Project Phoenix: 1968 Pontiac Firebird

[captainofiron]

So I figured that I should start a build thread, all the other 1st gen Bird guys on here kept motivating me to push through and get started.

Background: My Firebird was my first car, I got it in the 90s, and I had a bunch of plans, but nothing ever happened because I kept getting transferred around. The previous owner had pulled out the Poncho power and put in a Chevy 454, and cut up the firewall and crossmember to get it to fit.
In '04 I really started getting traction, buying stuff, and getting stuff ready, but before I made any huge progress I blew out my ACL and the surgery and rehab wiped out my savings.

Fast forward to last year, the car is at my parents house all torn apart. They are getting transferred and I need to bring it up here, so it really lit a fire under my butt, the car does not roll currently. The axle is out of it. So I finally finished up the projects around the house, cleaned up the garage up to the level that I could bring the Bird home.

Specs: The car was a 350HO automatic car originally, it had an automatic transmission and the 8.2 BOP axle, it had AC, power steering but manual brakes. The exterior was Verdoro green with a black vinyl top and the black deluxe interior with buckets and console.

The Plan: I have a Pontiac 400, and the 8.2 BOP, but I will install a T-56, EFI, and disk brakes to bring the car into the 21st century. I plan to make the car look as original as possible, but upgrade as much as I can. For example: take 4th gen Trans Am seats and reupholster them to look like the original Deluxe seats.

Engine: Pontiac 400 YC block
Heads: currently 670
transmission: N/A
Axle: 8.2 BOP 3.55 eaton posi
suspension: stock
brakes: stock drums

[T_Raven]

We're gonna need more pictures than that

Sounds like a good plan to start. What EFI are you using? I've got Accel DFI that'll be going in my 67 but I haven't messed with it yet

[captainofiron]

The majority of the pictures I have are from long before the days of digital cameras, hahha

Ill post some up here in a little, I have some more in my photobucket

The plan is to use a hybrid Edelbrock/FAST system, pretty much the same one that Butler Pontiac sells

[captainofiron]

so here are some pictures

This is how the interior looks right now



here is my axle


Its a new jersey car, so the floorpan is mostly rust

[captainofiron]

These are the 15x7 Rally II wheels that I got off of ebay for really cheap and restored, I media blasted them until no rust and smooth, then painted them the charcoal, masked off the area and then sprayed the argent silver

Before:


After:

[BirdsThaWord]

Excellent job on the wheels. Looks like some careful masking work there!

[PonchoJohn]

Looking good. FYI- Year One markets a 17" aluminum version of the Rally II that looks pretty sweet on first gens.

[captainofiron]

Looking good. FYI- Year One markets a 17" aluminum version of the Rally II that looks pretty sweet on first gens.

Thanks

Yea I have seen them, I was pretty dead set on the Intro Vista in 17"
BUT then I moved the NM and the roads are terrible here, so for a nice ride Im going with the 15s and if I ever move back to TX Ill switch to the 17s and get bigger brakes

Excellent job on the wheels. Looks like some careful masking work there!

they sell masking kits, but are they are pricey for what they are, a cheap roll of masking tape and an exacto knife did the job perfectly

[67rstbkt]

It's about time you started a build thread! Looking forward to updates

[captainofiron]

It's about time you started a build thread! Looking forward to updates

I had clicked start new thread probably like 5 times, but always got busy and ended up not writing anything, hahaha

[Buryingthesun]

I like seeing so many first gen birds these day, they used to be a rare commodity

[captainofiron]

I like seeing so many first gen birds these day, they used to be a rare commodity

when I first found mine, I thought it was a Camaro, it was out in the middle of nowhere in West Texas, with the tail sticking out of a shed, I stopped and asked the farmer about the Camaro and he said "huh? you mean my son's Firebird" after we wheeled it out, I saw the bumper and fell in love.

[captainofiron]

UPDATE:

I found some seats from a 99 Trans Am, and should be picking them up this weekend, they arent in the best condition, but I got them dirt cheap. I dont really care about the upholstery since I will be redoing them in vinyl and comfortweave like the original deluxe seats

[captainofiron]

Here are the seats I picked up



not in the best shape, but I really didnt care about the current upholstery. Basically the plan is to reupholster them in the original style. So black vinyl and "comfortweave"

here is how the original seats look:


so Im going to put the comfortweave inside the red region in this picture:

[captainofiron]

UPDATE!

I got my axle back today.

It was not a pleasant transaction though. The guy told me 425 when I first took it, I waited a while, I heard nothing, I gave him both my cell and my work number. Nothing

I waited 2 weeks, I go and he says I forgot to give him the bearing caps, so I went and found them and took them, 2 weeks, nothing. I go back and he says I didnt take him axle shaft bearings (I know I did) so he bought some to buy.

Well finally 2 months later I get my axle from this guy. He wants me to pay $605

according to him the shaft bearings cost 105 and the labor was 75
I argued with him, and showed him on my phone how the good bearings cost only 20 bucks each.

I wanted to walk out, but I dont have too many axles sitting around, haha

[captainofiron]

Update:

So I met a guy who has a transportation business, and he is hooking me up with a great deal to transport both my Impala and my Firebird up here from South Texas for $950

Hopefully I will be wrenching happily by the beginning of September

[captainofiron]

I think I finally decided which color I am going to paint the exterior. The original color was the verdoro green, which I dont like very much.

I originally wanted to paint it black, but here in Southern New Mexico the summers are insane, and getting in my wife's black SUV after it has been sitting a little in the sun is TOO hot.

So I decided to go with the Pontiac Spring Mist Green (color code P in 1968)

it sort of has a silver look but with green/grey tones in it, looks really sharp.

Take a look, here is the color on a 68 Convertible

[btbob]

Looks Awesome. Cant wait to see more. I saw that color on a 68 GTO somewhere. It'll stop you in your tracks in person.

Give us some more details on the 400 build, and what EFI you chose. Should be a cool project.

Always love to see another firebird.

-Still partial to black though.

[captainofiron]

Looks Awesome. Cant wait to see more. I saw that color on a 68 GTO somewhere. It'll stop you in your tracks in person.

Give us some more details on the 400 build, and what EFI you chose. Should be a cool project.

Always love to see another firebird.

-Still partial to black though.

Im planning on building an Edelbrock/FAST hybrid system.

Basically the Edelbrock part will be the manifold, injectors and rails
The FAST part will be the ECU/wiring, the throttle body, the pump/regulator

and for the tank I want a baffled stainless unit, but I know Tanks has a pretty nice one for cheap, but dont think its stainless.

As for the 400, Im leaning toward this:
Pontiac 400 (YC block) 030 over
flat top pistions, hoping for around 10 or 10.5:1 compression
Edelbrock 72 cc round port heads, prepped by either Butler or SD
Comp hydraulic roller cam (.502i and .510e w/1.5rockers) XR276HR
promagnum 1.65 roller rockers
Edelbrock Victor EFI (Performer RPM with Injector bosses)
Edelbrock 29 or 35lb/hr injectors not sure yet
FAST EZ-EFI multiport set up
Dougs headers with the 1.75" primaries and 3" collectors

I did a quick run on desktop dyno program and its saying
516 ft-lbs @ 3500rpm
437hp @ 5000rpm

I think that it should be a pretty accurate number (maybe a little high). I might even go with a bigger cam

[btbob]

Im planning on building an Edelbrock/FAST hybrid system.

Basically the Edelbrock part will be the manifold, injectors and rails
The FAST part will be the ECU/wiring, the throttle body, the pump/regulator

and for the tank I want a baffled stainless unit, but I know Tanks has a pretty nice one for cheap, but dont think its stainless.

As for the 400, Im leaning toward this:
Pontiac 400 (YC block) 030 over
flat top pistions, hoping for around 10 or 10.5:1 compression
Edelbrock 72 cc round port heads, prepped by either Butler or SD
Comp hydraulic roller cam (.502i and .510e w/1.5rockers) XR276HR
promagnum 1.65 roller rockers
Edelbrock Victor EFI (Performer RPM with Injector bosses)
Edelbrock 29 or 35lb/hr injectors not sure yet
FAST EZ-EFI multiport set up
Dougs headers with the 1.75" primaries and 3" collectors

I did a quick run on desktop dyno program and its saying
516 ft-lbs @ 3500rpm
437hp @ 5000rpm

I think that it should be a pretty accurate number (maybe a little high). I might even go with a bigger cam

Oh man, that setup should be a monster. Cant wait to see it. You should deff be able to get away with some more cam, but I like the way you're going now just fine.

For tanks I went with this guy

http://www.jegs.com/i/Ricks-Hot-Rod-...oductId=758723

It'll prolly work well in your application too. In tank GM pump ( replacements quick and easy), should support your HP requirements pretty easy, baffled, and stainless steel.