lawless
11-20-2014, 01:03 AM
I've been a long time lurker of this forum, and as I'm approaching the 5th anniversary with my '68 Firebird, it's finally time I share a build thread. Only this past winter did we actually start building it.
With that said, a lot has changed for my car in the last 8 months. One of my best friends and I have been spending many hours building my car to be a fun daily driver with performance upgrades that can handle some fun on the backroads. The over all goal is to have a somewhat stock appearance but I did decide to finally bite the bullet and go with an LS1 swap. In March, I procured an '02 z28 with 42k miles. So that's my drivetrain plan. (I am still keeping and storing the YJ code 350 the car was built with). I'll post the plans for motor upgrades once we hit that stage. ;)
Right now, we're in the body work phases. Here are some pictures of our progress:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/11/rollback_zps39577444-1.jpg
Back in March, on the rollback, the day it left to my buddy's shop!
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/11/frontend_zpsaf0ccbfc-1.jpg
Sadly, my subframe is quite a bit bent, and the cost to fix and restore it is about the same price as just buying a new stock style frame. Still trying to decide on my options. I'd love to go fully aftermarket with all upgraded suspension, but right now that's not in the budget. https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/11/-1.gif
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/11/pressurewashing_zpsc3c78acc-1.jpg
Pressure washing the undercarriage. Floor pans need patching, so does my trunk, have all the sheet metal to go in. Doors were a little rough but are fixable (trying to salvage the frames and reskin the passenger side using AMD sheet metal). QPs luckily only need partial skins, and those will be going in once it's back from sand blasting.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/11/dutchmanpanel_zps86563e1a-1.jpg
In early October (10/5/2014) we spent time prepping and sanding off the second layer of paint (which seemed honestly like an 80s Macco paint job) to help prepare it for the sand blaster and of course, reduce friction time. A glimpse of the car's original color (Aleutian blue) which is actually the color I'll be choosing for it once we're ready to spray. Going with PPG I believe. We actually were OCD enough to use a razor blade to remove a lot of that white paint, which was oddly cathartic.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/11/dutchmanpanel2_zps461f8c05-1.jpg
The dutchman's panel was a lot more solid that I was expecting. We'll see come after this Saturday when it returns from the media blaster where we'll be needing to patch. I have several pinholes around both windshield and rear glass that need repair, but knew about that before we started paint stripping.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/10/roof_zpsc2dae4f3-1.jpg
Roof shot! (Of course it has a nice dent in it https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/11/-1.gif)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/11/fender_zpse7db6643-1.jpg
I'm incredibly impressed with how solid the passenger fender was once we had it blasted. Only 1 major spot of rust that we cut out and fixed, and several tiny pin holes that have been closed up. Sadly, the car had been hit at one point in time from the driver's side, so that fender (god I wish I took a picture) had a 2'x9" chunk of filler hiding the obscene dent. We're thinking that same wreck was responsible for the bent frame. Fender wasn't really worth repairing and I had an awesome buddy I know through facebook spot me a brand new unused reproduction fender for the cost of greyhound shipment. Really curious to see how much finagling it'll need to fit right, but was pretty awesome of him to do that.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/11/fender2_zps163c310f-1.jpg
RH fender shot in epoxy ready to be body worked! Again, very happy with my RH fender! https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/11/-2.gif
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/11/brakes_zpsee56c516-1.jpg
I've already procured a lot of parts. I've got a full brand new Vintage Air unit that will be going in, new brake setup (Right Stuff) master cylinder, booster, stainless lines, etc. Have my brakes that I've already retrofitted and used a set of spare '68 hubs I had that I had turned down on a lathe to fit the rotors off of an '02 Trans Am. Figure those late 4th gen brake components will hold me over until I can get a more beefy brake set up. The wheels may be 17in Year one Rally 2's to accommodate the disk brake and wider wheel/tire setup. Not tubbing the car so only going I believe 8 in the front, 9 in the rear. My buddy has a set on his '70 Judge that I plan to steal for a little and see how I like my car with them.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/11/camaro_zps016d785c-1.jpg
And the parts car we scored. Yes, some insurance company totaled it out. Has some front suspension damage (think it slid off the road), and had quarter damage that we have since rednecked the dent out. The car is a solid running car with service records. Almost hate to tear it down but, I want/need the motor.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/11/ls1_zps00285a5f-1.jpg
42k miles, the entire car is super clean.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/11/artwork_zps3ce727bd-1.jpg
I'm a professional graphic designer for a living, and this is the type of stuff that funds this build. A client that had me doing several illustrations for a car show he hosts and requested I include my firebird in the artwork. Funny how I'm an illustrator but I never draw renders of my own car, this is to date the only drawing I've done of it haha. Pictured is the vinyl that's on their shop front, it's also on their trailer and countless vendored tshirts. https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/11/-2.gif
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/11/weld_zps50b267a1-1.jpg
For those who are curious about my amateur welding skills, I haven't actually welded on the car. My buddy who has been building old cars for years has been doing all the metal work; though he is giving me welding lessons whenever we've got some extra time. Here's my first attempt at MIG Welding! Don't laugh too hard. ;)
I'll have more progress shots soon, hopefully door shots! My driver's side door doesn't seem to need as much work as the passenger side. Already had to order the passenger door skin because it was full of rot and just dented right at the crease. The frames we're trying to repair just to avoid the absolute nightmare that is aftermarket doorframes. Also, I'll be needing a new frame because I don't think we'll be giving the frame shop the price he quoted us to straighten my very ****-eyed factory frame.
Still need to source my rear end and going brand new suspension. I'll share more once I know what we'll be going with.
Holidays are getting in the way, but hoping after thanksgiving we'll make some headway in the metal repair.
As for everyone typically my age, this is a build on a budget, but the goal here is to get the body straight, done properly, and slick, then upgrade the drive train, renew the suspension and drive the car for a bit. Eventually, I'd love to do IRS, aftermarket subframe, etc. and the works, but saving for a house and land has been cutting into my build budget so that'll come later. Bleh, priorities.. ;)
With that said, a lot has changed for my car in the last 8 months. One of my best friends and I have been spending many hours building my car to be a fun daily driver with performance upgrades that can handle some fun on the backroads. The over all goal is to have a somewhat stock appearance but I did decide to finally bite the bullet and go with an LS1 swap. In March, I procured an '02 z28 with 42k miles. So that's my drivetrain plan. (I am still keeping and storing the YJ code 350 the car was built with). I'll post the plans for motor upgrades once we hit that stage. ;)
Right now, we're in the body work phases. Here are some pictures of our progress:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/11/rollback_zps39577444-1.jpg
Back in March, on the rollback, the day it left to my buddy's shop!
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/11/frontend_zpsaf0ccbfc-1.jpg
Sadly, my subframe is quite a bit bent, and the cost to fix and restore it is about the same price as just buying a new stock style frame. Still trying to decide on my options. I'd love to go fully aftermarket with all upgraded suspension, but right now that's not in the budget. https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/11/-1.gif
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/11/pressurewashing_zpsc3c78acc-1.jpg
Pressure washing the undercarriage. Floor pans need patching, so does my trunk, have all the sheet metal to go in. Doors were a little rough but are fixable (trying to salvage the frames and reskin the passenger side using AMD sheet metal). QPs luckily only need partial skins, and those will be going in once it's back from sand blasting.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/11/dutchmanpanel_zps86563e1a-1.jpg
In early October (10/5/2014) we spent time prepping and sanding off the second layer of paint (which seemed honestly like an 80s Macco paint job) to help prepare it for the sand blaster and of course, reduce friction time. A glimpse of the car's original color (Aleutian blue) which is actually the color I'll be choosing for it once we're ready to spray. Going with PPG I believe. We actually were OCD enough to use a razor blade to remove a lot of that white paint, which was oddly cathartic.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/11/dutchmanpanel2_zps461f8c05-1.jpg
The dutchman's panel was a lot more solid that I was expecting. We'll see come after this Saturday when it returns from the media blaster where we'll be needing to patch. I have several pinholes around both windshield and rear glass that need repair, but knew about that before we started paint stripping.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/10/roof_zpsc2dae4f3-1.jpg
Roof shot! (Of course it has a nice dent in it https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/11/-1.gif)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/11/fender_zpse7db6643-1.jpg
I'm incredibly impressed with how solid the passenger fender was once we had it blasted. Only 1 major spot of rust that we cut out and fixed, and several tiny pin holes that have been closed up. Sadly, the car had been hit at one point in time from the driver's side, so that fender (god I wish I took a picture) had a 2'x9" chunk of filler hiding the obscene dent. We're thinking that same wreck was responsible for the bent frame. Fender wasn't really worth repairing and I had an awesome buddy I know through facebook spot me a brand new unused reproduction fender for the cost of greyhound shipment. Really curious to see how much finagling it'll need to fit right, but was pretty awesome of him to do that.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/11/fender2_zps163c310f-1.jpg
RH fender shot in epoxy ready to be body worked! Again, very happy with my RH fender! https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/11/-2.gif
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/11/brakes_zpsee56c516-1.jpg
I've already procured a lot of parts. I've got a full brand new Vintage Air unit that will be going in, new brake setup (Right Stuff) master cylinder, booster, stainless lines, etc. Have my brakes that I've already retrofitted and used a set of spare '68 hubs I had that I had turned down on a lathe to fit the rotors off of an '02 Trans Am. Figure those late 4th gen brake components will hold me over until I can get a more beefy brake set up. The wheels may be 17in Year one Rally 2's to accommodate the disk brake and wider wheel/tire setup. Not tubbing the car so only going I believe 8 in the front, 9 in the rear. My buddy has a set on his '70 Judge that I plan to steal for a little and see how I like my car with them.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/11/camaro_zps016d785c-1.jpg
And the parts car we scored. Yes, some insurance company totaled it out. Has some front suspension damage (think it slid off the road), and had quarter damage that we have since rednecked the dent out. The car is a solid running car with service records. Almost hate to tear it down but, I want/need the motor.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/11/ls1_zps00285a5f-1.jpg
42k miles, the entire car is super clean.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/11/artwork_zps3ce727bd-1.jpg
I'm a professional graphic designer for a living, and this is the type of stuff that funds this build. A client that had me doing several illustrations for a car show he hosts and requested I include my firebird in the artwork. Funny how I'm an illustrator but I never draw renders of my own car, this is to date the only drawing I've done of it haha. Pictured is the vinyl that's on their shop front, it's also on their trailer and countless vendored tshirts. https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/11/-2.gif
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/11/weld_zps50b267a1-1.jpg
For those who are curious about my amateur welding skills, I haven't actually welded on the car. My buddy who has been building old cars for years has been doing all the metal work; though he is giving me welding lessons whenever we've got some extra time. Here's my first attempt at MIG Welding! Don't laugh too hard. ;)
I'll have more progress shots soon, hopefully door shots! My driver's side door doesn't seem to need as much work as the passenger side. Already had to order the passenger door skin because it was full of rot and just dented right at the crease. The frames we're trying to repair just to avoid the absolute nightmare that is aftermarket doorframes. Also, I'll be needing a new frame because I don't think we'll be giving the frame shop the price he quoted us to straighten my very ****-eyed factory frame.
Still need to source my rear end and going brand new suspension. I'll share more once I know what we'll be going with.
Holidays are getting in the way, but hoping after thanksgiving we'll make some headway in the metal repair.
As for everyone typically my age, this is a build on a budget, but the goal here is to get the body straight, done properly, and slick, then upgrade the drive train, renew the suspension and drive the car for a bit. Eventually, I'd love to do IRS, aftermarket subframe, etc. and the works, but saving for a house and land has been cutting into my build budget so that'll come later. Bleh, priorities.. ;)