1968 Firebird 400

[blade]

Nice build, you are doing a great job. You have put in a lot of time and effort but it shows in the quality of work, this car is going to look great.

[Crestronwizard]

Hope you've been out driving. Looking good

[68400BIRD]

Not the greatest videos but I did drive it around the block. I made sure to stay close to the house and not go on any main roads. The brakes work good but are pretty loud with the drilled and vented rotors. I'm sure they will be more quiet once they get bedded in.

[Lenie]

Gotta be stoked getting to drive it. Congrats, long time coming.

[68400BIRD]

It was a great feeling to drive it down the road for the first time ever. This car has come along ways and still has aways to go.

[68400BIRD]

Made a little headway on my exhaust. My Pypes exhaust kit did not fit very well after the rear end. I tried twice to mount it starting from the back with no luck.

As you can see in this picture the hanger bracket is about as low as it can go on the rear of the seat hump.


But the top of the pipe runs right into the frame rail. To lower this pipe to not hit the frame rail I would have my exhaust hanging about 5" below the floor pans. And the hanger bracket would no longer work.

I figured since I needed to cut the pipes to make them shorter I would also angle them a little better. I was told that my bigger than stock tires were the main reason for the pipes not fitting correctly. Hmm high performance exhaust needs stock tires or it will not fit. LOL Seems a little ironic.

Pipes both cut,welded, and reangled.


Also got a chance to mount my back bumper. I want to put the whole car back together to make sure everything fits before it goes in for painting.

[Todd in Vancouver]

Just read the entire thread and what a great project. It's really exciting when you get to actually drive it down the road. When are you taking it for paint? Make sure you get a photocopy of their shop insurance before you take the car there

[68400BIRD]

Just read the entire thread and what a great project. It's really exciting when you get to actually drive it down the road. When are you taking it for paint? Make sure you get a photocopy of their shop insurance before you take the car there

That was a long read. Thanks for taking the time and for the compliments. I have this car appraised so I should be good. LOL I'm still at least one year away from paint. Family comes before the car.

[LeighP]

Looks like its coming together well.

[68400BIRD]

Thanks Leigh, I wish it was coming along as well as yours. How does it feel to drive it?

[68400BIRD]

I started with a blank DSE panel and mounted the stereo higher up in the dash.

I cut the panel to fit my new radio. Sand blasted and painted it low gloss black. I did not have an antennae so I had my I-Phone hooked up.


Installed an amp in the trunk using all existing holes.

[68400BIRD]

Next I started on some of the projects that I was just dreading. The fit of the trim to body was horrible. Some was my fault (welding) and some was from the factory. My car started with a vinyl top so that might have been part of the problem.


Did a lot of cutting and grinding.



The trim fits much better now. I little filler or high build primer and it should be good.

[68400BIRD]

The front drivers fender needed a lower patch. I was going to make one but the inner brace was also in poor condition. The replacement panel came with both.

Inner brace.

New patch butt welded.


Inside of the fender.

New brace welded in.

All done.

[68400BIRD]

Had my front bumper re-chromed.

New 400 emblem.

[rickpaw]

Looking good Rob. I looked into having my bumper rechromed, and for the price to rechrome (in the NW at the time), I could have bought 3 new repros.

[gordonr1973]

Any more updates?

[68400BIRD]

Thanks for asking. I did more welding and massaging of gaps on the quarters to doors. But my camera quit working before I out it into paint jail/storage for the winter. I dropped it off at a friends house so I can do some jambing on it. And he said I could keep it there over the winter. I could not pass up the deal to get into a warm car and not scrape windows every morning. Just means I will have more to do come spring.

[68400BIRD]

Update time.
Trunk in paint.

Doors in paint.

Shell in paint.


Doors hung.

Front clip started.

[TheBandit]

That looks dynamite!

[FireBeater]

THAT THING IS SWEET! I like the blue and looks so sharp.