Project R - Give Away 68 Bird - nearly done
 

It has been a while since I posted updates on this.

Yes...this car will be given away as part of a Christian ministry.

More details to follow.

The webpage is dated - I'll update soon.

The amazing news.

The engine/trans have been in...and out, after being tested. It has a beast of an old school Pontiac 400 with some nice goodies. It is all mated to a TH400. The goods were pulled to go into the paint shop.

A decision was made to change the top color from green to black.

Here are the pics with graphics going on.

We are in need of some other parts - a driver window, gas tank, tank straps, rear lamps, emblems, and other time. If you have these and want to donate...let us know.

http://mcspeed.homestead.com/ProjectR.html


http://mcspeed.homestead.com/Resurrectionsmall.jpg

Photos

Awesome job there! So how do I win it? :D

Stay tuned :thumbsup:

The car looks great nice job.

Jesus and I love the car....We'll take it!

:cheers:

Hey guys - I have made many updates - including a second page with the current photos.

http://mcspeed.homestead.com/ProjectR.html

The car is in the trim shop right now waiting on the soft stuff - then the engine and trans will get stuffed back in.

Please let me know if you have the following:

1. windshield (or if you want to donate one new through a local glass company)
2. driver glass
3. gas tank, straps, pick up
4. power steering pitman arm
5. tail lights
6. Any front or rear time - including emblems.....

This is an outreach ministry project - and the car will be given away free after approx a year of touring around.

More details later......

Coming along nicely! :thumbsup:

Very nice work.

I wish I had parts or time to donate. I like the fact that you are combining your passion with your ministry. Keep us posted.

way to go ...more pics please:thumbsup:

I've got a brand new power steering pitman arm I would be more than happy to donate. PM me your address and I'll send it out. :thumbsup:

I wondered what happened to this project. It's looking good.

Updates...
 

Hey guys - sorry for the delay in responding, but let me bring everybody up to date and let you know where we are.

We moved the car from Florida to me here in Illinois to go ahead and wrap it up. It worked out in an amazing strange way. I was going to take a week off - go down open trailer and bring it back (2,200 mile round trip) later this month.

However, a co-worker of mine bought a truck off the internet and was doing a one-way flight to Largo, Florida to pick it up. I talked him into grabbing the bird that was about an hour away in Lakeland and bringing it up for the cost of fuel and a U-haul rental. This works out way cheaper than me going to and from - AND the car arrived last week!

So - this is the first time I have seen it in person since it has been painted and mostly assembled. WOW - it looks great. The guys at Maaco did a killer job. Those guys can do just as good of work as anybody when they have the time and materials to get it right.

I spent the last couple of days inventorying parts, and putting everything back on that I can with what I have. We lost a header somehow in the move, but the guys in Florida are looking for it as well as some front bumper brackets that had all been blasted, primed, and ready to go on...but are awol right now. The fact it is even in the shape of a car again is a miracle considering the dozens of folks that have worked on it and the many locations it has been stored.

My goal is to have it mobile in a couple of weeks and have it out and about soon after that at the local car cruise events, etc. I plan on having it done soon after and ready to roll back to Florida by November.

There are some parts we still need - any part that can be donated saves us the fund raisers and other avenues to buy new - so please check your garage and see if you have: (don't have to be show quality - just in good usable condition)

1. driver door glass (non-ac car)
2. Front coil springs (I'd like to put some small block Camaro springs in to get some drop - right now I have some in it out of a 1969 Corvette that have to be blocked up under the weight of the engine as they won't hold it).
3. tail lamps
4. front marker lamps
5. front grilles
6. heater control cables
7. A nice 14" air cleaner
8. transmission cooler
9. seat belts (black if possible)
10. SEATS - would love to have some 3rd or 4th gen F body seats - the original 68 seats are just too far gone to even rebuild
11. Fuel lid that goes between the rear lamps with hinge
12. Bumpers - front/rear with brackets (don't have to be show quality)
13. inner door handles, rods, and latches (left and right)
14. Outer door handles
15. Mufflers
16. Throttle cable - not sure what to do here. The old lever system is gone, just have a new pedal on the floor and need to work it out - might just have to get a Lokar set up.


Parts donated are tax deductible if desired. Will need a receipt for the value of the part supplied so the paper work can be completed and returned to the donor.


I'll add/remove as we go.

We need a gas tank and sending unit - but I am going to get those new and have on the way this week. I'll be putting the inner fenders in today (sprayed them base/clear PPG yesterday) and working on the wire harness through the week. I was able to get the motor/trans/drive shaft and other issues such as that nailed down yesterday. I know the motor runs the whole thing was an amazing donation from Vintage Motion out of Dawsonville, GA. Can't wait to hear it roar again.

By the way....

There is one issue to resolve on this build that presents a unique challenge.

The build team in Florida decided to abandon any hope of getting the roof panel back in decent shape - so instead of just replacing the roof skin and or going over-board on working it - they opted to go with a traditional vinyl top.

So, while the paint and body work on the car is stunning - the roof is not so much - and not even totally finished.

While I think I can work the metal out and get it straight with a simple paint blend into the sail panels to complete it...I'm thinking about doing something different.

On my old 69 Vette, I did a thinned out poly bed liner spray on the rear deck where the convertible top sat, then clear coated over the panel. It came out looking great - and had the feel and appearance of vinyl - without the vinyl. In fact, for something I didn't put much thought or effort into - it become a complimentary feature of the car that I had never expected.

Its crazy but I'm thinking about working the roof out to 80 grit as you would in a normal coating method in the rough spots (think truck bed liner spray prep) - and since this is black now on top, cutting a line with an accent bead trim and blasting the top the same way then clear coating it. The sail panels were part of the new quarters and all was even leaded in old school - that area of the roof is perfect). I also want to work out a stencil for the sail panel area (details to come). The cool thing is, it will look - and even to some degree feel like a vinyl top - but no trim needed around the edge so it gives a modern spin to the idea. Because it is all black - it will blend in anyway for the most part.

Just formulating this out in my head right now - but the roof will have to be dealt with one way or another before the interior goes in.

got the inner fenders in today and re-aligned the front sheet metal. Man...I had forgotten how fun that is on a first gen .... :rofl:

Somebody had donated a new wiper motor assembly. That was a nice surprise when I opened that bag. It is now on with a lubricated and re-worked wiper transmission.

I'll get the gas tank coming this week. Also, one of the fellows called me and had found the missing header and some other parts. Those will be here soon too.
:thumbsup:

Man...I can almost hear it running! Fuel system in.
Was able to bang the window regulators in - missing some parts on the driver window.
Door handles...and throttle cable in too.

http://mcspeed.homestead.com/DSC_0296.JPg

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Wow looks good!

T-minus......
 

We are T-minus.... and counting to fire it up. I'll hop back on it this afternoon.

Things to do:

1. re-wire for the internal voltage reg charging system
2. wire up the HEI dist connection
3. hook up a temp ignition switch - bypass the neutral safety for testing
4. put a couple of gallons in the tank
5. connect the battery leads
6. Say a prayer - and light it off.
7. top off fluids
8. Temp wire cooling fans

A fellow in Florida donated the entire front bumper module and bumper (good condition chrome) - rear bumper and brackets - left door latch and inner handle hardware...driver door glass - and buckets of small stuff. That stuff will be here in a week to get on.

Parts that should be in transit:

Pitman arm
coil springs
push start latch system


If I light it off this afternoon - I'll post some video before the end of the weekend.

Oh...just had some killer 99 T/A seats donated - the driver one is power. They bolt right in on the front mounts - minor rear mount mods needed. Very very very cool looking in there.

Successsssssssss

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1i_t8x2Hpc

Bumpers came today along with the driver window and another box of goodies. Going to be busy over the 4th - We are also licensed foster parents and just found out we'll have four boys here next week - 18 months, 3, 5, and 7!

Wow...going to be busy


Also.....something else is on the way.....thanks to our friends at Dakota Digital



http://www.dakotadigital.com/cartimages/prd_721.gif

And...I'm shooting to have it tagged...bagged - and rolling in-time for the Joliet Goodguys show in August. Would love to hit the AutoX as well.

I don't expect to have any interior in it other than seats and dash at that time.

I suspect the body work on the roof will still be raw and it might have open headers, but it should be a blast and it is a very reasonable goal to shoot for.

Progress.

Front bumper on - but it needs a lot of adjustment. The rear bumper that came was not usable. However the brackets were good - so it was a score.

Will put the headlight buckets in next which will almost finish the nose.

Tackling the rear shocks next too - and will get the front suspension torn down for the springs and shocks

Oh, also got the driver door hardware in and glass.

I can check to see if I still have the heater control cables.
I also have a transmission cooler I could part with. If interested I can send some pictures of it. It's not real fancy and just uses hose clamps for the lines.

#16 might be easier to just go with Lokar. I can give you the part numbers that I used on my car.

I'm a little behind here Chris.:lol: Car is looking great, alot of work I know, Congratulations on the progress.

Check out the gauges! These ROCK! A HUGE shout out to Dakota Digital for this fine contribution.

You know - this plays a very integrated part into the message of the car. Gauges are very important. Think about it - the higher quality they are, the more precise they measure what is going on. They can warn you early of trouble...and help you keep within the boundaries of the vehicle performance.

Think about it....


I hope to get these in and tested by the weekend - but they will come back out for safe keeping until the glass goes in and the interior can be sealed up.

Thanks for the offer - I'm good now on those items EXCEPT the heater control cables.

Vintage Air has made a very generous offer to supply a sure fit unit at wholesale. However, we just don't have that to spare at the moment so the original heater box will need to slip in place for the time being until we are able to make the next leap and get the VA unit. It looks like we are about $1,800 away in finishing the car between what will be needed and what has been donated. Some things just have to be bought new - like carpet.

And let there be LIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Had a donation this week towards the lamps - all the lenses will be here this week. The glass will be installed on FRIDAY - HUGE thanks to http://www.stephensautoglass.com/index.2.html

Was able to locate and install the trunk springs yesterday - MAN - that is sooooo much better than propping a stick to hold the trunk up!

The front bumper fits terrible but it is all there now! I need to find some time with a few guys - to hold it in place until it looks right - then tighten it all down.

Was way cool to light off the lights and run some tests on the circuits and see they are alive and well.

New front springs - installed - Thanks Doom!

I'm wrapping it for the night, but will get the shocks in and drop the car back on the ground pretty fast.

Glass will be installed on Friday.

The rear tail lamp lens, side markers and front parking lamp lens all came today.

I have a fellow coming over to help clean up the housings and these will go in quickly.

At least the driver seatbelt will be in by this weekend - then the tag and insurance.

Left to do....

Wire the VHX and install
carpet
door panels
interior trim
headliner
visors
rear hat tray....

Then I have some minor paint detail touch up and I have to locate a rear bumper.


Minor details! :lateral:

Vintage air will be here by this weekend!


:thumbsup:

I'll be going w/this dakota digital also, just need to know deal and service wise who to go throught, any suggestions?

Lenie,

You won't regret it. This gauge set is amazing. I have to power it up for everybody that comes to see the car. My favorite view is with the shop doors closed and lights out - it just pops in the dark. It also has a dimmer system built in so you can adjust the LED brightness with lights on or off.

I can't comment on one distributor better than another.

Dakota does sells direct - they also have a dealer locator on their site:

http://www.dakotadigital.com/index.cfm?ptype=locator

Vintage Air - is in!

What a nice system. I've installed several of these sure fit systems, and you can never go wrong with one.

I'm going with a trinary (sp?) switch to trigger the a/c fan relay so I'm waiting on it before I charge the system.

Still have some other wires to put in, so I haven't laced up the harness under the dash either. I was able to power it up and go through the learn mode. It blows plenty of strong air. As hot as it has been - this will be such a blessing.

http://mcspeed.homestead.com/2VA.jpg

http://mcspeed.homestead.com/6VA.jpg

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Hey guys - quick change to this - the car will have to go to Goodguys in the vendor area. No worries there - the only problem is there is NO way I can get it there Thursday night. The policy is to have the vendor area set up Thursday and not to come and go until Sunday. I spoke at length with them today and can't work around that.

So......... We are re-calculating the first event. I don't want to bring it out and NOT be able to pick up registration forms to win it. Plus, considering the interior is coming via truck here on THURSDAY, I'll have my hands full. Planning on taking Friday off to sling that in and be up all hours of the night if needed to bring it out on Saturday. So, we'll dial that down a click and take a bit more time piecing that together.

SO...stay tuned!

Since we didn't make Goodguys - we did roll it out to a local car cruise last night. Had it there for a couple of hours. Have the first 17 people registered to win the car. Had a ball - much work left to go though to finish it. It was nice driving it off the trailer and parking it - no pushing. No exhaust yet, but otherwise it is 100% street legal - tagged - insured...and ready to go.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kathyia...7627426969760/

Official Entry and Rules:

http://mcspeed.homestead.com/Project...way-Rules.html

http://mcspeed.homestead.com/RR.jpg

http://mcspeed.homestead.com/RF.jpg

http://mcspeed.homestead.com/LF.jpg

It turned out really nice. I like the two tone paint.
I also like how the gauges look.
Nice job!

Thanks man...this has been a very long an interesting road.

I've built and been involved in building cars in the past. This has been different from ever aspect - especially being willing to remain flexible while staying strict to the original goal and concept. Also, working with a budget that doesn't exist - all on cash - generosity...donations...and just the downright goodness of people that have been involved.

Nothing has been predictable and we have really had to have faith that it would come through even when we didn't' see a way possible. The best story was how the car ended up in Illinois. What a freak chance of events that a co-worker just happened to buy a truck off the internet and was taking a one way trip to Florida that weekend....and was only about 45 minutes from where the car was sitting waiting to figure out a way to get it to me. I was locked and loaded to go down and back - but it was going to take a huge bite out of the project funds...as well as my available time off. Then...BOOM - it was provided via a killer U-haul rental and David's willingness to tow it back with this new internet purchased truck.

It has been stuff like that along the way that has really pumped this thing up and kept it going. Many of you guys here have been gracious as well in responded to the requests and helping out.

It has also been fun working on it knowing that somebody will win this car. It is cool to think - and I can't imagine how exciting that is going to be. It makes it twice as much fun working on it, even when NOTHING is fitting together, busted bloody knuckles...and sweat soaking my clothes. Its all good!

Great progress Chris! Did you get the interior finished up?

Pretty much all but the headliner and some detail trim. Will work on getting the headliner in this Saturday morning.