Resurrection of my youth and My 72 firebird

[BL72]

I am at a point in my life, I believe, where I can start to dedicate a fair amount of time to my beloved 1972 Firebird. I pulled it out of storage and moved to the garage this past weekend. I’ve owned it for 21 yrs. now. It was road worthy for the 1st 6 months of that. I had it in my barn with a gravel floor for the past 5 years. I was worried about the underside rotting and mice all this time with little other options. I was pleasantly surprised that it hasn’t deteriorated at all really. The worst is a little mildew inside form moisture. I’ve put a fair amount of time planning a budget and a time line over the past year and lurked here quite a bit as well. I work 12 hour days, every other weekend and ~ 5 days a week. Needless to say my time isn’t abundant. I think reasonably, 5 years is my target. 60K budget.

20K for suspension / frame



15k for body

10k engine

10k interior

5k trans



Im pretty overwhelmed in this undertaking. I am at the point of disassembly, which I think is the cheapest part! I don’t really know how to go about the order of reassembly, which is probably a year away. How far do I take this thing down? I want to do it all but are there things that you just don’t take apart?



I want to get the body dustless blasted ASAP, but Im worried if I don’t paint for 3 years, that it will have to be blasted again.

Im worried if I accumulate parts for the engine, they will have to be reworked to some extent before I can install them or if I get the engine ready early and it cant be installed for a year or 2



I want to do as much as I can personally, but I know my limitations. I wont be doing any body work other than disassembly and cleaning. Im not a painter etc



I am hung up on the suspension. I like the full chassis form Schwartz. I also like the rear conversions form Detroit speed or Heidts and the front clips form them also. is there an advantage to one or the other?



I want a cruiser first and foremost.

Pontiac powered. I have a 400 block I bought for it last year. I want to deal with Tin Indian and Kauffmans for that aspect.

I will take it to cruise ins and car shows some for fun, not to compete. I want a nice paint job but not a 30K paint job.

I want to be able to have the option to race it occasionally. tho that wont be a primary function. I want it to be able to compete there tho when I decide to run. Id love to do a road coarse or a OUSCI.

Drag racing isn’t really a desire any more… tho Im sure it will get ran out of curiosity

Im not sure what trans I want yet. I love manual but do I want to race with one? I will cruise more than anything tho. Paddle shifters? Just stick with a auto… I really cant make up my mind yet.

I want 4 seats in it and as little roll cage as I can get by with and a mini tub



Im open to any suggestions. Right now its lurking here and few books I’ve bought



For some of the back story on it:

https://www.pro-touring.com/threads/...hio?highlight=




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Ill have to figure out the pictures later....