69 firebird T/A convertible

[SamHatco]

Dropped the frame off this morning at the body shop. He is going to put it on the frame jig to make sure everything is level and square. He told me when he cut out the old floor pan patches the PO did, said that he found 1/2" sheet rock used as filler material between the patch and the floor braces. Must've been a carpenter . You never know what you'll find.

[SamHatco]

Stopped by the body shop and took some pictures of the progress.

Sam

Old floor patches cut out. This is where they foud the sheet rock!





He will be removing the seat supports and putting in full pans on each side.



Outer cowl removed to get at the rust inside. The small holes are being cleaned up and mig welded.

[SamHatco]

I finally got my subframe from the powder coater yesterday and I began Installing my suspension!

[SamHatco]

I finally got my subframe from the powder coater yesterday and I began Installing my suspension! Global West UCA, Hotckis TVS System, Speed Tech big brake brackets. These parts are really high quality. Everthing bolted right up. Was very easy to install.











Just a couple of questions. I'm stumped. Which camaro frame brackets do I use? I'm going to put an LS1 and camaro made three or four different engine frame brackets

Any help would be of greatfully appreciated.

Thanks,

Sam

[jonnyc]

looking good.i'm using the ats mounts on mine.they are a little more expensive than the others but are high quality and from what i've read they sit the motor in a good spot.

[Motown 454]

Looks awsome

[Roger Poirier]

Nice build pic's....

R.P.

[SamHatco]

Well I finally completed the subframe and got my big brakes installed

Speedtech big brake bracket

Brembo C4 heavy duty drilled and slotted rotors, 4th gen calipers with a little bling.


Subframe done with brake lines installed. All I need is a body




On another note, I scored a really good deal on a 2002 Ls1/T56 with complete rearend for $800.00. Pulled the starter off and found a 3" hole in the block. So I found a good ls1 block and located a good engine shop, perhaps you guys heard of them, Nickens Bros Racing Engines in Conroe, Tx. They're just 30 minutes from me. Took both engines, complete and short block to them and David Nickens said no problem. He said he has built about 200 ls1 engines. He even asked how much horspower I wanted, 1000? I said 450 will do he said no problem. Woo woo!. They just had a write up in Car Craft this month, built a 650 hp LS2 in a Caddy CTSV. Can't wait to get the engine mocked. I'm in good hands

Sam

[ponjohn]

Wow nice progress, did you already test fit/ mock up the LS1 before the s/f was powder coated?

Nickens used to and probably still does make Comp Eliminator engines for NHRA, more than qualified.

John

[SamHatco]

Wow nice progress, did you already test fit/ mock up the LS1 before the s/f was powder coated?

Nickens used to and probably still does make Comp Eliminator engines for NHRA, more than qualified.

John

No, I plan on doing that when I get the engine back from Nickens. With the body off everything is easy to get to.

Yes he does and he has even designed a new racing hemi block that MOPAR is going to start casting and sell. The guy is really nice, he gave me a tour of his shop, man is it ever state of the art. He also loves the LS series of engines. He was starting a 427 LSx build for another customer, he said it will make some serious hp.

Sam

[restomodbird69]

sweet,you got nickens to build your engine.my brother knows them well he has a salvage yard in conroe and runs the dirt track in willis.maybe we will run into eachother sometime.

[1offwizard]

Very Nice!!!

[SamHatco]

Finally have some progress to report on my 69 firebird vert. Got the engine back from Nickens Bros Racing engines last Monday.

Balanced, blue printed, 241 heads ported and polished, comp cam 228/230 lsa 114+4, LS6 intake. According to the engine builder should be making around 470HP with a decent tune.



Found an 05 GTO t-56 from a guy in Pensacola, Fl and met him in Lafayette for the purchase. Tranny is in perfect shape.

I used carshop engine adapters, energy suspension engine mounts, and ATS transmission mount. Everything fit perfectly.




Hooker headers cleared the stock streering box.





I like the way the headers are tucked up out of the way. The ATS tranny mount is an exellent product and I like the clearance it gives for the exhaust.



S&P modified the oil pan and with the combination of the Carshop engine mounts there will be no clearance issues with the steering linkages



Hopfully next week I'll have the body back from the bodyshop and we can get this baby back as a roller.


Sam

[redfire69]

Awesome project! I can't believe I haven't seen this thread.... my build plans are very similar for my 69 camaro at https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/vb...?do=view&g=944


Ron

[SamHatco]

Finally, the body work is completed, well almost.

Picked up the body today from Anderson Bros. Paint & Body.






Next step is making this baby a roller.



If I don't start putting this thing together I'll run out of room for all the parts boxes.




The game plan is to reconnect the body and subframe again and to mock up and fit all the pieces. Do what fabrication that needs to be done and then break it all down again and send it back to the body shop for final paint and then put it all back together so there won't be any suprises. Well... thats the plan anyway. Stay tuned

Sam

[Young Gun]

first of all...wow am i jealous!!!! looks awsome!!!! congrats on all of it...it reall is looking good...what color are you looking to paint it? second of all where did you get that dolly/thing that you have bolted into the front end to make it roll around? how much was it? and if you made it... wanna build another for me? ill pay parts and labor!

[SamHatco]

LOL! Just thew that together from some scrap metal laying around. Wasn't very hard took about 20 minutes. I went to our local Tractor Supply and picked up some casters, I think they were 6 or 7 inch. Used the old body bolts to mount them to the front body mounts. It really makes it easy for one or two people to roll the body around.

Sam

[Young Gun]

if you get a chance could you take some close up pics of it and pm me, I could really use something like that!!!

[restomodbird69]

looking good man.caint wait to see some color on it.

[Smock67]

That looks amazing the progress you have made so far is awesome. So what color combo are you looking at getting? Also you are giving me motivation,Now i have to go down and work on my bird tomorrow.