1968 Firebird project

[Bennsb]

Waiting for the exhaust and new disconnect fittings to ship. Goal is to have the engine fired up this month.

Today I turned 40, I've been a lifeguard for 20, drive a truck that's 30 and am looking forward to driving the Firebird that will be 50. My motorcycle is 11, but my better half looks 10 years younger than she is so that'll work.

[FireBeater]

Waiting for the exhaust and new disconnect fittings to ship. Goal is to have the engine fired up this month.

Today I turned 40, I've been a lifeguard for 20, drive a truck that's 30 and am looking forward to driving the Firebird that will be 50. My motorcycle is 11, but my better half looks 10 years younger than she is so that'll work.

hey man, happy birthday! any birthday I can celebrate and keep my bird, puts a smile on my face.

[Bennsb]

Got the Pypes SGF70 exhaust in the mail. Kitchen remodel is priority one right now so only got to mock up the exhaust. Brakes need plumbed, bench bled the master and mocked up the 4 wheel disc proportioning valve. Using a QuickSilver B&M 68/69 Camaro console shifter for the 2004R. Going to incorporate the 69 shifter button. Camaro console is on its way. Need to put the front and rear glass in soon so I can get the interior prices out of the garage and in the car.

[Bennsb]

Been a while. Got motor started on first attempts. Making some progress finally.



Quick revs to 2,500 RPM

[Bennsb]

Got the FiTech installed and it works great. I drove her around the block for the maiden voyage and I’m quite pleased with my progress. The disc brakes work well and the throttle response was excellent. The ID tag was lost on the trans but it shifted from 1st to 2nd at 5 grand quite firmly. Don’t know if it is a bad fitting or bad line but my return is seeping at the top of the tank. 5 steps forward, 1 step back.

Got rained out this afternoon but managed to drill 36 holes in the sheet metal installing the passenger mirror and emblems/trim. Should be getting epoxy primer soon.

[ryeguy2006a]

Congrats! Car's looking good!

[Bennsb]

Installed RAM AIR setup today.

[Bennsb]

Started on the rust removal/body work. Got the trunk and hood down to bare metal and covered in
2k high build primer. I’m going to spray the engine bay, inner fenders, under hood, dash and interior panels around the package tray satin black then work on prepping the outside for color (Solar Red) and clearcoat

[PonchoJohn]

GREAT build! I love 68's- owned a few!! So glad to see it's Pontiac powered... but I see one huge issue-- You used a 557 block (the last three casting numbers)- these blocks were made when GM was forcing Pontiac to cut costs, so they're thinner castings, and have some cheapened parts on them (Pontiac went back to the earlier 400 castings- Block ID is "XX"- due to warranty issues with the 557 blocks) vs. the earlier blocks. If you're using it as a cruiser, no worries, but.... if you're planning on beating on it, or building it for more than 400 HP, I'd SERIOUSLY consider using another block.

[Bennsb]

Thanks! It’s a driver for now. I picked up the ‘77 block from a speedshop in Gainesville, FL. They had it bored .030 over and ready for assembly when the owner of the “Smokey and the Bandit” Trans Am it was out of sold the car. The purchaser was doing an LS swap so I got the “inferior” 557 block W72 engine for a song with the reworked 6x 4 heads. If it implodes it’ll just force me to install the 2015+ LT4 motor sooner than later. 😁

Spent the last three days on rust removal/body work
.

[Bennsb]

Managed to tackle the rear before I headed out to the Superboat races in Clearwater.

[ryeguy2006a]

Looking great! What color will you paint it?

[Bennsb]

Looking great! What color will you paint it?

Thanks! Solar red.


Tackled the driver side quarter panel. Might get the passenger side done this weekend if weather cooperates.



Progress is slow, but looking back when I first got the car it’s coming along.

[Bennsb]

Almost ready to start block sanding. Got to adjust the doors and fenders. Going to spray on a tinted sealer, after blocksanding the high build, before the color coat. Finally feels like I’m making headway.

[Bennsb]

Didn’t like the chrome base of the Camaro console QuickSilver shifter so I painted it along with the package tray upper trim and dash.

[JayinMI]

Almost ready to start block sanding. Got to adjust the doors and fenders. Going to spray on a tinted sealer, after blocksanding the high build, before the color coat. Finally feels like I’m making headway.

Any more pics of the S10/Sonoma?

Jay

[Bennsb]

Haha, here’s my dirty ‘87 S10 daily beater. 1995 5.7 LT4, HotCam, 1.6 roller rockers, T56 manual, 3.42 gear 8.625” disc rear with Detroit TrueTrack, ZQ8 suspension and dual piston Blazer brakes, A/C:

[Bennsb]

Been working on painting the under hood items. Finally replaced the bucked cam plug with the correct, shallower depth one. Fun times. Slowly making progress in spite of the setbacks. The old bumper assembly was pretty beat. I think what I’ve got so far isn’t too shabby for a daily driver.

[Bennsb]

Block sanded the deck lid and a couple small parts. Sprayed them with red tinted sealer primer.

[Bennsb]

Sealer primer is laying down well. Got most of the front end sprayed. Looking forward to getting the Solar Red base and clear coat on.