Brendon's '67 Firebird thread

[waynieZ]

Slow but steady counts too. I hope the axle fix goes easy for you.

[Tuske427]

Originally Posted by 67rstbkt

I love what you've done to this Firebird! Keep the updates coming
Are those US Mag wheels? What are the specs on them?

Thanks, will do. Yeah, these are the US mags- the forged ones. I think it's becoming a trend They are 18x9 front and 18x12 rear.

Originally Posted by waynieZ

Slow but steady counts too. I hope the axle fix goes easy for you.

Thanks, yeah I hope so, too.

[67rstbkt]

Originally Posted by Tuske427

Thanks, will do. Yeah, these are the US mags- the forged ones. I think it's becoming a trend They are 18x9 front and 18x12 rear.

Very Nice! I wasn't aware they made them in Forged. I've got my set stored in the attic - almost forgot what they looked like.

[Tuske427]

Originally Posted by 67rstbkt

Very Nice! I wasn't aware they made them in Forged. I've got my set stored in the attic - almost forgot what they looked like.

Well one issue you won't have with the cast versions is what I discovered last weekend- that the inner halves of my rims don't match! whoever built them mixed and matched both soft lip and traditional lip on the inner rears. So back they went. It was a 3 lb weight difference, too. grrr.

quick update- in addition to sending off my rears to be rebuilt I do have the glass in now, I got the brakes bleed after having to make a new flare. It just kept leaking hard and after dis assembly it was cracked. Then onto the clutch to bleed that and that too gave me fits. I replaced the slave cylinder and that at least allowed fluid to pump through but it was still a dead pedal despite continuous bleeding. The solve was using a Mighty Vac unit and sucking up air out through the top. Worked like a charm. I had this tool for over ten years and this was the first time it proved useful. yay.

Also welded in tabs for the seatbelts, installed them and the seats, too. I had to lower the driver side a bit as it was too tall and I was hitting my head on the roof just sitting in the car. Sometime later I'll do this for the passenger side. Maybe when I take the seats back out to add the 5th belt slot in the seat. I won't need this until a track day, which will still be a while from now. With the lowered seat brackets I needed to make a special wrench to access the bolts. I may think about a better way to mount these as this is a PITA as it is.

I have a driveshaft on order, and that will take 4 weeks. Opted for a carbon fiber one. In the meantime I'll test the electornics as I can't really start this without the shaft/ fluid in the trans. So close now.

[waynieZ]

That's quite the wrench right there! I have a 9/16" wrench I ground down to install a starter in my 69 Z/28 in 1972 and it saved me many other times as well. As long as they work! That's something about the rim barrels. We're they both the correct back space? I hope you get them back quick.

[Tuske427]

Originally Posted by waynieZ

That's quite the wrench right there! I have a 9/16" wrench I ground down to install a starter in my 69 Z/28 in 1972 and it saved me many other times as well. As long as they work! That's something about the rim barrels. We're they both the correct back space? I hope you get them back quick.

Yeah, I'd like to redesign the seat rails so I wouldn't need such a funky wrench, and get the seats even lower. I'm thinking of cutting down the seat frames in the car itself, too.

RE: wheels- Yes, the dimensions were good (or at least I didn't notice any weird unequal fitment issues), but whoever built them just didn't match them up. And it was a 3lb weight difference, too. It is supposed to be ready this Thursday which means I could pick it up Friday after work.

[Spiffav8]

Oh Snap! You've made some awesome progress the last few months! Looking good!!