"BLACK WIDOW" 68 Firebird MetalWorks Pro-Touring build
 

We just took in this 1968 pro-touring build. Our customer assembled a lot of great parts including a new Butler Performance engine, but then, like many projects it sat...so he sent it our way. The body has a LONG battle ahead of it, but are excited to see this one on the road.

Here is the 68 as it arrived...

P.S. We are calling it the "Black Widow" as we found 3 living Black Widows living inside it when we prepped it for acid dipping...1 male, and 2 females.

Tell us more! What's the overall plan for this car?
...are those bullet holes in the drivers door?

Sweet love to see some black Firebirds. Too bad you couldn't encase one of those black widows in some sort of resin and CNC a shifter ball out of it...

Are you going to put a 69 TA hood on it?

Wow, that's a cool idea!

Black Widow
 

Ha ha...no bullet holes...drilled holes from a previous attempt at pulling a dent out of the door...we will be re-skinning the doors.

The plan for the 68 is a Pro-Touring car, it will be running a Butler Performance engine backed by a TREMEC T-56 six speed tranny with a Centerforce DYAD dual clutch, all Ridetech suspension, Forgeline wheels tucked inside Detroit Speed mini-tubs, and big 14" Wilwood brakes on all 4 corners...should be a really fun build, and a great performing car.

Acid dipping
 

The first thing we did was send the 68 off to our acid dipping facility to get us to ground zero before starting the metal work.

Subscribing. Can't wait to see what you do with it.

I'm going to be following this one.

Removal of damaged panels
 

The 68's main body shell had a great deal of damage...everything from dents, to rust, to poor attempts at bodywork by previous individuals. So we got busy removing panels...when we were done, the passenger rear quarter was about all that remained for external sheet metal...Here is day 1 of removal.

More sheet metal removal
 

Here is after day 2 of sheet metal removal...we also melted out the factory lead, and removed the inner wheel tubs as we intend to install Detroit Speed mini-tubs.

You guys have been busy! What brand of Sheetmetal will you guys install on this car? Can't wait to see more...

Replacement panels
 

We are using http://www.autometaldirect.com/ panels

Thanks for following the build

Installing the Ridetech "Bolt-On-4-Link"
 

We opted to both bolt, and weld in our mount pts for our Ridetech 4 link kit.

Mini-tub install
 

Here we are installing the drivers side mini-tub allowing for a nice size rear tire within the wheel well.

Really appreciate seeing the work in progress photos, thanks for sharing.

Me too, I am getting ready to install my ridetech 4 link so this is GREAT!!!

The four link cradle is looking good. I bolted my cradle in and had Dan Holohan weld it in. After putting it in and bolting it down I just felt better getting it welded. Car is coming along nicely.

Thanks
 

Thanks guys...glad the build pics are helping out.

Sheet metal mock up
 

Now it's time to start putting some sheet metal back on this naked bird...here we are mocking up the replacement pieces.

Looking good guys! Let us know how the new panels fit.

I really love seeing this kind of quality work being done!

Beautiful job guys. Nice updates.

Replacement panels
 

Thanks for the input guys...the replacement panels actually worked out really nice...they are "Auto Metal Direct" brand.

Door skins
 

We replaced both door skins...good amount of work, but they came out really nice.

Nicely done! Keep at it! :thumbsup:

Thanks a lot...

Sheet metal replacement
 

With the doors done, we got busy replacing the rest of the 68's sheet metal.

That's quite a lot of work to resurrect this 68!

Question: how do you plan on keeping the rust from starting again? Seems from the pics that you guys are putting on the panels without etching primer ... is there a coating on the car now?

Just curious ... love the pics!

Michael

Along similar lines....

When you spot weld two panels together, the top side I can see is usually bare. Is the backside bare or do you have weld thru primer on it or do you leave the EDP coating on it ? and the 2nd panel below it, same question, is it bare, EDP, weld thru primer - Do you leave a coating on the back panel and then just scratch/drill it away through the welding hole ?

Love to see the skeleton dressed and looking good, I know from experience though what the photos don't show are hours of lining up panels in 3 dimensions.

Everything will get epoxy primed and seam sealed once the panels are in place, so no moisture will get in.

Glad you are enjoying the pics!!

I saw this same thing... Not going to argue the point, but I always used weld thru primer on everything before putting stuff back together. Bare metal WILL rust. I don't care whether it gets wet - there's moisture in the air.

Rain gutter removal
 

We removed the drip rails for a smooth and modern look.

Keep them coming, Please

There is many more on their website ...

Thanks guys...yeah, if you want to check out more of our projects in the works, here is our website: http://www.metalworksclassics.com/

Thanks!!!

Door gaps
 

Next we built up the rear quarters to get a nice door gap.

Door gaps 2
 

Final of the passenger side...

Nice!

Tail pan install
 

After some measuring we found the tail pan had been pushed in at some point in its life...so it was decided to replace it. Here are some pics of the removal.

Body off to epoxy primer
 

Taking the body to the paint shop for some epoxy.