HSR 68 Firebird

[ho428]

Installed the GW Billet shafts, these things are massive compared to stock.
Hope to get the lower arms installed this week and maybe the whole front suspension done and back under by next weekend.

[Motown 454]

Looks good .

Wayne

[GM_muscle]

looking good love me some pontiacs. where in sc are you located?

[ho428]

I'm in Greenville.
Started final assembly on the engine as well. To many projects going on. :help!:

[GM_muscle]

i here you. i got a 79 firebird i am building for the limited street class ans a 69 ta that needs resto some time and doing the pro touring thing with my v8 s10. what edelbrock intake is that you using? if its the pb4 i would swap it out for a rpm or a stock intake. the pb4 is junk and flows like it good for a door stop.

[ho428]

what edelbrock intake is that you using? if its the pb4 i would swap it out for a rpm or a stock intake. the pb4 is junk and flows like it good for a door stop.

You making fun of my mule motor?:box2:
Yeah it's a P4B, it's all I have at the moment. Funny, it's been in the garage for years, propping open a cabinet door, been trying to score a used Torker II on epay but keep getting beat. Not sure why people will pay so much for a used intake when new is only $200.
Anyway, my mule motor is built with parts I had laying around. Well, pretty much the whole car is. Only thing I went new on is suspension, wiring and safety parts.
I did build a pretty good bottom end that I can build on, it's a .060 over 350, 366 cu in is my class limit, decked with forged rods, top end is ported #17 heads, 10:1, with a holley 750, I'd like to get some KRE heads down the road, but for now the goal is just to get it on track with what I have and go from there.
Tranny is a M-20, rear is 3.08 10 bolt posi.
Not exactly a powerhouse set-up, but with no experience in road racing I didn't want to start with top of the line stuff. This really is a budget entry into HSR racing. Only got about a grand in the engine, the tranny and rear I had, I parted out a car to get the body shell.

Maybe I'll see you at CMP sometimes for track days, I hope to have it on track this summer.

[Hammered]

I'm just glad you're keeping it all Pontiac. Keep the pictures coming!

[andrewb70]

I'm just glad you're keeping it all Pontiac. ....

Oh yes! Me too...

I have a Performer intake if you are interested. PM me.

Andrew

[GM_muscle]

you going to pontiac in the park in va may30-june 1?

[gearbanger]

Oh yes! Me too...

Andrew

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[PonchoJohn]

If you're gonna race it, you need to address the oiling system.
Canton makes a good pan, or you could try Pro-touring F-body. I put a 455 in a 68 w/ a cheap PAW chrome pan (it was a copy of the 73-81 style 5-tab-rear-seal, T/A oil shelf design- Whew! say that 5 times fast) and it cleared everything just fine. Check w/ Dave at PTFB for any fitment issues.
Oh yeah- those shafts look proper on a Pontiac. I've never understood why they used some half-a$$ed spindly shaft w/ a tiny bolt holding it together on the Firebird- the Tempest/LeMans/GTO had a properly Pontiac designed setup.

[ho428]

I've got the Canton Road Race pan on already, I'll probably go with a remote filter, cooler and Accusump back up.
Some of this will get added as it progresses. Shake downs will probably be as is, but maybe with the remote filter to get it off the header.
I have to come up with a Power steering cooler though.

At some point I have to put catch cans and vents on everything. For open track days I can get away without except the radiator I think, but HSR requires them on the engine, tranny and rear.

[ho428]

I got the rest of the GW lower a-arm parts installed, stiffer lowered springs and 1" sway bar, along with new ball joints, tie rods and billet sleeves, and went ahead with a Disc Brake conversion.
Took two days but it's done and back under the car.
Next up, rear suspension.

[PonchoJohn]

Pound, pound!! Be still my heart! Sure is lookin' good!

[ho428]

I plan on installing my 10 bolt posi for the time being, but I want to change it to a 9" Ford.

What's the process here? Axle housing from what? Offset the pinion? To what? Centered? Have to cut the tubes down to fit the F-body flange width?
Do GM spring perches and U bolts fit the axle tubes?

Any info appreciated.

[ho428]

Had a little snafu trying to install the Global West rear frame bushings. The DS went in fine, good press fit while the PS slid all the way through sloppy loose. So I had to knurl the bushing and add a snap ring to hold it in place.
Started installing the interior sheet metal as well.

[ho428]

Getting closer...

[KevMc]

Nice. Love the color!

[maldo]

nice ....

[Motown 454]

Really coming along looks nice.

[1968CamaroSS_Sam]

The car looks great. Who made the roll bar?

[ho428]

A couple of interior shots.

[ho428]

Made it to the track Sunday.

[dusterbd13]

how'd you like working in the sand at CMP?
and are you planning on going to the event in early october? i think its the tarheel event, but im not sure. couple of my track vette guys are going.

Michael

[ho428]

CMP is a nice layout, a little flat but very fun. And the people there are great.
I'm trying for a Turn One event in October, I think they're having one on a Friday in Oct. Then a weekend session in November. Those are my only two times I have left to test the car. My first bigger event will be NASA at RA in December.

[dusterbd13]

what class are you going to be running with nasa? TT, AIX, or DE?
my father runs an 88 vette i built in TT, and is an instructor as well.

Michael

[ho428]

Right now I'm in DE, going to work my way through for a comp license and get into HSR vintage racing.

[ho428]

That's a real cop car behind me at Road Atlanta. I did not pull over. :6gears:

[craigs73]

are those aluminum bushings on the stock a arms

[ho428]

Stock A Arms running GW billet shafts and aluminum-delrin bushings.
Lower solid body bushings and GW springs front and rear.

[craigs73]

sorry to ask but i'm going to be using stock a arms so how much was the bushings and the shafts for both sides

[ho428]

Don't recall really, it's been awhile. GW has prices on their website. Going through someone like Jegs can save a little, but I've heard of people having to go back and forth if they have an issue. Go direct and they'll talk you through anything.

I will say for a street car it would be very aggressive and rough riding with the package I got, I wouldn't want to drive my Bird on the street with my suspension.

[craigs73]

so what would you recommend i'm going to be driving it on the street and the occasional twisties i was wanting a good bushing to replace the stock ones

[ho428]

I have a full cage, welded subframe, solid bushings and racing seat, so absolutely nothing to dampen the road.
If you used rubber or urethane body bushings that would help dampen it or just use urethane throughout.

Several on this site have used solids on the street, I guess it depends on how much daily driver abuse you're willing to endure for the occasional twisty runs.

But I wouldn't just change the a-arm bushings, I'd do some so sort of complete bushing, spring and sway bar-shock package, at least the bushings, bar and shocks. No idea the condition of your car but if it has any original rubber bushings, they're probably shot.

[craigs73]

yeah its all stock i want a complete kit like you recommended with all the bushings and a bigger than stock sway bar and shocks

[T_Raven]

looks good. Always nice to see more first gen birds.