Another Firebird project

[rickpaw]

With some encouragement from a few fellow members, I've decided to create a project thread document my restoration of a 67 Firebird 400 coupe.



Current plan includes restore to stock config, disc brake conversion, vintage air, and maybe tubular control arms down the road if funding allows.

Here's when I first picked it up (hope the link works)

[rickpaw]

I got it in 9/08 and been slowly working on it.

Striping it down





Someone cut a line in the rear driver side floor board, so I patched it.

Before



After

[rickpaw]

Patched the center trunk





Removed pass side quarter









New outer wheelhouse is in, everything was coated with a coat of rust reformer. That stuff works great.



New pass side quarter welded on



Tu

[rickpaw]

For the driver side quarter, I decided to use quarter skin instead, as the rust damage was not as bad, plus I got the skin off of craigslist for half off retail.

Cut off the old sheet metal, and replaced the outer wheelhouse.





Quarter skin screwed onto the original sheet metal



I did not take the picture of the process, but I cut through both layers of metal, and butt welded the skin to the orig. sheet metal.



I saved the original bumper mounting holes, as the holes on the skin did not lined up very well.

Tu

[ProdigyCustoms]

Awesome, Love Firebirds. Looks like your well on your way. Hope to start another for ourselves soon.

[gearbanger]

I have been wondering how to secure the quarter for welding and still be able to butt weld it. What kind of saw or cutting tool did you use to make a thin enough cut that butt welding was still doable? I was thinking abut using clekos or screws and using a die grinder and cutoff discs but that would make a bit bigger gap than I like for butt welding.

[Hammered]

Butt weld clamps: http://www.autobodytoolmart.com/butt...t-p-12871.aspx
You can find them on ebay and at Harbor Freight too.

Nice project - I look forward to watching it evolve.

[rickpaw]

I have been wondering how to secure the quarter for welding and still be able to butt weld it. What kind of saw or cutting tool did you use to make a thin enough cut that butt welding was still doable? I was thinking abut using clekos or screws and using a die grinder and cutoff discs but that would make a bit bigger gap than I like for butt welding.

I used a combination of cut off discs on an angle grinder and an air saw. Harbor Freight sells thin cut off discs that work well. I started out with an air saw, but switched over to cut off discs. Just remember to tack weld the panel as you're cutting along so the panel won't sag on you.

Here are some progress picture from the last couple of days. I welded and glued the deck filler panel in place.

Prep and spread the glue (Fusor sheet panel adhesive)



Glued and welded in place. I welded the panel to the gutter strip, and glued it to the rear package shelf and the sides of the quarter panels.



Now I need to finish welding both quarter panels to the tail panel, grind and smooth out the seams

That's the progress up to date. I started working on the car since 10/08. It's a slow progress.

Tu

[rickpaw]

Awesome, Love Firebirds. Looks like your well on your way. Hope to start another for ourselves soon.

Hi Frank
When the time comes, I will need to contact you regarding a Vintage air setup for the FB.

I checked out your site. Some incredible work you've done there.

Tu

[rickpaw]

Have a question for you guys. Should I repair or replace. See pics.

Here's a picture of the rot on the driver side door. This is on the bottom rear corner. The front bottom corner has the same rot.



Here's one on the trunk lid. I'm leaning toward repairing it, since I heard the repro one is actually made for camaros, and does not provide clearance for the Pontiac/400 emblem studs.



What do you think?

Tu

[68400BIRD]

Looks like great progress on the quarters. I also replaced the tulip panel, I wish I had used the fusor adhesive. I now have a lot of welds to gind in hard to get at positions.LOL I would probably reskin the doors. If the lower lip is starting to get fat any where along the edge it means you have rust starting in there. You could watch craiglist for a good set of doors. I think they have to be for 68 only but I'm not postive. The hinge bolt holes changed on the years. (or so I was told) Keep up the good work and keep posting pics.

[SatisTraction]

I have a nice original pontiac trunk lid if you are interested.

[rickpaw]

I bought the car without engine/trans, so I picked up a 69 Pontiac 400 off of craigslist. The engine had been rebuilt, so I just clean it up with new coat of paint and it should be ready to go.



Also, looks to me the previous owner install a Chevy engine. Looks like a Chevy mount to me. Can anyone confirm? If so, does anyone have a set of Pontiac engine frame mount that is no longer needed?



I'm debating whether to switch to tubular arms or not. Looks like everyone is doing that. What's the advantage of tubular control arms, and why is such a difference in price. Classic Performance sells a set for less than $500, while sets from GW or Hotchkis sell for over $1000. I'm not real concern over factory looks, just aiming to improve performance.

That's it for now. Hopefully I can finish smoothing out the tail panel this weekend.

[gearbanger]

I used a combination of cut off discs on an angle grinder and an air saw. Harbor Freight sells thin cut off discs that work well. I started out with an air saw, but switched over to cut off discs. Just remember to tack weld the panel as you're cutting along so the panel won't sag on you.

Tu

Thanks for the tips man, that sounds good.

[rickpaw]

Not much done over the last weekend. Just got enough time to weld in the side marker hole on the quarter skin. I'm surprised that no one pointed out I used 68 quarter skin on a 67 'bird.





I participated in a bridge pedal event in Portland, OR over the weekend, which explained not much being done to the Firebird. Once a year the city shut down the freeway bridges for half a day open them to walkers and bicyclists. Here are a couple of shots from the freeway bridges.

[68400BIRD]

Yes, it looks as if some one had a small block chevy in there last. You will need to buy the four piece bracket set that the pontiac mounts bolt onto. Most tubular arms will offer you better goementry for better handling. But not all do. I went with the Speed techs as they had real good ratings on this board and were also well priced. You do not need them for the lowers but if you can afford it I would go with a solid bushing or the global west delalum bushings. This alone was one of the best upgraded that I did on my last car.

[gto406]

I would agree with 68400Bird, those definitely don't look like Poncho engine mounts.

Looks like a wonderful project, and thanks for keeping it all Poncho!

You will be rewarded with a motor that has the torque to pull you very nicely out of a corner (or away from a stoplight).

Cheers,
~Brian.

[WS6]

Love the 1st gens as well. Keep up the good work. Any idea yet on a color choice?

[rickpaw]

Love the 1st gens as well. Keep up the good work. Any idea yet on a color choice?

I'm debating between silver, elephant blue poly (sort of light metallic blue), and pepper gray metallic (Eleanor Mustang).

Tu

[GM_muscle]

looks like you off to a good start.