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

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by carbuff

Mike,

Funny you ask... We definitely got poured on yesterday in FW. And unfortunately, I realized that my windows are not sealing well to the upper window seals. I don't blame the seal, I think they are actually GM pieces (I did not replace them during this build), but instead the adjustment of the window itself. At the top of the closing, the glass is kicking in too far and too high at the front, which is causing the back to not seal as well as it should. I need to pull the door panel and adjust it again...

I haven't heard very good things about the reproduction seals either unfortunately which is one reason I didn't pull these. They aren't in great shape, but they should still seal ok given their condition.

I replaced the glass on the car during the build, and I think I ended up with Pilkington pieces if I recall correctly. I'm actually on the hunt for a new windshield now, mine has a crack and needs to be replaced. I'll try to get one ordered this week, but they aren't cheap by the time you include shipping...

In all of my years of adjusting this stuff -- and my early years (actually during the time when this stuff was NEW! UGH) working in a body shop..... we were taught to adjust the windows by putting a dollar bill between the seal and the window... if you could still pull the dollar bill out without tearing it --- that was a good seal. Too tight and you have problems.

[ironworks]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

In all of my years of adjusting this stuff -- and my early years (actually during the time when this stuff was NEW! UGH) working in a body shop..... we were taught to adjust the windows by putting a dollar bill between the seal and the window... if you could still pull the dollar bill out without tearing it --- that was a good seal. Too tight and you have problems.

Who can risk tearing a dollar bill in half these days?

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by ironworks

Who can risk tearing a dollar bill in half these days?

I switched to using 100's..... using the savings from not eating at the good Texas BBQ places.

[ironworks]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

I switched to using 100's..... using the savings from not eating at the good Texas BBQ places.

The Salt Lick is over rated, or so I hear.

[glassman]

Originally Posted by 71RS/SS396

Bryan, this is one of the best descriptions I've seen for the door glass alignment. http://www.nastyz28.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1442321

\

Tim, I did auto glass for 15 years (Grandpa was auto glass, dad was auto glass & i still do a little, very little, & four cars at Pebble Beach) and our 2nd gen doors are amongst the hardest to adjust. If only OEM GM seals were still around. Thats a good write up on nasty, great place too start. I've been in mine three times and on my second set of seals....

So when you get to do this Bryan, lemme know...p.s. I will be there in Texas again for the finally of the Goodguys Road Trip, and will hopefully be on the autocross there!!!!

On the windshield, just have a local quality shop do it, there pretty easy for them, you should be in the 200 to 250 neighborhood.....

[Panteracer]

Bryan,
sounds like things are starting to come around
on your car....changing the springs in the front
back? Why??

Leaking windows... I am toying with pulling mine
to try to save some weight.. at 3710 lbs something
has to go.. so rain won't matter then

Keep after it... like you said it is all about
having fun and running the car

Panteracer Norcal Bob.. with the 70 TA Clone

[EVO]

Bryan, Awesome firebird you got there. If youre ever driving it down around Seguin, Id love to check it out. I just got a 70 Lucerne blue TA that I plan on resto-modding sometime soon. Come on by anytime.

Evan Q.
413 Beechcraft Lane
Seguin Tx 78155
2106215165

[Flash68]

Great showing Bryan!

So you are switching it to a 550/500 spring setup next? Interesting....

I will be starting out with the Jake suggested 700/500 setup with mine.

[chichirone]

Bryan, a few of us wondered what happened to TOW and you on Sunday. It was down right frigid with the temps and wind so we all just figured you were "smarter" than us and packed up and headed south.

The track was dusty and slippery so more of a drifting event sunday morning but ALOT of fun to just be out there banging around the cones. You missed a pretty killer new gen mustang that had an incredible exhaust, huge wing, bolt on flares that was more race car than street car that won the All American Sunday class. Would have been fun to watch under better conditions but the dude couldn't get the power down.

I hope you get the miss figured out and it is only an O2 sensor. It appears I have a fuel delivery issue. I have a feeling the shop that installed my gas tank installed the wrong part because anytime i dropped below a half tank of gas the hesitation/miss was back. I need to go back and look at my parts list and ensure they bought the correct tank.

I look forward to hang in with ya in the fall and joining TOW with our 73. We will have to get you out to Rodeo Goat in Ft. Worth for a Whiskey Burger and a Moontang. We can even invite Greg!

Glad you made it home safely to Austin. Let me know if you decide to head back up for the USCA event.

[carbuff]

Originally Posted by Panteracer

Bryan,
sounds like things are starting to come around
on your car....changing the springs in the front
back? Why??

Originally Posted by Flash68

So you are switching it to a 550/500 spring setup next? Interesting....

I will be starting out with the Jake suggested 700/500 setup with mine.

I actually haven't decided what I'm going to do yet... I'm in a bit of information overload at the moment, and I need track time with the ability to experiment to really know what to do.

I think I have a few things going on that need to be sorted. One thing was that the front end of the car was too high. We just didn't have time to adjust it with me sitting in the car before I left. That, combined with the stiff springs meant that I wasn't getting any decent weight transfer to the front of the car. So my braking and turning both suffered on the tight auto-x course. I was pushing badly in a few turns.

I have a feeling, and I'm still trying to figure this out, that the 700/500 is a perfect recommendation for the bigger tracks that you plan to run Dave. Of course I will do some as well. But I'm thinking that for the small auto-x, a softer spring may be better to get some grip in the front when I'm really slowing the car down.

I met JJ from JRi shocks, and he spent a lot of time talking with me on Friday. He watched me run, and he was the one that noted several of the things that may be wrong. He also commented that I was WAY more sprung than the other cars he was working with (DSE, Hobaugh, others). Of course the suspensions are different, but not THAT different.

I want to experiment with moving the Watt's pivot, and soften back up the front springs. I'm not sure what I'll do with the back yet.

The biggest problem is I have no idea when I'll get to hit a track again. The next local auto-x is at the end of April (at least one I can make). I REALLY wish I could get back to Fort Worth for USCA this weekend, but it's not going to happen.