opinions on custom 67 firebird front end

[CamaroJesse]

i am looking for some opinions on doing a custom front end on my 67 firebird. i have always been a camaro guy but ran across my car which was 5-6 grand cheaper than a camaro so i bought it. i love the entire car except for the big bulky nose of a firebird. i have no intentions on converting the front end to a camaro so before anyone jumps the gun thats not what i am wanting to do here. i am looking for a way to have the look of the firebird but have a "stubby" profile like the camaro with nothing hanging off the front end. i realize that i will run into an issue with the firebird hood as the center has a point to it. i was thinking maybe do what BBT fab did to the grey 69 firebird and shave the point off and lower the scoop a bit to achieve a flat hood on the front. that leaves me the issue of making a custom front grille. another idea i had was to use the RS camaro grille with the firebird hood with shaved point. my favorite front end ever on a car is the camaro RS grille with everything blacked out. the car is so far from stock its not even funny so im not worried about pissing off any pontiac purists however i dont want it to look like a camaro from the front and a firebird in the back. i will also be making a custom lower valance to enhance the look as well. just looking for some ideas if anyone has any.

thanks!

[jlcustomz]

Making a minor shape change while retaining most of the factory look isn't a bad idea & if done right the average person will just think it looks good & not know why. Custom blacked out grille & valance are good idea too Just make it look good.

By the way, stock sucks. Just my opinion.

[68Formula]

Just painting the bumper body color would make a huge difference in appearance.

http://firstgenfirebird.org/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=download&Number=6307&filename=IMG_2893.jpg132653

Then maybe add a billet grille (thinking you could paint it black if you don't like the polished look)
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[1BADBET]

What about running the shorter camaro fenders then eliminating the cowl where the wipers are and moving the hood back, put the wipers under the hood like the later cars. That would shorten the nose, then maybe weld/ blend the bumper to the fenders so it's smooth and one piece and run a "split" RS grill, and all blacked out...... might look pretty cool if done right.

[hotrodneb]

If you good at fab.....read my thread.
also--there is nothing shorter about the fenders Camaro/firebird

[1BADBET]

I'm not a first gen guy but Wikipedia lists the 67 fire bird as 4" longer than a 67 camaro. It might just all be in the "beak" part of the bumper, it certainly looks longer on the nose to me.

[Dark Pursuit]

If you are up to some metal work, cut the front beak off of the firebird hood about 12 inches back. Then cut the edges free and weld to a similarly prepped standard camaro hood. should make for an interesting low profile hood scoop in firebird style to match up to an rs grill.

[hotrodneb]

Those ARE Camaro front fenders on my car.

[Munssey]

Okay, been thinking about this for a bit and have some suggestions that might help inspire options.

1. There is always the option of taking the firebird nose and reworking the grill and hood to tone down the point for a flatter look.

2. Start with the grill inserts from a 6 Pontiac Parisienne (Canadian version of the Catalina). They are a bit more subtle in the peak and you can alter your nose and hood to tuck way back to mimic the grill inserts.
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3. Start with the front end of an early 70's Chevrolet Firenza. Still in the GM family and carries the same small crest in the middle but WAAY more subtle than the Pontiac lines and still small footprint.
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[1BADBET]

Those ARE Camaro front fenders on my car.

Oh wow, I never knew they were the same!


If your going to flatten the nose you still could push the hood back to hide the wipers. I like the hidden wipers look so I'm doing something similar on my car.


Where are you going to find a firenza??

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

hawt damn Neb's front end looks the birdness..