1973 Firebird Project

[70Uglybird]

Geno,

That is a nice clean setup you have there!!! Whats even more awesome is that we both have wires hanging down and no HVAC controls ;)

[72blackbird]

Geno,

That is a nice clean setup you have there!!! Whats even more awesome is that we both have wires hanging down and no HVAC controls ;)

Bobby,
I like yours too- I wish I had gone the GPS route, but already had half of the Autometer gauges so I was pretty much committed to them. A/C will be the last thing I do to my Bird, but living in SoCal it's a must.

The 406 Pontiac in my Bird now runs well- so good I'm in no huge rush to get my 455 in the car. I finished the shortblock over a year ago and decided I would go all in with the heads and cam instead of just running iron heads and an HFT cam. The 325 cfm SD Performance e-heads and their Road Paver solid roller cam will make around 600 hp, so do you think it's worth going for the newer TR-6060 trans vs. an earlier T-56?

Geno

[70Uglybird]

I'd go with an earlier t56 from a gto or ctsv. The guy who owns t56rebuilds is a really good friend of mine if you get a core he will make it perfect for your car. The newer ones have a bigger case.

Spend the morning installing this, need to get the low pressure return line hooked up and then I'm looking forward to finally having good brakes after three years!!!!!!!!

[BurtRenolds]

How did you wire the alpine stereo in your car?

[70Uglybird]

Wow can't believe I haven't posted an update since 2014! Where has time gone! The car ran but the fuel lines oozed fumes and anytime it got over 78 degrees outside it would over heat when I got stuck at a stop light. So I may have put a few hundred miles. Decided to just go all in on the Pontiac thing and added:

SD Performance KRE heads
SD Performance Stumpuller custom ground for EFI
Holley Terminator with Distributor to electronically control timing
Got ahold of the Tribal tubes guy and had some headers made (he is in state)
Restomod tank with 5th gen module and vapor works
All new fuel line and 6AN flex line.
Black CVF serpentine kit
Vintage Air
Harland Sharpe Lightweight Rockers

Here is the motor now!



Tank

[70Uglybird]

So before putting tank in I had to deal with this some how



Have rust here and after that its just in the "dog house" Up front drivers side. Was in the middle of looking at temp solutions and did the Covid thing and bought a house with 2 acres but had no shop. So while I was building a 48x 36 shop I had to get storage for some cars. Why not get some work done so send it off to Graceful Kustoms in Eugene.

Out with the old:




New trunk with a door, I'm guessing that the door will not be popular Wasn't an easy decision but with all the stuff going on with the pump etc I had it cut.



So did new powder coated subframe for car with Speedtech streetfigher setup, DSE steering box and Wilwood brakes. I had to go 4 piston for now because I can't get the 6 piston setup.

[70Uglybird]

At this point the Project is way delayed as the shop ended up moving to a bigger setup. But that did give me time to finish my shop. Really a dream come true can't wait to get it all dialed in so I can actually use it!!



Picked up some Recaros which I'm pretty excited about!



Car was on the ground to be picked up!



Made it home and got it on the lift!

DSE mini tub
Speedtech Torque arm
Moser 9inch with 3.50's (466 Pontiac with GTO T56)
Wilwood brakes the 4 piston 13 inch rotors

[70Uglybird]

Attachment 191443

Front end

Attachment 191444Attachment 191445Attachment 191446Attachment 191447

Need to finally get ahold of Zak at Boze and order my wheels. 95% settled on these:

Attachment 191448

[thumper877]

What a awesome garage. I'm jealous.

[70Uglybird]

What a awesome garage. I'm jealous.

Thank you! It was quite the ordeal to get it built during all this craziness, time wise and went way over budget. But really a dream come true, what's crazy is that I feel like I'm already running out of room! But the El Camino is my dad's I'm finishing up a LS3\t56 Magnum install and when that is complete it will free up quite a bit of room! That is a BIG car!

[ryeguy2006a]

What a fleet man!! That shop is amazing man. I forget that you have a bad Firebird too.

[NOT A TA]

Looks like things are going well!!! I like the trap door in the trunk!

[70Uglybird]

Looks like things are going well!!! I like the trap door in the trunk!

Funny not sure if you remember you gave me advice NOT to go crazy. Tried to listen but ran into some snags and one thing led to another. I'll be installing a set of your Engine mounts with the 466 this weekend!

[4mul8ion]

Very nice!!! I'd be interested to hear what you think about the speedtech torque arm. Been thinking about it.

[7T400Formula]

I'm really enjoying this build and it's providing inspiration while I map out the build on my '70. I'm planning to go EFi 400 stroker and TKX and now I've seen yours, the trapdoor in the trunk floor has been added to my list of must dos! Hoping I can get back to the US soon (I'm in England) so I can at least pack a few parts in my suitcase and save some shipping costs!

[NOT A TA]

Funny not sure if you remember you gave me advice NOT to go crazy. Tried to listen but ran into some snags and one thing led to another. I'll be installing a set of your Engine mounts with the 466 this weekend!

See what happens? AHAHAHA

Get the engine installed?

[70Uglybird]

Nope I got side tracked with vintage air install! Always something!

- - - Updated - - -

Very nice!!! I'd be interested to hear what yo5u think about the speedtech torque arm. Been thinking about it.

You should come over and check it out!

[70Uglybird]

Hope these are wide enough!

[4mul8ion]

Looking good.