My 71 Firebird - untamable
 

Here's a few pics of my 71 bird that's been a love hate battle since we met. It's currently Ls3 4L60e powered with Ridetech suspension, Wilwood brakes, etc. Trying to make a comfortable, daily drivable, amateur corner carver out of this thing. Not sure it's going to happen without a battle.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...AC9E710EBE.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...A5A9BFA63B.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...4/IMG_1682.jpg

You gotta share more man. Interior, backstory, etc.

I dig Pontiacs and I'm not alone.

A battle? Is that what it's called. More like true love brother! All our cars give us a battle - why we love them. Love the early 2nd gen birds. If money was all around me, and it isn't be one in my short list of cars. I agree with Jim - defenately more pics and back story required. All the best with your build bud, I'll be watching...

Well, I've been a car guy since I could walk and have had a few cars here and there, but when the pro-touring/g-machine thing happened, I knew that's what I wanted. I was never able to really get started putting anything together. I had a few very close calls in a row at work a couple of years ago and r4eally came to understand the 'life's too short' saying.

I started looking around, not too seriously, but had some ideas on what I wanted. I was looking for a 73 mainly because I love Albert Melchoir's car. I stumbled upon this 71 that had a very early Holly TBI injected 400 with a 200R4. We made a deal and it became mine. While it ran good, I soon wanted more.

I again started not too seriously looking for an Ls drivetrain. Came across a wrecked 13,000 mile Corvette and was able to get the motor. I turned to PSi for advice on a trans and harness. Since I didn't want (nor was capable) of cutting the tunnel, a 4L60e was chosen.

I had accumulated a few gift cards from Summit over years of Father's day's, birthdays and Christmases to be able to pick up Holley headers, motor mounts, etc. I was able to get the car running (lot's of 'hey this was supposed to just fit/work' but didn't).

Been battling tuning it as it doesn't run right. Took it to a local well known shop who blamed the harness for a misfire, which actually was the fault of the base tune that was in the car.

The car has Ridetech suspension, Wilwood brakes, DSE body mounts, DSE steering box, Circle wheels, Spectra EFI tank, Griffin radiator (because the BeCool somehow sprung a leak), etc. The interior now has Speedhut gauges and I had Randy Combs redo the bezel (outstanding work and highly recommended). Sue Serafinski did a Formula wheel for me (also awesome work). Otherwise, it's basically not together yet.

I'd like to someday get that all straightened out and be able to afford Vintage Air and a host of other mods, but for now, I'd love to just get it tuned so it'll run as it should. I never thought it would take since February to get it tuned and issues with the suspension sorted out. I know it'll all come together as it should. Just an amateur dad playing around in the garage hoping to enjoy it sooner than later.

here are a few more pics:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...4/IMG_2043.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...4/IMG_1067.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...4/IMG_1065.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...IMG_1509_1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...IMG_1546_1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...IMG_1690_1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...9F21FEBB20.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...1C3A800D3E.jpg

Sounds very familiar! Well you are definitely off to a great start.
The whole car is in front of you (assembled) and its a matter of taking it to the next level of G-machinessssss….:relax:

Very nice, you will have a very good looking car when you get the tune sorted. Like Ummgawa I have an affinity for 2nd gen Firebirds and will be keeping an eye on this one. Hope you get it sorted out and enjoying it soon!

No such thing as too few (oops, MANY!!) pictures.

Nice to see another 'bird! :thumbsup:

Too few? We need MOAR!

Thanks all. Definitely a lot of inspiration on these forums!

Oops, my bad. Post pix man!


MOAR, MOAR, MOAR!!!

Gorgeous car! Sounds like you have a good plan for the car, too.

Can you provide contact information for Randy Combs? I'm trying to find someone who can do a custom gauge panel for my car.

Thanks for the compliments! I'll try and dig up a few more pics.

I can't say enough good things about Randy. His focus is on restoration, but I have heard of him doing some custom stuff as well. He is a one man operation though, so if you need it by a certain date, hopefully he can accommodate you.

http://www.transamdashbezels.com/

I love these cars and yours looks awesome! You've got a great start on yours, don't give up- I wish I had half the stuff you have for my '78 TA!

Keep it up and keep posting pictures!

Wow, gorgeous car. And I never tire of the lines on these cars, they just scream sexy, and have beautiful curves! Excuse me, I'm getting a little emotional, haha.

Here are a couple of the in-progress interior pics.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...FCB4F67A46.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...4561BED1_1.jpg

71 Firebird
 

Great to see another early 2nd gen bird on
the forum.. good looking car..

Bob

Very nice. I have a similar project with a '71 Firebird, so I'm curious on a couple of things. For one, it looks like you have vintage air temperature controls, did you upgrade your heater/air system? Secondly, I'm not sure what size tires you have, but did you mini-tub your rear wheel wells?

thanks....yes it has an older Vintage Air system that was working fine with the original 400. I just never bothered to upgrade the compressor to get it working with the Ls3. They have just come out with a new system for 2nd gen's that finally adds a decent looking control panel. It is on the to do list some day.

The car is mini-tubbed. I originally planned on 335/30/18's back there and just couldn't see how it would fit even though others with my same exact set up have used this size successfully. I wish I would've never tubbed it, since the tires I went with will fit the factory wheel wells easily.

The car is actually too low or I need a panhard bar maybe. When I back into my garage which is barely pitched, the inside tire on the passenger side comes in contact with the upper wheel well in the back and stops the car immediately.

I'd rather not go with a lower profile tire as I really do like the look of a bit more rubber. Been waiting on advice from Ridetech.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...C6F55B6460.jpg

The rears are 275/40/18's.

Awesome car man! I too love Alberts builds. HA!

Great stance. Cool build. Keep the pics coming man.

Im surprised the car sits that low with the 4 link. I was worried my car was going to sit too high.

Definitely too low for me. Needs to go up a bit. Still haven't heard from Ridetech about what they suggest.

Can you adjust the coilovers up some more? If not, you may need a stronger spring in the rear.

There is supposedly some bind going on somewhere. The drivers side rear (which is higher than the passenger side rear) isn't compressed much. The passenger rear is compressed almost fully and is still lower than the drivers side by 1/2" The front is similar but exactly opposite of the rear.

Have you tried placing jack stands under the rear frame rails and using a jack to put the suspension through it's range of motion? You should be able to see the bind doing this.

I haven't. They asked for some measurements and now just waiting on a response.

ok. Hopefully, they come back with some easy fixes.

You have any pics of the rear suspension from underneath the car? What spring rate are you running out back? Which Ridetech shock are you using? It took me a few adjustments on my coil overs and spring rates with help from Ridetech to get the ride height acceptable without rubbing, scraping, and comfortable ride quality.

They are single adjustable shocks. The rear springs are 185. There's nothing in the trunk and some of the interior isn't in the car. It can only get lower as it is now when adding weight.

I'll see if I can find some pics.

Here are a couple.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...386647B12C.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...E674FFD9A2.jpg

I talked to Ron Sutton (great guy!!) about it and he asked for some info including weight. Oddly its very hard finding anyone with scales near me. Hopefully this weekend I should be able to get that info finally.

Aren't those lower coilover mounts adjustable? Just raise them one notch.

Don

The coil over mounts are not adjustable. Only the lower control arms are.

I think they are and I see a hole above where yours are installed. I think you can move the mount up one hole. I know the first gen four bars are able to do this. When I look at the installation instructions your mounts appear to be lower. I don't see the unused hole in the instruction photos.

Don

That block actually can't go up or down. I'll try and get a better pic tomorrow. The lower control arm can move up or down, but it will change the angle of the rear end. Here's another pic I had, but it doesn't really show much else other than the old tires.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...4/IMG_2075.jpg

If it could move up like the first gens you would be in good shape.

Don

It can...I'd guess that it would throw the rear end pinion angle off. That bracket and the control arm can move up. It still wouldn't raise the front at this point. It's definitely something to consider though.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...A8E1EAAB53.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...bae4aca036.jpg

Man...I've got to stop driving this thing around in the rain!

Your coil overs in the rear are set very differently. Was that done in an attempt to correct the height issues or some other reason? How are the fronts adjusted compared to one another?

Yes...to correct the height issue. The fronts are exact opposite of the rear as far as preload goes on the coils. The front passenger has barely any preload compared to the drivers side on the front. I believe there is bind somewhere and have gone over everything a few times with nothing jumping out as obvious. The ride, as you can imagine, is not confidence inspiring by any means.

Well, turns out there may be some issues with my shocks and spring rates. One odd thing I have going on is that there are only 9 clicks available for adjustment instead of 24. Just waiting on Ridetech to see what they want me to do. One disappointing thing so far is that I've talked to a few different support guys and it seems to take forever for them to get back to me after I send them measurements or results based on what they'd like me to try.

Sorry to hear it's not going as smoothly and quickly as you'd like. Hopefully, they can get on it and have it figured out for you soon.