Project Green Machine......GO GO GO

[AtomicFirebird]

Hey guy's,
Found some time this morning to take off the engine wire harness, inner and outter fenders, I think I bit off more than I can chew. There is way more rust and bondo than I thought. I did not want to buy new fenders because I have heard nothing but bad thing about reproduction parts. I have to remind myself, I will not give up, I will push on. Next step engine removal. Now I have to get a Engine Hoist and engine stand.

[BirdsThaWord]

Tim, shoot those e-mails my way and copy away. You know if you need anything and if I can help, I will. You live in Orlando right? I go up with the family every once in a while, Disney of course. If I am getting ready to go up there next time, I will give you a heads up. Hopefully, when can meet and go by Prodigy Customs Shop.

Oh yeah! I've been wanting to go to Prodigy. Probably only 20-30 mins from my house. Yes, please let me know when you're coming up here again. There's another shop on the way to theirs that I have stopped by. They also have some super slick & clean builds.

Sorry to hear about the rust & bondo. I'll rip into just about anything and can end up making it look at least decent, but I'm scared of trying the fit & finish stuff with bodywork & paint. I just don't trust my patience (or should I say lack of patience) with it.

I agree about the wiring. My brother had one burn to the ground over wiring and I've had a close call. Mine certainly needs rewiring too. Maybe some day!!!

[AtomicFirebird]

Hey everyone, I had some time to myself this morning, so I went into the garage and started taking more parts of the Firebird. The A/C unit and the power steering unit came out very easily. Damn, some of those parts are very heavy. Found lots of more rust in places I did not think of and less in places I thought there would be. Just in case any of you were wondering, I am taking the car apart in pieces, the front the rear and then the middle. At least that's my plan, I don't want to over do it and then not finish or give up. Here are some update pics. What you see 1st is the where the wiper motor goes and where the throttle cable coming out of the firewall. I think I'm going to change the name to Rust Machine.

[68firebird]

Its an old car, its bound to have rust, its the rot that sucks. Keep at it!!!! I'm at a standstill for a lil bit with mine, money holding me up. Friggan vacations getting in the way, LOL.

[AtomicFirebird]

Thanks for the pep talk. Seeing rust and rot on the car, only slows my mission. But I will keep at it. That's for checking in on The build. "Friggan vacation getting in the way", now that's funny!

[BirdsThaWord]

Uh oh! I see a super slick firewall in your future!!! At least you are attacking it and making it happen. God will never give us more rust than we can actually handle!!!

[AtomicFirebird]

Hey Tim, how have you been. How is the look for a new motor going?

[AtomicFirebird]

Engine is getting a cleaning and some new parts soon

[AtomicFirebird]

Next week the kids are back in school and I am back in the garage. The Bird will get lots of attention after Wednesday.

[AtomicFirebird]

I hear of tales of life getting in the way. I was one of those tales. Anyway, I'm back in black and ready to go. It was some time this month when I decided to take the car down to nothing. I'm not sure it was a good idea, but what's done is done. Made a cool rolling stand for my car. If I can find a place down here that does good media blasting, I can move forward with sheet metal replacement.

[AtomicFirebird]

I found time to clean and paint the 400 motor. It ran really strong before I took it out, so for now the motor will remain untouched.

[BirdsThaWord]

Hey Corlas! Sorry, but the other day I found out that I had my old email and was not receiving notices of new postings, so I'm just now seeing your last few posts. I'm lovin your motor! I certainly would not be ashamed of it. Came out fantastic if you ask me.
I got the itch (the "while I'm at it's") when I started pulling the motor, so my car doesn't look far off from yours now. Front is completely off down to the sub frame. It was actually fun tearing it down. This weekend the wifey is lettin me get some stuff from harbor freight, so I can get more done (hoist, compressor, air grinder, etc.). I'm going to go in a whole different direction than I thought before. Old plan was to just keep it as it was basically and just keep it on the road. Now I'm thinking full pro touring (have I gone nuts?). So...engine will be a while.
Looks like you got nice brakes and stuff for your rear too?
You and I were talking about going to Prodigy. I went by there and man did they have some nice cars there!!! Now they've moved and their shop is up in Sanford, maybe 30 or so mins from where I live. Supposedly it's a much bigger and nicer shop.

[AtomicFirebird]

How's it going, I think you should do it, go full pro touring. I am going semi-pro touring if there is such a thing. I have everything, AAW, Speed tech upper and lower control arms. Brakes with new lines, gas tank, interior, wheels, trans, motor and rear end. I just need to get new metal on the car, paint and body work. I have most of July and August off. I am really going to bust tall and try to make the Hot Rod Power Tour. If I do make it, cross my fingers, I will only go to Tennessee.

It's good to hear from you, I have not made it to Orlando in a while. However, on the 28th and 29th, I will be with the family and they want to see Disney not cars. I need to train them better. I wanted to go and check out Prodigy with you, but the wife could not see me going up there to check out cars. I will have to make a deal with her. She likes Disney, it ok for me, I do it for the kids. Maybe i can make it one day that weekend.

[AtomicFirebird]

Never mind Power Tour for this year, it starts June 4th in Coco Beach. I will never make that. Man I have to pay closer attention. The next time it starts in Florida I am in!!! Turkey Run here I come!!

[BirdsThaWord]

Sounds like you have the expensive stuff already. Amazing how cheap the sheet metal can be bought for these days! I completely understand about the family and Disney. I couldn't ever see facing your wife (if we met) after tearing you away from quality family time "just to look at those old cars" (LOL!). Maybe it'll happen one day though. Maybe when we both get our cars back out into the daylight! That would be cool! How often do you see a '68 'Bird driving around, let alone two?

[AtomicFirebird]

That would be cool. That is something we will have to make happen. I have to add another thing to the bucket list.

[AtomicFirebird]

It's a small update. I had the car media blasted. They company picked up the car and dropped it off after blasting. Pics of before and after.

[AtomicFirebird]

After blasting found rust in the typical spots

[AtomicFirebird]

Old hood under construction,

[66larkgs]

i love that scoop!!! that is going to look Mean.. Did you hand fab that or buy that from a company?