1971 Firebird455 - Project

[Greg from Aus]

Nice work Leigh.

Greg

[LeighP]

Thanks for the kind words, guys....appreciated.

[LeighP]

Back into it this afternoon...after putting together a netball pole/hoop for my daughter to practice...then, of course, it immediately started to rain so she can't use it...lol.

Started sticking the dynamat all over the parcel tray and side walls in the back. Doubled it up a bit over the wheels arches.

I picked up the trimmed parcel tray the other day...nice job, just how I was hoping it'd turn out. After I got the belts bolted in, the tray fits in very nicely and the belt covers work just as I'd intended. Speakers and the rear demist blower tomorrow.....then I'm ready for the seat.

Received my optima battery mount from Summit the other day, together with a HD negative cable disconnect. I like the idea of being able to quickly unhook the battery with the flip of a lever.....I'll be fitting a 20 Amp run around circuit across the contacts so the stereo will maintain it's pre-sets if I turn the main disconnect off.

[ryeguy2006a]

Leigh, looks like it was made that way. Nice work.

[aronhk_md]

Leigh, its been a while since I stopped in to your thread as I've been quite busy, but all I can say is wow...your car is incredible. I love all the detail you have put into it. Regarding the car stereo...I doubt you need a 20 amp line for it. The only wire that needs direct juice is the memory wire, and it has an infinitesimal drawin amps. No more than a clock. Everything else can be wired with the disconnect.

[LeighP]

Yeah, thanks...someone else pointed that out...I think I'll try a 5 amp fuse in the holder rather than 20.....a bit of overkill, eh?
.
.

Thanks Ryan.

[LeighP]

So, heres the finished product....all came together OK....thought I'd dislocate my shoulder putting the speakers in. Once the seat is in, it'll all be neat and tidy.

[aronhk_md]

it looks factory.....nice!

[LeighP]

Picked up my set of Rally IIs today....I sent them down to a local shop that's restored a few wheels for me before (thats all they do)....painted in high gloss, high metallic, silver and charcoal...they look great.
Added my 255/60x15 Firehawks and a 225/70x15 for the spare.
These will be the "other" set of wheels for my 71 - for when I want a change of look (stock).

[Takid455]

Like the rear belts. Did you reinforce the underside/ structure?

[LeighP]

Has a heavy gauge mounting box for the reel seam welded into each corner of the parcel tray where the structure adds some stiffness. I fitted a doubler under the mounting bolt for the reel.
I was going to brace down to the inner fender, but since the load is basically in shear, I really don't think its necessary.

[LeighP]

Finally got a chance this afternoon to do a bit. I worked out where/how to mount the battery cut-off switch and I got the Summit optima battery mount bolted in.
Of course, the mount doesn't fit in the bottom of he battery tray, a little too big....so I made some standoffs to sandwich between the mount and the tray.
Seemed to work out pretty nicely.
I'm using a 34/78 series red top Optima battery....I like having the second set of contacts on the side for the accessories and body ground etc.




You might be able to see the small bracket for the cut-off down the RH bottom of the tray....I won't mount the cut-off till I've got the battery cables made up.

[Olav]

Love this car !

[LeighP]

Still plodding along....have got the auto electrical guy making up the battery cables for me...be ready in a couple of days.

Finally got to finish the trunk....wired the speaker cables (man, I hate leaning into the trunk to work....bad back....) and the rear demist fan.
Worked out my spare wouldn't sit where I'd hoped it would.....speakers too deep and the the spare is a 225/70...bit too wide. So I made a retainer for the spare hold down further to the rear and mounted the spare there. Worked out OK in the end.



If you look through the slot in the wheel, you can see the mount fitted to the trunk where the floor raises up from the pan.

[xplane]

Looks great Leigh!

Steady progress. You have any pictures with the Rallye II's yet?

[LeighP]

Thanks, no pics yet....I'll put the Rally IIs on when I bleed the brakes. Got a couple of other things to do when I change the wheels over as well.

[TEMP GTO]

Hi Leigh, Finally got a chance to look through your thread. Very nice work! I hope my project turns out half as good as yours.

[LeighP]

Been finishing up the wiring under the hood.....still some to do, just when you think you're finished, you remember theres something else to sort out, lol.

Everyone likes pics......so heres some showing the engine wiring tubes I made up for each side over the manifold.....coolant temp/alternator feed on the LH side, fan control sensor/electric choke on the RH side.





And a neat little spot to fit the outside airtemp sender....or radiator inlet temp sensor...depending on what you want to call it...lol.

[CliffS]

Sweet Mill!

[LeighP]

Engine bay is finished...well, for now anyway....

Got it jacked up so I can do the wiring on the fuel pump and tank tomorrow, then its back inside.




battery installation and master switch.


Looking pretty clean.


I like this pic, it shows the colour nicely and also shows the ride height/stance.