Rusty Feathers (1967 Firebird)

[Jimmy Sean]

You may want to reinforce the upper shock mount they've been know to fail when using it as the upper coil-over mount. It was never designed to hold the weight of the car.

[Jeff_R]

Jimmy Sean: Thanks for the advice on the shock mount... while it is apart, I will check the welds and may do that. The alternative doesn't look like fun.

- - - Updated - - -

Josh: Thanks for the encouragement!

[Jeff_R]

Over the long weekend, I was able to get some of the items off the list...

Interior painted:




Mounted up the Retrosound dash speaker. The factory mount wouldn't fit the speaker, so I took some shelving registers and cut it down and drilled a hole... it was able to bridge the gap and mounts it firmly. It then had the bracket too low to mount to the firewall, but I was able to make some spacers to have it work... not the incredible work I see here, but it did inspire me!



I was also able to get the backseat area installed (although it will be coming out again for wiring), with Dynamax (until I ran out). The original seats and side panels cleaned up real nice with Simple Green...



I also had to test fit the gauges and radio for motivation...





I didn't get pictures, but I also got the fuzzy weatherstripping installed, took out the upper door and trunk weatherstripping. We were also able to bolt the transmission to the engine. They would have been installed if I could find the bracket for the console... since it bolts in from below. I know it is somewhere in this garage!

[Jeff_R]

I've lately been having some thoughts that while the car is broken down this far, should I just go ahead an paint it or should I leave the patina finish on it?

I have painted one car many, many years ago (a 1973 bug for my sister... in 1989). I do have a compressor, and I am willing to try and learn. I also have some friends who are retired body/paint folks, which would help.

Thoughts?