1971 Firebird Build ("The Other Woman", a.k.a. Project "T.O.W.")

[carbuff]

So when last I wrote, Kevin was graciously attempting to help me with my shaker issue. Since that time, Eric and I have seemingly hit road block after road block trying to get this car to the point of taking a first test drive. It's not anyone's fault, it's just the nature of tying up loose ends...

I'll split these posts up so as not to write a novel!

First, on the shaker... I've now purchased 3 different shaker bases to try and find one that will work on my car, or at least one that we could easily modify to work. The WFO wasn't even close... The drop just wasn't nearly enough, and even if we dropped it more, the side wall height wasn't tall enough to raise the shaker enough. So that one was ruled out quickly (I had already taken the chance and ordered it, so that ones on me).

Next I ordered the PTFB 2" tall unit. This one drops 2" from the carb flange, then the side height is 2", bringing it basically back level at the shaker ring mount. This one was low enough, but we discovered that the filter is too tall inside this unit, and it hits my early-style shaker. I could perhaps get a shorter filter, but I'm already worried about having enough airflow through this thing.

So I called PTFB back up and ordered the 2.5" tall unit. With this one, we were able to position the shaker where we needed it height-wise! When we did, we realized that we needed to angle it relative to the carb flange for it to sit better relative to the hood (the original Pontiac intake manifold was milled at an angle to handle this under the carb). Thankfully the PTFB base had enough material to allow us to angle grind the ring where it sits on the throttle body to achieve the angle we needed.

But the next issue (which I also knew we had) was that the engine sits closer to the firewall, so the shaker was touching the hood opening when we closed the hood. So Eric cut out the base and moved the base 3/4" foreward relative to the throttle body. This puts the filter really close to the side wall of the shaker base in the back, but gets the shaker where we needed it.

Once done, the next problem is the opening between the shaker itself and the filter lid. There's maybe 3/8" opening all the way around the lid to the shaker! There's no way that's going to be enough air to feed this engine. After much deliberation, we decided that we had to cut holes into the shaker base. Unfortunately, there's not a good way to do this with a dimple die, so we just cut round holes. 25 of them to be exact, spaced at 2" around the circumference. That will pull in air from the engine compartment, but hot air is better than no air at all.

I had also decided to try using one of the K&N X-Stream filter lids. I've read mixed opinions on them, but again, non-optimal air flow is better than no air flow. :\ Unfortunately, after I overnighted one to test it last night, I discovered tonight that it's not going to fit. It hits the shaker base AND the shaker. Just not going to work...

In the end, I've come to the conclusion that I will probably have to remove the shaker and use a standard air filter for track events when I care about making max power. I just don't think there's going to be enough available air flow otherwise. However, what I will do is try all of the different combinations on a chassis dyno to see what the difference between them is.

So after all of that, here is a picture of the final product. I'm taking it to be powder coated tomorrow to clean is up. I haven't decided on the color yet, but it will be black or grey...



And the hood/shaker:

[carbuff]

As part of trying to get the height of the shaker base down far enough to clear the hood, I was told a while back that Accel makes a throttle body that is about 1/4" shorter than the unit which I have. While I wasn't excited about shelling out the $$$ for another TB when I have a perfectly workable one, I needed the 1/4". Especially after moving up to the 2.5" height shaker base.

Then the problem became finding one. I called Accel directly, and they are out of stock for 3 - 4 weeks! They gave me a couple of dealer names, but they also were out. Then I randomly decided to check on Amazon. Sure enough, one was listed as in-stock. I emailed the vendor, and he said they have one. So I ordered it.

It arrived, and I was all excited, until Eric informed me that the IAC plastic housing was broken. The box had been dropped, apparently right onto the IAC, and it shattered the plastic. It wasn't usable. Sigh...

So I called Accel to ask about a possible replacement, and the tech support guy (who acted like he could care less about helping me) gave me a part # for the replacement. When I looked it up on Summit, it's a completely different style of part. It's a screw in unit, and this one attaches with 2 screws. Great...

Eric then went hunting, and he somehow found one that matched based on a picture found on Google! Isn't the internet awesome?! It was listed as a Mercruiser part, and was pretty pricey. So in parallel, I contacted the seller of the TB. Turns out this was the only one they had in stock, so they too were out for 3 - 4 weeks. Ugh!

Long story shorter, Eric found the IAC was also used in several GM applications, and sure enough, the local O'Reilly's AutoParts store had one in stock! $65 later, we had a replacement to solve this problem.

This was a lot of trouble to go through to save 1/4" in shaker height! We have worked HARD to have a functional shaker on this car!!!

[carbuff]

Here's another fun one...

Since we installed the suspension in the car, we've had some interference issues with the rear coilovers and the Watt's link mounts. At full compression, the top spring hat rubs against the mount. It's slight, but enough to be concerning, especially when I'm driving hard and leaning the car.

So we finally decided that a shorter set of springs would be the best bet. The ones I received from Jake were 10" long. Some hunting around turned up some 8" units, and we decided that those would be the perfect length. We also decided we needed a little more drop on the front coilover, so I went to purchase all 4.

Again, a little Googling turned up a dealer on eBay who carried both spring rates at a good price. It seems that the other dealers had one rate or the other, but not both. So, thinking it would be easier to purchase from one source, I ordered from the eBay place. Done, right?

Later that night, I get an email from the vendor that they were out of one of the sets. Ugh... So I tell them to cancel that set, and send me the ones they have. I then order the other pair from Speedway.

Done, again, right?

Nope... I get an email from them again the next morning that they contacted the manufacturer directly, and they had both rates, so they are going to drop ship them to me. Wait, I've already ordered the others! No! Several more emails, and I finally resolve this... Just another little hassle that starts to add up when you are trying to get the loose ends resolved!

[carbuff]

Another fun story... Since we were stalled in other areas, Eric tried to install the wiper arms/blades. But they wouldn't like up correctly. The key for the driver's side arm was causing the arm to be way out of position... We must have spent an hour turning the motor on / off and watching the rotating cam do its thing. We finally determined that it wasn't parking. I pulled out the directions, and I definitely ordered the recessed park version of the setup. But it's not 'recessing'. We checked all of the wiring, the cam, everything we could to see if something wasn't right. But to the best of our ability to check, it all seems ok...

The next day, Eric called DSE. After a long conversation, they determine it's either broken or not a recessed park motor. So he packs it up and ships it off to them. Nothing they can do until they have it. Unfortunately they also want the wiring harness since, if they have to replace it, it will be with a newer version of the setup. That means the gauges / switches / AC ducts have to come out (we had just finished installing them the day before).

[GregWeld]

Ah if it wasn't for hot rodding parts -- where would we all be?!?!


It's looking good Bryan!

[carbuff]

One more for ya...

After installing the package tray, and having to cut it to fit around the speakers and roll bar, I've never been happy with how it looked. Eric agreed, so we pulled it out. This time I ordered the 'mesh' version which has a textured finish and openings for the speakers which act as "grills". I thought this would look better, and we could get rid of the big-assed grills under the back window, which really feel out of place.

I ordered it up from Classic, and it came in last Wednesday. Saturday we pull it out of the box, and discover that the big create in the cardboard box was also transferred to the tray itself. Yep, it's creased! Unusable...

Thankfully, a phone call to Classic has another one on the way. They were good about it, and I was worried since their website policy says all damage must be reported within 2 days. Technically, this was 3. But they handled it smoothly, UPS picked up the damaged one today, and we should have the new one by Friday. That way we can start wrapping up the interior which is stalled due to this...

[carbuff]

On a slightly more uplifting note, we have gotten some other things taken care of in between all of these little issues...

On my side, I think I have FINALLY finished both Dynamating and wiring the car. After some deliberation, I decided that I want the trunk to be carpeted. And if I was going to do that, I may as well Dynamat under the carpet. So I spent Saturday afternoon laying the Extreme and Dynaliner in the trunk floor. Eric is going to lay the carpet sometime soon. It will finish out the trunk much nicer than the bare metal.

And Monday night, I managed to wire up the front lights. It took me a TON of time to do it all and keep the wiring as hidden as I could. The ol' addage of measuring twice, cut one came into play. But it was more like measuring 10 times before cutting! And just when I thought I had the driver's side done, Eric points out that the horns on this car mount on the driver's side instead of in the middle like I recall them doing on a Camaro. Great, time to pull the horn wire out and cut off all the fancy wire wrapping I just did to route the stupid horn wire. It all turned out great though, and thankfully everything worked the first time.

Eric has been wrapping up more loose ends also. He made some heavy brackets to finish attaching the SFC's to the front subframe. Even though the SFC's are welded into the floor, I didn't have the subframe installed at the same time, and I ultimately wanted to unbolt it if ever necessary. That also all ties into the JRS torque arm mount and transmission mount, so this required some sturdy pieces.

Oh, and give the car's name of TOW, tow hooks were a necessity! I picked up a couple from:

http://www.racecartowhooks.com/

I got the uncoated blanks. For now, I'm not going to install a real 'hook' on the rear, but I'm using 2 short ones on the coilover lower mounts which will act as tie downs should I ever trailer the car. We did install one on the front though. It comes off the bottom of the frame and through the lower valence. They are going to the powder coater tomorrow, and I hope to install them this weekend. I'll get pics then.

The console is in the car also! I decided the one I had was a little too rough, especially with the new dash, so I ordered a reproduction. As with most repro items, it took some work from Eric to make it fit correct up under the dash. The fact that the tunnel is raised about 2" also made it a little challenging. But it's in, along with the shifter handle and knob:



(man the camera makes things look worse than they do in person! that console lid and ash tray look way off, but not in person)

The rear seat has been narrowed, so it's ready to go now.

I'm sure there's more that I'm forgetting, but those are the big updates for now. Hopefully we will be able to make some progress as things role in later this week again!

[carbuff]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

Ah if it wasn't for hot rodding parts -- where would we all be?!?!

You got that right!

It's looking good Bryan!

Thanx! I'm feeling the need for a little encouragement right about now! The end is so close, but it keeps teasing me! Where's the dangling carrot emoticon?

[RussMurco]

Looks fantastic, I can't wait to see this one rolling!
You know us Firebird owners are cheering you on!

[gerno]

Looking good. I'm impressed with how persistent you are. I'm pretty sure I would have pulled it off the stands and taken it for a least a short test run.