Project Tomahawk: 1967 Pontiac Firebird 400

[atomicjoe23]

I've been working on disassembling the front end of the car. . .I mentioned I had the Energy Suspension polyurethane bushing kit, new Moog upper/lower front control arm ball joints, and inner/outer tie rod ends, as well as solid 7075-T6 aluminum subframe/body mounts I machined.

I now also have my front shocks (Koni Classic adjustables), front coils (722# coils), new 1.5" taller spindles (with a 2" drop) to improve the camber curve. . .waiting to get installed.

I just placed my order for Koni Classic adjustable rear shocks, and Kore 3 GM Short Spinlde C5/C6 325mm (12.8" rotor) big brake kit with Kore billet hubs (w/the 1/2"-20 ARP wheel studs) and billet grease cap, C6 calipers, Centric 120 rotors (for now), and Hawk HP Plus pads. I also have a set of Corvette ZR-1/Camaro SS 5-spoke wheels (17" x 9") with 265/40ZR17 (front) and 275/40ZR17 (rear) tires.

Once the billet hubs and brake rotors show up I will be taking measurements and machining wheel spacers so the front wheels will fit. . .probably make them out 6061-T6 aluminum initially. . .

What I have left to figure out is what rate I want for the front anti-sway bar and to save up a little more money for a DSE rear leaf spring relocation/multi-leaf conversion kit and rear mini-tubs and the rear disc brake upgrade. . .I will be running a Kore3 C5/C6 disc brake set-up on the rear as well. I plan on adding DSE subframe connectors this year as well.

I plan to run with this set-up until sometime next year when I have more driving time under my belt and some more money saved up to upgrade the front end to the ATS AFX aluminum spindles, DSE upper/lower control arms with JRi coilovers and I will have had time to design a 3-link rear with a Watt's linkage and JRi coilovers there as well.

Disassembly pictures aren't very exciting, but I should have made enough progress to start posting pictures of the new upgrades getting installed by next weekend. . .takes a while to get all these 49 year old joints/fasteners apart!!!

[atomicjoe23]

Finally got the whole front suspension apart. . .man 49 year old fasteners can be a real PITA!!!!

Now I have to clean everything up, paint or powdercoat what is going back on (upper/lower control arms, center link, and idler arms), and get ready to install the new parts and put everything back together. . .

[WSSix]

Making progress is good. Keep it up! It'll be done before you know it.

[atomicjoe23]

I'll post some pic's up once all the brake stuff shows up and I have everything else cleaned up. . .

[Tuske427]

Sweet ride!

[atomicjoe23]

Got new long pitman arm, long idler arm, inner tie rod ends, and DSE tie rod adjusting sleeves ordered today. . .list of parts still to be ordered just got VERY small; probably just a few odds and ends (hoses, hose clamps, etc.) that pop up as I'm going through stuff.

Parts should be here Wednesday and brake stuff will hopefully show up Friday from Kore3 which will make for a busy weekend for me!

[atomicjoe23]

Pretty much everything has come in. . .everything from Kore3 (GMSS Big Brake kit with 12.8" x 1.26" C6 rotors and C6 4-piston calipers, billet grease cap, SS flexible lines, caliper brackets, Hawk HP Plus pads, and ARP screw-in 1/2"-20 wheel studs) showed up on Thursday. . .I've got to say the Kore3 hubs look GREAT and were well worth the wait!!!

Right now I'm waiting for new motor mounts to show up from Jeg's and then everything I have ordered will be here. . .

. . .as soon as I finish putting the tranny back in my DD Ranger (clutch finally gave up the ghost after 190,000 miles on Sunday) I will be able to start installing the parts.

I'm planning on posting pictures of the new parts and the new parts with the old parts prior to install this weekend!