Pontiac Firebird 1967-2002 Birds of a feather flock together

1979 Firebird Build

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Old 07-18-2012, 11:20 AM
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D79
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Default 1979 Firebird Build

The car is still a work in progress. Still need to build a rear end, put a fiberglass cowl hood on, wheels and tires, and nitrous. Then body work.
Here are some pictures of the road so far.
The car when it was bone stock. It was my daily driver for 4 years. It was my first car. I originally rebuilt the 3.8 V6. It was dog slow.










Here is the stocker... 0-60 times were around 17 seconds... a real monster...


Obviously that HAS to go


Filthy engine bay before


After a lot of sanding and a few cans of black rustoleum


Had a small block chevy in the garage that needed some love.


After that love




Dropping the new goods in


Old 07-18-2012, 11:24 AM
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All dressed up


All wired up and running


Start up and rev video
http://youtu.be/SQCTdhxN4Ns

Thanks for looking. Enjoy
Old 07-18-2012, 12:51 PM
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'79's are my favorite year. Good looking engine. Good luck with the rest of the car!
Old 07-18-2012, 01:09 PM
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Nice Job! what kinda fan setup are u running?
Old 07-18-2012, 01:56 PM
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Originally Posted by NVUSZ28
'79's are my favorite year. Good looking engine. Good luck with the rest of the car!
Thanks, I'll need it
Originally Posted by rck2004
Nice Job! what kinda fan setup are u running?
Thanks man, It's an electric puller fan. It's actually made for a fox body mustang but it works just fine for my application.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/PR...n/?prefilter=0
Old 07-18-2012, 02:14 PM
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Thanks for the link. I been trying to find a good setup for my 81 with a pontiac 455. the stock clutch fan is not cutting it. Are you using the stock radiator
Old 07-18-2012, 04:37 PM
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Originally Posted by rck2004
Thanks for the link. I been trying to find a good setup for my 81 with a pontiac 455. the stock clutch fan is not cutting it. Are you using the stock radiator
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/GRI-1-25272-X/
That's the radiator I have. It is a universal one so you will have to make brackets but to me it was worth the money you save. I have driven the car on 95-100 degree days and sitting at a stop light for a few minutes it got up to 185-190 with the fan on. The second I touch the throttle to pull through the intersection it dropped down to 170-175. I'm happy with it.
Old 07-18-2012, 10:16 PM
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Thanks for the info! P.S. That thing sounds nasty! Tommorow if I have time I will post some pics here of my 455
Old 07-19-2012, 07:52 AM
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Very nice car- I love 2nd gens (have two 79's).

Great transformation on the car. Air cleaner looks like it sits pretty high- is a cowl hood the only one that will work?

A turbo or shaker hood would look really nice on that car. Of course it is your car and you should build what you like.

If there was ever a car that needed the year one 17" or 18" snowflakes this is it. The car would look REALLY intimidating.

Is that a factory color? I like it
Old 07-19-2012, 09:47 AM
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Originally Posted by rck2004
Thanks for the info! P.S. That thing sounds nasty! Tommorow if I have time I will post some pics here of my 455
Not a problem. Thanks, it is a lot of fun. I'd love to see some pics man
Originally Posted by 1965GP
Very nice car- I love 2nd gens (have two 79's).

Great transformation on the car. Air cleaner looks like it sits pretty high- is a cowl hood the only one that will work?

A turbo or shaker hood would look really nice on that car. Of course it is your car and you should build what you like.

If there was ever a car that needed the year one 17" or 18" snowflakes this is it. The car would look REALLY intimidating.

Is that a factory color? I like it
Thanks! Lets see you 79's
The air cleaner is pretty big. I have a stock flat hood that I wanted to use. But even with out the air cleaner on there the carburetor it about an inch above the fenders... I could potentially use a shaker hood but I don't know if that would even work.

As far as wheels go. I will be investing in some bigs and skinnys first for my "do work" wheels. A little later get some 17" snowflake wheels for my street tires. All you got to have is money first, right?

Color is supposed to be "dark carmine red" It is a factory color. It's close but not quite there.
Old 07-19-2012, 04:31 PM
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D 79 here are a few pics of the 455 in my 81 SE





Last edited by rck2004; 07-19-2012 at 04:36 PM.
Old 07-19-2012, 04:38 PM
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Its a little dirty, been siting outside for a few days.
Old 07-20-2012, 11:48 AM
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WOW! that looks like some good fun! Thanks, some specs on the engine?
Old 07-23-2012, 12:51 AM
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It is a 467, KRE heads, they are the oval, Had the boys at Kauffman port match the Hurricane. Engine has the Eagle crank 4.250, Eagle 6800 H beam Rods,Ross pistons, Pontiac Extreme Energy camshaft XE274H 274/286, 230/236, 488/491, 110 Hyd, Butler rebored the block .30 over Square the deck block,align honed the mains Balance and blueprint.



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