Thank you, Blazer!

I spent some time this weekend tweaking the front bumper even more. I think I'm finally set with the front bumper. I had to add material back to my lower bumper brackets as they seemed to be torquing it funny. It kept pulling the bumper to the left which made it go off center. Of course, getting the bumper finally set meant adjusting the hood again, and then that made the cowl panel not fit anymore, so I was back to square one with that. I had to hammer down my inner cowl panel to make the outer cowl panel sit level. Also, one corner is pinching so I had to trim it back. I'll weld it later.

I also started making my rear brake vents. So far I only formed some metal, but I will need to get the actual ducting I plan to use before I go further with it.

Its looking good.

Thank you, Wayne!!

Looking pretty awesome! I've been messing with my bumper as well. Getting closer, but I still have a few issues. Mostly the gap between the "beak" and the center of the bumper.

Thank you. Yep, I had that issue, too. To fix it I added material along the top of the bumper so I could reshape it to better match the contour of the hood.

Thanks for the tip!! I was thinking I should try adding to the hood, but I think I'll give the bumper a shot since it worked for you :hail:

Cool. I actually modified both parts on my car, but, at least with the bumper it's pretty easy to weld, grind, and file. the hood is more sensitive with the thin sheet metal and if you add material- it has to look good form both the top and bottom side since the front edge of the hood is lifted and seen...

I started to make my rear brake vents by welding in the scoops I made the other weekend. I used some metal rode to add thickness and strength to the quarter panel as I didn't want to leave it as a single piece of metal.

I hope to get the other side in next weekend.

The body mods are coming together nicely. :thumbsup:

Looks good> Your move along now.

I agree - I can't wait to see this car in Primer :thumbsup:

WOW

those scoops look pretty good

Thanks, everyone! quick update- I got the other side installed this weekend, as well as worked on fixing my passenger fender lower area. There's a lot of issues here, and I'd replace the fender altogether if I hadn't already modified the wheel opening area so much.

Nice progress. Its coming along nice.

Thanks, Wayne!!

Today I had a little time so I chopped my rear bumper into thirds. It may be a bit more work up front, but this way I can get the main section to sit closer to the car (I shortened the brackets) and still retain the original width for the license plate area, as well as align it with the bumper holes and I can adjust the ends without having to support the entire bumper. It turns out I need to widen my bumper. I attempted to form some metal to the shape of the bumper and later realized that was a waste of time. I'll need to source another bumper (or part of one) for the proper shape material to move the ends out wider to fit my fat car.

Looking good!:thumbsup:

Thanks, Trey!

I'm still waiting for an additional rear bumper to show up so I can chop it up and widen mine, so I decided to start working on my fuel filler neck. My issue is twofold. 1- I want my car to work with modern fuel pumps. All the pump nozzles here in so cal have those big springy vapor recovery tubes over the nozzle- which just don't properly fit 1967 Firebirds. One has to hold them back- guaranteeing fuel spillage and making refueling a PITA. So I'll take the opportunity to install a modern style filler neck (which is .25" larger diameter) and widen the area around the neck to allow the pump nozzles to fit. I also want to add the anti slosh/ anti siphon parts that modern cars have. 2- Since I recessed my tail panel the stock set up won't fit anymore, so I have to do something with it anyway...

Yesterday I raided my local wrecking yard and came home with three different filler necks for possible use. In my pic- the original Firebird is on the left, then is one from a Chevy Astro van, then a Jeep Grand Cherokee, then a Dodge full size van. I'm going with the Astro neck as it seems to fit well.

The dodge filler neck also had a checkball valve in it which is exactly what I wanted, so that is now going into my new filler neck.

I started to build the area around the neck, but got rained out so I'll have to continue another time.

Its looking good, a lot of forthought it sounds like a good fix for the problem.

After being in HK/ China for 2+ weeks for work, I finally had a chance to get back on my car today. Small progress on the fuel neck. Still working on it, and now I need to fit in the door and hinge mount.

Brendon, very cool idea, and same though here I HATE filling up the tank of the bird: 1) It happens too often - gas guzzler JK, kidding 2) the filling up process requires some Yoga maneuvers so I can fill, view, and not spill! And it rhymed. I was debating previoulsy doind a Camaro style filler on the back, and change the angle but like your idea.

One other thing I was thinking is building an extension that you can basically attach to your stock filler and remove at fill-ups.

Gui

That too is a good, and much less labor intensive, solution. What I like most about what I've done is I was able to get a check ball valve in there to prevent the "slosh" of the fuel going back up the neck and bypass the cap/ slobber over the car during acceleration.

I thought I heard you back in town.... I mean I heard you back at work this past weekend.:lol:

Look good.

Thanks, Brett!

You probably heard me working this weekend, too, as I finished up the gas tank neck area. I had to made a recess in my box to clear the trunk latch. I also built a box in the trunk floor (really using up the last of my old original passenger door skin) to locate the original filler neck rubber sleeve and bracket. I shortened the sleeve and will use a clamp to help seal off any fumes.

I also welded up my widened rear bumper and am happy with the results. The passenger side of my second bumper was rusted through, so I ended up slicing a section and adding it to my original one. Not my first choice, as it's two welded strips and more opportunity for misalignment, but it was this, or chop out the corner and patch that. I may need to either adjust, or shim, my rear bumper bracket to get it to sit level, and then I can revise the side brackets to fit. Since I moved the bumper in closer they won't fit as is.

Nice progress. it looks nice and tight.

Thanks, Wayne!

One more pic I forgot to add earlier

Still alive. It's been one busy weekend after another, and I got distracted. I bought another car- a '55 chevy. I plan to make a "2 lane black top" style gasser out of it. real rough and basic. The beauty is it came with all the same 'glass parts to make a 2lbt car, and a 9" rear. But first things first. I need to get my Firebird driveable (while I collect parts for the '55).

I spent today working on the rear bumper more- getting it to fit better. The first pic shows the large gap along the right side of the bumper . I t required cutting the bumper and shaving it down a bit, as well as revising three of the four bumper brackets (multiple times) I lost count how many times today alone the bumper went on, came off, went back on, etc..

It looks a bit better now. It's not perfectly straight, and it'll need some love by a bumper shop one day. But it's good enough for me at this moment.

The bumper looks nice and tight. I love that 2lb 55, and the movie.

Thanks, Wayne! Yeah, I too am a 2lbt movie and car fan. I was thinking of a license plate for this that says "3 yards", ha ha

Got some time in this weekend- I stripped some of the paint off and then tore the car apart. I'm to a point now that either I can leave the car looking rough and drive it sooner, or spend more time/ money to do all the body work and paint it. I want to drive the car so I am opting for the former. To do this I plan to paint the car with a clear paint (KBS "diamond finish") over the bare metal and leave it looking raw for a bit. This way I can drive it sooner and work the bugs out of the car without ruining a nice paint job. (I learned this the hard way with my last car)

I still have a lot of minor repairs here and there (welds to clean up/ finish, etc). Then I'll paint the chassis and interior, assemble the car and then clear coat the exterior and start assembling.

looking good, excited to see how it turns out

Yes, me too! Oh, wait, I have to do all the work, ha ha.

I did more sanding today with these 3m bristle brushes that attach to my grinder. wow, they make easy work on the sheet metal, and without much heating, too. Good stuff. They do get chewed up on the edges, though.

I also spent some time trying to shrink the warpage out of my filled firewall. It was a wasted effort, I was just making things worse so I cut it out and made a new panel. I also filled in the old blower motor hole.

Firewall came out nice. I just saw the picture of all the sheet metal on , it looks nice all back together ( Even if it was only on for a little while ) It all looks nice and tight.

Awesome firewall!! Your fabrication skills are a inspiration!:cheers: Do you have any more photos or tips on the on the firewal... like a "how I did it" on the firewall? :confused59:

Thanks, Wayne!

Thanks, Jarrod! To answer your question- check out an earlier post I made on the firewall:

https://lateral-g.net/forums/show...3&postcount=73

It shows the first patch panel I made and the recessed area. I had since warped it so I cut it out and replaced it. Let me know if you need any more specific info on it

all these awesome threads are making me want to learn how to weld.

GEEZ! so awesome

I want to learn how to weld, too!

The pics in this week's post prove that I'm not there yet. I had to get the bondo out- to fill in the dips and voids in a few key areas on the visible areas inside the engine bay and interior.

It looks like your making some nice progress. Nice work.

one of the guys I work with started out as a welder and now he is a certified weld inspector/engineer

he has been giving me ideas. Think Im going to get a 120V lincoln MIG (dual gasless fluxcore/mig) welder he said that one is good from thin sheet metal up to like ~5/16 sheet

we will see, too many ideas, not enough money

Thanks, Wayne! Lately it's been one day per weekend, hopefully I get back to two to make more progress. I just gave myself a semi rigid deadline to get the car driving so we'll see how it goes for keeping it.


That sounds like a good friend to get you started on welding properly. I started by borrowing my neighbor's Lincoln welder. I'm no pro, but it's my understanding that the welds will be nicer using the shield gas. Good luck!

well the beauty of welding is you can make an ugly strong weld, and clean it up with a grinder, haha

yea he has some really good experience and really steered me in the right direction