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View Full Version : 1967 Pontiac Firebird. AKA: Donna



JakeD
01-19-2016, 10:41 PM
Well well, where to begin...

This project started approximately 16 years ago. I was about 10. My dad purchased this car after it had sat in a guy's drive way for 15 years, windows down. To say it was a rust bucket is an understatement seeing as we live on the wet, west coast of Canada. I was 10 then. I didn't know a lot about cars, but sure loved the smell of gasoline. Bought the car, towed it home, got to work. We did a mediocre build on it. Most of the money was put into replacing all the sheetmetal pulling together random part as we could. New quarters, floors, trunk, fenders, hood, etc. We put a mild pontiac 350c.i. in it, a turbo 400, stock suspension and open GM 10 bolt with 3:08s, a set of centrelines and a cheap paint job to finish her off. That was that.

At the age of about 17, he gave it to me. I ended up selling it so I could go to university. That was 8 years ago, and I've been looking to get a muscle car ever since. I regret that I sold it. But luckily, it has come back into my life. I have been searching the local "buy/sell" site every morning for the past year or two, and about a year ago I found it. The same guy who bought it off me did a restoration on it. He put a Poncho 400c.i. in it, nothing special but she's nice. He finished off some odds and sods, made it look great. I purchased the bird back.

In the past few months, I've been parting together a pro-touring build. Now, lets make it clear that the car was already a resto-mod when we purchased the car 16 years ago. It came with no engine or trans. It was originally a 6 cylinder firebird sprint, so she's not a purebred.

The parts I have installed in the car since getting back are as follows:

•DSE mini tubs
•Moser 12 Bolt - 3.73 gears, 1/2"x20x2" screw in studs, semi gloss powder coat, aluminum girdle, 33 spline eaton true trac diff, narrowed 2".
•Wilwood disk breaks:
Front: Forged super lite 6r big brake kit - 140-12271-DR - Wilwood Flexline No: 220-7056
Rear: Forged dynalite rear parking brake kit - 140-7141/7139
Master: aluminum tandem master cylinder kit with proportioning valve and bracket. - 261-13626-BK
•RideTech CoilOver System - Level 2: tubular UCA/LCA, 2" drop spindles, HQ CoilOver shocks, triangulated 4 link.
•RideTech muscle bar front sway bar.
•RideTech TruTurn system 67-69 F-Body
•QTP 2 1/2" electronic exhaust cutouts.
•Hurst roll control
•Corbeau Racing VX2000 seats, full leather, 1" shaved base, 67-69 f-body seat brackets.
•Custom fabricated subframe connectors

So whats next... Well I would love to do it all at once, but I'm 25 and working on it when the funds permit. The car feels amazing since putting in the new suspension. I put 700b springs in the front since I have a 400 pontiac with cast iron heads. The ride is stiff, however I still need to play with the adjustments on the shocks. I am currently in the midst of purchasing wheels. I have the 17" Torq Thrust II on them. Love them, but I am going the protouring route of course. Also, since I narrowed the rear end and mini tubbed it, the back wheels just look so wrong, Its tearing me up.. Lastly, the engine and trans. Eventually I will save up to top it off with a decent power plant and a t56 behind it. I am just going to drive the snot out of this engine until she goes.

I will be doing some small mods in the mean time. Steering box and pump needing replacement, looking to put on a sparco steering wheel and some new gauges. Other than that, just taking pictures and laying down rubber with the exhaust cutouts open!

Hope you enjoy the thread.

P.S. Donna = a babe.

JakeD
01-19-2016, 10:49 PM
Just trying to figure out posting pictures here... Stay with me.

JakeD
01-19-2016, 10:54 PM
Here is order from when we bought it (rust bucket) to when we sold it (Pontiac 350) to when I bought it back (Pontiac 400)1225421225431225441225451225461225471225481225 49122550122551

JakeD
01-19-2016, 11:14 PM
So when I first got the car back, it handled TERRIBLY. It was like I was driving a waterbed and I was floating down the road. That lead me to forums such as this. I researched the parts for hours on end, and eventually started ordering parts. I decided to tackle suspension, brakes, and rear end first to get it stopping & handling properly and laying down a real strip of rubber. I was pretty stoked when parts started showing up.12257812257712257912258012258112258212258312258 41225851225861225871225881225891225901225941225971 22591122592122593122594122595122596

It was officially time to get to work.

JakeD
01-19-2016, 11:22 PM
We did the work over a month or so. 12261412259812259912260112260012261212261112261012 26081226071226051226041226031226021226061226131226 09

JakeD
01-19-2016, 11:36 PM
The work continues..122617122616122615
Had to add some electronic exhaust cutouts (and line lock) for fun!
122619122618122620
When we first put it on the ground, the front end was just a tad too low, although it looks killer. So we raised up the coils about an inch for final ride height. ALSO, as you can see, it is in serious need of wheels and tires because the backs are so sucked in and small! I need to fill those mini tubs up!
122621122623122622122624122626122625122627122628

Well, she's running and driving like a charm now. Little play in the steering box. That is next... And hopefully wheels.
Thanks, Jake.

Gil
01-20-2016, 12:34 AM
Awesome upgrades... Keep plugging away !
Won't be a water bed anymore.
Gil

Josue
01-20-2016, 07:51 PM
Looks great! Subbing for updates!

Grubest63
01-24-2016, 09:34 AM
Love the old Firebirds, your car looks sweet!

JakeD
01-09-2017, 01:09 PM
Well, well now. Been a few months since I have posted. Few updates on the car and some very exciting ones over the next few weeks. Since last post, I have sold my motor bike (the Gixxer 750 in the photo) and reinvested that money into The Bird. Overall, the car has been running and handling well. However, I have found that the top end & highway speed is killing me. With the 3.73s in the rear end and a turbo 350 trans, my top speed is limited to approx 120km/h at 4000rpm. I can really go maybe 130-140, but thats revving the **** out of her. That said, with the proceeds of the motorbike, I purchased a new 5 speed. I was also having some overheating issues, so I tackled the radiator, shroud and new electric fan. As mentioned in my last post, the steering pump and box was next on my list, as well as wheels. Well, this is what I have done since:

-Be Cool 29x19 Aluminator Rdiator
-Custom fabricated aluminum shroud
-16" Flex-a-life Electric Fan
-2x American Racing TT2 for the rear wheels (fill the tubs) 17x11, 6 1/4" backspacing, 315/30/r17 tires.
-Quick ratio steering box and replacement pump
-Tremec TKO 600 5 speed, McLeod short throw shifter, 30lb steel flywheel, McLeod super street pro clutch (600hp), Wilwood master cylinder, Hurst shifter, new BOP bell housing.

I have the car back in the shop and will be tackling the 5 speed swap in the next few weeks here. Hoping I have all the parts necessary to make the swap fairly seemless. Will be sure to take some pictures of the aluminum shroud (cause its a beauty) and the swap along the way. 5 speed, standard burnouts, and high way cruising speed is now in sight.

Stay tuned... Hopefully these pictures post too..

expensivehobby22
01-10-2017, 01:09 PM
That's awesome that you got your car back. Nice build too!

salesguy01
01-10-2017, 09:31 PM
Man, Awesome build!! Love the suspension and those seats!!!

Godbolt
01-11-2017, 01:33 AM
Looks great. I realise this may be regarded as blasphemy but if I had to choose between a Firebird and a Camaro I'd go with the 'bird.

JakeD
01-12-2017, 11:37 AM
Thanks Fellas. I have to say, the Corbeau seats are great for going for a joy ride and cutting corners, but there is just something about the stock seats... Half way through the summer, I put them back in. They just fit the car so much better. I mean, definitely go with the Corbeaus if you are doing a track day. But if you're just cruising, I say stick stock.

Cant wait for the 5 speed.

Also, forgot to mention. Doing up tail pipes at the same time. When I first did the suspension, I put dumps off the back of the mufflers as I didnt have the 11" wheel/tire combo yet so I didnt know where to run the pipes. Have to say, the dumps look sick, but it is soooooo droney in the cabin that you need ear plugs after 30 min (at least my girlfriend does). Looking forward to diverting the sound out the back or to the side. Still unsure.

DroptopJ
01-22-2017, 12:45 PM
Looks awesome! I plan on putting a ridetech rear suspension in my 68 bird soon, I have a tko 600 5 speed with a hydraulic clutch & 3:73 gears in it. I wish mine looked as good as yours.

lucky13firebird
01-22-2017, 11:59 PM
Great minds think alike, my 68 firebird has the guages above the heater controls as well. Btw, I have 2.56 gears in my 12 bolt and doing 270 km per hour is no problem, but dont get caught... honeslty just stroke the pontiac 400 to a 461 like I did and you will never be left wanting for power...

71LS5Formula
01-23-2017, 07:35 AM
Looks like the those wheels on the back turned out good for you. Car looks sweet.

Josh@Ridetech
01-23-2017, 07:41 AM
Badass! Great work. Let me know if you need anything else!!

JakeD
02-03-2017, 11:55 PM
Right on man, thats kind of what I was thinking. Thanks for the comment, big fan of your cars!

- - - Updated - - -

Yeah, they turned out pretty much perfect. Thanks again for the painless transaction!


Looks like the those wheels on the back turned out good for you. Car looks sweet.

- - - Updated - - -

RideTech all the way man.


Badass! Great work. Let me know if you need anything else!!

Tynitty
02-04-2017, 04:49 AM
Wow! Firebird looks so nice! Great work