1968 Firebird 400

[Motown 454]

The bottom looks good your doing a nice job..

[68400BIRD]

Thanks Wayne, I'm looking forward to projects that are a little more fun.

[John Wright]

Thanks Wayne, I'm looking forward to projects that are a little more fun.

It might not be fun Rob, but it is important to get all of that done. Great job...now come down here and do mine for me...LOL

[68400BIRD]

Started working on the inside of the trunk again. I have around 15 hours into grinding down welds,sandblasting,acid etching, and general clean up of panels and old seam sealer. I have one patch welded in and a couple of pin holes that I welded close. I acid etched the inside of the trunk and put down two coats of POR15. I'm going to sand it all down with 400 and put two coats of Lizard skin down.

[Young Gun]

looks good!

[68400BIRD]

I did some work in the trunk. The paint looks funny because I used two different POR15 products. One was satin and one was gloss. I sandblasted the whole trunk,acid etched, and either sprayed DP90 or used POR15 depanding on the location. This will all get scuffed down and then will get 2-3 coats of Lizardskin and then spatter paint.

[John Wright]

Nice.....wish the trunk in my camaro was that clean....

[68400BIRD]

I had a friend stop by and help this last Sunday and we decided to tackle the firewall.
Here is what it looked like when we started.



A couple of patches welded in.

I had one spot on the cowl that was in bad shape. I cut out both sides and welded in new metal. All welds need to be ground down before painting.

[68400BIRD]

Nice.....wish the trunk in my camaro was that clean....

Thanks John. I now know that I fit in the trunk of a 1st and 2nd gen car. I still have more to do back there but it's getting closer.

[John Wright]

I have the rust bug working on my car back there from when the tail light gaskets were not sealing.

[Josue]

I'm new to PT cars, and I haven't had a chance to research this....

But, what is the benefit in getting rid of a factory heat/AC system in favor of the Vintage Air unit? Is it just a cosmetic thing, so you can have a smoother firewall?

[f1shman]

Space savings under the hood as much as cosmetics. The stock A/C plenum takes up a lot of real estate in the engine compartment. Running the vintage air unit frees that up and makes it easier to access the passenger side of the engine.

[Josue]

Makes sense!

Cost wise, is it cheaper to revive the stock unit with replacement parts and cleanup vs. getting this system?

How is the installation on this kit? Any tricks involved?

[68400BIRD]

Makes sense!

Cost wise, is it cheaper to revive the stock unit with replacement parts and cleanup vs. getting this system?

How is the installation on this kit? Any tricks involved?

It's probably more expensive going with the Vintage Air if your ac system is complete. The older system will need to be converted over to the newer style of freeon (sp)
My car did not have ac from the factory and my heater box was in bad shape from a mouse who thought it would be a cool house.
Vintage Air makes a kit just for out cars (1st gen) so that helped a lot in making the decision to install it. I just have to save up the money for it.

[LeighP]

Nice work...must be a "thing" with that section on the cowl sides...pretty much the only body rust on my old 67 Firebird 400 convertible was located right in the same place.

[Josue]

It's probably more expensive going with the Vintage Air if your ac system is complete. The older system will need to be converted over to the newer style of freeon (sp)
My car did not have ac from the factory and my heater box was in bad shape from a mouse who thought it would be a cool house.
Vintage Air makes a kit just for out cars (1st gen) so that helped a lot in making the decision to install it. I just have to save up the money for it.

Yea, I'm not even sure if you can get R12 anymore...lol

Nice work...must be a "thing" with that section on the cowl sides...pretty much the only body rust on my old 67 Firebird 400 convertible was located right in the same place.

X2! Our '69 convertible has a patch in the same spot, but on the passanger side.

[68400BIRD]

Started on the firewall this weekend. Heres a before pic.

After a little grinding.


And a little body work. I'm not going for perfect but I will smooth out as much as possible. The firewall did not have a flat surface on it from the factory.LOL

[rohrt]

I can't believe that your doing this in a two stall garage! Very impressed. What are you going to do with the kids bikes when the thing is painted?

[68400BIRD]

I can't believe that your doing this in a two stall garage! Very impressed. What are you going to do with the kids bikes when the thing is painted?

Thanks for the compliments. I hope to have a bigger garage within a few years. I don't see it in paint for at least two years. Just way to much to buy. It needs a complete interior, Vintage Air, posi rear end, and a set of 16 heads that need a ton of work. Money is the biggest issue or wait is it time. LOL I'm just hoping to be able to drive it next year in primer.

[litevette]

Thanks for posting your build. Glad to see you saving that 'Bird and doing it right!