69 firebird project

[jonnyc]

haven't posted much about my project yet.i'm not to far into it.but i was out cleaning up the garage today and snapped a few pics of where the car sits as of now.

here it is when i first got it home last febuary


and here it is today




as you can see i have the front subframe pretty much together with the motor set in place.next step will be to build the 9"rear and get it setup with the global west cat5 leaf springs.then finish rebuilding the t56 and get the driveshaft made.hope to have that done by christmas.then start on the bodywork during the winter.hopefully it will be ready for paint by late spring,early summer.

[Smock67]

Lookin good

[dropit69]

damn so that isnt an invisable axle im not seeing?..lol..looking good ..i have a 69 ..needs some work too and seeing this makes me want to start on it again..ahhh..

[WS6]

Love the motor colors you chose. Car's looking great. Definitely keep us updated.

[69TAPoser]

What are your plans?

Phil

[jonnyc]

What are your plans?

Phil

i want a nice driver car.something that will be comfertable to drive long distance and look good doing it.i'm not setting out to win shows with it but i want it nice enough to put in local shows.also i want a great handling car that i can take to track days at some of the road courses around here.and the occasional sub 12 second pass down the 1/4 mile.

[GM_muscle]

i like the wheels. intros classis what size are they? i have the same on my s10 mine are 18x9.5

[jonnyc]

i like the wheels. intros classis what size are they? i have the same on my s10 mine are 18x9.5

rears are 18x9.5 fronts are 18x8

[GM_muscle]

lookin good but would be better with a ia2 pontiac block and some cv1 heads. but lookinh even with chevy power.

[va72mlibu]

lookin good but would be better with a ia2 pontiac block and some cv1 heads. but lookinh even with chevy power.

What are you talkin' about...that's a GTO motor!!!

[GM_muscle]

it a chevy motor. i talkin real pontiac motor.

[va72mlibu]

Just a joke, man.

[jonnyc]

once you drive a lsx powered car you won't want the old school motor any more.
nothing like putting just a cam and exhaust on a motor and having 450hp at the flywheel.

[zman1969]

it a chevy motor. i talkin real pontiac motor.

my 99 Trans am came with one of those motors and it AINT a chevy these new gen PONTIAC motors are way better than what they had 40 years ago yeah thats right no rope! and they get good gas mileage and also alot lighter: ls1=497.2 lbs (226 kg) or 400 pont Dry weight ranged from 590 lb to 650 lb (270 to 295 kg), depending on displacement and year,with that difference i dont need to go on a diet leave him alone and build your own car - kudos on the car keep the pics coming
oh and why a 9in? I'm using a nova 8.5" rear will be plenty strong and cheaper to get in it

[68Formula]

it a chevy motor. i talkin real pontiac motor.

The architecture is completely different from the original Chevy engine. It was designed from scratch by GM (not Chevy) Powertrain Engineers. Only the bore center spacing is the same and the lifters actually fit both. It is a true "Corporate" engine because when it was conceived all Powertrain Divisions from the different brands were already consolidated. Of course that doesn't stop GM from playing both sides of the fence when they think it's beneficial for marketing (their latest anniversary book for the Chevy Smallblock included the LS motors). It's no more of a Chevy engine than it is a Pontiac engine.

BTW, this is coming from a guy who is running a Pontiac 455.

[4birdman]

once you drive a lsx powered car you won't want the old school motor any more.
nothing like putting just a cam and exhaust on a motor and having 450hp at the flywheel.

I feel like I am one of the only ones on here who is just "meh" on the LS motors. I like them, but they don't do it like an old Pontiac motor does for me. I know the 1st gen I get will probably never be as fast as my 98 TA is, but it'll feel better to me.

[zman1969]

I feel like I am one of the only ones on here who is just "meh" on the LS motors. I like them, but they don't do it like an old Pontiac motor does for me. I know the 1st gen I get will probably never be as fast as my 98 TA is, but it'll feel better to me.

my old(traded a year and a half ago for my 99) 69 400 bird had a built 455 -butler ported heads ran 8.40 in 1/8 on skinny rear street tires was a blast but detonation due to high comp made it a bummer , rear main leaked after sitting a while - it needed some work -,lots of cool cause it had a lumpity lump cam but 12 mpg and it didnt beat my 99 m6 car by alot so i have given up on old school with gas here close to 3.25 for premium and rising it was time to give it up theres just no reason not to IMO oh heres pic of old bird for you purists

sorry to get off topic on your thread - my bad keep up the good work!

[PonchoJohn]

Nice looking 69! One of my favorites!
Why can't you dig both types? I bleed Pontiac blue, but the LSx motors are awesome!
Besides, the next time somebody calls it a Chevy motor, you can always reply:
Pontiac V8 ---------------LSx motors
--------------------------------------
Aluminum timing cover---------Same
Reverse flow cooling-----------Same Pontiac V8 1955
Vally Pan----------------------Same
Pushrod oiling------------------Same Pontiac invented in 1948
Torque to spec rocker adj.------Same
Tall, thin intake ports-----------Same
Heavy Duty Mains--------------Same
Shared 4 stud head mounting---Same
There's a whole bunch of other stuff that the two share, but you'd need to work on one to realize it. I consider the LSx motors a GM engine. They took the best of the best and made a new motor. An AWESOME motor! Old, "antiquated pushrods" and all!!

Oh well, I always prefer a Pontiac V8 in a Pontiac, but the LS
s are a nice alternative, and it's not my car or money that's being spent.