1971 Firebird build thread

[87SS]

Please post a pic of the shop when done and good luck with your eye.

[T_Raven]

Nice shop man. I've always wanted at least a 40x60. Settled for a 27x44 that's attached to my house for now.

[ccm399]

Thanks guys.

Lots of work but I am sure it will be worth all the effort in the end. I won't have "finished" pictures for years but I will keep posting as I get some major milestones accomplished. I plan to get the Bridgeport and Compressor setup tomorrow so I'll probably post up some pics of that. Hopefully I can get a bench built too.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Chris

[ccm399]

So I had a little time to look over the car now that it is in the barn. It turns out that the quarter panels are indeed skins... and NOT properly installed skins at that.

It turns out they lapped the skins over the stock panels about 12" or so AND only tacked the panel on every inch or so. On the plus side that will make removal easier!

Good times...

Chris

[ccm399]

Man has it been a LONG time since I could post an update!!!

Good news I was actually able to work IN the barn rather than ON it!

So I removed the rear axle and the sub-frame:


After that I built a cart for the body:


Then I took off the remaining bolt on stuff:


Then started on those 1/4 skins:


Not pretty!

[ccm399]

Couple more of the 1/4 skin:



Close Up:


As you can see they stitched the skin with a tack weld every inch or so. Great work there... Not so much. I am swamped at work and I have a couple side jobs I have to work on so progress will once again be slow. But hey at least I got to work on her!

[Rick D]

Love the quality work there!!!! Make sure to brace up the rear before you cut off that great metal work!!

[ccm399]

Thanks Rick, I was wondering about that. I have only seen people (shops on here) brace the cars up when the floor is removed. I am not intending on remove the floor just yet.

The other thing I was hoping for is maybe I could correct the 1/4 - 5/16 inch of tweak the body has before re-welding those panels back on. When I dropped the front sub frame there was a 5/16 thick piece of steel between the front mount and the body. When I built my cart I made sure the mounting points were all exactly the same length (height) and when I set the body on the cart that same mounting point is a heavy 1/4 off the cart's post. The floor in my shop was poured level and i have checked it specifically in the spot the car is in and it is good.

I do plan to go get my Dad's laser and double check all the pad heights just to be 100% sure before attempting to correct anything.

Good to be working on it again though!

Chris

[WSSix]

Why brace the car before the quarter is pulled off? Like Chris, I thought that was only done when a structural part is removed. Is the quarter more structural than I think it is?

Glad to see you starting back on the car, Chris. Good luck!

[Vince@Meanstreets]

I wouldn't worry about it if you are just doing a skin. If its out of whack it was done long before you got it.

I've seen some cars with the 5/16" biscuits up front stock. Just make sure your doors and trunk shut ok before than after the work is done.