1971 Firebird455 - Project

[aronhk_md]

Thanks again Leigh! I'm going to quote what you said here for the PY gang...positive, uninvested observer impressions are good for Ron.

[LeighP]

Looks very nice Leigh! Be sure to use some sealer on the dry sump fitting plugs or they'll weep.

Thanks John, they were just in there temporary to fill the holes and so I could check if there was any issue with the headers....none - tons of room. I'll teflon tape them before I drop the engine in.

[LeighP]

Been doing little bits and pieces till I get another day off.....dug out the Formula aircleaner and made up a blank for the heat stove pipe (not using it). Swapped the LH valve cover around which fixed my clearance issue with the aircleaner.
So I added a GTO's 455HO decal....cause I like them.... :grin: even though I know Firebirds didn't use them...who cares, not exactly stock here.
When I bought the aircleaner, they had a separate chrome cover for a few extra $, so I can swap out for a bit of bling if I feel like it.

Black



Bling

[LeighP]

Look what turned up in the mail from the US......Clayton Machine Works got their billet pedal and window winder assemblies to me, had to wait a bit, but it was worth it.....mmmm, sweet!!!!

Accelerator pedal is height adjustable as well...nice!






Should look good against a black interior.

[critter]

I'm digging the basic black on the air cleaner. And I see a set of those pedals in my future.

[aronhk_md]

I'm liking it too Chris. I also really like the way you detailed the timing tab and valve covers Leigh. Watching yours come together is making me very itchy to get to mine! lol. I got a new and bigger/better turbo.........sitting here staring at it and wondering if I should start sanding the aluminum to polish it.................

[formula]

I thought the clayton gear was vaporware--glad to see they made it to production with them. Very cool pieces.

Always loved the big engine callouts like that--nice touch, sir!

[JBCO]

Those pedals look sweet! Excellent choice there.

[LeighP]

Thanks guys, yeah it was a bit of a wait for the pedals and winders....I guess there were some production issues, but they are very nice. Clay kept me up to date on what was happening, and nothing was charged till they were sent....so if anyone wants them, I wouldn't feel there'd be any issues.

[Doug1]

I am continually impressed with your build. You are getting a lot of bang for your buck! That is going to be a sweet ride.

[LeighP]

Thanks Doug...hope to have the engine and box in the chassis this weekend. Watch for more pics.

[OLDFLM]

Been doing little bits and pieces till I get another day off.....dug out the Formula aircleaner and made up a blank for the heat stove pipe (not using it). Swapped the LH valve cover around which fixed my clearance issue with the aircleaner.
So I added a GTO's 455HO decal....cause I like them.... :grin: even though I know Firebirds didn't use them...who cares, not exactly stock here.
When I bought the aircleaner, they had a separate chrome cover for a few extra $, so I can swap out for a bit of bling if I feel like it.

Black



Bling

LOVE the Ram Air aircleaner! I want to run one of these on my car eventually... but cast iron grey (to match my block) with a custom billet lid and cf flat stock on the flat inlet extensions. Think anyone would notice a "440 HO" decal? LOL

[LeighP]

I think a 440HO decal would be very cool....certainly fit the theme of the car.

Was on nightshift, so the project for this afternoon was to join the engine and gearbox and fit the trans mount.....
Nice to have a hoist, I was able to put it together myself.



Found out that apparently, the bolts that hold the trans mount to the box are metric (found this out after screwing in a couple of UNC 3/8" bolts, one of which tore a couple of thread tops off)......who'd have though a TH350 would have metric threads in it? :roll: Easy enough to fix, even if I have to helicoil it, which I think I won't have to....just need the right bolts.

[aronhk_md]

Looking good Leigh. I see you have solid mounts......are they for the early bird style? What brand and where did you get em? Still unsure what I'm doing. I have a front plate from All Pontiac I might use if I have the room.

[LeighP]

The mounts are late 2nd gen Clamshell frame mounts with the matching F body engine brackets. The inserts in the clamshells are Energy Suspension polyurethane inserts - listed for a Chevy application...the only mod required is to cut off the small metal tabs that poke out at both ends (they foul the engine brackets on a Pontiac). My frame is a 75+ Camaro frame, so the holes were already there for the clamshells....otherwise you'd have to drill them from a template taken off a 75+ subframe. I'm also using the Energy Suspension poly trans mount as well.

I'll take another pic after the engine is in...to show where the headers sit in the chassis.

[LeighP]

What a weekend.......man, don't you hate it when someone sells you a part and says its definately for an F body....but it turns out it isn't?????

We got the engine all set up, it had all the mounts fitted including the polyurethane Energy Suspension inserts on the clamshell frame mounts.
We (Some friends came over to help) slipped the engine and box into the car without damaging anything (those engine sling levelers are worth their weight in gold).....dropped the engine onto its mounts, only to find out that the passenger side engine bracket was an F body bracket (lined up nicely) but the drivers side engine bracket must be off something else...an A or B body probably....it was near two inches off lining up...not even close.

So, since I'm at the end of a very long supply line here in Australia, and finding another F body specific engine bracket was very unlikely locally, I switched to Plan B.
I pulled the 71 mount brackets off the spare subframe, cleaned them up and painted them......luckily, the later 75+ Camaro subframe I'm using in my car was already drilled to accept the early mounts in their correct position.

So I spent the best part of one Saturday afternoon and the Sunday removing the clamshell mounts (not fun when there is suspension in the car) and fitting the 71 frame brackets.
I swapped on a set of new engine mounts that I already had in stock - but, of course, these 71 style mounts need a real long bolt....so I have to buy a couple on Monday.

While the engine was up in the air, I slipped the the Tri-Y headers on....they went on pretty good (as far as headers go, lol) and I'm using Remflex carbon gaskets so hopefully I won't have any leaks. I'm also using Stage 8 header bolts that have a locking system to stop them coming undone. I'll add the locks after we've test run the engine and I can recheck the bolts are still tight.

As if this wasn't enough, since I'm using a later 2nd gen subframe I had the later TH350 crossmember powder coated all ready to go.....I test fitted it only to find another mis-match issue when using early and late parts together.....the floor pan on a 70-74 body is too low and close to the subframe to let you fit the late model crossmember.
So, Plan C!!!!!!!
I cleaned up and painted the original 71 crossmember and fitted that.....I just have to slip under the car on my next day off and drill the four mounting holes for the early crossmember as the late subframe is not drilled for the early mounting position.

Other than that, I finished Sunday with the engine and box in the car, sitting on the mounts and just waiting for bolts......eh, its visual progress.

Heres some pics to see the engine and box going in.




Here you can see how much the drivers side engine mount bracket is out...the passenger side one was pretty much lined up.


Heres Plan B



Plenty of clearance on the headers.

[LeighP]

This afternoon, managed to get to the bolt shop for the engine mount bolts....came home and jockeyed the engine around enough to get the bolts through...not too bad at all.



So, I added solid body mounts and PTFB subframe connectors.....want to know how stiff the car is now? When I was pulling it off the stands, I took the stand out of one side then repositioned the jack to get the other one.....the car, with engine and box in, settled only a touch with the wheel on the side with no stand still well clear of the ground...awesome! No way my old stock 77 T/A would have held one wheel airborne while supported on the other side like that.

[LeighP]

I couldn't find the distributor clamp, so I had to drive across to a big warehouse that stocked Pontiac stuff and grabbed one. I ended up getting a universal set of MSD wires so that I could trim them to suit. Spent the afternoon cutting, crimping and testing the wires...all of them came up with the right resistance for the lengths...WIN!

Some pics...because everyone likes pics....

[vtxman]

Leigh,
I have enjoyed watching your build. Can you provide information concerning your waterpump/alternator belt? I haven't seen one like that. It looks wider with ridges on the outside.

I like it.

Dave

[dusterbd13]

leigh: i love the look of your valve covers/motor. mind if i steal the idea for my mopar?