1971 Firebird455 - Project

[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

[LeighP]

Hi,

Its a DAYCO brand belt - marked "Top Cog Gold Label". I didn't buy it, it came with the accessory brackets that I bought as a set off Nitemare Performance since I didn't have any matching brackets.

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

[SD455]

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....

Leigh,

Great build! What are you using for spark plug wire holders? They look really excellent,and I am currently replacing my wires. keep up the good work mate!

[dusterbd13]

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

[LeighP]

Hi Michael,
Feel free, I'm sure I first saw that "look" on someone else's old school hot rod or custom back in the 70's. lol.

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

[LeighP]

I'm not sure exactly where I picked those lead holders up....been sitting in their packet in my parts stack for maybe 5 years or so. I think they're your typical "made in China" generic two piece lead holders...they have plenty of room for 8.5mm leads, so I guess they'd have no problem with 9mm leads as well.
I like the MSD leads, plenty of length in the "universal" pack and extra spare end fittings etc...easy to assemble if you take your time and check the crimp and resistance on each one as you go.
On no. 7 lead, I replaced the regular straight lead end at the plug with one of the spare 90 degree ends...its pretty tight in there.

[LeighP]

Had one of those annoying issues the other day that you get when you mix parts from different manufacturers....seems the production tolerances on my SFI flex plate and my Torque Converter ganged up on me.....the two PCDs were very slightly out of alignment.
Of course, this was something I didn't check and correct before assembly so I had some fun, on my back under the car with a dremel and a rotary burr slightly clearancing the flex plate holes....all three bolts are in and tight. Darned glad I didn't have to pull the gearbox out or something.

Was doing some small bits and pieces today...sorting out where to mount the coil and position the remote oil filter. I fitted up the shifter and got the cable rigged and set up. Works nice.




And before you ask...yes, there are a couple of reasons why the shifter is leaning to the left.
1. It lines the cable up to run cleanly through the factory hole without having to enlarge it.
2. I like the way it leans the shifter closer to where I sit....places the shifter ball right under my hand close to my leg....and since I'm building a custom console, it didn't really matter where the shifter is actually fitted.

[aronhk_md]

That looks SO good Leigh. Tell me about the custom console you are planning? I'd like to do one too. Would love to have a couple of cup holders, and a custom gauge pod (turbo...lots of gauges). Not sure whether I want to include the original arm rest lid and inner compartment.

[LeighP]

I'm planning a console that will drop down off the dash with a flat face for a double DIN stereo with navigation. It'll run all the way to the back (two pieces for easier fitting - split at the back of the front seats) and I'll mount the fire extinguisher on the top of it behind the front seats....arm rests front and rear....LED footwell lights in the back seat area on the sides of the console. If it works out that theres room in the front between the shifter and the arm rest, I'll mount a drink holder for me there - the passenger gets to hold their own, lol.
I was going to use an MDF frame and sheet alloy skin (covered in seat matching upholstery), but I've found this synthetic sheet material made for kitchen cupboards...water proof, heat proof, doesn't burn and its strong and light.....I'll use that to form the frame and epoxy and screw it all together.

[aronhk_md]

Sounds very interesting Leigh! Cant wait to see it. I have this HUGE roll of very thin fiberglass material sitting on a pallet. Probably enough to build a good sized boat. lol. I think I am going to try to make a mold for my design, and then I have a friend who works with fiberglass and he can hopefully help me one evening lay it down. Still its likely to be a winter project at this point. Going to extend it back like you are, but since my rollcage makes it tough to sit back there anyway (they can, but you have to slide under the cage bar) I'm not too concerned with creature comforts back there and will likely use it to mount speakers. Hopefully tweeters up front too.

[LeighP]

Another day of tinkering...between putting my feet up and enjoying a nice Sunday at home... :-D

Got the accelerator pedal in and mounted - its an aftermarket piece so it wasn't just a matter of bolting it in and going. That let me set up the Lokar cables for the carby.
I'm going to adopt a saying I heard from another thread here.....
"Anything sold as "bolt-in", isn't!"




As of 21 August, this is what I'm up to -

[Doug1]

Nice work as always Leigh. It won't be too long before you are crusing. That is turning out to be one sweet ride!

[LeighP]

Thanks, I hope it all turns out well....trying my best, although I'm counting on a "shake down/fix the glitch" period after its on the road...lol.

[LeighP]

More tinkering after work.....
Got the radiator and shroud cleaned up, painted and fitted. Bolted on the twin fan pack and sorted the hoses. Looks more like a real engine bay now.
I want to hang some panels on the weekend so I can fit up another couple of things without worrying if I'm going to foul the fenders or nose.



the fitting in the top radiator hose is an inline filter with a stainless mesh removable element....guy here in my city has been making and selling these for years. With a brand new alloy radiator in there, I want to keep any junk out of the core.

[syborg tt]

It's been a while since I've had time to look at this thread. I can say this car is looking great.