My Firebird build

[Jimmy Sean]

First off my name is Sean James and I’m introducing my project and starting a build thread. I bought my 1969 Firebird on October 1st, 2000.

It started off to be just a driver, get it running and drive until I get my Camaro done. I had it running in two days and then I started cleaning the engine and engine compartment. I thought I might as well blow the heads off and re-gasket the engine plus it makes it easier to clean. Well there were holes in two pistons, so I went out and bought a remanufactured Pontiac 350 short block, had the heads rebuilt and bought an Edelbrock intake. For the money I spent on it I should have bought a LS1. Oh well. Skip to today, second house and two more kids.

I have acquired many parts and I’m ready to just get it drivable. So my theme for this is JUST GET THE DANG THING RUNNING AND DRIVE IT! Also the budget is small (by small I mean try not to spend money frivolously and only on things that are necessary) considering I have four kids, house, wife and one income.

Here is the basic plan. Power will be from the Pontiac 350, 290-340 horsepower with 400 lb-ft of torque backed by a T-56. Later I will swap it out for a 5.3L LS out of a truck and add the turbos I already have.

Front suspension has the Guldstrand mod with hybrid 13” c4/c5 brakes and Z06 red calipers and hydroboost brake assist from Hydrotech. It also has hidden spring adjusters installed and poly urethane bushings that will be swapped for Delrin or equal after I start driving it. Steering box will be upgraded but I haven’t decided on what box to go with. Eventually I want to get the adjustable a-arms from SC&C.

For the rear it has 3” drop leaf springs and offset shackles from SpeedTech. 12 bolt out of a Chevelle with 4:10 gears and a posi. Later it will be converted to a coilovers and a torque arm setup. I need the back seat for the kids so that leaves out any 3-link. Brakes are from a LS1 Camaro with Z06 calipers.

Wheel and tires, Front 17x9.5 with 275/30-18 and the rears are 17x12 with 335/35-18. Front tires and wheels will be delivered today. I will hopefully post up some pictures tonight. They were cheap one piece wheels and I’m having the rears widened but they look a lot like the HRE 547.



Here are the wheels I bought.


Body and paint will be minimal for now but the plan is to shoot it in a flat or semi gloss dark green primer/sealer, nearly black with a lime green stripe.

My goal is to have it drivable in May for my birthday.

[Young Gun]

we need some pics of the car!!!! plans sound great though!

[dstryr]

Where did you get the wheels at and how much did they cost/

[dropit69]

hi and welcome i have a 69 bird in my garage also needs some loving though..sweet wheels must show where you got those me likey !!!!

[NOT A TA]

Sounds like a cool project. Especially GET THE DANG THING RUNNING AND DRIVE IT! My Firebird started as a get it running and drive project so I'd have something to drive while I finished up my 66 Mustang. That was back in the early 90's, and the Mustang's still in pieces !!! LOL

[Jimmy Sean]

Where did you get the wheels at and how much did they cost/

hi and welcome i have a 69 bird in my garage also needs some loving though..sweet wheels must show where you got those me likey !!!!

I bought them from Discount Tire Direct for $145 each. They come in 20mm and 35 mm offset. I'm very happy with the quality and cost. Most people that have seen them in person mentioned that they would have thought I spent $1500 for the set.

I will post up some pictures soon. I went to take some pictures and our camera was dead. It appears that it may have been dropped, the case was separated at the corner. I did take some with me Palm phone but I am having trouble finding the cable that connects to the computer so I can download them.

http://www.discounttiredirect.com/di...w=9.5&bp=5-120

http://www.discounttiredirect.com/di...&rw=8&bp=5-120


I also bought some of these for the front. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...219916344&rd=1

I couldn't beat the price for that size of tire.

[derekf]

How much do those wheels weigh (wild guess is ok, they've got to be better than my Soft 8s)?

[Jimmy Sean]

I will weigh one tonight and post it up.

[Jimmy Sean]

How much do those wheels weigh (wild guess is ok, they've got to be better than my Soft 8s)?

According to my bathroom scale 27lbs.

[Fawkes]

Sounds like a cool project, and similar to my budget build.

If it were me, I'd bag the idea of spending too much building on the 350, and save the money for a proper Butler Poncho motor (see project Splitter). Way cooler than your run-of-the-mill LS motor, IMHO.

I had a nice 350 Pontiac built, but came to realize that for the money, I was better off selling it as-is, and buying a 400. So much more power for the $$$, and lots of room for expansion.

But, to each their own. You have to build it your way. Get some pics posted asap!

[GM_muscle]

nice wheels lets see some pics of the car. i have a 69 firebird that is waiting for its turn under the cutting tools

[derekf]

According to my bathroom scale 27lbs.

Hrm. Thanks for weighing them -- but I would have thought they'd be lighter. Is that the bare rim, or did it have a tire on it?

[Jimmy Sean]

Hrm. Thanks for weighing them -- but I would have thought they'd be lighter. Is that the bare rim, or did it have a tire on it?

Bare rim. I'm ok with it, they were way cheap ($145 for a 18x9.5). If funds would of allowed I really would of bought some Foregline ZX3S, oh well maybe another day.

[Jimmy Sean]

Well I bought a camera over the weekend, a Canon PowerShot A720 IS. I post some pictures tonight for your viewing pleasure.

[Jimmy Sean]

Here are some pictures. First here are some hubs that I have. The left one is a two piece disk brake hub and the one on the right is a drum hub.


This is the bracket I made for the disk brake conversion. you can also see the s10 bump stop.


C4 13" rotor and C5 caliper.


With wheel and tire.

[Jimmy Sean]

Here is the money shot.


Front tire.


Here is a rear wheel that I had widened from 9.5" to 12" by WeldCraft Wheels, cost was $225 each wheel.


For fun, three of my kids. Titus, Destiny and Haley.

[Roadrage David]

Vredestein tires disighend to protect you a dutch tire!!!!,

[Jimmy Sean]

Hear is one I really liked, Titus looking through the wheel register.

[Jimmy Sean]

A few more of the back wheels.



Here is a shot of the hydroboost.

[Jimmy Sean]

Hear is what I made too mate the T56 to the pontiac motor.
Adapter.

Spacer.

Modified Bellhousing to clear the starter.


The abonimation of a cross member that I made and I will be remaking.