1971 Firebird455 - Project

[Chadman27]

Lookin great Leigh!

[LeighP]

Got back into the wiring, got the lights hooked up to the new switches, got the wipers set up and working....decide to give the car a bath for the first time, got a couple of small cabin leaks somewhere up on the cowl, but without trim in it, I shouldn't have a lot of trouble to identify where its coming from. Side windows and trunk sealed nicely.

Looks good in the afternoon sun.

[LeighP]

Working on the centre console....custom built using a factory bin and lid. Will have a flat panel for more instruments, switches etc at the front running off the dash down to the shifter.

Heres the box supporting the console bin and armrest....wanted this mounted as a starting point for everything else. Nice and solid to lean on, unlike the factory plastic fantastic thing.





Next comes the solid side supports front and rear, then the forward sections.




When the structure is done, I'll skin the whole thing with 3mm MDF, then resin and glass coat it for strength. I'm thinking of having the console vacuum covered like the dash, in the same GM Aircell vinyl.

[Hotwhilz]

The Bird is looking good Leigh, how do you like the Aerocatch? I got some installed on my Nova as well and looking for some feedback on the everyday use?
Consol looks great too, you got some mad Ideas!

[LeighP]

Aerocatches work well...nice and smooth. I don't lock them normally, just latch them closed. The locks are for when I want to leave the car parked somewhere.
Sometimes the ideas get the better of me....lol, the console started off very different in my head.

[72blackbird]

Leigh,
Congrats on getting your 71 Bird up and running- looks really sweet with either the Rally IIs or the 17" Honeycombs.

Geno

[tazzz25906112]

Now that is one very pretty car,,, Congrats buddy she sure looks good!!!!

Got back into the wiring, got the lights hooked up to the new switches, got the wipers set up and working....decide to give the car a bath for the first time, got a couple of small cabin leaks somewhere up on the cowl, but without trim in it, I shouldn't have a lot of trouble to identify where its coming from. Side windows and trunk sealed nicely.

Looks good in the afternoon sun.

[Hotwhilz]

Aerocatches work well...nice and smooth. I don't lock them normally, just latch them closed. The locks are for when I want to leave the car parked somewhere.
Sometimes the ideas get the better of me....lol, the console started off very different in my head.

Thanks for reporting, did you lube them? what did you use? Project always starts different to what come finally out!

[LeighP]

Thanks guys.

The aerocatches don't require lube...the polished stainless latching pins slide easily, supported in the polymer catches and the alignment striker is designed with some mis-alignment possible....pretty straight forward to adjust.

[Hotwhilz]

In the instructions it mention it requires lubbing prior to use, that's why I was wondering!
I'll see if it needs some overtime!

Thanks Leigh

[LeighP]

Cut out the other front side of the console. Made up a joining piece to clear the shifter and shift indicator sender. Just adding some cross braces with rivnuts in them to be able to screw down the fascia plates. Ran out of steel strip, of course.....continue tomorrow.

[srh3trinity]

That console is really shaping up nicely.

[LeighP]

Thanks...I think it'll work out well. It came out of the car pretty easy today...so I figure after its covered and complete, it shouldn't be a problem to fit.

Got some more done today.....I need some alloy sheet, and of course, its a long weekend, so everyone is closed on a Saturday....typical.

Applied most of the skinning covering today...get the rest finished tomorrow. Then it fill and shape everything, resin soak it to waterproof it and start in on setting up for making the fascias.

[LeighP]

Nice having a few days to work on this project....progressing each day is a morale booster, lol.

Been fitting up some trim edging and cleaning up the outside edges....do some filling tomorrow I think. Fitted the footwell interior lights, something in keeping with the Firebird/aviation theme.

[LeighP]

And so.....its done, ready for covering. I'm going to try and drop it off this week at the people who did my dash restoration for a vacuum covered (molded) vinyl.




Theres a void under the skin at the back where I can feed the sound system USB cable into the bin area to hook up my phone/music.




Theres a power outlet for phone charging, or a Nav unit on the flat panel in front of the bin.



I'll make up the templates for the fascia panels after it comes back from skinning, that way I know they'll fit.

[1977TRANSAM]

That's a really nice console.
Great job.

[LeighP]

Got the interior light working...was testing the connections, then it occured to me to turn around the globe the other way...wahoo! Light!
So who knew LED festoon globes were directional? Not me....lol.

Fitted up the rear side side trims....these are OER repro pieces, top and bottom. They do not fit as easily as factory pieces.....there was a little bit of colourful language associated with getting them into position....the tops pieces do not sit right along the rear window edge, I'll see what I can do about that later. Also, you need to drill two new holes in the metal work to screw the coat hooks to, as there is no way the holes in the trims line up with the holes in the body....
Painted the front floors......just got to get the alarm guy to come over and install the security/entry system and I think I'll be ready for the rest of the trim.

The repro pieces at least look nice....

[Dons67]

Every detail is flawless - great work!

[Tuffhx]

Awesome build Leigh,just finished reading the whole thread and got some great idea's..

[LeighP]

OK..big day. Lots of visual progress happening.

Picked up the covered console from the trimmer yesterday...nice job!!!!!!



They matched the GM grain vinyl they used for my dash.



Today, its carpet time, followed by seatbelts and fire extinguisher mount. Also fitted the Bluetooth hands free unit for the stereo....small box that velcro's to the inside front of the console.




Front carpet was fun...had to split it in halves to get it in easily. I had my interior trimmer put a wide stip of velcro up the front to hold it together. At the back, the seat tracks will stop it moving around and the console holds it down.
Console needed a little adjusting to suit the carpet thickness, but fits really nicely.





Tomorrow...hope to get stuck into the kick panels, park brake and the front seats.