1971 Firebird455 - Project

[vsefiream]

Good luck with the move Leigh!

[LeighP]

Thanks...

[LeighP]

well....time to resurrect this thread.
Time flies when you're having fun...or moving/setting up a new house.
I was getting withdrawl symptoms....had to do something while I'm waiting to finish the workshop area.

The other day I stripped down the inner fenders, marked all the unused holes and dropped them off at a panel shop to get the holes filled and a couple of small dents worked out.....
I stripped the rad support panel down and when the fenders come back, all the parts are off to the powdercoaters for a nice coat of satin black to match the job they did on my subframe.

Tonight, while I was on nightshift, I broke out my list of bits and pieces I've been meaning to order and made some calls to the US.
I ordered -
1. Pypes hockey stick exhaust tips in 2.5" T304 stainless steel.

2. RobbMc fuel pickup/sender unit and pump prefilter

3. The new Stainless Steel version of the 1970 GTO optional VOE (Vacuum Operated Exhaust) from Waldron Exhaust....driver control of exhaust flow path through the mufflers for normal sound or louder/deeper full flow sound.


and I had to get some Bling....
4. Fesler billet door vents for 2nd gens....I really think they look the part, more so than the factory black plastic ones.

5. Marquez Design stainless steel hood bumpers and door strikers

[syborg tt]

Little more details please

2. RobbMc fuel pickup/sender unit and pump prefilter

[LeighP]

70-73 F-body fuel pickup with 0-90 ohm sender unit.....
1/2" pickup with the sock filter deleted. 1/2" return line for injected use, or use with a reducer for mechanical pump vent line or regulator return line if needed.
$169 from RobbMc Performance.

[Doug1]

70-73 F-body fuel pickup with 0-90 ohm sender unit.....
1/2" pickup with the sock filter deleted. 1/2" return line for injected use, or use with a reducer for mechanical pump vent line or regulator return line if needed.
$169 from RobbMc Performance.

Leigh! Glad to see your build thread here. Just ran across it for the first time. Looking good!

I also use the RobbMc sending unit in my Blue 79 since I ran 8AN lines. That pickup looks like a fire hose compared to a straw when the new unit and the old are placed side by side. I went with the AN fittings to make it easy to bolt up. I think they come with or without AN fittings if I remember.

Very cool work! I will subscribe to keep up with your project.

[68400BIRD]

Nice parts. Looking forward to seeing some progress again.

[LeighP]

Thanks mate....I'm in the bush leagues compared to your build....awesome.
I thought about the AN fittings, but for my use I was planning on quality EFI rated fuel hose and clamps - so I went the standard hose barb ends.

[Doug1]

Thanks mate....I'm in the bush leagues compared to your build....awesome.
I thought about the AN fittings, but for my use I was planning on quality EFI rated fuel hose and clamps - so I went the standard hose barb ends.

I wouldn't agree with that. You are using a lot of skill, creativity and cool parts where it counts to get what you want.

[LeighP]

well.....after falling in love with some Schott wheels that I thought would suit my car's style nicely, I got a rude awakening when I got a quote for them
.....I really can't see my budget stretching to wheels that'd cost me a thousand dollars a corner (but man, aren't they nice!)

I had other choices that were on my list, including the NewGen Fivehundred, which is better priced than the Schott, but was still a stretch....this car is supposed to be a budget build....

Then I just happened to come across an American Racing wheel...the Hot Rod Custom 500. Two piece alluminium wheels with just about any offset or width you'd like....built to order.

So these are what I've ordered for my project.....I really wanted something that felt "old school" and wasn't tied to current design trends.

Hot Rod Custom 500 series -

I think they are the right style....classy. 17x8" with zero offset and they fit my budget.

[OLDFLM]

Perfect for your build my friend!! Just put a PMD or 'bird decal in the centercaps! LOL

I know a company that can make them for you if need be too... any colors you want...

[LeighP]

Thanks for that...I'll definately keep that in mind...might even buy in a second set of caps to modify like that.

[LeighP]

Those microballoons are available from anywhere that stocks fibreglass supplies...they're a filler for resin used to fair a f'glass surface of creat fillets in corners etc.

[twoformulas]

Leigh, nice car! My '75 Formula is set up similar with allt the goodies from an '81 WS6 T/A, the "stop flex kit" from pro-touringf-body.com, 1LE front brakes and the 17x9" snowflakes from Year One. I haven't pushed it to autocross cornering yet but on the street it handles great! Keep up the great work. Rick

[John Wright]

The PC'd parts look great!

[70fireturd]

Clean looking car. Kudos on the rear seat belts that is a great idea. I was wondering, where did you find those polyurethane motor mounts for a pontiac motor. I could not find poly mounts anywhere? I also noticed those are the clam shell type mounts instead of the 1970-73 mounts where the rubber mounts to the block. How did you line those up on you 71 sub frame since the early mounts have different bolt holes. Thanks Zach

[tcronkright]

Great job Leigh. The gauges are incredible - the look and feel are amazing. I would have opted for these had I known.

One question, what model DSE wiper motor did you purchase?

Keep up the excellent work, this is a well-thought build.

[LeighP]

Great job Leigh. The gauges are incredible - the look and feel are amazing. I would have opted for these had I known.

One question, what model DSE wiper motor did you purchase?

Keep up the excellent work, this is a well-thought build.

Thanks.
The DSE kit is for hidden wipers for a 71 Camaro....the only difference I can see is that the switch mount they supply to located their new switch in the dash has to be reworked to suit a Firebird....other than that, it all apears to be the same as a Camaro.

[LeighP]

Pulled out the rear axle yesterday, stipped down the brakes etc.
Went to pull the axles to take off the backing plates - first hurdle, the retaining pin screwed out ok...was a little tight, but it didn't break...cool!
Then...the centre pin, which should just slide out (like it has for the other diffs I've worked on) had to be driven out with a punch, then pulled with a slide hammer to get it far enough out that I could remove the axles....its all worn and torn up where it was riding aganst both of the spider gears....not that thats really too much of an issue...doesn't appear to have hurt the carrier and all the centre gears and pinion shaft are replaced by the Richmond Powertrax unit that I'm fitting. I fished a couple of pieces of shim out of the oil as well...guess I know why those spider gears were wearing the pinion.

[LeighP]

Clean looking car. Kudos on the rear seat belts that is a great idea. I was wondering, where did you find those polyurethane motor mounts for a pontiac motor. I could not find poly mounts anywhere? I also noticed those are the clam shell type mounts instead of the 1970-73 mounts where the rubber mounts to the block. How did you line those up on you 71 sub frame since the early mounts have different bolt holes. Thanks Zach

Hi, they're actually Chevy 2nd gen clamshell inserts...they don't make specific ones for Pontiacs. You have to trim off the small metal flanges that poke out the ends of the inserts...they are for chevy motor mount brackets and will not let the Pontiac mount brackets fit properly.
The reason they were easy to use is that my car has a 75+ Camaro subframe under it....the 71 Firebird frame was a little chopped up when someone tried to convert the car to right hand drive....I'm planning ot save it later as a spare, but it was just easier to swap in the Chevy frame....all the later 2nd gen frames have all the holes for Chev/Pontiac/Olds engines.

They are Energy Suspension part 3.1116