Another Firebird project

[geberhard]

Beautiful Bird What color is that? I am trying to get some color ideas, I just finished striping my 68 yesterday and dropped for some paint. I am still debating what color to go, leaning towards the Ferrari silverstone grigio color or black

[rickpaw]

Beautiful Bird What color is that? I am trying to get some color ideas, I just finished striping my 68 yesterday and dropped for some paint. I am still debating what color to go, leaning towards the Ferrari silverstone grigio color or black

It's called sequoia green (68 camaro color). Don't have the paint code handy with me though.

[rickpaw]

Quick update, it's been about a month since I picked up the car from paint. Been tearing into the rear suspension and replaced all the bushing. I'd like to get Hotchkis lowering spring, but it's out of the budget so the stock mono's have to make do for now.

Car came back from paint. It was raining hard

[MrQuick]

hurry up and break out the 1200 grit!!!! LOL

Looks great.

[rickpaw]

Got the rear suspension out. Had to cut 3 of the front eye bolts off. Got GM replacement j-nuts from the local Chevy dealership.

Rear end out


Code XE stamped on axle tube=3.08 open diff,


But looks like previous owner replaced it with a posi


Original j-nut next to the new GM replacement one


Painted the axle assembly with rattle can semi gloss black.

[rickpaw]

hurry up and break out the 1200 grit!!!! LOL

Looks great.

Thanks man

[rickpaw]

New oil seals installed


New rear LS1 e-brake bracket and spacer. My friend made them out of 12 gage steel based on CADD drawings downloaded from John Leland's (Hammered) web site.


Rear end assembled with the rear brake components and Kore3 brake lines


Close up shot of the e-brake bracket




Front brakes mocked up. Hopefully will have the braking system done by the weekend

[68400BIRD]

Looks good. Looks like someone put a A-body rear end in the car. What gears are on the posi unit?

[rickpaw]

Looks good. Looks like someone put a A-body rear end in the car. What gears are on the posi unit?

That's what I thought. But a couple of guys on the firebird forum said that in cars with 400 engine option, Pontiac used heavier duty rear end from A-body. The XE code is supposedly Firebird specifc, so the PO may have just swapped the gears. I hope it stays 3.08 since the car will be a cruiser. I'll check when I open the cover to put on new gasket.

[68400BIRD]

That's right. I forgot the 67 models did come with that rear end. I guess my mind is going as I get older. LOL

[72Chevelle454]

Nice....i've been wanting to go the 68 firebird route. Thats coming along nice!

[Donovan]

Hello Tu

This is Tommy... It was great meeting you today. I'll be in touch now, I'm hook on your project and can't wait to see what else you have in the works. I'll be glad to help if I can, PM me so we can get caught up once you have time and I'll tell you about me 68.

[rickpaw]

Hey Tommy,
It was great to meet you and the guys yesterday. I'll post some new pictures once I get home.

[mtgriz70]

Hey Tu, I met you along with Andy and Tommy on the 15th. The car looks great, and yes I look forward to seeing it finished, as I am sure you are. Take care, have a great Christmas visit, and keep in touch with us HALFers, whenever you can.

[rickpaw]

Well, here are some updates. I've been working on it off and on since last Thanksgiving.

Installed new Powermaster mini starter


Get ready to drop in the engine/tranny




Engine/tranny went in with no problem. Not having a front end helps.

[rickpaw]

Mocked up and welded up some adapter brackets to mount the Porsche bucket seats. Much improved over the stock seats. Just have to dye them black.


Started to dynamat the inside of the car, used up 2 bulk boxes to dynamat, plus a box of trunk kit to finish up the trunk.



Installed close cell sound insulation over the roof, dash area. I have another 3 boxes of Dynaliner to finish up the floor and firewall.




Also finish up the braking system. Now i have working brakes.

[rickpaw]

Started wiring up the car with American Autowire Classic update kit.

The new fuse box (has about double the number of circuits compared to the old one).


Installed DSE wiper switch with matching headlight switch


I've also decided to convert the stock throttle linkage to a cable set up, since the throttle rod is missing. I bought a complete Lokar kit.


Old gas pedal and brake pad.


New Lokar billet aluminum set up. I had to enlarge the firewall opening abit for the throttle linkage to fit properly


Cable linkage/bracket installed at the carb, along with the bracket for the kickdown switch.


I also upgraded the lighting in the garage, going from 2 compact flourescent lights to 4 4-ft shop lights. Makes a huge difference in lighting quality.


Next up is finishing up the wiring inside the car, and install the Vintage Air as soon as it comes in from Frank @ Prodigy Custom.

[Dons67]

Nice Project

[whayden2003]

Well just looked thru the whole post and I have to say great job on not only the work but I am very glad to see the great job of task management. You should be a example to all of how to start a job and finish it before moving on to something esle to often this is what happens to these great cars to many small jobs not finished turns a project to a basket case. Again great Job and thanks for taking the extra time to share it with us.

[whayden2003]

Oh and you should change the title of the tread from another firebird project to "THE FIREBIRD PROJECT"