1969 Firebird TA clone track car build

[jlwdvm]

I covered some of the body work that has taken place over the last 4 years (only 2 years behind schedule now) in a previous thread:
https://www.pro-touring.com/threads/...98#post1020598
So far I have stripped and reprimed with SPI white epoxy. Then I decided to replace the roof and lower filler panel due to rust pitting from a previous vinyl top. I filled the seams between various body panels with weld and filler rod. I also fitted the windshield trim to the new roof and filled any gaps with All Metal filler. The Trans Am Repro hood, spoiler, and fender extractors have also been heavily massaged to get the fit just right. The subframe is now getting a Ride Tech stage 2 kit with coil overs, muscle bar, and TruTrun installed. I have a Wilwood 6-piston front brake kit waiting on the shelf as well. The big questions right now are whether to go with an LS3 and Tremec https://sdparts.com/details/chevrole...mance/19301360
, or rebuild the 455 and maybe use the M20 that is sitting on the shelf ($11-12,000 for a Kaufmann 515hp turn-key motor). I'm thinking about using a Currie crate 9" with the Ride Tech 4-link and trying to decide on wheels. 17" Vintage Wheel Works V40's with sticky street ribber are the front runners right now.

[gto406]

Hi Joe,

I am so glad to hear you are considering putting a Poncho back in this Bird. What would truly be interesting is to consider an aftermarket F.I. system - e.g. the FAST EZ-EFI v2 or perhaps the Holley EFI?

Another option may be to consider doing a stroker 400 motor to give you 460+ CID. Some of the kits from Butler (I am sure KRE has them as well) are pretty reasonable, and the cranks included (I think they are Eagle) and rod-kits can hold up decent power levels.

This is a really great project - I shall be following this one closely. The '69 T/A is my absolute favorite pony-car!

Thanks for sharing this!

Cheers,
Brian
'72 GTO 406 Pontiac (restification - see '72 GTO Just-A-Driver Project')
'69 Firebird 406 Pontiac (street/strip).

[jlwdvm]

I considered EFI, but that makes the LS3 look even better when you crunch the numbers. As it stands, the LS and everything associated with it would cost the same as the Kaufmann crate motor (carburated), and the LS has a 2 year guarantee! If I added the price for the EFI and associated fuel tank, the Pontiac route would be more expensive. I already have a 67 Firebird with a lumpy cammed 400 and a 4-speed to get that fix if I need it. Which ever route I go, it has to be reliable, can take a beating, and not leak! The road course I take my Boss (and hopefully my 69 some day) to is 3.6 miles and 20+ turns (Autobahn in Joliet, IL). Lots of decisions to make and money to spend!

[rickpaw]

I'd say go with the LS, especially when you have another bird with a Pontiac engine. Unless you're a purist, I can't see how a Pontiac motor will make sense, considering what you're planning to do with the car. I swapped a 5.3/4L60e in my 67, and wished that I had done it sooner.

[jlwdvm]

I was able to install most of the front Ride Tech suspension this weekend. I'm not sure if I will have to pull the coil overs and cut any of the spring pocket yet for more clearance. At full sag the shocks don't touch, so maybe I will be ok. I started to install the front Muscle Bar. I'm in the process of drilling holes for the mounts and I'm not sure if I will have to trim any metal from the subframe bumps for clearance as it states in the directions. I am close to getting the Wilwood's mountes as well. I have to get a shorter lower caliper bracket mount bolt since I am using TruTurn and the bolt no longer has to pass through the caliper mount, bracket, and steering arm since the TruTurn steering arm mounts in a separate location. I also need to order a Camaro drag link since the Pontiac drag link doesn't work with TruTurn. Pictures to come!

[jlwdvm]

I had to trim a little off of the front subframe cross member for Muscle Bar clearance. I'm still not sure about trimming the metal bump stops.

[68400BIRD]

Front suspension looks great. Keep the pictures coming.

[Buryingthesun]

looking great!

[rickpaw]

Wow, it will be a very nice car when you're done.

[jlwdvm]

I should have mocked up the suspension before I sprayed the subframe. I have to remove the metal bump stop from the bottom of the subframe (in front of the spring pocket) for sway bar clearance. Luckily a cut-off wheel and a grinder should do it. Shouldn't be too hard to touch up the SPI epoxy.

[jlwdvm]

A few TA goodies. I am going to trim some metal from the lip of the dog house to get a little more air flow from the fender extractors. THey are more "show" than "go" as delivered from GM. I did quite a bit of fitting with Tiger Hair filler to get the gaps for the fender extractors and the spoiler pedestals tight.

[jlwdvm]

I used a cut-off wheel to get the bulk of the subframe bump stops off and then ground down the rest of the factory weld. I touched up the area with some SPI black epoxy. I also removed a little over 1/8" of metal from the inside edge of the factory spring pocket for coil-over clearance. I need to get some high temp bearing grease and get the Wiwood bearings packed so I can get the hubs, rotors, and calipers mounted. Then it is on the the rear 4-link!

[jlwdvm]

I tried to put the pads in last night and it looks like I will have to shim the caliper mounting bracket to move the caliper outboard. THe inside pad has plenty of room (not touching the rotor), but I can't slide the outside pad in. I'm going to try to get ahold of Wilwood today to see if this is common with ridetech spindles.

[bonecrrusher]

Nice brakes/swaybar setup!

[jlwdvm]

Started to install the 4-link. I had to massage the area of the floor pan at the front bar quite a bit and also a few areas where the trunk pan was ribbed (you can see where I was pounding on the floor pan). Trying to figure out how to get the frame rail L-brackets flush for welding. The bottle jacks give me a souple extra hands since I am doing all of this by myself!

[Captain7787]

Awesome looking car man. Can't wait to see it done!

[jlwdvm]

After much pounding and massaging, I got the 4-link where I think it needed to be. I held it in place with a bottle jack on each side (working alone) and ran a plumb bob down from each upper coil over mount. Then I measured to a bolt hole on each side at the front leaf spring pocket to get it as close to square as I thought I could (within 1/8"). Welding is almost done. I have to get my 9" ordered and getting closer to biting the bullet on an LS3 and trans!

[jlwdvm]

I've had a lot going on lately to say the least and the car has been on hold. I got married and moved into a new house. I managed to get the Chassis Works 6-point cage welded in. My new garage has similar dimensions but I am going to change a few things. i am going to park the Boss in the 3rd stall (shortest stall) and have the 69 in the middle with clear tarps/curtains hanging from the ceiling on a steel rod similar to a shower curtain set up. We removed 2 4'x4'x1' sections of concrete and poured 5000psi concrete so I can install a lift! http://www.revolutionlift.com/RTP9-9...px#MoreDetails I've decided on a Texas Speed LS2 with a Tremec and a Strange S60 rear end. I got a set of Toyo R888's 275's and 315's for my tires. Now I can figure out rim size and get some v40's ordered, then I can get my rear end width figured out and get that ordered.

[Buryingthesun]

Awesome updates!

[jlwdvm]

Still trying to get the new garage up and running. You can see the new footings for the lift that need to cure a little longer before the lift can be installed. Prior to the move I trimmed the metal lip from the area behind the fender extractor openings and then welded the edges back together to make them a little more functional. The fresh meats were delivered just after xmas and I have a new 670 steering box on the way from Speed Tech.