shocks were upgraded to Konis and painted to appear correct.
Engine And Drivetrain
Brian's original code-X7 220hp W72 400 engine was rebuilt by Chris Felice of Felice Automotive in Ionia. It was bored 0.020 over and fitted with Speed Pro forged flat-top pistons, reconditioned stock rods, and a polished stock crank. The 6X heads were bowl-ported, the valves were upgraded to stainless-steel Ferreas in the stock sizes of 2.11/1.66, and dual valvesprings, Crane pushrods, and Harland Sharp 1.50:1 roller rockers were installed.
The attention to detail on...
The attention to detail on the engine can be seen much better with the shaker removed. How were all of the vacuum hoses done? Nyle says, "We studied schematics to get the colors and markings for the hoses, and then we hand-painted them. Some are original pieces and others we matched at a local parts store." M&H made new wiring harnesses using the originals as a guide, matching the gauges, colors, and connectors. The belts are not correct. "We can't get GM belts date-coded after 1976," says Nyle. The original No. 17058266 Q-jet was restored and dialed in by Jim McGowan at the Quad Shop.
Compression was increased to 9.3:1, and a Comp 212/212-degree at 0.050 cam with 0.440/0.440 lift was chosen to increase power, yet provide a smooth idle. The original Q-jet was rebuilt, restored, and dialed-in to the combination by Jim McGowan at the Quad Shop in Rockford, Illinois, and the original HEI was rebuilt as well. On the dyno, the engine produced 394 lb-ft of torque at 2,600 rpm and 310 hp at 4,700 rpm.
A stock-replacement converter was bolted in ahead of the rebuilt MK-code Turbo 350 trans. The code-2PX 3.23 Posi differential was set up by DTS, and Nyle assembled the rear.
The Results
Eight years after Brian made his decision to restore his T/A-but just two years after the work began in May of 2008-it was completed and the results are outstanding. Is the S/E overrestored? "Every car is overrestored, and this one is no different, especially in the body and paint department," Nyle says. Let's be realistic, very few people would want to recreate factory flaws such as misaligned or wavy body panels, or runs in the paint. There is also the issue of protecting what are supposed to be bare metal parts from rust and corrosion. In the case of Brian's T/A, paint was used in these areas to replicate a factory appearance, while protecting the metal.
Brian says of Nyle, "He is a lot like me: Compulsive, a perfectionist, communicative, patient, knowledgeable, and attentive, and he expects nothing less from those around him." Both owner and restorer are very pleased with the results. The S/E took First Place at the Detroit Motorama and was a hit at the T/A Nationals last year when Brian displayed it at the Phoenix Graphix trailer.
Special gray powdercoat was...
Special gray powdercoat was used on the stabilizer bars to replicate a forged appearance. The spindles were shot with cast-iron Eastwood paint, and steel paint was used on the coil springs.
Nyle had the Dupont red-oxide...
Nyle had the Dupont red-oxide primer matched to original primer that was well preserved under the dash; then single-stage urethane clear with flattener was applied to preserve it, so it's a bit shinier than stock. Large paint daubs on the differential were faithfully recreated. Nyle says, "The rear center section from the factory is bare cast iron (now cast-iron painted), the axle tubes are bare steel (now preserved with Eastwood steel paint), and the backing plates are raw (now steel-painted). The backside, however, was oversprayed with 60 percent gloss black on the assembly line, so rusty parts didn't show." That was replicated here. The brake lines are reproductions from Inline Tube, and the rear springs were restored and powdercoated in gray.
The gold-spoke Formula wheel,...
The gold-spoke Formula wheel, gold-winged Bird in the horn button, and gold engine-turned dash fascia (which was restored) were all part of the S/E package. Brian polished the original gauge lenses, as he found that the NOS and reproduction pieces both showed prism distortion. The stereo is an aftermarket Autosound with cassette.