Newbie with questions

-
JTinAZ

JTinAZ

Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2024
Messages
8
Reaction score
4
Location
Surprise, AZ
Hey all,

I just purchased my first A body today. I’m having some trouble decoding the fender tag because my second line has 6 codes and all the decoders only have 5. Here’s a pic of the tag and the car.
It’s supposed to be a 273 but the engine is blue and I thought 273’s were red. I think it may be a 318. I can’t see any casting numbers.
I’m thinking about making a GTS clone with a 383 or 340 4 speed, but for now I’d like to get it running and driving just the way it is. It’s a father son project. My son is 14 and we wanted to do a project together.
Body is decent except the PS door. Trunk floor is good, main floor is soft on DS and PS, but the rear floors are good. Rear lower quarters have rot. Interior is trashed like all AZ cars. It’s been sitting since 1990 and was last started in 2004. Should be interesting to try and get it running again.
Trans linkage is all jacked up and the reason the car was parked. Hopefully it’s repairable because a 4 speed is not happening until I decide what the future build will entail.

Anyone think this PS door is salvageable?

IMG_6597.jpeg
IMG_3584.jpeg
IMG_3586.jpeg
IMG_3585.jpeg
IMG_6592.png
IMG_6591.png
IMG_6590.png
 
E31 - 273 v8
D12 - 3 on the tree
F8 - green paint
F8 green interior

Does it have rubber floor covering ?
 
Not sure about your model year but in 1970 there was a paint code for the body and a paint code for the roof which might explain the two F8's. Anyone know what the T3 code is?
 
I figured out the double F8 code, it’s the body and roof color since it has no vinyl top.
The D2T is deluxe vinyl bench in saddle tan.
The T3 is still unknown to me. Something about the upper door frame?
It’s definitely not the original engine because it should be red if it was a 273 so I believe it’s a later 318 which is fine for now. I still need to find the casting numbers.
I still want to convert to a 4 speed, but I think a 360 would be more budget friendly than a 340 and this isn’t a resto. I would still like a bulge hood with 340 call outs because I prefer the look over the plain flat hood.
I’ll need to source a new rear end at some point in the build too.
I’m thinking of either keeping the F8 green or switching to gold but changing the interior to black either way and adding a black vinyl top because they look nice.
For now I just want to get it running and driving but I’m not in a rush because it’s as hot as the surface of the sun out there right now. Lol.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top