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- - My Firebird build (https://www.lateral-g.net/forums/showthread.php?t=13985)

Quote:

Originally Posted by waynieZ (Post 576865)

Its looking good!

Thanks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by WSSix (Post 576916)

Good job on the subframe connectors!

Thanks.

I'm looking forward to getting past this part and painting the underside and firewall.

As you said....time money and family get our attention foremost. But your coming along. Looks good. I've been working on a 36 Chevy street rod for 9 years. And still have a long way to go. Lol.

Keep after it!

David

I have been working on the firebird off and on over the past year but have not made much progress towards getting it back together. Both the 5.3L and 6.0L truck engines have broken rods. My father-in-law who has been helping me fund this project offered to buy another engine. We purchased a complete takeout engine, harness and computer from a 2009 G8 GT that had been wrecked. I had the computer flashed by Mike Norris and the harness reworked by John at Modern Vintage Systems.

Earlier this week we found out that he will not survive the cancer he has. He beat the cancer the first time but this time it is not treatable. Our relationship in the past was not all that great and I’ll leave it at that, in the past. The past few years though have been great and we have connected around this car. I hope that I can at the very least get it running so he can hear it and at best get it in a drive-able condition so that I can take him for a ride in it.

So the plan is to get it running as fast as I can and then focus on getting it in a drive-able state maybe not legal but drive-able.
I have order some parts this past week for reaching the goal of getting it running but still need to order the intake tube, headers and some misc. fittings for the fuel system. Then I’ll need to purchase a rear suspension system, hopefully the torque arm system from Speed Tech.

More updates to come.

Best of luck to you, Sean!

Sorry to hear this, I'll keep your father in law and all your family in my prayers hoping he gets to see it running.

Sorry to hear it Mate, I hope your plan works out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by WSSix (Post 618171)

Best of luck to you, Sean!

Thank you

Quote:

Originally Posted by waynieZ (Post 618193)

Sorry to hear this, I'll keep your father in law and all your family in my prayers hoping he gets to see it running.

Thanks for the prayers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg from Aus (Post 618204)

Sorry to hear it Mate, I hope your plan works out.

Thanks.

Test fit of the Holley A/C bracket and compressor.
http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/...psrmgfisix.jpg
http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/...pscoc61esm.jpg

Checking the clearance from the alternator and the Holley motor mount bracket. Just enough to get the nut on.
http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/...psn5qq45by.jpg

A few weeks ago I was able to get some work done on the trunk.
http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/...psvrb29jkn.jpg
http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/...pse8hhdnv9.jpg
http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/...psy1yk1iyw.jpg
http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/...psf06cwqt5.jpg

And this past two weeks I have been working on finishing the firewall and sanding the floorboard. I was able to get the firewall, floor and subframe painted last night. Very happy with how it turned out.
http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/...psfskp31vv.jpg
http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/...psjnkdtnek.jpg

I missed my goal by two days. My FIL passed away on January 28th and I got the motor running on Saturday the 30th. My wife and I had been caring for him 24/7 for the last five months and I had limited time to focus on the car.

I'll start with the older updates

Here I got the subframe paint (by my kids) and mounted.
http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/...psa9eac6ne.jpg

I took the top end off to swap the cam and remove the DOD.
http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/...psbxjqkv9i.jpg

The engine has 145 thousand miles on it.
http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/...psxfzh3yzj.jpg

Dual Valve springs and titanium retainers.
http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/...pspszzwtst.jpg

Modified the Passenger header to clear the Tru-Turn.
http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/...psvolqe58s.jpg

Welded on reducing collectors onto the headers.
http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/...pspdfplajp.jpg

LS7 Clutch Kit
http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6mhz3wbl.jpg

Engine and T56 mounted
http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/...pshwjvgios.jpg

Fuel Line whip from Tech AFX
http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/...pszh64c9vb.jpg

Battery Mount
http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/...ps2emxeccf.jpg

Mounted the Tanks Inc gas tank, used electrical heat shrink in the straps.
http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/...psfhtw7wnt.jpg

Trans mount and torques arm mount.
http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/...psixfxwaqk.jpg

Here is the start-up video. I have had this car for 16+ years and this is the first time it has ran since. The motor popped and had me concerned but I have since started it a few times and it seems all is well. Maybe it was learning?

http://s1272.photobucket.com/user/Ji...tml?sort=3&o=1

Here is my wife's reaction video.
http://s1272.photobucket.com/user/Ji...tml?sort=3&o=2

Well done sir! Nothing like it hearing it fire up for the first time. You'll never forget that moment. It gives you a great sense of accomplishment even though there is plenty of more work to be done.

Congrats! It's a great feeling ain't it!!!

My condolences on the passing of your FIL, Sean.

Car is coming along nicely. Congrats on getting it running. You should consider wrapping the battery cable in convoluted tubing or securing it to the floor just to make sure it doesn't chafe.

Keep up the good work!

Quote:

Originally Posted by WSSix (Post 629168)

My condolences on the passing of your FIL, Sean.

Thank you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by WSSix (Post 629168)

You should consider wrapping the battery cable in convoluted tubing or securing it to the floor just to make sure it doesn't chafe.

I thought about using adel clamps but I also like the idea of the convoluted tube.

Good job. I can't tell with my speakers but was the exhaust popping after you revved the motor?

Quote:

Originally Posted by WSSix (Post 631583)

Good job. I can't tell with my speakers but was the exhaust popping after you revved the motor?

Yes it does.

This past Saturday (2016/04/02) I was able to move the car on it's own power. This hasn't happened in over 16 years. The next goal is to get it road legal in the next four week.

http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/...psalehdmg1.mp4

Great Work! I will be watching this build!

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDODDS187 (Post 634375)

Great Work! I will be watching this build!

Thanks.

Great job! I just went back and saw the first startup videos. Oh what a feeling!! your making nice progress and moving under its own power, SWEET!!

A couple pics from when I pulled it out of the garage for the first time.
http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/...psgv8oan5v.jpg
http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/...pss5v0lfdt.jpg

And my two girls wanted to go for a ride.
http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/...psdvasf3lp.jpg

That is no moon.... It's a Death Star shift knob.
http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/...pstluzpgne.jpg

Good job getting it running! that's motivating

Nice build.

Where did you.source the plastic fuel line retainers, those look like a good way to go

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZMAN1969 (Post 634615)

Good job getting it running! that's motivating

Thanks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Efi69Cam (Post 634618)

Nice build.

Where did you.source the plastic fuel line retainers, those look like a good way to go

I believe I bought them from kennyd a long time ago but I think that bentfab sells them now. PRRC might sell them also.

https://lateral-g.net/forums/showthread.php4?t=10310

Had the car Dyno tuned by Mike Norris yesterday. Could not be happier with how it turned out.

http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/...psjfxup98f.mp4

http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/...psvubszvz0.jpg

Yeah I'd be happy with that, too! Car's coming along nice!!

Nice numbers. I love the hot wheels and shift knob.

Love it! The shift knob is fantastic, too! Have fun driving it.

I wanted to praise Ridetech, thank them publicly for outstanding customer service and in my eyes going above and beyond expectations!
This week I discovered I had a HQ Coilover fail on the rear of my car. The upper mount came off the shock shaft, luckily it all stayed in the car. I called Ridetech and spoke with John Johnson and made arrangements to send them the damaged shock. I was told they would either repair or replace the shock. Shipped it out and they received it on Wednesday morning, that same day they sent me a new shock. I couldn’t believe they handled it that quickly and on top of that at no cost. Keep in mind I bought my shocks back in 2011 but only got my car legal last May. My expectations were blown away as I was expecting to pay something to get it repaired/replaced.
Thank you Ridetech and Bret Voelkel for going above and beyond!

I was able to get my car back together last night, the ride is so much better now and I was able to do a little testing. 0-60MPH!
http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/...psqasjzqaa.jpg