Project F...bird - suicidal Firebird 68 vert!
 

Latest Chop of the bid:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...latestcopy.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...t/IMG_1162.jpg

So time to step to the plate and start documenting my project. First I want to thank for all the information and bad influence (you know who you are) here.

To start with, I have MAJOR project ADD, so bear with me as I have about 5 projects on the line, but main focus ow is on the vert.

Some background... I have always been very passionate about muscle cars, specially first gens. 65 to early 70's deffinitelly make my heart melt, but my main love is for first gen Firebirds. Something about them just struck me from teh first time I saw one, and just could not shake it off. LIttle did I know it would end up as an addiction, or more like a disease but moving on to the 68 vert....

I have been working on my 67 400 for a while, and as it is a pretty much all original numbers matching kinda car, was really hard to resist the temptation to modify it further than some 18's an low profile tires. But I itched for something more and just did not have the heart to start chopping this puppy...

On I started searching for another bird (the so called project for the wife...hmm yep right...) I bought and sold a few birds while learning more and moving towards what I wanted and ultimately started focusing like a mad man on a vert 68. I almost bought some rust piles on the process, and glad I did wait some more.


Bear with me kinda long but interesting story:

On comes the devil (craigslist), and I find a vert that looks mostly unmolested, female owner (pretty much original owner), but a long drive away. I tried contacting her a few times, some emails exchanged then suddenly thee ad was gone, ugh..... BUt then wait, the ad came back up, but no contact info, no e-mails, etc. I remembered then the city that the car was in on the original ad, and remembered calling the number posted (now out of service bar:cheers: )... yep looked legit right? :thumbsup:

I called the local chamber, and looked for the contact of the owner of the bar and got her name, then information, and called her at home! She was like who is this, I changed my mind about selling the car (was her first car), but I asked if she would sell for the original full price (high!), and she suddenly started interviewing me over the phone for about 30 minutes to consider if I would treat the car well, and I finally talked with her about me coming over (5 hour drive) with car to look at the car on the same freaking night....

Long drive, got to the car...not running, sitting in the garage for several years, cats starting to move in literally, but at this point I was committed, buying a car at night, load of cash on hand, trailer, etc. loaded the car and grin from ear to ear as I drove back home :) She was a nice lady (semi-cougar), and told me she bought the car when she saw it fro the first time at 17, working form a Foster's freeze. The car was a few years old when she bought it but she has had it ever since with plans to keep for her kids who ended up not showing any interest on the car. She did several things to the car, 6 banger was rebuilt a few times until a Chevy 307 was popped in (upgrade?), interior redone, etc. All in all a chick's car that had not been abused (well no idea about the back seat ugh!)

The car was pretty solid and that is what mattered since I had some wicked plans on the back of my head...

Driving her home (Actually a kitten was o n the engine bay and almost made the drive with me...) Probably a sign that this bird will attract P..ah nevermind :D

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of course long drive hangover the next day and WTF thoughts through my head seeing the car in daylight :)

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First thing I noticed was the front 67 valance on the 68, but I looked through everything inside and all seemed good, no signs of collision, etc. Teh color of the car was originally a yelllowish\baby cream color (teh name escapes me), and was covered in the last 40 years with a crappy Miracle white coat and some weird pinstripping. The top is halfway good (rera part was half cat eaten), the interior is pretty decent but red so taking some getting used to... As the interior is good it is hard to justify changing it just yet...

I put some time for the next days, fluid changes, go through electrical (someone started a half ass tune up that involved disconnecting and mixing wires everywhere), replacing the fan clutch as the current one looked beat, then battery, some new gas, and ....ommppph with clouds of smoke she lived again!!:woot:

I was stoked and coudl not contain myself and had to take the bird for a short ride, which was not really bad, considering braking was marginal with the leaky MC. I made afew feet, then back to the driveway, and a few more weeks of playing with the bird and she was half ass road worthy!!

Took her for a spin, aired up the crunchy tires, and she dorve amazingly nice and smooth!!

As I was working on two other birds and a Jeep, I put her on storage for a few weeks until I had space again. In the mean time, craigslist to the rescue looking for some roller tires\wheels, and parts to start the build :)

I bought some Billet Specialties 20 and 18 with decent tires, some 18" Foose Nitrous and test fit the stuff:

Crappy phone pic of the Foose mocked up:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...d/IMGP1845.jpg

wiiiideee :)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...heelmockup.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...eelmockup2.jpg

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

So now on to the heart of the beast.... I knew the Chevy 307 would not cut it, so time to thing through a heart transplant on this puppy...

LS1 located, then started gathering a load of parts for the swap...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ert/guils1.jpg

But remember my ADD, so working again on a few more projects, work and life, and then a buddy who built a 455 for his bird was selling his built GTO 400, so temptation gave in.... and a 400 followed me home.

I also located a 400 original hood in good shape, and in it went :D

:_paranoid So going back to the name of the project...suicidal... I had the bird back on enclosed storage, and postedan add on craigslist sellingthe current engine with everything very cheap. The engine was driving like a dream, so could find a new home with a new owner, plus was possible to have the buyer test drive the engine and check it out before I pulled it, what was great for him as well (I later found out that the engine was going on a Firebird he is building for his daughter who requested teh engine to be painted pink..more on this later).

I took my other bird in storage and left the vert outside as I went to work planing to pick her up at night. As I get to the storage place, teh manager mentions that she saw some individuals checking out the car (was parked outside on the street) and as she approached them they took off....:thumbsup: I was hping for teh worse (i.e. soft top ripped, parts missing etc, but got there and the bird was as I left, ugly as ever :D

I started her up, and started driving home... As I am coming home.. a thud thud sound starts and the engine dies... Duh! Feed me Feed me, I forgot that I had syphoned most of the gas out and left the gas container a the storage...smart... Call AAA, but the 2 hour window does not appeal so I wak to the gas station and get a rip off $20 gas container, and some gas and walk back to the car....good sign still there...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...t/IMG_1135.jpg

Pop some gas in, some on the carb and she starts up, as I close the hood I see lights behind the car and a cool CHP to the rescue asking if all is good talks a bit cars (he has a Camaro), asks if I need help or a push, etc I am good, he takes off I take off to the gas station, and see him over there. As I start driving that thud thud noise is still there (I was originally thinking fuel pump or something similar). I pull over pop the hood, check the tires all seem in good shape, and drive to the station. I should have stayed right there the run out of gas was the bird telling me something ;)

As I am pulling over the CHP waves a hi, I wave back, then suddenly a louder thud thud, the car lifts the front in the air as if I drove over a manhole lid, and drops...the front wheel keeps going, rest of the car...not so much :(

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SO whoever was at the storage place had plans to either steal my wheel(s) or at the last the lug nuts... Aside from a broken wheel stud, damaged fender and dirty underwear with a bruised ego, all else was good. We popped the car up, wheel back on and then for safety towed the car home. Things could have been much worse, so I am glad things happened as they happened. Lock nuts already bought and will locktite my nuts going forward...ok that did not come out well...


Ride of shame:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...t/IMG_1141.jpg

I know this is getting long :)

On to some good stuff: Bird in the garage, future engine (still needs love)...working on a car at 3:30ish AM to yank an engine is perfectly acceptable:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...t/IMG_1151.jpg

unsuspecting 307:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...t/IMG_1156.jpg

F...bird!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...t/IMG_1167.jpg

and out she goes!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...t/IMG_1169.jpg

So just got this picture on my phone today and was like Whatttttt??!! Then I remembered that the buyer was going to put the engine on his daughter's bird...

The color choice is debatable, but I gotta give him props, he actually did an excellent job on the 307 pimping it up...


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...pinkengine.jpg


I will keep the engine pic away from my wife before she gets any ideas, but will post up a pic of it on his daughter's car once he shoots it my way :)

What an adventure man! Too funny! (how you describe everything, not that you had to go through it all)
I'm glad the wheel incident was not worse. Cool car.

How about pics of the other birds?

Eric, thanks! Yep, I gotta get off my butt, I just put one for sale to help fund the vert. The other one is a 67 400:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...0/IMG_2911.jpg

back from paint-jail 68 bird (in progress, lots to do:)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...eredshaved.jpg

great story. I picked up a 68 firebird vert last year. Similar to you, its has an LS1 going in it and the plans call for my girlfriend to drive it so we can take both cars (my camaro) to local events and road trips- power tour, crusin the coast, etc. I am gathering parts all the time, and I sold the 400/400 to a friend with 69 firebird that needed a motor. Can't wait to see your progress. I thought of starting a build thread for mine, we'll see. Subscribing to yours..
Scott

Scott, thanks yep, plans are still under...welll..planning stages :)

I will keep this updated :)

So (finally) some good progress on the bird. I tore her apart, all trim, interior, etc removed, and off to paint she is :)

Not so purty:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...taintpurty.jpg

She is becoming one of those 90210 major surgery projects with all the body work going on. Basically no piece of sheetmetal has been left untouched...

The kicker on some of the current mods:

1- Adding 69 Firebird fender louvers and grafting to the original fenders.
2- rear gills have been shaved
3- smoothed rear pannel to fenders (welded, shaved)
4- custom (in the works) front valance - sorry Maro guys, but had to chop a


Some pics, I know gotta resize rotate but here is the gist of it for now :)

start with some innocent 69 fender patches:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...d%20vert/1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ert/lola12.jpg

point of no return\commitment:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ert/lola13.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ert/lola15.jpg

tack tack tack:

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

cut massage repeat:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ert/lola16.jpg

rear shaved while at it:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ert/lola18.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...loladriver.jpg

prime is not a crime :)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...loladriver.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...t/lolapass.jpg

Still ways to go, but getting there :)

You my friend, have a nice ride. You are further than me and moving a lot quicker. I was watching the silver car and then I think you sold it.

Thanks! Yep still ways to go, and too many projects at the same time. I am hoping to have the car back in a few weeks, so I can probably do some work over the Christmas break :)

Great story. Glad to see things coming along.

I saw the R. Lance tow truck so you must be in the Tri-Valley. Its great to see another cool build going on in the Bay Area.

Good luck with the paint... what color shame are you going with?

Jeff, thanks! I am in the East Bay, Dublin\Pleasanton area.

I have been struggling like a mad man to make up my mind as far as color, I was set on teh Ferrari Titanium color, but looked too close to teh 67 I am working on, then thought about teh Maseratti Nero Carbonio black, but high maintenance plus too much blue with the red interior, so decided on teh Lexus Saphire Pearl.

Here is a quick chop on how the car may end up, wheels are for mock u purposes only as I have a set of Foose Nitrous I may end up using for some time.

Latest Chop of the bid:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...latestcopy.jpg

on mocked up black Boss or black center Nitrous:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...38lsbrakes.jpg

Lookin good! Are you going to run the '67 vent windows on there?

Great eye! the chopped car was a 67, not planning on using the 67 doors with the vent though :)

So been slacking on updates, but Lola got home the other weekend, and I have been working on putting a 4 post lift together. I am kicking myself for not having got one sooner :)

Will try loading up better pics but she is looking HAWT in Lexus pearl :)

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That color should pop in the sun!

Gosh Lolla has been neglected lately :) Time for an update :0 I have been focusing on getting the interior done, so interior is mostly insulated. Dynamat is great but overpriced\overrated, Home Depot setup works perfect at a fraction of the cost, carpet loosely installed, running wiring for speakers, stereo etc,

Still deciding on mirrors, dash, etc, goal is to keep a classic look with subtle mods :) Pics coming soon :)

definitely need pics. I love pics!! even if its just parts, LOL.

Rene, lol, thanks seeing your project definitely gets me motivated to keep on going. Same here, my little ones are tired of pretending driving on the car and making bruum bruum sound and they want to go for a drive on this car :)

I am working on a side subframe and suspension right now. I am modifying the subframe enough to run air suspension, plus going with Global upper control arms and a few more tricks. Basically will tear up the front subframe that is there and roll it out, and pop the other one in.

For kicks, (Pontiac purists please forgive me)I ended up deciding going in a LS1 direction on Lolla even though I have a nice 400 Pontiac and 4 speed Muncie I as planning to put in. I have another Firebird project I am keeping Pontiac 400 power, so should appease the Pontiac Gods  For my plans on the car, just make sense right now, plus the powertrain will be close to zero cost as I have been parting the donor out and recovering the investment. My buddies have just followed the same direction on a few cars (69 Firebird, 67 camaro, 70’s Nova etc), and the outcome was great. I am VERY surprised more people are not doing something similar here to keep projects more within budget. After all a free LS1 and tranny are hard to beat 

It has been a hard back and forth decision, but a lighter alum block, fuel injection, greta performance along with good fuel economy and high and easy mod performance options (cheaper to modify an LS1 than the Poncho engine), along with a manual 6 speed will do the trick.

Here is a pic of the donor….



You have been warned……










Not easy on the eyes………












DONK!!!! :D





Don’t be hatin!!!! 







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It is a 2K Z28 Camaro Ls1 T56 6 speed. The engine and tranny definitely need some dignity. On the plus side, there are extra parts I am putting to good use on the swap, including radiator and fans, and LS1 big brakes. I am swapping in a LS7 clutch, and the engine will undergo some “minor” mods, goal is to stay in the 400HP powerband and keep the car very streetable still :D Wish me luck a the madness to remove the engine is about to get started :D

Gui

you'll be glad you're pulling it from a running car, as you can see where the parts go, keep track of fasteners, etc. It sure makes it easier to put it back together.

And, FWIW, I too will be getting the same heat from the Pontiac Purists, but it's worth it as the LS engines really are that great.

Did the donor car come with the 4th "IROC" style rim? :)

Yeah swaps are easy, just gotta have the time to take it apart.... good luck!~

Thanks, yep need to chop that maro quickly so hoping to make some headway this week :) Wife will motivate me to get it done lol :)

gotta love the wife pushing you LOL!

her motivation motivates me, lol :) Plus she wants to drive the vert soon, hahah !:0

I would love to put an LS in. how much did you shell out for the donor car?

You can find them here in the $2000 and up range, depending on mileage and powertrain. Verts and manual t56 are pretty hard to come by, in fact not much luck finding ls1's with T56 around here. I am getting contacted by several people on my ads as far as just selling the tranny even though I say on the ad tranny and engine are not for sale :)

I just spoke with a buddy that did his 69 recently (Mac) and rather than modifying harness etc, he was able to use and modify the stock column, so major savings on the swap, plus tilt, cruise control, will have ABS, etc etc. He modified the dash to fit his Firebird and looks really good!

hey is dat black bird tubbed out..wat r da size of da rims u have..n dats how i wanted to do mine..black it all out..nice bird...:thumbsup:

All right, "bird flu" aside everyone has been inspiring me lately on their projects with birds coming out of their cages to play as the weather is getting warmer :)

I have been working on Lolla and made some progress recently, basically full front, sub frame etc. all removed and getting prepared to put the new setup in.

Sleep has become overrated and any time I can squeeze in on the project when I am not at work or around the kiddos and wife (she has been very supportive - meaning clean up that messy garage or I am calling 1800-got junk...seriously :). With support and motivation like that I got to get things done, no excuses :)

Last week I removed and stripped the sub-frame, painting some stuff, and a lot of other stuff started happening in parallel :)


Some pics form latteeee last night (sleep is overrated anyways):

stripped and took the rest of front clip apart, harness inner fender, etc removing the old undercarriage stuff was just nasty, and am thankful there are no rust spots underneath the stuff. I was pretty amazed but whoever did the undercoating did an incredible job, the paint was looking pretty fresh underneath all that stuff.

Before:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psf329c481.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ps14c7f69e.jpg

compressing the springs had me sweating bullets:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ps1427ba79.jpg

After:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ps4b13ad15.jpg


Mocking up the front tire riding height.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ps5caca7cd.jpg

So quick specs on what will be going in the car:

-upgraded subframe - modified sub, re-welded factory welds, strengthened, powdercoated and then painted
-Ridetech air-ride front and rear - I am building a custom setup with a wireless controller so wish me luck lol :)
-GW control arms and other goodies
-Body mounts, am debating solid or poly, have both but likely solid on this car.
-LS1, manual 6 speed. Appreciate everyone's input here, need top figure out color scheme for the engine, leaning towards the Pontiac metallic blue or gunmetal, etc, let me know your thoughts, engine bay is black and pearl white so pearl blue\Pontiac metallic blue may be semi pimpalicious??
-18" whels 275 rears non tubed
-4th gen Pntiac\Camaro\Vette brakes,
and the list goes on and on :)

Gui

Looking good G!

Glad to see you are back on it. I know the family can make it hard to find the time.

You're getting there.

I like the pimpalicious :thumbsup:

Looking pretty good man.

There was a green 2nd gen Trans Am built by Detroit speed that had an LSx transplant and they modified it to look like a Pontiac engine, looked really sharp, thats what I would do if I was you.

found some pictures:

http://www.detroitspeed.com/projects...green-979l.jpg

http://www.detroitspeed.com/projects...en-73-pg1.html

Jeff pimpalicious it is lol :)

Captain thanks, great shot and I dig it!! Very clean! I will experiment with teh engine and colors tomorrow, thanks again!

Gui

cool, good luck

so updates have been slow since I have been working my butt off and working on three other projects :0

Great therapy this week getting to drive a Tesla roadster.. I heard these puppies can fly...yep that is what I heard...yep... I will stick with that :) One tip, disable trac control ;)

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...70913832_n.jpg

Ok on to updates:

I experimented with different motor mounts and the Hooker mounts worked very well, I was having crossmember to oil pan issues previously and wanted to keep the engine as low as possible without tearing into the X member..yet.

mocking things up:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...pse7b84c0a.jpg

Lots of great clearance (I have removed the 1/4 thick washers later):

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ps8aebb8ff.jpg

messy garage. playing with engine colors and setup still. I think the LS engine is one of the ugliest out there, specially with the coils on the valve covers. I may relocate them, but for the time being played with GTO covers I wil modify. They shoudl also be good for an extra 100 HP :P

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ps894d98a7.jpg

While i watch for paint to dry or so to speak, I was playing with a few mirror options. I picked up some old rallye bullet style ones recently and may g in that direction. I am not feeling it for the painted to match second gen mirrors on this car:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psebdca942.jpg

Alternatively I may stick to the stock round 67 ones.

Mocked up the bullets:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ps46a9544a.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ps7e4023a7.jpg

And more clean up on the bay. I was back and forth on smoothing the firewall, but am just not digging the smooth look too much lately, too outdone on many car shows I guess, so will stick with the stock look and airbox etc for now.

Subframe is ready to go back in :)

Looking good.. Now come over and help me finish my 68 :)

Kevin, lol I so want to check that puppy out :) Lots on the to do list for this week, so hoping to get the subframe in, engine painted and tranny in Ls7 swapped clutch in, and start on the front suspension build. Goal is to have the car on air within two weeks.

So much to do so little time, but heck sleep is overrated :D