1971 Firebird455 - Project

[LeighP]

Dropped off the engine at the machine shop today, it was going straight into the tank, then off for a line bore for the new 4 bolt caps. Talked to the guys there, who have a really good rep and been doing this stuff a LONG time, lol...they were well aware of the requirements for Pontiacs...and didn't mind me trying to teach them how to suck eggs, lol.
Should have it back in a couple of weeks.
Talked to the trans shop today as well, the box is done, they're just waiting on the new converter...should be in tomorrow...wahoo!

[LeighP]

Picked this up today.....



2200 stall, all the good gear, Lokar kick down cable, deep alloy pan and filter etc, steel drums, 36 element sprag......ready for when the engine is assembled. 8)

[formula]

Well, things are just moving along swimmingly, aren't they?

What's the plan on the engine? Any dyno action, or just put it in, fire it up, and ride it hard?

[LeighP]

Nope, engine doesn't get started till after its all in the car....guess I'll put the car on a chassis dyno later after its on the road.
Hey, we're Old School down here, mate! ;)

[LeighP]

I managed to pick up a set of unused "Tri-Y" D port headers off a guy I know in the US....a lot of the Pontiac Guys will know of these headers, there were a bunch made before the builder had "financial" issues and disappeared for a couple of years owing headers and money to people. Anyway, they had a great reputation amongst the people who got some for fit and performance.
I had them ceramic coated, picked them up thisafternoon...damn, the things look chromed, very nice! The guy who does the coating remarked on how heavily they were built, said he doesn't normally see headers as solid as these.



Hopefully, I'll have my engine short block parts back next week!

[68400BIRD]

So Doug was on the run. LOl The headers look great.

[cdoggy81]

ya, there is a LONG story behind those headers...
That's great you got a pair & they turned out so nice. They are well built & will perform quite well for you!

[buds87gn]

Good idea, i was thinking on using a Heat/AC box from a Honda on my GN so that i could clean up the firewall. Nice looking project so far

[LeighP]

Thanks guys.

[LeighP]

Took quite a while to actually get my new PTFB adjustable front and rear sway bars. Picked them up yesterday, got them fitted this afternoon.

Rear bar (7/8") went on easy enough, though a couple of adjustments were required. I'm using the PTFB heavy duty U bolts on the rear axle, they're 1/2" diameter, not 7/16" like the factory. I had to file out the mounting holes for the end fittings that go on the bottom of the spring perch plate.
Also had to trim the fixed bushes on those end brackets a little....every car is probably a little different and there was no way the bar was going to fit between the two end brackets as they came....so out came the trusty 4" angle grinder with thin cutting blade...cleanly trimmed down 3/16" off each and it fits fine. I've got it set to the middle of the three adjustment positions.
Note the end bolts that locate the bar to bracket....do not overtighten these. I coated everything with antisieze and just nipped them up as something's got to twist when that bar is moving around and you don't want to clamp the bar tight to the bushing.

[LeighP]

Front bar is a little more time consuming to fit, just playing around with the end links. Its an 1&1/4" diameter bar with adjustable clamp and turnbuckle style links.
I measured up the original front bar to determine the length of the torque arm on the factory bar and set my new links at that. After its on the road, I'll try sliding the clamps forward to tighten the bar up and see how that feels.

[LeighP]

Still waiting on the engine to come back......

Been doing little things when I get a few minutes, latest is to build up the tail light units. Bought new seal, new chrome diecast frames and new lenses.
Around here, we're supposed to run amber turn signal sections in our lights. Luckily, a guy in the next suburb to mine has a business making rare tail lamp lenses and such stuff. He's making very nice amber sections for 70-73, 74-78 and 79-81 lights.....so I bought a set and he fitted them to my new lenses.

I made up a divider for the outer lamp section of the light to separate the brake/tail lamp area from the turn signal area, painted the housing inside (white gloss) and outside (aluminium) and them made up some new studs for the diecast cover.....all went together nicely.

[Northern Goat]

Looking great. Keep up the good work.
I really like the tri colour taillights.

[WS6]

Leigh can you get a picture of the 79-81 lights? I'd love to see them. I'm glad to see the car is coming along nicely.

[cobragt]

Cool taillights!

[LeighP]

Leigh can you get a picture of the 79-81 lights? I'd love to see them. I'm glad to see the car is coming along nicely.

Pretty lousy picture, but I hope you get the idea.....the smoked covers don't make them as noticable as mine.


Can also go to http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/...carhome&Nne=15

Which is a car sales site in Australia....fair few 79+ T/As on there for sale to look at.

[cobragt]

Do you need to swap it to Right hand drive? I know a lot of early Mustangs that have gone down under have been swapped over.

[LeighP]

We used to...but we lobbied to get the law changed a few years back....now if the car is 30 years old or older, it doesn't have to be converted.
I actually converted my car back to LHD as the partial RHD conversion that was done to the car when Ibought it was rubbish.....very poor work.

[cobragt]

That's good, makes things a bit cheaper. I heard that the conversion was pricey.

We used to...but we lobbied to get the law changed a few years back....now if the car is 30 years old or older, it doesn't have to be converted.
I actually converted my car back to LHD as the partial RHD conversion that was done to the car when Ibought it was rubbish.....very poor work.

[opnwide]

Leigh,
I like that sway bar setup. Do you think that rear bar will work with DSEs minitub setup, leafs moved in 2"?. I'm currently running without a rear bar as the factory bar no longer fits, and I need to get one.
Heck, I might get the front too! I like the adjustability.