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Home built 67 Firebird
Back in 2009, I got bitten by the muscle car bug, eventhough I've always drawn to imports most of my life. After search CL/ebay, I found a 67 Firebird in Puyallup, just east of Tacoma WA. It was a 400/T400 car, with complete interior, but front end was either missing/unusable. It needed new quarters, front end sheet metal, and trunk pan. The plan was restoring the car back to stock with upgrades to front discs.
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...9_23_08002.jpg After getting the car home in Vancouver, I did research on farming it out for rust repair, and quickly learned that for the labor cost of one quarter panel replacement, I could pick up a welding set up/tool to do it myself, so I dove head first into metal repair/body work. Since I have not welded before, I've decided to practiced on scrap pieces of sheet metals first, then welded on the car where pretty welds are not required, such as floor pans and trunk pan. Repaired rear floor pan http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/DSCN0355.jpg http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/DSCN0360.jpg Repaired trunk pan http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/DSCN0414.jpg http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/DSCN0417.jpg |
Now that I was comfortable with the welder, I tackled the quarters. The pass side got a full quarter, and driver side got a skin. I also replaced the piece between the trunk and rear window. I used SEM panel bonding adhesive on the full quarter and the trunk filler piece.
Pass quarter removed http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/DSCN0506.jpg http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/DSCN0634.jpg http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/DSCN0504.jpg Pass quarter mocked up http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/DSC_0028.jpg Driver side quarter removed http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ofDSC_0030.jpg New skin screwed in place http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ofDSC_0111.jpg Welded. http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ofDSC_0177.jpg Replaced trunk filler piece http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/DSCN0055.jpg http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/DSCN0057.jpg |
Started on the bodywork
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/DSCN0398.jpg http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/DSCN0400.jpg http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/DSCN0394.jpg http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/DSCN0464.jpg Worked on the gap between the trunk lid and the filler panel between the trunk and rear window http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/DSCN0517.jpg http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/DSC_0112.jpg Removed the sub frame and had it blasted http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/DSCN0592.jpg |
Car with all the sheet metal back on. I repaired the original doors with patches, patched the rust hole on the DS fender, and used repo fender on the pass side.
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/DSCN0657.jpg http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/DSCN0654.jpg Sprayed primer on the car in my garage. http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/DSC_0118.jpg http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/DSC_0117.jpg Wet sanded http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/wetsand4.jpg http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/wetsand3.jpg http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/wetsand1.jpg http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/DSC_0219.jpg |
Since I have not painted a car before, I decided to farm out the final paint/clear coat.
On the trailer to the paint shop http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/P1000042.jpg Painted http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/P1000346.jpg http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/P1000345.jpg http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/P1000342.jpg http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/P1000341.jpg |
I got lucky as one week after I had the car painted, the paint shop got burned down.
Had the Pontiac engine rebuilt at AC Nutter in Vancouver, Wa http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/P1000347.jpg AC tried to talk me into going LS engine, but I was restoring it to semi stock so I had him rebuilt the block with forged internals/roller cam etc... :G-Dub: http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/P1000734.jpg |
Car is looking good! Kudos for taking on the sheetmetal work! I couldn't bring myself to do that portion of it.
**Edit** Answered before I could post! |
Dynamatted the car (3 boxes total), replaced all wiring with American Autowire, put front/rear disc brakes from an 02 Firebird in the car. Installed VA a/c, Mark 8 fan, Hotchkis subframe connectors.
Got the car running and entered it in a car show in Vancouver, WA. That was back in 2011. Almost 3 years after I started. http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/P1010807.jpg |
September 2011 we decided to move to Houston from rainy NW. The wife and kids left first with the movers. They left me a couch/table/TV and my tools in the garage.
One month later, I found a job in Houston and joined the family. My Firebird on a trailer somewhere in eastern Oregon, with the Uhaul packed to the roof with my tools/stuff from the garage. http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/DSC_0370.jpg |
The car at its new home in Houston. In 2012, I put in Gear Vendor O/D, Dakota Digital VHX gauges (awesome piece), and drove the car around for almost a year.
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/P1020116.jpg |
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Nice work! |
Very nice job.....lots of work and labor of love. I find it so peaceful in my garage working (when things are going well lol)
I saw in Dales' build that you may have ended up doing the LS swap? (5.7 litre isn't the 400) Anyways, looks great......Mike |
Fast forward to 2013. After driving the car with the Pontiac combo for a year, I grew tired of the fuel smell/exhaust leak. I couldn't get the car to run right. Out of frustration, I pulled the combo out and decided to do an LS swap.
Sold the Pontiac drivetrain and found a complete 5.3/4l60e drop out from a 2001 pick up truck. http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psf6ed84f2.jpg http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps8bcc7245.jpg http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...pse1cf25c2.jpg |
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Also seen in the back ground is a 68 Mustang project that I picked up after moving to Houston. Sold the Mustang to fund the LS swap.
Did some research and settled on DSE LS swap mounts/Dynatech headers http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps98028c0d.jpg Mast oil pan. For the price Mast was asking, I was expecting the casting to be a little bit better. The casting on pan I received was a bit rough, but it fit great. http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps0b51c0a9.jpg Engine/trans mocked up in the car http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps62eb0c73.jpg http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps2a23fbc9.jpg |
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I saw on several DSE builds an access panel was created for the fuel pump access so I copied the idea. It did not come out as nice as DSE but it works. Now if I need to change the fuel pump, it's a 15 min job without dropping the tank.
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psfb07766b.jpg http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps1ea2c93a.jpg http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps090eac45.jpg http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps3581c8ec.jpg |
Got BMR crossmember
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps31a25476.jpg http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psea380e9b.jpg Corvette filter/regulator http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps1b602224.jpg Swagelok an to hardline adaptor http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps3604abb4.jpg Filter installed, and wrapped up fuel tank/line installation http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps1ddc64d5.jpg Mounted Finch dual vent next to the relocated battery. http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps9705fd26.jpg |
Got new wiring harness and LS1 ECU from PSI Conversion.
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps99f0a20c.jpg I ran leak down test on the engine, and found the numbers to be acceptable so decided to leave the engine as is. Did a quick Pontiac blue rebuild job http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psc7a2530a.jpg Shiftworks 4l60e shifter conversion kit http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps23db2149.jpg Rebuilt shifter with new bushings/neutral safety switch/shifter detent http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psd8feaa46.jpg http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps0927096d.jpg |
I converted the PCV system to the newer LS6 style. The new LS6 valley cover with the built in PCV next to the original one.
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psa52ea03e.jpg Removed the old one and install the new style valley cover. Reinstalled knock sensors and done. A quick 30 min. job. http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps541831b1.jpg http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psd739fe72.jpg |
Picture of the engine bay with Holley accessory brackets, LS1 intake/fuel rails, truck coils
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psabe5f750.jpg I had to bend the fuel inlet rail slightly to clear the taller truck coils http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...pse8544ed3.jpg Swapped in a tilt column from Jim at gmtilt.com. Very nice piece. http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps9b2a4406.jpg Also made a bracket to mount the ECU behind the pass side headlights. http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps3e17d88a.jpg http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps85a4c8cf.jpg New 3.5" aluminum driveshaft from Inland Empire. http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps1aaa7c15.jpg http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps07586ef5.jpg |
New al. radiator with dual Meradyne fans.
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...pscadcf466.jpg Found this little gem on ebay to tap to the radiator hose for the steam vent. http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psf4756965.jpg Picture of the engine bay. http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps4c512046.jpg That's kind of bringing the thread up to date. First shakedown run https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjOJSlDODWs I have been driving the car off/on for about 3 weeks now, putting a total of 200 miles on her. I have to recharge the AC, go over the car, and get her ready for Cruisin the Coast. |
OK, how to you embed youtube video in your posts?
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I haven't tried it yet, but this is how sieg showed me how to do it:
Mike, need to open the video in YouTube then click share, copy the link, paste it in you post, delete the = sign and all characters left of it, highlight the remaining characters and click on the filmstrip icon to wrap them with [youtube] tags. |
let's try the youtube link again
Edit, it worked. Thanks glassman. |
I put a total of 300 miles since the swap. The car performed flawlessly. Drove it to work yesterday, and got the windows tinted aferwork. Made a huge difference in the interior temperature.
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps12cafe8f.jpg |
Some quick update on the car.
I have Dynatech headers and DSE motor mounts on the car. The headers fit very well, but they hang way too low. In talking with Greg at Dynatech, and looking at photos of Ridetech's Velocity, which was used to develop the headers, it turned out that I had the mounts backwards. So I spent the last week lifting the motor up and flipped the mounts around. DSE mounts I had installed initially. http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps62eb0c73.jpg The mounts flipped around. http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps21fec192.jpg http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psd971cdb2.jpg Ground clearance before http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...pse9922b91.jpg After. The headers tuck up a bit more. I gained prob 1.5" of additional clearance, which what I needed. http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps69970d6d.jpg http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...psda6bafe5.jpg http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps59af379d.jpg http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps7d174c45.jpg The car is still on jack stands so I have not measured the ground clearance just yet. |
Looks great man! Nice work.
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Plans to take it to Cars and Coffee? I may join this weekend and would love to check this car out.
William |
Clearance looks much better after the swap of the adapter plates. I am actually surprised it made that much of a difference but glad it did.
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nice car, how do you like the apples to oranges comparisons
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Yea not sure I'm making this one either. C&C has quite a few classics usually, just mostly high end cars parking inside Vintage Park now. Need to get a big group to get there early and secure some spots for the old cars! Like to see them making more of a presence.
When does Nifty Fifties start back up? I need to hit that up again. Been a while. William |
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Drove the car around the block yesterday afternoon. Pretty stoked that my exhaust cleared the driveway, but now the belt is squealing like a pig.:hairpullout: Also fixed the parking brake on my LS1 rear brake. So I have working parking brake now. |
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Where's the new location for Nifty Fifties, or are they still at the old location in Kroger's parking lot?
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The headers fit a lot better that way.
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I purchased an SC&C Street Comp Stage 1 plus from Marcus and full set of Ridetech HQ shocks back in thanksgiving of last year, but now finally had time to put them all together.
SPC upper and lower control arms http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps6f68c1af.jpg One side installed (missing the shocks) http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps56d89134.jpg Now just have to do an alignment. Got a Lat-g decal from Jody. http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps8791417f.jpg |
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