Frosty

Call PHS back. Give them your VIN and ask them your question - how many cars were built with exactly the same options in 1970. Tell them you've already paid for the PHS documentation package, and you want to know how many others are like yours. Statistically speaking, I would guess the number is zero or under 10 with the same exact options since you have so many options (25), especially given that you are starting out of with a low number production (7708) Formula Firebirds to begin with. Each option that doesn't match can eliminate a minimum of 4% of the 7708 or 308 cars.

Jase 68 Wow! A '68 Firebird down under, and it is not converted to right-hand drive either !!! That must be a rarity indeed. How on earth are you able to keep it left-hand drive in Australia mate? Also, is the speedometer is MPH or KPH? I do love the look of the car though. Vedoro Green by the looks of the body color.

Yes, the HEI could well be bad and could stand to be repaired, greased, tweaked, new timing weights and/or springs may also be needed. If you know someone with a Sun distributor machine, I would have them inspect it to see when all the mechanical timing comes in. It could take several tries before it gets dialed in correctly (oh course you could just buy another HEI distributor but where is the fun in that?). Also, is the vacuum advance you have working at all? A couple of other oddball thoughts here: 1. Is the torque converter stock or a higher stall speed? A higher stall speed converter can have some affect on timing. 2. Can I assume the carb has been totally rebuilt so we can eliminate fuel as another potential problem source? 3. Any vacuum leaks? 4. Is the cam stock or is it a more performance/RV style cam been installed? Obviously this can have a huge effect on timing. 5. Any chance that you have flat spots on the cam (assuming it is still the original)?

First question I have is this: do you have an HEI distributor for a Pontiac engine? Pontiac distributors rotate counter clockwise due to the location of the distributor hole in the block being on the opposite side of the block vs. a small block Chevy. So making sure it is an HEI unit for a Pontiac is the first thing. Now knowing that the distributor rotates counter clock wise, do you have the plug wires in the correct firing order? Like any other engine, you should bring the number one cylinder to TDC. Insure the distributor is firing on the number one spark plug wire, and then insure the firing order is 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 going counter clock wise. My next question is how much initial and vacuum advance timing do you have?

Thanks Joe.....I think.

One week to Autorama !!!! I picked up my discount ticket at O'Reilly's today too.

Definitely love to pics.

Quick question, have you check the small 4A fuse at the lower left marked INST. LPS,? It could be blown. Forgive the look of the picture, I grabbed it from the internet, but it suits my purpose. Also, do you have an electrical lead that is unplugged that needs a home? It could be for your dash. See the lead to the left of the 4A fuse marked LPS (lamps)? That is tied into the headlight switch and should be for the dash lights. I will study some more later tonight, but this was a quick and obvious question for me.

Do you have access to an actual Pontiac shop manual for your car? I think the wiring diagram would be a good resource to help you with your diagnosis. If not, let me know. I might be able to download it from my Detroit Iron electronic copy. I will study the schematics a little and try to bone up on your problem.

I am good with clones too. Obviously it is when you try to pass it of as the real deal that drives people bonkers. I own a '72 Lemans convertible, so I can help with the tech questions, I am not certain if I've seen your tech questions or not. I will check.

I call it the Farmall look ! Sorry Stratman, the duds suffered a major wardrobe malfunction about 25 years and 60 pounds ago. If you think my outfit is bad, do you even wonder what Jay the announcer is wearing since you never see his butt on the show ever? Good one guys!!!! >https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUZN-AOqmqk

Here is an hour and 30 minute interview from Stan Antlocer himself from V8TV radio. Its long but well worth a listen. http://v8tvshow.com/V8TV_2/index.php/v8-radio/548-v8-radio-stan-antlocer-long-interview Here is the video of the restored car http://v8tvshow.com/V8TV_2/index.php/v8-radio/548-v8-radio-stan-antlocer-long-interview

I ran across this video and interview with the current owner from V8TV.com http://v8tvshow.com/V8TV_2/index.php/events/muscle-car-and-corvette-nationals-videos/564-1969-pontiac-trans-am-prototype-video-2014-muscle-car-and-corvette-nationals-coverage

So are you looking to convert the rears to a 5-lug drum or 5-lug disc brake set-up? Are you looking to get the stock 8-lug look back even though you running 5-lugs? Did I miss anything?

Two weeks to Autorama. JUSTA, Indymanjoe, and I are talking about meeting up and perhaps car pooling down. notallthere, you interested in joining up with us?

So what do you plan to do to her? From the photo, there is obviously the need for some paint work. The rest is not obvious to the rest of us. What is preventing you from having that long cruise along the beach (besides time and perhaps money)? You also didn't say which beach either! I am glad you are starting to "live the dream" !!!!

It's great you have such a supportive Pontiac family.You are a lucky man.

HP Tuners, Jet Performance, and Bully Dog are three companies that come to mind that have programmers available for the ECOTEC motor. You can get them through Summit Racing or Jegs online catalogs for sure. Your local parts stores may carry one or more them too. You would need to shop around though. Also, if you plan to do any intake, engine, or exhaust mods, research the tuners to see if they can account and take advantage of the performance mods you are making. It would be a shame to bolt on a cold air kit, a header and free(er) flowing exhaust and the tuner/programmer could not take advantage of those mods.

I found a magic lantern in the sand and upon rubbing it a genie popped out. She said she could only grant me one wish. "I want to live forever," I said. "Sorry," said the fairy, "I'm not allowed to grant wishes like that!" "Fine," I said, "I want to die after the Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup!" "You crafty bastard," said the fairy.

Nice, but I think I would move the nitrous bottle either to the left or the right and still have some storage space! Looks good for show !

So for us IT geeks out here, what was the nature of the hack/breach? I assume that we have a third-party commercial server/administrator that provides the website home site/space/middleware/etc. So I am going to assume that more than just FP were breached by this. Since I spent a lot of time in computer operations (nearly 30 years), here are some hard questions I recommend you ask of our service/security providers are: 1. What is the nature of the breach/hack? 2. What was the root cause that allowed them to get in the first place? Why did it occur in the first place? 3. What information was accessed during the breach? 4. Who's information is at risk and what are you (the service provider) going to do about it? 5. What is the permanent corrective action to fix this exploit and prevent it from happening again? 6. What process changes are going to made to prevent future exploits (like this) from ever occurring again ? (timely patching, training, better security software, firewalls, etc.) Ringo - I'd be happy to consult with you on this, based on the responses you get. This smells like a lack of due diligence on our service provider's part in one or more areas. Its time to be a hard ass on these guys because this is a very serious matter. You and they have to take this extremely seriously and they have to take serious corrective actions both short term and long term.

Kleptomania I believe is the technical term. Stealing is another. Is welding in liquid latex and a speedo considered flammable? Or just a realy. really, really bad idea? Perhaps it should be considered illegal too.

Charlie is taking Bowling Green National Corvette Musuem delivery. So we will get to tour the plant too as part of the delivery package. He wants to get it around May 1-15 since there is nothing going on at the museum at that time.

That's one of my suspicions. I find drops on the ground once the car cools off. I can't explain why I go through oil when I drive long distance. I suspect that once the oil comes up to temperature and pressure for a period of time, I think it puts pressure on the gasket/seats/main seal/etc. and it leaks out that way, or there is a certain amount of blow by on the rings or valves. Like you said though, I don't see anything at start-up or acceleration. Three weeks to Autorama.

I will be in Bowling Green in May to watch my buddy take delivery of his red convertible....I can't wait.