newb from Chicagoland

[lugnuts]

hey all,

I have been working on a project off and on for the past 4 years. its a 79TA that I have installed Herb Adams VSE parts to make a Fire Am. there are only a few items left I need:
Corbeau GT8 seats and the roll bar.

some things I did that were not part of the original package:
1LE swap
Year One 17x9 snowflakes

I hope to have the car painted by the spring and back on the road in 2010....

[kochevy67]

Welcome, are u from the northside or southside?

[1971CHEVELLE]

Welcome to the site

[wellis77]

Welcome to the site. Sounds like a cool project. Post some pics if you have em; we're all about the pics here.

[John Wright]

Post some pics if you have em; we're all about the pics here.

True Dat! .....we like pics

I would LOVE to see all of the Herb Adam goodies that you have collected and installed on that 2gen.

[lugnuts]

I will try to post some pictures when I get back home as I am traveling right now.

I have used some VSE parts and some parts from Dave at PTFB. since he has new parts very similar to the VSE parts I used his stuff where I couldn't find NOS parts. I could have gone with used VSE parts but I wanted all new stuff on the car. (didn't want to risk/mix 30yo used suspension parts with new parts)

so far on the car I have:


spherical steel bearings (to replace the factory rubber control arm bushings) the one Herb sold you had to cut the control arms and weld them in, I went with Dave's which are press in making the job much easier. Herb did sell a bushing kit which was like the del alums but I want the bearings.

solid body mounts
VSE swaybars
VSE shocks
structure braces
cut the front springs per Herbs book
modified rear springs " " "
tubular upper control arm from Dave
upgraded the steering box
upgraded the breaks to 3rd gen 1LE using all new parts including new b-body spindles.


now that I have the 17"s I will add SSBC bolt in 2 piston calipers and braided stainless break lines. I contacted SSBC when I did the swap and they informed me that their calipers would not fit with the larger diameter rotors and 15 inch rims.

replaced all the steering parts as well

the only thing left original on the front end that wasn't replaced is the subframe and the lower control arms.

I am also putting on fiberglass fenders that I recently picked up and will add a fiberglass hood and maybe fiberglass trunk lid.

I want to stick with fiberglass as that is what was around in the late 70's, I am trying to keep this car as period correct as I can, with the only visible change being the wheels which look like the factory wheels only a little bigger.


what I still need is the Corbeau GT8 seats, so if anyone knows of where I can get 2 let me know.

I am in talks with Matt Adams about getting the Fire Am decals reproduced so hopefully I can get those as well.

[FULMNTE]

Welcome, where are you located in Chicagoland? Quite a few from us are in this area...

[lugnuts]

ok I just updated my location.

I am in Wheaton so not too far from you.

[cmraman]

Welcome. I lived in Elk Grove.

[John Wright]

I like Dave's spherical bearings better anyway due to the dust seal that helps make them live a bit longer. If I hadn't already pressed in the Del-a-lums a few years ago...I would have bought them from Dave.