Here ya go buddy...
http://forums.performanceyears.com/f...d.php?t=519457
Read the discussion, they now have RR water pumps for Poncho motors!!:hail:

Well, its been a long time since I was over here, basically this project got put aside and has languished in the garage since my last post. I am finally going to get started going on it again, but some of the priorities have changed.

First and foremost, I am going to get the car back together, I am so sick and disgusted of seeing parts laying all over the place and in boxes, etc. So it is going to go back together, ASAP. Then I will do my planned upgraded a bit at a time. Being just a regular guy, I cant afford to do them all at once, but if I dont get the car going, I probably wont ever do them because my motivation is just not there. I am going to finish the body work now too, since its already pretty close and most of the custom stuff I wanted to do is already done.

I never finished posting pics from before, so I am going to catch it up over the next few days and then hopefully have some new stuff to show.

Anyways, this post was just sort of my way of saying "I'm back" :)

Progress has been slow, but it is being made. I finally got some wheels and had the rears widened so I am running 18x9.5's on the front and 18x12's on the back.

Here is a picture of the wheels after I widened the rears.

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u...A/DSC00363.jpg

For the street I will be using these wheels and BFG 335/30 rubber. Here is a mounted picture:

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u...A/DSC00371.jpg

And another:

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u...A/DSC00367.jpg

Obviously the suspension is jacked up right now, thats not going to be ride height.

And from the rear:

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u...A/DSC00370.jpg

And after looking back through my build thread I realized I neglected to post up some pictures of my brakes too, so here they are. I went will the Wilwood setup (Thanks to Frank at Prodigy for getting me these, I think I was one of the first sets he sold of these and just now am getting in on the car.)

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u...A/DSC00206.jpg

And another:

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u...A/DSC00207.jpg

Glad to see ya didn't give up on the build! I saw this thread a few months ago while using the search function and wondered if the project got abandoned.

No, not abandoned, I would never do that, I will just keep going on it as time and funds allow. Which obviously hasn't been great, but its still going.

Ok, well despite the lack of responds here, I will continue to post my progress, as at least I am excited about it. Sheesh, next time I guess I should do a 69 camaro.

Anyways, we finally have some color on it!! Painted the firewall and jambs:

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u...A/DSC00372.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u...A/DSC00373.jpg

Anyways, I am excited, and its nice to see it coming back together again as its been over 4 yrs since I took it apart.

Looking really Nice.

I am looking forward to seeing this car on the ground

and I love the wheel & Tire combo

Lookin' good!
Now that you have some paint on it, anytime you lose motivation you can just go look at it and realize that "it's almost there."
Keep up the pix!

Nice! I love red Firebirds!! :_paranoid

Ha! I know how you feel. Everyone on here drools over the Camaros even though each build is just like the one before it. So much has been done with a 67-69 Camaro that they all look the same to me. I've been following your build since day one. Keep up the good work!

I love the red. Please tell me you're gonna put the screaming chicken on the hood:cool:

Hey man, where did you get your skills? When I try anything close to what you've done it looks like s##t.

i just found your thread. i dig the build man, keep updating. i'm a die hard firebird guy.

Hey Boss,

I am Magnacharging an LS1 in my '78 TA and have my eyes glued to your thread!!! Keep on posting! I will start my build thread this week too. I fired the motor a few weeks back...gettign the rear today.

I am very eager to see what the read looks like cause that was the original color choice for mine. I am now doing something a little different and using a Mazda color - Copper Red Mica. I tlooks RIDICULOUS!!!

Keep it coming brother, outstanding work!

Dave

Awesome work, very very clean, don't know how I've missed this build. We considered using the CE frame rails like that, but decided against it after seeing how much work it was going to take. Love how you finished out the divider and tubs in the back, looks amazing.

Can't wait to see it all together, I'll definitely keep an eye on this thread.

Well, not much has been happening on this the last few months, but finally, progress has been make.

Here is my new trans crossmember for the T56. The old one was just the factory one with the ends cut off and reworked a bit.

I am not 100% sure on the design, so I am open for comments, but I do think it will work. I will clean it up and change the bolts for final install. It leave me plenty of clearance for my 3.5 oval tube exhaust to run over it, rather than try and have some fancy bends in the crossmember to allow it to go under. So the benefit is actually better clearance and a straighter shot from the headers.

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u...A/DSC00779.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u...A/DSC00780.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u...A/DSC00778.jpg

Thoughts?

No one has any thoughts?

The car is looking good.

One of the things that I would consider changing is the bolts. They hang down to low. Maybe weld a threaded sleeve into the subframe so all you have hanging down is the nut. You will gain considerable clearence which is going to be very important since I think you have this car pretty low to the ground.

I would just hate to see you snag a bolt on the ground and twist something.

As far as astetics go I personally like a tubular crossmember but that would require a tubing bender and plent more labor.

I almost forgot - maybe give Rodger a shout from Ironworks about the fuel cell.

Does the transmission need to be at the level, or can it go up some? If you can move it up some, it will put your headers closer to the floor for more ground clearance. And I wouldn't want the crossmember hanging lower then the sub frame.

No, trans is in the correct spot, correct angle, as is engine, but really, I think clearance will be ok, hard to tell from picture.

Hey There!

Looking good! I think you are doing some fabulous work on the car. My only comment on this would be the trans crossmember. I'm just not feeling the boxed ladder set-up. I, like Syborg, think that the round tubing would look cleaner, but if you don't want to go that route, I just feel like that crossmemer should be inside/on top of the frame. If for whatever reason, a piece of road debris, bottoming out, etc... shears those bolts off, your tranny is going bye-bye. At least the other way, it is still there and you could possibly limp the car home.

LOVE THE COLOR!!! I too am getting tired of the all the Black SE TAs out there. Don't get me wrong I would love to have one, but I have a little different recipe in mind for my Trans Am.

Good luck to you and can't wait to see it done!

Dave

IMO, it's way too low as thats a very vulnerable spot when entering driveways, going over speed bumps, loading/unloading a trailer, getting it on a 4 post lift, etc.

Just found this thread and read all 7 pages. The car is looking great. Keep up the good work.

I agree with Marty about doing something with the bolts on the trans cross member. You could maybe put two pieces of angle iron on each end and use that as the mounting pad for holding the cross member to the frame.

Thanks guys, I appreciate the comments on the crossmember. I guess I probably knew that after seeing it done, but wasnt quite ready to make the call on it. I guess I will go try again.

First of all - killer build!! Like the work you are doing. Mini-tubs etc look great! In regards to the tranny X-member - I would opt for something different. Everything else on the car looks really nice and thought out. The tranny cross member doesn't keep up with the rest of the car - estically IMO. Not to mention hanging so low. Think of how many times you have looked at a killer car then look underneath and see the exhaust of something that just looks way out of place and walk away saying killer car...but.... I would look at Morrison or Chassiworks for their universal crossmembers. They make some nice weld ins as well as bolts ins. Once again. Killer build & look forward to watching it come togther. :thumbsup:

looking good:cheers:

BRP Hotrods has a nice crossmember that may work for you as well.

Thanks guys, I will be redoing the crossmember. I just am leaving it alone for the moment and trying to get some other stuff done right now. I would love to find one to just buy and stick in, but no one has one that I can buy.

Here are some recent pics:

Got the hydraulic clutch master installed. I am not happy with the plastic resovour though, so before I mount it I am going to replace it with with a billet one from Ring Bros.

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u...A/DSC00814.jpg

Also started with the wiring - because of the aftermarket AC system and my desire to keep the firewall clear, under dash space is at a premium. So I am going to put my fuse panel in the trunk:

Some where over here - have not decided how to mount it yet:

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u...A/DSC00812.jpg

The battery is going in about the same spot on the passenger side. Hole is for the fuel tank.

Ok, got some new pictures of the clutch and brake pedals up. Obviously they will be coming back out to get refinished, but I wanted to mock everything up and get it placed right, etc.

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u...A/DSC00820.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u...A/DSC00821.jpg

And the rear wiring is done! Well sort of... ok, fine, the wires that go through from the rear passenger compartment to the trunk area is done. And the tail light harness is done too.

Here is where the wires come through into the trunk area:

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u...A/DSC00827.jpg

Rear window defrost will work again!

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u...A/DSC00824.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u...A/DSC00818.jpg

Looking forward...

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u...A/DSC00819.jpg

Beautiful t/a! I love trans ams, matter of fact I own a 78 and 93 myself. Going to be a killer car. Wish I could build mine like yours but I just got too much going on with other projects and customer projects. But keep up the good work.

Ryan

Another bump for this build. Any progress in 2 years?