1971 Firebird455 - Project

[LeighP]

Someone in another thread suggested I post up about my project car.....so here goes -
Picked up one of my all time favourite cars, a small back window early 2nd generation Firebird (1971). My plans for the car are a pro-touring influenced resto-mod - working to a budget here, so I'm afraid you won't see a lot of the real bling stuff that is available for these cars.
Since I was able to pick up a Formula hood (one of the best looking hood designs of all time) I'm going to externally style the car as a 71 Formula 455. Interior will be clean and simple, black leather, Corvette seats, Trans Am dash with aftermarket guages.
Suspension will be more a refinement of the original system than a whole new approach, with lots of parts from Pro-Touring F-body.com. Additional body/frame bracing, solid body mounts, Koni shocks, 17 inch wheels etc. Brakes are the 1LE late 3rd gen disc conversion for the front with drilled and slotted 12" rotors and a larger diamter GM finned drum set for the rears (yeah, I know...drums...rear discs aren't on my budget list at this stage).

Car is very clean and straight....although I have to undo some work previously started on a RHD conversion (the steering mods are really "something" to see...lol) ....the car will be LHD. I'm in Australia, which explains the right hand drive conversion mess....lol.


Going to use the Formula hood on the Firebird and hook up the Ram Air.....very cool stuff.