Tell 'em, Ace

"Takuro Spirit" (takurospirit) 08/06/2019 at 12:34 • Filed to: esprit, parts car, will it run?, first start, 301 v8, pontiac, firebird

5

2

Spent a few hours here, a few minutes there, got more of the interior out of the Esprit, and demounted the 1990's Fleet Farm tires (that I found the receipt for inside the car!) from the rally wheels that are in... OK shape for being buried in a field forever.

They cleaned up alright . A little sandblasting, repainting, and they might do someone some good someday.

The center console is in really nice shape. A couple small cig burns, and scuffs, but should be easily repairable and paintable so I can use it in my Trans Am, since the console it came with is ripped and has a hole for the power window switches that I’m not using, since I am converting to manual.

The seats are almost a total loss. The cushions have wire in them that are rusted, not to mention the smell I’m su re they have... But I was able to save some of the hardware for my TA seats . The passenger armrest was also torn beyond repair so it is junk.. Saving the driver’s side to see if I can clean it. Its pretty nasty.

But not ALL was bad news. After removing the fan and re-installing the alternator belt (for if and when it DOES run, it can charge the battery and power the accessories I need to verify functionality of) I put a breaker on the crank pulley and...

It spins over, SUPER EASY!

Next I p ulled all the spark plugs (and broke one, oops ), they looked great and had anti-seize on them. I checked the distributor next, making sure it was complete and not TOO rusty inside. It was, a little. But the cap and rotor looked like new and it turned when I spun the motor by hand. That done, I installed the missing (and broken replacement ) plug , and moved on to installing the starter:

I had an issue finding the right length starter bolts, as no one had an exact listing for a Pontiac 301 starter bolt set, or even the size. I was able to use one from a Dorman assortment, the other I robbed from work using the shortest out of the assortment as a guide.

After bolting the starter in, I ran new positive and negative battery cables ($3 each!) to avoid any voltage loss, and since the old ones were broken and nasty. The ground stud on the driver’s head snapped off even after soaking it in PB, so I used an open hole from the removed A/C compressor bracket on the passenger head. And now before I went any further with the next step (fuel system) I had to hook up a battery and verify a couple things...

1. I HAVE POWER!

2. IT CRANKS WITH THE KEY!

Okay, so now that we know that all works, onto the fuel system. I had planned to plumb the stock mechanical pump from a hose to a small gas can, just to see if it would work . I had a broken fuel line to deal with and needed a clear filter to see if it was pumping anyways, so I installed this (completely forgetting to check the stock filter at the carb)

But when I tried to remove the feed line off the pump bottom, the nipple broke. With no way of attaching a hose to it, and it getting dark out I retired for the night. I ordered an electric inline pump that I’ll use instead to feed the carb. It was my Plan B anyways.

So I finished up by running the plug wires properly, and checking a few vacuum lines I need to either cap off, or re-install so IF the engine fires, it might have a chance to idle properly.

Hopefully by tonight I’ll have it ready.

Captain of the Enterprise > Takuro Spirit 08/06/2019 at 13:00

0

Awesome!!!!

My bird IS the word > Takuro Spirit 08/06/2019 at 13:57

1

Best of luck! Certainly increases the value...