1971 Firebird build thread

[ccm399]

Hi all,

Just wanted to introduce myself (officially), my name is Chris and I live in northern Ohio. I found this forum a while back but I have been trying to locate a car to start my build..... Well I found her!

Here's a couple pics from last weekend when we got her home.











The rear tail pan needs some work.....

[ccm399]

So the plan is:

LS power!
6l90e trans (paddle shifted hopefully!)
Custom IRS rear suspension
C6 Vette front suspension components (w/drop AM steering arms)
Subtle body mods, nothing too radical
18" Fordgeline Wheels (gotta start saving for those puppies!)
275 front tire 335 rear tire

This will be mostly a garage build except possibly for the chassis. I good friend of mine owns a Chassis shop over in Norton (Pro Street Chassis) and I may take the car over there to get the tubing work done...not sure yet though. Either way I will be doing most of the work myself.

Can't wait to start the project! I KNOW it is going to take 3-5 years to finish (I told my wife that it should be done JUST in time for my mid-life crisis )but getting started soon will mean the completion date will get here sooner rather than later!

I look forward to being more active on this forum.

Chris

[NOT A TA]

Looks like a good starting point for a project! Since that rear pan is rusted you better check the panel behind the fiberglass one between the tail lights they can be tough to find and no one repops them yet as far as I know. Save that Speedo!

[4thechallenge]

What a beauty! And yup that rear panel is terrible and notorious for breaking

[T_Raven]

Nice!

[ccm399]

Thanks guys!

I can't wait to be able to post progress pictures. Now that our deck project is complete (just finished it up Saturday late) I can start working on the car!

I have started to model it in AutoCAD to get the driveline figured out but beyond that I have not had time to do much else.


Thanks for the advice on the speedo! I need to go through everything and see exactly what I have. Anything of value I don't need will be heading to eBay to help pay for the chassis. There were some NIB parts that came with the car too like weather stripping, and window lift motors and things like that.

The price was right though.... All it cost me was the gas money from Ohio to St Louis and back...and some time. It was a nice little road trip for the wife and I. Oh, and about $21.50 to get the title changed into an Ohio title in my name.

Thanks again,

Chris

Does anyone know where I can get a stock '70-73 Nose assembly in the Ohio area?

[ProdigyCustoms]

Very cool, I love those cars.

[fletcherscustoms]

Let me know if I can do anything to help. We are wrapping up a 71 bird and have learned the ins and outs of these cars.

[ccm399]

Thanks for the offer Chad. I have looked over Ty's build thread MANY times! Great work.

Chris

[ccm399]

Well, the wife and I spent the better part of the day at GG Columbus Saturday.... so much to see! Got some good pictures and ideas from the SMOY cars. It was cool to see a '72 Firebird in the ring there!

So now it is time to start tearing the car down for media blast. A good friend of the family has a Media blast room/equipment I can use all I need is the media. So I am knee deep in research about the different medias that are used. I think I am leaning toward Walnut shells or maybe corn cob media for most of the surface and StarBlast or Aluminum Oxide for the rust removal needs.

Oh, and we have decided the rear seat is pretty much pointless (I am 6'7" after all) so I am leaning toward a more "conventional" C5/C6 driveline. Going to go the 6 spd Puddle Shift automatic route....probably... After seeing the way they finished the rear interior area of Scar I have a new direction for that area (hence the C5/C6 driveline).

The fun should soon start!

Chris