My 69 Trans Am clone

[Motown 454]

They look great the others wouldn't be any nicer.

[gearheads78]

Sweet build you have going. Whats the deal with all the 69 Bird builds in TX? I was noticing there are 4 in progress just on this site. Great Texans must think alike.

[zman1969]

Sweet build you have going. Whats the deal with all the 69 Bird builds in TX? I was noticing there are 4 in progress just on this site. Great Texans must think alike.

True , really it was a choice of a bad 69 camaro shell I had or a lot better bird shell to start with and I've had several Camaro's 5 incl 2 RS/Zs and a pace car over the years - and so many people had them so it was a choice to be different. I wanted a clone SS burgandy /hockeystrip SS hood and nice chrome but the shell was tweaked so its T/A here I come i think it will look pretty cool next to my Z when they get done

FNQUICK thanks I like them so much better than stock too

[SamHatco]

Rich,

Now I'm really jealous. One of each huh? That will put you in a real delima. Hmmm, what shall I drive today? The Z or the Trans Am.:bsjerk:

Sam

[zman1969]

:bsjerk: ? well they are a ways off from running especially the T/A which for some reason is the only one I'm motivated to work on

[cdoggy81]

Great pair of cars!
When I finish my 70 TA I want to do a 69 camaro as well

[zman1969]

Well, 5/31 in the afternoon I made the 40 mile trip to the shop where my cars been hiding for the last 4 years. I had to work on the trans crossmember/mount - had to cut/grind off nub on lower back of trans case and its in there now-should of brought the shifter I'm going to use and itstalled it (cant remember everything) anyway it will be easy to drop and install next time I go - will have to wait cause I'm leaving out for the PowerTour Friday, also got my Denny's driveshaft installed- fit like it was made for it-It was I spent an hour or so with the Percy's wheel rite, think I've got it but the B/S still has me wondering- I set it for a 17x11 and seems like I'm about 6" of B/S maybe 6.25 and thats off what I think the scale is -goes to 5" and thats it- so I guess I will take some big tires and test fit and measure them - has anyone else run into this? when I get back I'll try again I'd like to order the rear wheels soon another thing is spinning the wheelrite around the 315 on a 17x11 seems like it has alot of space still since the OD is just over 26" kinda hate to go 18's but i dont see much other options to get a larger OD with that kind of width a 315/50 would probably do it but I doubt that size is available.

[zman1969]

well went out to my body mans place yesterday and saw a little progress- almost looks like a car
the fenders are on but they still need more fitting wonder if OEM fit this bad. I really wish they would not repop something if it fits like crud.

powder coated the hinges/springs-I like how they look and theyre not ridiculous like the billet ones are, wanna bet how much overspray they'll get?





OK so I think I'm ready to order some rear wheels with like 6 5/8" BS this test setup off a buddy's Firehawk race car -they are 17x11 ZR1s and 315/35/17" tires-comes out at like 6 3/8"BS and I would like to move it in about 1/4" and on the right side the spring is about 1/2" away as it sits, I figure if I need to I can install a 1/8" spacer the body has more clearance-the drivers side has a little more clearance and the body is not an issue. has anyone been this close and did the wheels you buy fit just as you measured them for? just dont want to regret the spacing I order as you know- not refundable

[Motown 454]

Its looking good. Nice job on the hinges. The color of your Z is the color combination that made me fall in love with 69 Z28's It was the first one I saw. You have two awesome cars.

[zman1969]

Thanks Wayne not really awesome as they are dead - someday though....

[GHOSTDANCER]

Great job

[WS6]

glad to see you're making progress. One day I am going to build a first gen bird as well. Preferably a 69 but I've seen some custom 67/68s that did away with the chrome grill or at least toned it down and they looked great.

[zman1969]

OK maybe this'll probably be a record - back from the dead after 10 years - I think I deserve a medal Car has gotten some momentum in last few years - where to start back on this?
my bodyman gave up and I got car back, then in 2012 I built a 30x30 shop and added a lift and some A/C I also contemplated a powertrain change as a good friend totaled his ZL1 and I bought the car and decided against the LSA swap and decided that was better spent fixing the ZL1 I found this stolen and stripped one and I built the car



So that's done and I'm concentrating on this car again and I changed a little direction and stepped up to a DSE subframe got one on a deal and I jumped on it - swapped that out and had to redo the front of the exhaust system


Trying now to get the car to the point of running -installing a American autowire system, Vintage Air so I can get this to another body man to complete it - stay tuned

[KacyZ28]

OK maybe this'll probably be a record - back from the dead after 10 years - I think I deserve a medal Car has gotten some momentum in last few years - where to start back on this?
my bodyman gave up and I got car back, then in 2012 I built a 30x30 shop and added a lift and some A/C I also contemplated a powertrain change as a good friend totaled his ZL1 and I bought the car and decided against the LSA swap and decided that was better spent fixing the ZL1 I found this stolen and stripped one and I built the car



So that's done and I'm concentrating on this car again and I changed a little direction and stepped up to a DSE subframe got one on a deal and I jumped on it - swapped that out and had to redo the front of the exhaust system


Trying now to get the car to the point of running -installing a American autowire system, Vintage Air so I can get this to another body man to complete it - stay tuned

glad to see it get resurrected, I thought for sure this was going to be a comment of someone asking if this project was ever completed.

[zman1969]

glad to see it get resurrected, I thought for sure this was going to be a comment of someone asking if this project was ever completed.

So with Wiring going on I needed a steering column to plug into ignition switch and turn signals years ago I gave a buddy my steering column to rebuild and paint blue, finally this spring I gave up on him and bought another column core off the auction site then waited 3 weeks for US Postal to move it from Mi. to Texas - unreal! this was first time I did total teardown and paint and reassembly and ended up with a washer and a snap ring left over - DOH! I wanted it in the car so I could check for Exhaust clearance (steering shaft rack to column) and it fit fine - so I will go back in at a later date but now the wheel turns the wheels - had only been 10 years without steering




so now I decided to mount the cooling fan and bent up some sheet aluminum - I think it came out well but I'd like something to clear the air intake so the jury is still out

[zman1969]

Oh I also have been working on my Z28 more - glass installed, door panels, kick panels, front bumper, headliner and got a body shop to polish up the paint and got the rest of the emblems on it

[KacyZ28]

What electric fan is that?

[zman1969]

What electric fan is that?

its either a Taurus 3.8 or a Lincoln MKVIII -Not sure- I bought 2 at same time and one only worked on one speed

[zman1969]

now its getting Cool! well cold AC anyway




Tedious install install remove repeat !!
left now to hookup vents and electrical
my son took upon to update the a/c controller said it took him 4 hours as instructions were lacking about what specific order to be done, what brackets and studs needed to be removed what thickness washers to use - there was alot of do this oops take back apart remove this and put it back Ugh - big kudos for him! we did buy new knobs and lens and Done! keep working on the checklist,
now for more wiring!

[zman1969]

Well I scored some nice OE fenders and they required a road trip 6 more hours I'll never get back on this car but these have to be better than A/M or at least making them fit- they were stripped years ago and stored inside
minimal rust down low - easy fix