BL72
01-17-2017, 12:11 PM
Howdy all.
New to the forum. I've lurked here for quite a while however and registered recently. I've been somewhat apprehensive to post, I really don't know where to start and I am some time out for having a road worthy vehicle. Ill try not to be too long winded. I suppose we could say I'm in the beginning of the planning stage. I don't have an unlimited budget but I do make a good living. Id like to start accumulating parts etc. I think it may take 2 - to 3 yrs. though to get to the point where I am ready to assemble. I have some major purchases to do obviously and I'm not really sure how to go about it. If I wait parts will go up in price and I don't want to get something and then when I am ready to use it, it is no longer supported or the inside parts need work due to rust maybe form sitting.
I guess I can go in to detail about my ride? I'm not really sure on protocol.....
I bought a 1972 Pontiac Firebird in may of 1996. It took me 2 yrs to purchase it I was 19 when I finally bought it. I had 6 months and I got an exhaust put on it. On the way home from exhaust, it caught on fire and that was that. engine bay burnt fairly bad, wiring plastics hood but fortunately that was it. Glass was fine and interior. It happened literally next door to the fire department. About 6 months later, I had a house a wife and a pregnant wife with one just being born. So as they say, life happened and the car was put on the back burner. thru the years I've always kept the car and held on to "the dream" lol What I have wanted as the end product has changed thru the years but for awhile I now I think I have settled on a pro-touring rebuild. I have lots of questions and not sure if I should post them all thru out or start here. too early to call manufactures of things? I don't want to be a pain in the ass to anyone.
So on my hit list thus far:
I really want a full frame. I really like the Schwartz frames. I also like the Heidts IRS. I could but the Heidts front clip and rear IRS separately when I can, the Schwartz is 1 huge buy for me and ~4k more probably. I know Schwartz is on here and I've been debating calling them... I'm sure the full frame is stronger, but how well would the heidts front and rear with the ties work compared to it?
I want a Pontiac engine. No ifs ands or buts about it. I have a 68 400 block casting 9790071 tho I'm not sure this is the right forum for that. I want to deal with Kauffman and Tin Indian on that end, both are north from me and really are premier Pontiac guys. Id love to buy everything I need for the engine over the next couple years and then have it all when I'm ready to put it all together. Any issues with that? I will be stroking it to ~490ci
Im up in the air with the trans yet. I enjoy manuals, Paddle shifters would be neat but I definitely want more than 3 gears. id love to have a 6 speed of some sort
It will need some body work tho it really isn't bad I don't think lol. I will want some fabrication done
I want A/C and power windows, updated dash and gauges and interior that still pays homage to firebird. There is a lot of influence in this Camaro:
http://www.superchevy.com/features/1607-this-1971-camaro-just-raised-the-pro-touring-bar/ they are relatively close to me and I am debating when I get to the body work, taking it up there. I love what they did with the fender flaring. I just don't want that engine set up at all. Color is up in the air too.
I will be doing as much work as I can. I will hope to strip the body this year and start disassembly. Currently it is a literal 20 year barn car.
So what are the recommendations with a 3 to 5 year plan? school me all! Ill post a picture as it was from my phone after this
Sorry if I was too long winded
Phil
New to the forum. I've lurked here for quite a while however and registered recently. I've been somewhat apprehensive to post, I really don't know where to start and I am some time out for having a road worthy vehicle. Ill try not to be too long winded. I suppose we could say I'm in the beginning of the planning stage. I don't have an unlimited budget but I do make a good living. Id like to start accumulating parts etc. I think it may take 2 - to 3 yrs. though to get to the point where I am ready to assemble. I have some major purchases to do obviously and I'm not really sure how to go about it. If I wait parts will go up in price and I don't want to get something and then when I am ready to use it, it is no longer supported or the inside parts need work due to rust maybe form sitting.
I guess I can go in to detail about my ride? I'm not really sure on protocol.....
I bought a 1972 Pontiac Firebird in may of 1996. It took me 2 yrs to purchase it I was 19 when I finally bought it. I had 6 months and I got an exhaust put on it. On the way home from exhaust, it caught on fire and that was that. engine bay burnt fairly bad, wiring plastics hood but fortunately that was it. Glass was fine and interior. It happened literally next door to the fire department. About 6 months later, I had a house a wife and a pregnant wife with one just being born. So as they say, life happened and the car was put on the back burner. thru the years I've always kept the car and held on to "the dream" lol What I have wanted as the end product has changed thru the years but for awhile I now I think I have settled on a pro-touring rebuild. I have lots of questions and not sure if I should post them all thru out or start here. too early to call manufactures of things? I don't want to be a pain in the ass to anyone.
So on my hit list thus far:
I really want a full frame. I really like the Schwartz frames. I also like the Heidts IRS. I could but the Heidts front clip and rear IRS separately when I can, the Schwartz is 1 huge buy for me and ~4k more probably. I know Schwartz is on here and I've been debating calling them... I'm sure the full frame is stronger, but how well would the heidts front and rear with the ties work compared to it?
I want a Pontiac engine. No ifs ands or buts about it. I have a 68 400 block casting 9790071 tho I'm not sure this is the right forum for that. I want to deal with Kauffman and Tin Indian on that end, both are north from me and really are premier Pontiac guys. Id love to buy everything I need for the engine over the next couple years and then have it all when I'm ready to put it all together. Any issues with that? I will be stroking it to ~490ci
Im up in the air with the trans yet. I enjoy manuals, Paddle shifters would be neat but I definitely want more than 3 gears. id love to have a 6 speed of some sort
It will need some body work tho it really isn't bad I don't think lol. I will want some fabrication done
I want A/C and power windows, updated dash and gauges and interior that still pays homage to firebird. There is a lot of influence in this Camaro:
http://www.superchevy.com/features/1607-this-1971-camaro-just-raised-the-pro-touring-bar/ they are relatively close to me and I am debating when I get to the body work, taking it up there. I love what they did with the fender flaring. I just don't want that engine set up at all. Color is up in the air too.
I will be doing as much work as I can. I will hope to strip the body this year and start disassembly. Currently it is a literal 20 year barn car.
So what are the recommendations with a 3 to 5 year plan? school me all! Ill post a picture as it was from my phone after this
Sorry if I was too long winded
Phil