1971 Firebird455 - Project

[mikes70]

looks fantastic!!!

Where did you get those hood hinges at? Especially the intermediate ones. I need some for my 2nd gen...

[LeighP]

Billet hood props designed for a Mustang...they lock over centre and work very well...really stable with the hood open.

I had to make a couple of top mount brackets but otherwise, they fit out of the box. Watch out for the clearance on the sides of the hood when closed....you have to get the mounts in the right spot so the props close parallel to the hood. The main hinges are Ring Brothers Air Frame style billet......pity the gas struts won't hold the weight of the factory Formula hood, hence the props.

http://www.billetdepot.com/mustang-billet-extreme-hood-prop-05.html

[Ripped]

Love your car, and build.

The rear seat belt mod, looks very professional.

Great stance, and both wheel choices are good. I saw a set of the 17's you have on a black trans am, this weekend, and I think they look awesome.


I was laughing about the hood prop, because the lightweight springs, for my f/g hood, do not always hold my hood up.
When people were looking under my hood at a car show this weekend, I was hoping the thing did not fall down and sqush them in the engine bay ;)

But I'll have to use somthing else. Those props won't work for me.

Keep up the good work!

[sr73bu]

The paint, wheels, and various upgrades all came out great... really loving this car!

Nice work!

-Sean

[67speedfreak]

Car looks great. Love what you did with the rear package tray and belts !

[LeighP]

See, this is how I make life hard for myself......

1. See some cool billet electrical switches....Must have!!! :roll:
2. Fit them up to the dash, then think...hmmm, these won't carry large amounts of current - I'll need relays.
3. Make a relay and power supply panel and then mount it somewhere in the car that I can get at if needed for servicing.
4. Wire it all up...realising that I'm using twice the amount of wire that I'd need to if I just used an off the shelf head light switch..... :roll:
....but it wouldn't be as cool!

The switches....


The relay panel....


Fitted...in the process of wiring when I ran out of daylight....

[90MJext]

Very nice

[LeighP]

And...we're getting closer....




Tested a few circuits....seems a lot works, a few things don't....so theres some fault finding to do.
Too tired to worry about it tonight......

[cdoggy81]

nice! what did you use to get those parking lights so bright? LED's ?

[LeighP]

Camera makes them look a bit brighter than they are, but yes...they're LEDs. Special globes that have both white and amber LEDs on them - they light up either colour depending on what you've got switched on. We have to have white park lights and amber turn signals....this makes one globe do both jobs.

[gsxrken]

This is the kind of car I like (well who doesn't), where there is something interesting to discuss no matter what you look. Really cool car. The Formula hood really rocks on these.
I had a black and gold Bandit TA back in the day and my future wife got a white and gold one. Always like the second gen 'birds.
Keep posting up pics!

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

[srh3trinity]

I like the switch panel and the dash looks awesome. It's coming together nicely.

[dangina]

Very cool ideas! I love the dash with the switch panel and the rear seatbelt ideas - looks factory - its the first time I've seen that firebird in that color - looks great!!!

[LeighP]

Thanks for the kind words, guys....getting closer to getting it done. Had the auto trim guy out the other day test fitting the rear seat. Its getting custom matched to the Corvette front seats so they look right....hopefully, the seats will be done in a couple of weeks. maybe I'll have figured out my odd electrical issues by then.

[MMC]

Very nice car! If i may ask exactly what kind and size are you aftermarket wheels? Hard to get a good view of them at the angle you shot your picture. Thanks

[LeighP]

Year One's cast alloy 17x9" Honeycombs.

[LeighP]

Well, I wasn't happy with the billet switches, after seeing them in situ. They just didn't work for me, so I decided to go back to the original idea of aircraft switches (to match the cockpit style instruments)




Tried starting it the other day, not a hope - no spark at all. Something in the brand new MSD set up just wasn't working at all. Swapped in a GM style HEI today, car started first turn. Ran the cam in, set the idle. I have to track and repair a couple of small coolant leaks up the front of the engine somewhere, but oil pressure and other temps looked fine.

[LeighP]

OK, got an oil change and filter done today....damn filter stuck onto the remote filter housing - so I used grease on the seal this time rather than a wipe of oil. Hope it comes off easier next time.
We checked the timing and adjusted the idle mixture.....runs very sweetly, not hesitations or roughness etc. Thank you, Cliff Ruggles for the gem of a Q-jet!

We've got the gearbox nearly topped off (ran out of oil today), but its certainly got enough to get all the gears nicely.

Here it is, first time under its own power in more than 25 years.



Pulled the power steering pump, bracket and alternator off....found the coolant leak. LH head front freeze plug is leaking. Thats a weight off my mind.

Thanks to my best friend, Michael, for his Pontiac expertise today.

[68400BIRD]

Congrats on getting it moving under it's own power. I can only guess at how happy you must have been. You have done outstanding work on the car and you should be very proud.

[LeighP]

Thank you. Appreciate the kind words. Yes, theres definately a feeling of having accomplished something. I've never "restored" a complete car before.