1969 firebird L6 T5 build thread, two-tone paint and 18's LOTS of pics!

[maroon88iroc]

well i have had this firebird around for awhile. i am building it for turkey rod run down in daytona florida. it is going to be a kind of different build. low to the ground, 18" wheels and two-tone paint. i am using the inline 6 cylinder and retrofitting a T5 transmission with the hydraulic clutch assembly. that is going to require the most fab. i am using 1st gen four speed pedals that i will modify to accept the master cylinder rod. i will have to fab a transmission mount and cut the driveshaft. i have alot of different motor combinations that i could use in this car (like a forged 455 w/ a th400, or a lt1 t56, or a 383 w/ 700r4 or t5) but i want to do something different that not many people would really do.. and i dont know if anyone has ever put a T5 behind a L6 but i am sure it has been done before. i am doing front a front disc conversion and hopefully a rear disc conversion a little later. 2" drop spindles in the front. heres some pictures. i hope to update this thread with progress. so keep checking in.

here is the car as when i got it.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/09/justgotthe69home5-1.jpg

interior cleaned up

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/09/interiorcleanup9-1.jpg

here is a photoshop of what the car will look like when finished. this is the paint scheme i have chose as of now but that could change still..

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/09/photoshop-1.jpg

stripping the car


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/09/DSCF2254-1.jpg

[maroon88iroc]

wheels and tires are adr 18"s. 18.8.5 in the front with a 2" lip and 235/40/18 bfg t/a kdw flame series tires. ($215 per tire) and the rears are 18x9.5 with a 3" lip and 275/40/18 goodyear eagle F1's ($325 per tire)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/09/DSCF2317-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/09/DSCF2319-1.jpg

spacers 1" hub centrics. idk if these are the right size i was thinking i was going to need 2" spacers but the place i bought the spacers from told me these would work so i will try them, if they are wrong i have to send them back and get the correct size. the front discs are going to move the wheels out a half inch so i have to get the disc conversion on for mockup so i can figure out the spacers that i need.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/09/DSCF2188-1.jpg

i will update soon, i am in the process of stripping the car and i am going to start on the front disc conversion.

[maroon88iroc]

mock up.. they look absolutely SICK!

hopefully the disc brakes wont push the wheels out too much more because they are sitting about perfect.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/09/DSCF2342-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/09/DSCF2339-1.jpg

soon to come: disc brake conversion on the front with 2" drop spindles dual bowl master cylinder, power brake booster and adjustable proportioning valve. T5-swap, engine bay detail, finish striping, primer black then paint after awhile.

[maroon88iroc]

ok a little more progress today i started on the disc conversion and front end rebuild. i got both the upper and lower control arms off the front driver side. man this thing hasnt been messed with in forever. the shock seperated on me and i had a little problem seperating the ball joints and tie rod end. im going to try and paint everything before i put it all back together.

heres a couple pics, i stripped half the roof. does anyone have a secret technique to this? it took me three hours to do this half of the roof. i am using aircraft stripper and 80 grit on a DA.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/10/DSCF2344-1.jpg


before

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/10/DSCF2346-1.jpg

all out

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/10/DSCF2350-1.jpg

all of the parts for the front end

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/10/DSCF2347-1.jpg

here is the broken shock and lower control arm... its going to be tough getting that super tall spring in there with 2" drop spindles...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/10/DSCF2348-1.jpg

[dropit69]

great progress those wheels do look sick on there..hopefully they work out for ya..keep up the pics..

[GBodyGMachine]

Do yourself a HUGE favor and stake those studs in the aluminum spacer some how. I have had the studs turn in the aluminum on mine, and had to cut them off. Now I just run really long studs in the axles and hubs with an aluminum spacer with no studs.
Jeff

[speedster]

That'll be one bright 'bird when you are done with it. Can't wait to see the finished product. Good luck...

[dstryr]

The two tone thing is kinda boring imho.

I think that thing would look sick all orange with some black stripes and black trim. maybe? haha.

[Code Red]

should be a fun project

[maroon88iroc]

Do yourself a HUGE favor and stake those studs in the aluminum spacer some how. I have had the studs turn in the aluminum on mine, and had to cut them off. Now I just run really long studs in the axles and hubs with an aluminum spacer with no studs.
Jeff

what do you mean? i havent heard of this before, this is the first car i have had spacers on and really dont have any expirience with them.

[GBodyGMachine]

what do you mean? i havent heard of this before, this is the first car i have had spacers on and really dont have any expirience with them.

I mean the studs that are pressed into the spacers will spin because the aluminum is not strong enough to hold them in place.

[maroon88iroc]

I mean the studs that are pressed into the spacers will spin because the aluminum is not strong enough to hold them in place.

so what you are saying is you drilled holes in from the outside of the spacer and used like a roll pin to keep them from spinning?

[ill steez]

what kind of power are you expecting out of the inline 6?

cool project by the way!

[maroon88iroc]

what kind of power are you expecting out of the inline 6?

cool project by the way!

lol not very much, this is basically going to be a cruising car. something for long trips and car shows. i am hoping to be getting close to 30 mpg out of it on the road.

[dstryr]

Save yourself some trouble and use a different tranny than the t5....

That way in the future you can throw a turbo in there to give the inline 6 some power haha

[maroon88iroc]

Save yourself some trouble and use a different tranny than the t5....

That way in the future you can throw a turbo in there to give the inline 6 some power haha

i swapped a t5 into my iroc in place of the 700r4 and havent looked back. i had a basically stock 350 in it with a comp xe 268 cam and gmpp heads with a street dominator intake and a 650 dp. the t5 held up GREAT behind it, i used a centerforce dual friction clutch. i ran pretty consistant in the high 13's and pretty much beat the crap out of the car lol, id go to the track and make over 15 passes and drive it home. never had any problems with the trans. but when i was doing the swap everyone told me "itll never last" it was the best thing i ever did to that car. i probably wont ever put any kind of power into this firebird though, i have my 67 rs that i am going to put something stronger in. this car is just to go slow and clean.

[T_Raven]

nice project. my 67 was originally an L6 w/3 on the tree. it's got a 455/400 now and i have an Ls1/t56 that are most likely going in it. i still have the original engine and trans and every once in a while i think about putting them back in. it's just a cool engine and a column shifted manual is fun, and it's always funny letting people try to figure out how to shift it. i've even considered trying to put in some kind of overdrive manual and modify the colum shifter to work.

those wheels look great on it. i almost bought a set for my black 89 gta when i saw them on another black 89 like mine but i never thought they'd look good on a first gen. i didn't even like the way your rendering looks but to see the actual wheels on the car looks good. i actually think they go well with the white paint. can't wait to see some more progress

[maroon88iroc]

nice project. my 67 was originally an L6 w/3 on the tree. it's got a 455/400 now and i have an Ls1/t56 that are most likely going in it. i still have the original engine and trans and every once in a while i think about putting them back in. it's just a cool engine and a column shifted manual is fun, and it's always funny letting people try to figure out how to shift it. i've even considered trying to put in some kind of overdrive manual and modify the colum shifter to work.

those wheels look great on it. i almost bought a set for my black 89 gta when i saw them on another black 89 like mine but i never thought they'd look good on a first gen. i didn't even like the way your rendering looks but to see the actual wheels on the car looks good. i actually think they go well with the white paint. can't wait to see some more progress

thanks man, i am not set in stone on the paint for the car, the orange and black has been my choice but i havent completely decided.

last night i got a little more done. i got the other side all apart, and i got all the upper and lower a-arms prepped for paint. also have the frame and inner fenders prepped. going to take the a-arms up to the machine shop today and see if they can press the bushings out.

[maroon88iroc]

heres pics of it completely dissasembled, sittin next to my 67 rs

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/10/DSCF2355-1.jpg

the a-arms are prepped for paint

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/10/DSCF2352-1.jpg

the frame is also ready to be painted.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/10/DSCF2351-1.jpg

[dropit69]

love the wheels..where did you get them at?..

[GBodyGMachine]

Thats what I planned on doing, but never got around to it. I would recommend it.
Jeff


so what you are saying is you drilled holes in from the outside of the spacer and used like a roll pin to keep them from spinning?

[maroon88iroc]

love the wheels..where did you get them at?..

unlimeted auto in california i believe. they werent super expensive. they are bmw wheels but the bolt patern is so close they bolt right up.

[maroon88iroc]

i got a good bit done yesterday, i got the front end finished with prep and paint. also painted the upper and lower control arms. i managed to replace the control arm bushings myself in less than an hour for top and bottom of both sides. they came out very easy with an air chisel, everyone was telling me that it was a huge pita to replace them but it went pretty smooth. i also pressed out the lower ball joints and drilled out the upper ball joints. the new upper ball joint just bolts in but i had to press the lower ball joint back in. i got the a-arms painted up and installed on the car, those rediculously tall springs gave me a fit and i had to use a spring compressor for the first time. i ended up having to dissassemble the tool inside of the spring to get it out...

i also had a little problem with the disc setup for the front. there was no brake pads or wheel nuts :confused: so i had to search for the company that made them and called them up to ask about a replacement pad, turns out they are 84-91 s10 front brakes, and i put in new studs 7/16ths to match the original rears. the front brakes will be changed eventually but i had them kicking around in the garage so they'll go on there for now. i have ls1 rear brakes that i am planning to install next week.

i had a major problem with my hub centric spacers and these front brakes, they didnt fit. i had to mill the inside of the spacer to fit around the rotor hub ill get pics up later but they turned out great. it needs a little more than 1", the wheel is resting on the outer tie rod end because of the 2" drop spindle. the arm off the spindle for the tie rod is alot closer to the wheel than the drum setup but i am thinking a small 1/4" spacer will take care of this. heres some pics of the progress more to come.

installed, although i still have to paint the inner fenders..

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/10/DSCF2364-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/10/DSCF2366-1.jpg

new stance :worship:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/10/DSCF2373-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/10/DSCF2374-1.jpg

quick picture of the gauge pod i installed to the center console also.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/10/DSCF2368-1.jpg

[maroon88iroc]

updates, got the car finished and then a freak problem with the oil filter prevented me from attending the show i was working all week in preperation.
BIG thanks to johnny for helping me alot with this car.
heres a couple of pics,
this is just after the front disc conversion and lowered front end, stock height back end.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/10/DSCF2375-1.jpg
both the following pics are also lowered/disc frotn stock rear
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/10/DSCF2378-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/10/DSCF2381-1.jpg
me and johnny decided to lower the back end, i wanted to go 1" but i bought a 2" block kit.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/10/DSCF2387-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/10/DSCF2388-1.jpg
it looks beast, i trimmed the lips off the quarters so this thing will bottom out and not touch the tires. those big wheels are sitting in the wheel well, perfect stance, i need to drive it some and get everything leveled out. johnny has some pics from today but the car was wet idk if he will post them.
what you guys think?

[gearbanger]

Looks very good. I love 69 birds. Keep that poncho power.

[maroon88iroc]

couple of pics outside with the new stance

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/10/100_5597-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/10/100_5596-1.jpg

[T_Raven]

stance looks great. i like the way the paint looks, you should keep one side white and one black lol

[OLDFLM]

One side black one side orange! (c:]

At this rate your 'bird will be done before mine! LOL

Lookin' good man!

V/R,
Ty

[maroon88iroc]

One side black one side orange! (c:]

At this rate your 'bird will be done before mine! LOL

Lookin' good man!

V/R,
Ty

ya its coming along but i am between quarters in college so i have a couple weeks off and doing the work yourself it usually gets done faster, once i finish stripping mine its ready to go to my painter. i heard you are taking your car to someone else, did you pick it up yet?

[OLDFLM]

Yep. Got it last Saturday.

You should be seeing something on here soon as it's a builder from the boards that's finishing the car for me... :1st:

I just can't say enough about this great community of car guys willing to go the extra mile to help each other out! :worship:

Extra thanks to Frank @ Prodigy Customs for the GREAT recommendation!!

[maroon88iroc]

Yep. Got it last Saturday.

You should be seeing something on here soon as it's a builder from the boards that's finishing the car for me... :1st:

I just can't say enough about this great community of car guys willing to go the extra mile to help each other out! :worship:

Extra thanks to Frank @ Prodigy Customs for the GREAT recommendation!!

whose doing the work?

[OLDFLM]

Fletcher's Customs

[maroon88iroc]

i have made some progress but it doesnt show.. just makes the car look worse and worse, but its all for the good i promise.

i have almost finished the passenger side/roof/hood and now working on the tailpanel rear lower valence and door jams. i also tore the whole front end off of it. it was supposed to go to the painter early this week but with full time school and part time work i havent had a chance to finish getting the car all the way down to bare metal.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/11/DSCF2425-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/11/DSCF2430-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/11/DSCF2427-1.jpg

big thanks to my gramps for helpin me out with the dirty work... i completely cannot stand stripping the paint off the car and i hope to never ever have to do it again. i didnt know what work was untill i started doing this. iwould much rather wrench on stuff then do this kind of work.

[Steve68]

Looks good with the Rally II's on it,

[BossaNova]

I love that car!
Can't wait to see it in paint.

[maroon88iroc]

went ahead and pulled all the interior last night, car is down to the shell..

car is going to paint today! so i have a little more work to do.. my compressor broke so unfortunately i couldnt finish it myself. without an air compressor i have no air which means no d/a and no grinder..

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/11/DSCF2431-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/11/DSCF2432-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/11/DSCF2433-1.jpg

[maroon88iroc]

couple more updates the car is finally stripped and at the paint shop. heres some pictures getting it there.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/11/DSCF2446-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/11/DSCF2447-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/11/DSCF2456-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/11/DSCF2452-1.jpg

[KevMc]

That's alot of progress in a short time. Awesome.

[T_Raven]

it looks awesome rolling down the road like that lol. i can only imagine how disgusted the general public was haha

[mr.regal]

that is cool rolling down the road like that!! good work, i know body work sucks, i tried and failed 3 times now, so its off to the body shop. keep it up.

[maroon88iroc]

well sorry guys i havent updated in awhile. i took off for vacation last week and just got back yesterday. i went to moultrie car show then to daytona for the week to go to the turkey rod run. i picked up a brand new fender and door skin for the car while i was down there at NPD in ocala florida. we got the quarters welded up and the trunk floor installed. most of the body work is done i will post pics later, thanks for keeping track of the project

[cdoggy81]

Keep up the good work!

[maroon88iroc]

a couple of pics, shaved the drip rail, installed the quarters, and installed the trunk floor. i picked up a brand new fender from npd in florida and a new door skin, pics of those soon

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/12/DSCF2470-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/12/DSCF2467-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/12/DSCF2469-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/12/DSCF2466-1.jpg

[OLDFLM]

Looks great Michael! When will it be done?
V/R,
Ty

[maroon88iroc]

Looks great Michael! When will it be done?
V/R,
Ty

i have no idea, im not trying to rush him because i want a good job. he has done a great job so far. i have something custom going on with the side mirrors and they are actually going to be frenched into the doors.

[OLDFLM]

No doubt he does great work! The custom mirrors sound cool... can't wait to see them!! Good luck with the project and keep me posted! :twothumbs

[Firehawkslp]

Any News yet ???

[1971CHEVELLE]

Looks great:1st:

[69sleeper]

I am glad to see that there are people out there doing the work themselves! Keep up the great job.

[maroon88iroc]

I havent updated this in forever there has been a big long saga with this car. I got it back about 2-3 months ago with aterrible paint job. so the painter agreed to repaint it. I finally got it back lastweek and it looks GREAT, im happy with it I just hate it took so long. This same guy painted my iroc and it turned out great, he is a great painter just not easy to deal with, which is frustrating b/c I havent had my car for 8 months.

here are the pics of the second repaint, what you think?
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/09/secondpaintjob-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/09/secondpaintjob10-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/09/secondpaintjob2-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/09/secondpaintjob7-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/09/secondpaintjob6-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/09/secondpaintjob8-1.jpg

[maroon88iroc]

got started putting the front end back together today

valence

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/09/DSCF0303-1.jpg

headlight buckets

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/09/DSCF0306-1.jpg

grills

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/09/DSCF0305-1.jpg

all together

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/09/DSCF0308-1.jpg

I havent put the parking lamp assemblies in because I am going to black them out. I havent put the headlight bezels in because im waiting on the diamond cut headlights.

I ordered a brand new rear bumper for the car today as well as a full set of diamond cut headlights and an HID conversion kit. next on the list is headliner then replace the front windshield then im going to start putting all the weather striping on and interior in. The car will be at Wings and Wheels on October 10th sporting the straight six, after the show im swapping in the 350 and 5-speed and getting that finished up for the turkey rod run during thanksgiving down in daytona FL.

[OLDFLM]

Looks great Michael! Can't wait to see it in person!!

[WS6]

Looks good to me.

[Lenie]

Hmmmm. I like them birds.

[78 Type-LT]

nice build...can't wait to see tha drivetrain come together

[SamHatco]

Great color! You make putting the front end on so easy. I know it's not. There must be 10 pieces that have to line up perfectly on the nose of these birds. Good job.

Sam

[dhutton]

I agree with Sam, you make it look too easy putting that front end together. I fought with mine for many hours.

Great job and it's good to see all the other F body cars making a showing here.

[maroon88iroc]

Great color! You make putting the front end on so easy. I know it's not. There must be 10 pieces that have to line up perfectly on the nose of these birds. Good job.

Sam

thanks man Im surprised it went together so easy I had been dreading putting the front end back together. I still have a couple alignment issues but nothing too serious, Im going to have my body guy look at it and hopefully get it squared away.

[badbu68]

Looks great! I think you should paint the mesh of your grill the same color as your wheels.

[srh3trinity]

The car is looking great. The more I look at '69 Firebirds, the more I want one. You see plenty of Camaros, but these Firebirds have some fantastic lines.

[CliffS]

Sweet! Love the color!

[maroon88iroc]

Looks great! I think you should paint the mesh of your grill the same color as your wheels.

I was looking at Sam's bird and he painted the mesh in his grills black and it looks sweet, I was thinking about doing the gunmetal like the wheels or black but im going to wait until I get it all back together and see how it looks. thanks for the input though man!

srh3trinity: thats what I like about this car, around here it seems like every car guy has a 69 camaro. I live in a decent sized town with alot of car enthusiasts and there is only one other 69 firebird that I know of. I like to be different, dont get me wrong I love the looks of a 69 camaro but I like rolling up and being the minority not the majority haha.

[maroon88iroc]

these showed up today.. Im pretty impressed with them. Cant wait to get them installed.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/09/DSCF0377-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/09/DSCF0378-1.jpg

[GM_muscle]

car looking good. what happened to the two tone paint job?

[Motown 454]

Nice looking car I like the colour.

[maroon88iroc]

car looking good. what happened to the two tone paint job?

I decided against it just about right after making this thread haha. I was going to do the two-tone because it was going to be a cheapy paint job, with not much body work. Well as you can see thats not how it went haha

[Chevrolaine]

Sweet, Lookin good!!

[steve g]

Looking good. Keep the photos coming.

[T_Raven]

As much as I loved it half white and half black lol....It's looking great. Very nice shade of blue. Much better than the orange and black also

[m6z]

badass car.

[SimplyKC]

I decided against it just about right after making this thread haha. I was going to do the two-tone because it was going to be a cheapy paint job, with not much body work. Well as you can see thats not how it went haha


Much better choice on the paint!

Although, next month is Halloween. :smoke:

[47lt1]

Its great to see something so different! Love the idea! I cant wait to get something like this going on my own.

[19,69camaro]

Any more updates? The car looks great man!