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Josh's 69 Firebird Build
Hey guys, just wanted to show everyone what my dad and I are currently building, it's a 1969 Pontiac Firebird that was given to me after my uncle died, he was a great person and we are rebuilding it in his memory. I've had the car for a few years, putting around in Memphis with oil and transmission fluid spraying the ground haha. But I'm going off to LSU next Fall and I plan on taking it with me. I very grateful to have this car at such and early age and getting to do something with my dad that 99% of kids these days don't have the opportunity to do. We have already rebuilt the front end with parts from justsuspension along with Hotchkis 2 inch drop springs. We also converted the front brakes from drums to 11 inch power discs. As of now it has a 350 Pontiac mated to a th350 trans, which will soon be replaced with either a 2004r or 7004r. The wheels are Coys C-5's (18x7 front, 20x8.5 rear) with Nexen n3000 tires. Any questions or comments, just ask.
Here are some pics before the teardown: https://lateral-g.net/members/graham/IMG_2146.jpg https://lateral-g.net/members/graham/IMG_2125.jpg https://lateral-g.net/members/graham/IMG_2145.jpg https://lateral-g.net/members/graham/IMG_2151.jpg |
Josh, nice car & have fun with the build. I've always like the 1st gen Firebirds. You'll love it even more with the love of your uncle in it. Plus, you can never sell it!!
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Sweet looking car. What color is it?
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Chip Foose started with a 69 Firebird just like that! Same color and everything! Father & Son project = PRICELESS!! :thumbsup:
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Engine/Trans Removal and Teardown
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Nice looking car and nice project..
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Paint Color
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Nice car! I envy you the chance to work on the car with your dad. I wish I had that opportunity when I was young. But now I get to work with a project car with my son, and he's excited about it, which makes my heart glad. :)
Enjoy your project and especially the memories you create. |
Cool project, but I'm a little biased since my name is Josh too and I have a '69 Firebird. I shared your pain for many months, whomever did work on mine in the past was a complete moron.
In any case, hears to a new life for both cars! :cheers: |
Thanks for all of the compliments everyone, even though my project will be nothing close to the incredible rides on this site. I'll get some more pics on here soon. Everything is moving along nicely, especially because my dad is an aircraft mechanic at Fedex. He can sandblast and powder coat parts for FREE at work!
Josh69, the coincidence is almost creepy, haha. But for sure, a new life to both! |
Nice project. I'm still in the brain storming part but I have a 69 Firebird I will be building for my wife one of these days.
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Very cool.
Car looks pretty clean. Keep us posted.:thumbsup: |
tones2SS, thanks for the support, its somewhat embarrassing compared to the other builds on this site, but my dad and I are doing the best we can with the money and time we have.
More Pics: http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMG_1187.jpg http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMG_1188.jpg http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMG_1189.jpg Cam going in... http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMG_1204.jpg http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMG_1222.jpg http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMG_1224.jpg http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMG_1236.jpg http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMG_1240.jpg |
There is nothing to be embarassed about. We all had our first projects and yours looks like a good one. Don't think you have to spend big bucks to have a cool car.
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http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMG_1265.jpg http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMG_1266.jpg http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMG_1270.jpg http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMG_1281.jpg http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMG_1308.jpg http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMG_1314.jpg http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMG_1318.jpg http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMG_1319.jpg http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMG_1326.jpg
http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMG_1327.jpg |
Josh,
It's not about the money. It's about the car and the people involved now and those you will meet because of it. You will be making great friends the whole time. That car will do alot more than just be fun to drive. You get to build a car with your dad. Do you realize how many guys here would like to have that chance and are jealous of you? You guys are doing a killer job on a very cool car and I am really glad you decided to post the build and share it with us. Thanks, and keep those pics and updates coming!:thumbsup: |
Awesome.
http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMG_1331.jpg http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMG_1339.jpg http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMG_1342.jpg http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMG_1344.jpg http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/a...IMG_1345-1.jpg http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMG_1349.jpg http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMG_1351.jpg |
VERY COOL!!
Just like Todd and Eric said. It's all about the car and the times/memories together. You guys are making some great progress.:thumbsup: |
This is a very special project and it's nice to hear that you realize how great it is that you can rebuild what was once your uncle's car with your father!
That floor really cleaned up! Looks like a nice solid car! And the motor and trans look great too! What trans did you end up? I think this one needs to stay in the family for life!! I agree with the others...it's not about how much you spend...but the journey and fun this hobby can bring you!! Thanks for the updates!! Enjoy and best of luck at school this fall!! :cheers: |
Thanks for all of the positive feedback everyone, I really appreciate it. I'm not trying to start a "pity party" for myself but I could see how some people would think that we were skipping some things or maybe doing things backwards. The problem is we started working on it ONE MONTH before I had to start school that was 6 hours away... That being said, we only have had time for the basics (motor, trans, floors, weatherstripping, seals, etc.) because either its reliable and drivable on move-in day, or it's not and my parents are gonna have to drop me off at school and the project will come to a screeching halt until Christmas break. I prefer the first option, so I don't have to bum rides off everyone else for a whole semester. I guess there are many more all-nighters ahead of us, haha.
awr68, tones2SS, Vegas69, and 70rs: Thanks, and yeah, he was an amazingly talented drummer in a local Memphis band that was starting to receive national attention. He was a really fun, crazy guy. So we are gonna try to build it the way he would have. My dad was really happy with the floors too. We were both pleased with the POR-15 (silver stuff) on the floors and it's definitely worth the $$$. The transmission we used was a 200-4r with the lockup torque converter for gas mileage. As for staying in the family, it's not going anywhere, I don't care how much it's worth. I've already had people bugging me trying to buy it. I'm gonna need all the luck I can get my hands on for college, I'm down at LSU right now at a "Pre-Med boot camp", so I haven't been able to make any progress this week, but this weekend I'm going back home and will definitely have some more updates. While I'm gone, my dad is modifying the TH350 crossmember to fit the 200-4r. And as for the Spaghetti Engineering Digi-Tails, they weren't on the budget or plan... but thanks to an awesome girlfriend, I'm gonna have some pretty cool tail lights. |
Good luck with the pre med "boot camp".
I agree with awr68, this one needs to stay in the family and am glad to hear you agree too. Reliable and drivable as you put it is a great plan and you are well on your way. You will have the coolest ride in school I'm sure. Thanks for posting and sharing, keep it coming. Lot's of coffee and Red Bulls for those all nighters but it will be worth it in the end!:thumbsup: |
Very cool Josh. Just like Eric said, you're going to have the coolest ride at school.
Good luck with the car and school.:thumbsup: |
Thanks for the encouraging words guys. When I was gone my dad mocked up a new transmission crossmember for the 200-4r with some plywood and took it over to Fedex to fabricate it. He used 1/2 inch steel so, in his words "It should be able to hold up a Mack truck." I'm also putting up some older pics I forgot to post, so everything is kind of random. But hopefully today or tomorrow we will be putting the exhaust back together and firing her up for the first time.
Here are some "before" pics of the engine bay, subframe, brakes and booster, and firewall. http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMG_1013.jpg http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMG_1014.jpg http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMG_1017.jpg http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMG_1019.jpg http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMG_1020.jpg Factory Stamping I found when I took off the original A/C unit, I thought this was pretty cool. http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMG_1021.jpg http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMG_1024.jpg http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMG_1028.jpg http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMG_1030.jpg http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMG_1029.jpghttp://i907.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMG_1032.jpg http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMG_1038.jpg http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMG_1039.jpg |
Josh -
Very cool project, and fantastic photos! Following your build in here is like reading a magazine tech story, but with more character. We're all looking forward to seeing how the car turns out. Send some photos and we'll put the car in our "G-Rides" section on the site. The Hotchkis Crew [email protected] |
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