Another Firebird project

[68400BIRD]

I did not think you came across as a jerk either. A lot of good info there. I new some and learned some. I know there are some other things that changed but it was within the 68 year. The rear gas tank door had two different styles of emblems, one had a pull and one didn't.

[BirdsThaWord]

Hey Jerk, (LOL!) I also appreciated that info! Neat stuff to know!!!

[rohrt]

Very Cool build. I love the way you fixed the trunk gap.

[NYTRANSAM]

nice build, Im restoring a 68 also, very slowly though. nice to see your pics

[67DropTop455]

Just to elaborate slightly on a few of the finer details, I hope you don't mind me adding to your list... (great rundown by the way):

- rear side marker lights/ front wrap around marker lights on 68
- side view mirrors 67 are round, 68 are mostly square. supposedly, some early 68's had round, too. (Correct)
- fuel door bird is different. 68 sticks out more to accommodate a finger grip (67's grip is in the door itself)
- front valence/ fender extensions are different (to accommodate the corner lights)
- 68 vin is seen on dashboard. (67 has in door jamb) this makes the dashboard stamping different
- 67 had a "Camera Grain" center consoles were available in many colors to match the interior, with the chrome trim and a recessed shifter for A/T and a rear ashtray and light. 68 had the "Burlwood", as well as "Burlwood" dash insert. (67 wood grain pattern is Horizontal while the 67 Camaro's is vertical). I believe the console is a different design altogether. Actually, the Console base is the same even with the texture and all but in 68 they added the metal overlay with the Burlwood pattern/print and look and changed the shifter (A/T) with a top mounted shifter base. At least the top panels/ shifter bezels are.
- different wheel options. ie. 67's could be had with rally 1 wheels.
- different deluxe interior door designs, handles, etc (67 seat patterns were the same, in 68 there was Standard and the Deluxe Comfort Weave, Tops of the doors in 67 were the door metal and painted while the door panels went all the way up in 68 - deluxe and standard)
- paint options. (67 & 68 only colors) 68 had nightshade green for example.
- 67 had 120 mph speedo, (67/68 had different colored gauge faces), 68 had 160 (68 added more options such as Speed Warning, power seats, (leather seats were available, but very rare, lighted ashtrays, lighted ignition housing, Hood tach is the smaller version, Ventilation system changed to add in-dash vent balls (as mentioned), Clocks were also different as well as several different steering wheel options - and they were all distinctly different between 67/68 etc)
- speedometer lens shape is different. (67 is more pointy)
- doors are actually different. Not that you can tell form the outside, but the 67 has 3 bolt hinges, 68 has 4 bolt hinges. (good to know when part swapping)
- dashboard pad has a different shape
- automatic shifter handle is different. (2 distinctly different styles available in 68)
Grill paint scheme is different from 67 to 68.
Windshield Header's on Verts were chrome in 67 and had a dulling agent applied in 68 to reduce glare.

mechanically, I'm aware of:

- 400 ho option added for 68
- 326 changed to 350 cid
- 67 400 engines had the #670 heads. 68 had the #16 heads. (at least the ones I've seen. not sure exactly when this change was made)
(California cars were equipped with the A.I.R system (Air Induction Reactor or smog pumps
and in 68 they added the 6 port TVS in the manifold etc. Also available was the pancake louvered air cleaner in 67, then the standard single snorkel air cleaner became the norm - with chrome lid and valve covers for the 400's)
- mono leaf springs went to multi leaf with staggered shocks. gone were the factory traction bars, support plates on the floor pans... (Which came as dual radius Rods on most all 3 & 4 speed cars, 400's H.O's and Sprint-6 and typically a single Radius Rod on all lower performance models)
- bump stop design on lower control arms changed
- windshield wiper motor changed
- hood latch design & engine hoods. the 68 has a secondary safety catch. The hoods are designed to work with this. the square catch area for the latch is angled to work with this.
- with the removal of the wing windows, 68's have the "astro ventilation".
- 68 deluxe interiors have the firebird emblem etched into the windows. (printed, not etched, and there is no rhyme nor reason why some cars received the Bird Glass and others did not. They also ran low in production of the bird glass and it was dropped, still a mystery)
- rear axles are different. the 67 is the modified A-body carrier (has the 2 areas unused on top for the rear control arms)
- One other thing I've noticed different between my 67 and my friend's 68 is the location of the light switch. It was reversed with the wiper switch. I don't know if this was specific on our cars (ie. someone switched them) or if Pontiac relocated them

Like I said, great rundown and Much the same, just off the top of my head, but wanted to try to elaborate a little more on a few of the unique features available for the Firebirds that were not incorporated into the Camaro for another year or two in some cases.

Sorry, I find the little details interesting and couldn't help but to add some more...

[Tuske427]

nice add to the list! It goes to prove that " you learn something new every day". It is I who got schooled. I love these details, too. I also think it's cool how Pontiac did all this to make their car so different, especially considering this was a late add to their product line and not an intended one either.

I'm glad it was received well, not as some smart @$$ shouting off...

I knew the hood tach shape change, but totally forgot to add it.

[rickpaw]

Tu, I would check with your paint supplier to what would work best. I also needed to give you a bump to the front page. What do you have for updates?

Hey Rob, thanks for the bump . I thinned the primer some more (per the paint shop's suggestion) and got the entire car primered. I cleaned up the inner fenders and mounted them up along with the rest of the body panels

Here are a couple of pics

[rickpaw]

nice build, Im restoring a 68 also, very slowly though. nice to see your pics

Thanks for the compliment.

Tuske427 and others, I too prefer the 67-68 over the 69 (I think 67-68 are the same, besides the differences that others pointed out). I like the side markers of the 68, but also like the vent window. I almost put 68 side marker on the quarters but decided not to.

Well things have screeched to a halt. 3 days after I sprayed the primer, she came along. 2 weeks early. Kind of throw everything off.

[rickpaw]

I did manage to order a bunch of parts for the car

Wilwood 1" bore m/c


Ram air exhaust manifold from Classic Industries


Sub frame connectors


Added a little bling under the hood. Anvil carbon fiber fender brace. Beautiful piece.


Table full of hardware, emblems and other stuff. Not shown are complete weather strip kit, front spoiler, radiator, Lincoln Mark VIII cooling fan (picked off craigslist)

[68400BIRD]

I thought it was a little quiet over here. Congratulations to you and your wife. She looks like a cutie. You will have your hands full for a while. My twins just turned four last weekend. Spend as much time as you can with them it goes so fast.

[BirdsThaWord]

Congratulations! Seems like yesterday I was posting the birth of my boy. Been 5 years now! Also, congrats on all the nice parts. Now go change that diaper, and warm that milk, and, and.... LOL! Man yer gonna have yer hands full!!!

[68firebird]

yea, congrats!! thats awesome, she's adorable. My daughter turns 4 in june and my son just turned 2 last week. Man, it goes by really fast!!!! but at least they're at an age where I can actually work on the car now, LOL. I am jealous of all the nice parts your getting.

[rickpaw]

Thanks guys. The newborn is not too bad. She eats, poops, and goes right back to sleep every 2 hrs, so I have a little break in between. Her 2 year old older sister, on the other hand, is quite a handful.

[Dons67]

congrats - some day they'll be turning wrenches with you

[Dalamar]

Great progress on this build. looking very good.

and congradulations on the new baby

[rickpaw]

Great progress on this build. looking very good.

and congradulations on the new baby

thanks. I've been watching your build with a lot of admiration.

[rickpaw]

We had a nice weather today and the kids were sleeping so I went out to the garage and tried wet sanding.

I sanded the top half of the pass side of the car. I used 320 grit and finish it off with some 600.

3 hours later, I have this. Not too shabby for first timer.



Close ups.





I have some gouges in the paint. There were some creases in the sand paper. I think I'll just spray them with high build and re-sand. Any other ideas?

[Underdog]

I'm loving this thread Tu!

I prefer the '68 to the '67, but I love both of them. One thing I like for '67 only was the plum mist color option. And for '68 you can't forget the debut of Rally II's and the "round port" Ram Air II engine option.

[rickpaw]

I'm loving this thread Tu!

I prefer the '68 to the '67, but I love both of them. One thing I like for '67 only was the plum mist color option. And for '68 you can't forget the debut of Rally II's and the "round port" Ram Air II engine option.

Thanks Underdog. Right now I'm debating between brilliant silver (Mercedes) or dark gray (68 GM color)

[1971CHEVELLE]

nice work so far! looks good!