Project WTF BIRD – 1968 Pontiac Firebird

[geberhard]

Project FLIPBIRD – 1968 Pontiac Firebird

Well, long time lurker here, and glad this site has some great info. Due to a definitely a huge amount of bad influence on the site, a Firebird that was on the chopping board towards a possible restore, will become the next pro-touring, restomod victim :D

Info on the bird:

1968 Pontiac Firebird, mystery? 350-400 engine with some goodies (more to come), 4 speed, currently drum brakes all around (fun stuff).

The goal for this project is to build a low buck car that is a fun driver that will cause enough trouble, but have enough good road manners and can run on pump gas. I am working on two other projects in parallel (67 Firebird and 1 ton rockcrawler), so this falls as third on the list.

Build sheet:

1- Engine plans? TBD - currently engine is cammed and Carbed. Possible swap for a 455 is being entertained.
2- Suspension? TBD – the car will be street driven, so the plan is for a simple but effective suspension setup. Entertaining adjustable option and eliminating rear leafs with triangulated 4 link Teh suspension is definitely coming down and will sit lower.
3- Interior – Spartan interior, will try keeping it mostly original, 6 point cage, updated seats
4- Tires\wheels, TBD – possibly staggered 18 and 20 combo that performs better than it looks ;)

The beginning – but honey she followed me home J



Only bondo was on the hood and a crappy job at that:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/02/IMG00307201009220806-1.jpg
whoever said it is what's inside that matters was lying:

Got her stripped and gutted:

Ready for a few weeks at the spa:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/02/IMG950992-1.jpg

Nose job – replacing the hood with a 400 setup:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/02/IMG950994-1.jpg


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/02/IMG951062-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/02/IMG951061-1.jpg

Back from the spa\body shop (crappy phone pics):
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
and
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

The interior right now is completely gutted aside for a rigged milk crate\seat.

Next steps are to get started on the interior, some sound\heat deadening, and start putting the gutted parts back on the exterior….more to come!

[Gotelli Speed]

love that eary bird

[geberhard]

Couple pics of the other projects I have been working on:

67 Firebird 400

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/10/IMG_2910-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/02/IMG_2911-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/10/IMG_3021-1.jpg

For S and G, one ton Wrangler I am working on, lowering a bit....

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/02/IMGP0556-1.jpg

And previous Cruiser buggy. Yep, "pro-rock-touring" of sorts, she had a juiced Firebird 400 (see a trend here? :D)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/02/BattleAxe_0001-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/02/IMGP0300-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/02/IMGP0298-1.jpg

Pontiac logo on grille :D
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/02/IMGP0301-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/02/IMGP0308-1.jpg

[T_Raven]

Looks good man. What color is it? Looks black in the first pic but kinda charcoal in the last pic.

[CruizinKev]

nice bird project! and so the other projects :twothumbs

[geberhard]

Thanks guys! the 68 color is called deep black (AKA deep slate or black pearl), I got the code from the limited series Grand Cherokee 1998 5.9 (they only made the 5.9 that year on 3 colors). Also saw Mitcheel Vannatta's bird on a similar color here, and definitely like how it came out. This one has a deeper hue and more metallic, but not too shinny.

[geberhard]

OPs just found out there is another project WTFBird here, hope he does not mind or I can change\edit my title :)

[67rstbkt]

Nice projects; I really like the silver Firebird. The rock crawlers are nice, too; I have a Toyota I put together a few years ago. Nothing extreme, it's more of a daily driver at this point.

[monteboy84]

Nice car! I love the stance :smoke:

-matt

[geberhard]

Thanks, projects coming along slow. I spent some time last night with the silver bird doing some misc stuff. I replaced the weatherstripping with OER, and the rubber plain and simple sucks on the door seals. You need to slam the door hard to close them so I am tearing it up and going with something else instead, at least for teh doors.

For the black bird, I am debating wheel and stance combo, most likely 18's or 18 fronts and 20 rear.

[geberhard]

I definitely need some bad influence so am digging deeper on the other projects around here for ideas. My objective is to build this as a fun all around driver rig, however keep everything within a $10K budget. (hmm yep right)...

The nest steps are:

1- Suspension - will definitely be lower and a nicer stance; I am still debating what to do all around, leaves vs CO's in the rear.

2- Brakes - disc brakes front, possibly rear on phase 2. Got it - have a complete $500 front conversion new.

3- tires\wheels - staggered 18 and 20 or 18 and 18. I will try maximizing tire size on the rear avoiding mini tub as the body is very solid and I woudl rather avoid a major chop up just yet..but plans may change. I am shooting for a 275 max rear tire size for now. I am trying to keep the tire\wheel combo within $1500. Appreciaet all suggestions. I came across new BOSS 338 or Eagle 225 staggered with tires, etc in the $1200-1500 range...

4- interior - cage - clean and spartan. - got a bender, will travel :D have some stock low back seats, new harnesses, and other misc interior parts (Amex, Classic, leftovers form other projects, etc)...

5- Powertrain. Hmmm things may get complicated here. I am trying to keep the current engine, cammed, etc. I will try to give some life on the current engine before I do anything more radical, however I picked this up as well, so will see. I need to do more reading here on the LS1 swaps and see what way I will end up going... all help and info appreciated! I picked up thsi low mileage98 Ls1 with auto tranny, PM, harness, etc.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/03/photo-1.jpg

Ok, I need more bad influence, so appreciate all insight!

Thanks!

Gui

[geberhard]

Picked up a Camaro valance, need to see how this will work out. I was originally planning on a 67 Firebird valance (delete the corner blinkers) so will see how thsi will work out with some modification.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/03/IMG_0332-1.jpg

[geberhard]

I really dig the projects I am coming across, so will be mixing in things I like from what I see, and hopefully people will not be pissed with some light idea copying - I think that could be a form or admiration right :D

Vannatta's Firebird was definitely a great inspiration on this build, so hope I can get a hold of him as well :)

[A62WAGON]

Nice BIRD(s). I say throw the LS in it.

[geberhard]

Thanks, yep, that is the plan. I am digging through a lot of info on the swap, so am hoping I can make it happen. The current engine in the Bird is plenty strong, so will give me some time to have fun while I gather and save for the other parts.

Just picked up some used semi-bling yesterday. Set of staggered Billet Specialties wheels, 18 fronts, 20 rears, lots of threda on the tires but unfortunately some curb rash on the wheel lips, not a huge biggie, but enough to bug me to wnat to address some time soon.

Pics on how the wheels look like:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[THE TECH]

Love the birds!

[AtomicFirebird]

Nice Bird

[geberhard]

So light update today, the weather has been very crappy, so the second shot of paint is still a bit too taky for 1500 grit paper and polish, but hoping some time in the sun will help baking it more :)

Sexay:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/03/IMG_0350-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[Bullockracing]

Sweet! Love the color - the project's coming along nicely!!!

[Lycan]

Hej! I found your project, I like 1st gen birds. :twothumbsWill you also paint the bumber in the rear black? It gives a more sleek impression of the body. My T/A will also be black with green ghostpearl, I even do some airbrush so I will make the bird on the hood in acid green true fire style.

[67blacklist]

how that's an amazing color, looking good!

[BirdsThaWord]

Anything new to post on yer black 'Bird?

[geberhard]

Sold her a few weeks back, kinda finished, interior almost done, run great :) On to a new project 68 vert bird. last pics, chopped the tinted windows that were in the plan.

18's 255 front, rear 295 20's

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/10/blackmagicwomanloweredshaved-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/08/blackmagicwomanloweredshavedtinted-1.jpg

[BigMal69]

Here's to the new project :twothumbs

[BirdsThaWord]

The black 'Bird turned out VERY NICE! Can't wait till you show us what you do to the new one.
BTW, on the black 'Bird, did you mini tub the rear? The rear fitment looked AWESOME! Any rubbing? I may have to sell my wheels and copy what you did there, as long as there was no tubbing. Thanks in advance for your response!!!

[geberhard]

ops sorry I missed updating the thread. rear wheel wells modified lightly, but still a bit of rubbing on the 295's. I think to firt the 20's comfortably it will require you to modify teh wheel well, perhaps not a full minitub, but a modified and clearanced original tubbing.