Thank you, Wayne. Yeah, if the back was flared out any more, the taillights would have had to come out some. I think I'm at the limit of pulling off what I did :)

Now that I am looking at it closer, the way the taillights are, almost looks 67 GTO-esque

That's Ok, it's still a Pontiac :)

I made some progress this weekend on the inner fender. It's pretty much wrapped up, and the next project will be the trunk extension. Everything was going great until around 3 something this afternoon when a neighbor called the cops on me to complain about the noise. Apparently, there's a "no power tools" ordinance in my town- which is geared towards construction. The officer was very friendly and seemed to like my project, explained to me that a project like mine is a grey area as it's not really construction, so the complaining neighbor, who wished to remain anonymous, would have to press charges and take me to court. bleech....

I also ran out of welding gas, but, at least I was able to get through the day. Coincidentally, I'll be busy the next month so they'll get their quiet, just not for the reasons they think... Pics attached.

Wow getting a lot accomplished there. :thumbsup:

Did you jump on the survivor?

No. Not yet at least. I have been unsuccessful in convincing my wife why I need two identical cars. The good news is the car is not actually listed for sale. (It belongs to a coworker of mine who's had it for some time.) So there is no pressure of "missing out"...

Wow, it's been a month since I've posted. Where does the time go?? Oh yeah, 2 weeks overseas for work and a vacation tacked on afterwards.

Anyways, last I left off working on the trunk extension for the passenger side along with a recessed battery tray (idea courtesy of Wayne, thanks!). On the day I left for China, I started building a basic box slightly larger than the dimensions Optima has on their website. Only I didn't leave myself enough material so I had to add a bit more. (Math never was my strong suit)

I was able to get back in the garage yesterday and add the bottom to my battery tray, as well as recycle the last of my original tail panel- I saved the pieces in between the tail lights. I used these as supports for the bottom of my battery tray box. I also made a frame rail brace, and boxed in the frame in that area. I also worked on trimming the trunk extension panel to make room for the battery box.

Of course, my Eastwood welder pooped out on me (will deal with that this week), but I still have my Miller so I continued working with that for the day. Hopefully I can get more time in next weekend.

Just a quick update, I got a little work in today (This weekend was busy attending the Hot Wheels double dare loop at the X-games. BTW pretty cool if you haven't see it: https://www.youtube.com/user/HOTWHEEL...?v=c6PQ49B5Gpw ) by attaching the battery box and getting the truck panel welded in. I still have a bit more welding and one patch panel to add on the back side, then I can clean it up and move onto the next project...

Its looking good, a lot of nice progress sense I last checked in.

Thank you. Yeah, I was given this cool idea to recess the battery into the trunk.... :)

Yeah i agree the bird is looking good...

definitely dig the bat recess!!

Thanks!!

I had some time over the holiday weekend to work on the car, but didn't have a chance to post pics until now. I did some rudimentary work- installing the bumper braces (which didn't align anymore, so I had to cut and rebuild them) I trimmed the center panel in the trunk down to fit, as well as trimmed the brake light brackets to fit (they work now). I started to build my recessed fuel neck area. My goal is to modify this so I can use a modern fuel pump to refuel. I don't like how the fuel pumps (here in CA, anyhow) all have those "vapor recovery" devices on there and make refueling old cars a nuisance. I will build more of then when I install the tank and figure out the filler neck. I also trimmed the driver side front wheel opening, and am currently working on the inner fender. I also need to follow through on the fender extension, and then trim the passenger side.

Today I was able to finish up the driver front wheel opening revision. This included finishing up the inner fenders to align with the enlarged wheel opening, and then completely rebuild the fender extension to match. The set from my car were pretty rusty (much like the rest of the car was). Fortunately, I have an extra passenger side extra, but just one driver side so I removed the rot and replaced the metal.

Hopefully next weekend I can get started on the front pass side. Enjoy!

I wish I had at least half the fabbing skills you do. :hail:

Thank you, Captain, you're too kind.

I got a few hours in this weekend, I was able to get most of the passenger side done. This went much faster (maybe because I didn't have to sandblast off some rubberize undercoating and rust) but I still need to drill holes and align the panel to fit. Next weekend, I hope.

I got another day in this weekend- I worked on improving the fit of the fender/ fender extension and lower valence panel. There are a few "before" pics where you can see poor panel alignment. I used a combination of tweaking the shapes and adding some weld on the edges to reduce the nasty gaps. It's not perfect, but, it is better than before...

It definitely looks a lot better. :thumbsup:

Thank you, Wayne!

This weekend I worked on more panel alignment/ fitting. I lost count of how many times I put the fenders on, took the fenders off, made an adjustment here and there, then put the fenders on, then took them off....

I also did numerous trimming on the inner fenders, but not enough as I need to make more. I also trimmed off one of the brackets on the underside of the fender- this allowed me to move it back farther for a nicer fit. I still have to take them off again and trim on the fender to prevent the door from scraping it. I have the gaps pretty tight, I'm hoping I'll be able to keep this, as it looks much better than I remember it being before.

I also took the time to fill in some holes on the core support (it was like it was perforated) and I widened the area for the radiator opening.

The goal now is to get the sheet metal on and aligned, as I have a few more customizing ideas I want to do, but I'll need the panels on for measuring, etc.

you think you can build me a roll cage:unibrow:

I'd be happy to help however I can. Just know that the equipment I bought isn't up to building the cage I have. I had to have help with it. If you want a thinner gauge/ smaller diameter, my Eastwood bender might have a chance.

Speaking of needing help, I have been working on my car, but I have nothing good to show for it (hence no pics). I've spent 2-3 weeks now trying to align sheet metal and am not even close. Doors are OK, driver fender is ok, but I can't align the passenger fender to save my life. Right now I have 5 shims on top, 5 on the bottom and the middle of the fender still sticks out. I've Anyone have any pointers on doing this?

Well, I'm still alive. Between heading out of the country for work, and distracting myself one weekend by drilling out holes on the underside of my hood (and spraying some rust sealer), I finally got the hood and fenders decently aligned. I also worked on modifying the cowl panel to fit better- there were some excessive gaps on the sides. The middle is still a bit high, I'll have to lower that, and then onto more assembly to ultimately trim and fit the front bumper...

nice build:thumbsup:
the holes under the hood, is that to make it lighter?

Looking good Brendon. Keep going Bro :thumbsup:

Wow drilling those holes out must have been time consuming. It looks pretty good with the front end all together. Keep at it its looking good.

Thank you, everyone! Yes, the holes were an attempt to shed a few pounds, but that's all it really would be, at most. It's also an aesthetic thing I thought would be fun to do since the underside of the hood will be seen. And yes, it took most of my weekend, as well as a few drill bits and a hole saw.

Looking good!! I love the progress on your build :thumbsup:

I little progress is good progress, and definately better than no progress. Keep it up.

:cheers:

Thanks, guys!

This weekend I made a little more progress- I was able to finish up trimming my cowl panel by lowering the middle section. It sits pretty well now, and I also installed my bottom most panel (not exactly sure of the name) I didn't like how the factory had it attach on the outside of the lower valence, so I re-engineered it to install on the inside. I also filled in the original bolt holes & redrilled them to fit, as well as widened the panel to fill in the triangular shaped gaps that were there. Then I added a flange to fit along the inner edge and finally welded some nuts on the panel for ease of installation.

I also had a little time this afternoon so I started to install more of the front end. I also got out my "stash" of front bumpers and decided that I'd try combining the two damaged ones I have to make the one I want, as opposed to cutting up a good usable one. I can always use one of them if I fail in my attempt to combine the two. 2 of them are original 400 bumpers, the other two aren't, but they are original non 400 bumpers. The one has been rechromed and has been drilled out to hold a 400 bumper. The shame is without removing the arrowhead emblem one would never know. Original 400 bumpers have two stamped holes in them for the arrowhead emblem.

I started to assemble the bumper and parts- and will need to modify the holes to make them fit further back so I can get a flush fit.

A little more progress on my bird this weekend. I chopped off the damaged area of the bumper and welded on the new section, as well as shortened my bumper brackets. I found that I couldn't move the bumper back far enough to where I want it to be, so I shortened it.

Next weekend I'll be at the Hot Wheels collectors convention- let me know if you're going.

-Brendon

Yep, still alive. Between attending/ working at the Hot wheels convention, wife's birthday and installing a stove, and general car maintenance (fuel pump replacement, oil changes, etc time sure flies)

I got a little work done today- I spent most of it trimming and adjusting trying to get the bumper to fit. I had to bend it a little, and trim it some, as well as move my hood back a little. I also need to add some material to the front passenger area, and next I will need to slice it and tweak the shape to get it more like the driver side.

Shortening the bumper brackets did help get the bumper closer.

So that's it. Just a little update. Hopefully more next weekend.

Brendon, I love the magic you are doing with metal on the bird!! I spent a HUGE amount of time reshaping and adjusting gap, etc, so goal wa smuch better than factory, and tight gaps. I had to weld seams, move things around, then grind, then redo a bunch of things, but in the end pays of, so am sure you will be pumped when primer time comes around.

Post up pics of the finished bumper when you get a chance, I am considering chopping mine further for the other project (rear bottom section is semi beat in some areas, and makinfg it skinnier to integrate better on the custom valance (am planning to integrate a 69 maro valance).

Here is the 67 400 coupe pic form a couple weeks ago (still ways to go)

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...53056926_n.jpg

and since you are into 90210 body changes, here is what I did on the 68 vert (Lolla), shaved rear gills, and incorporated 69 front fender scoop insert sections:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ert/lola17.jpg

not the best shot but close to how she sits now:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...vert/lolla.jpg

Thanks, G! Yeah, I like how you made your car different with the '69 parts. It definitely stands out.

The front bumper is still a work in progress. I also had to shorten the lower bumper brackets to get the bumper to sit closer to the body. I spent most of the weekend aligning the body to the ends of the bumper. I also added flanges on the inner edge to help eliminate visible gaps and light shining through. I also had to push some of the fenders out along the bottom edge to sit closer to the bumper. I have some "before" and "after" pics. you cna see the improvements. From that I now need to reposition the header panel as it's causing interference with the hood shutting fully. It got pulled inward as I attempted to get the bumper to sit where I wanted it. After that I need to add some material along the edges of the hood itself and the bumper to get those gaps right. They just don't align to my satisfaction.

Tomorrow I'm off to SEMA, yay!!

Breandon, excellengt and thankd for the shots! I think even factory never had it as close as yours :)

Gui

Great work on the front end!! :thumbsup:

Looking good!

Thanks, guys! I'm not done yet. It's still a work in progress until I get it right.

I am not sure how to upload a picture on this site but have you seen the 68 68 conv firebird on carsbykris website? Car is cream and green really nice car.

I went to the site- lots of cool renderings for sure

I had some time on Sat to work on the front bumper fitment more. Not done yet, it still needs tweaking. Attached are images of the flanges I'm making to help the front bumper stay put and not let light through as I'm not using those rubber gaskets anymore.

got one more day in this weekend- am getting closer to getting this to fit right. I have the bumper sitting nice against the fenders, and the top view gap with the hood aligned with the bumper, but now the hood itself appears warped as there are high spots when looking at it from the front. So I have a few options. 1- leave it (yeah, right) 2- add metal to adjust the leading edge to make it appear less warped. 3- slice the under structure and bend the hood out/ re weld the underside back. I think I'll go with #2, then #3 if needed.

Nice looking Firebird...