Photogoat

Hello Folks

New to the forum. We are currently working on a 71 Firebird Pro Touring project. I have been using this forum from time to time for tips and insight so I thought I would return the favor. We are about halfway thru the build and I already have over 200 pictures of the details.. LOL

Here are some of the main details

LS1 and T56 out of a 99 camaro donor
engine had 110k miles so it was completely rebuilt
MS3 cam and double springs from Texas Speed
Double roller chain
polished typhoon intake
SPEC stage two clutch
Kwik Performance accy brackets
Vintage Air (for 70 camaro since they don't make a firebird kit yet)
Wilwood 12.5 inch brakes all the way around
CPP full pro touring susp w/ QA1 adjust coil overs
welded frame connectors
3.73 8.5 inch 10 bolt with new eaton posi
still deciding on the wheels and tires
interior still in design phase
almost ready for paint

If you have any questions I will gladly try to help..

More to follow

Photogoat

This is our goal for the car. We designed it on Forza..LOL We will have the formula intakes but not the shaker. The paint color and stripes will be just like this. We haven't decided on the wheels yet. We know we want a mesh design but we are torn between polished or dark center powder coated.

Any thoughts?

Matt

oldgoat69

I am in love! This is one of the coolest Firebirds I have seen in a ling time. The color combination is right on. I am a bit old school, so something brite in the wheel department is my preference. Will you make GoodGuys Columbus this year? Several of the group here will be in attendance.

psiconversion

iTrader: (5)

Really Nice.

Is that a Holley Throttle body?

Jon
PSI

Photogoat

Thanks! I have always been a fan of older f-bodys, especially these birds. We are planning on selling the car as soon as it is done but if we still have it we will be at the Goodguys this year. We plan on taking this car and a 69 Chevelle that we did to the Indy Mecum auction if we still have it by then.

I'm leaning towards the polished wheels too..

Photogoat

Hey Jon, it's a Typhoon intake made by Professional Products. Sure, it's not a USA piece but for the price and look it's hard to beat. We got this one from Amazon. It came with the fuel rails. Our dyno shop says that these flow as good or better than the LS6 intakes. We'll see...

By the way, the main harness is from your company.. :-)

krwyellowZ28

iTrader: (10)

Awesome build! This is right on par with my plans for my '79 Esprit after my current swap is done. Keep at it and post as many pictures as you want.

Photogoat

So far the build is going as expected, hardly anything bolts right on.. LOL The motor mount and crossmember kit was real nice from BRP Hotrods. It set the motor with about 3/4 inch of clearance to the crossmember and we didn't have to beat on the tunnel at all. We set the rear in place today and I'm working on the radiator mounting. I bought a replacement radiator and fan assy for a 99 Camaro from Rock and it fits pretty good. We cut the top flange off the core support so we could use a Chevy upper radiator support. It should finish out pretty nice and hold the core steady.

Now on to the fan wiring and relays, fun!

Photogoat

Things are moving along. We fired the motor today, I primed the fuel system first and it hit before the motor made a full turn! Needless to say with open headers we jumped when it started so soon.. LOL

A word of advise, if you guys use the PSI harness for the LS1 you will need to save the oil pressure sending unit plug off the old harness if you are going to use an electric gauge. PSI runs a tan wire out to it but hides it in the cam sensor wiring. I assume that this is due to the fact that some like to use a manual gauge. The harness is great but they put the 2" grommet on backwards so the nice wide side faces in towards the interior. I'll make it work but it will require some finesse.

Another note, you will need Corvette 02 sensors for the PSI harness. The Camaros use a square plug end but the harness comes with the rectangle 4 pin plugs. $22 bucks at Rock auto so not too bad...

I will add more pics soon. I take them with high settings, I have to resize them first..

More soon!

psiconversion

iTrader: (5)

Photo,

We add the oil pressure wiring for free if you are using a factory gauge cluster. Most are using aftermarket gauges which will not work with the factory sender. What cluster are you using? Give me a call about the grommet when you have a minute.

Jon
PSI

ryeguy2006a

iTrader: (27)

Very nice. My drivetrain came out of a 99 Z28 as well. Nice swap. If you need any firebird specific questions answered, there is a lot of support over on Transamcountry.com and we also have an LSx swap section.

blswan

iTrader: (2)

Are you guys running A/C? Are you using the original components with a new compressor? Splain... ; )

ryeguy2006a

iTrader: (27)

I can answer that for him. He is running Vintage Air, which has the HVAC housed in a box under the dash. That is what the hoses running from the far left of the firewall with the fenders off. Looks as if he is running a block off plate where the factory suitcase was.

Photogoat

You are correct. As of the time I ordered the kit they didn't yet have the Firebird specific HVAC from Vintage so I modified the Camaro version. The main issue is the dash. You have to split the tube adaptors so they will interlock with the square ac vent housing on the bird. Also, you have to fab a custom plate for the 3 **** controller (150 bucks!). I have pictures of the mods. I'm extremely busy but I will try to get some on here for you guys. The paint is almost done too!!

Photogoat

Here are a few from the dash mod and the firewall.

Photogoat

Here are a few of the wheels and base paint color. The black stripes get painted on the nose, hood and trunk this weekend. The base clear is on but will be wet sanded and sprayed again to lock the stripes in. The rear will be lowered 1.5 inches and we will probably adjust the front up a half inch or so. The dash plate is painted in body color and we used New Vintage electronic gauges. These gauges are the ULTIMATE set up for 1970-81 Firebirds and TA's. They slide right in with only minor cutting. NO MORE 3 3/8" gauges in your Firebirds boys and girls!! Pictures of the dash coming soon.

73TA

iTrader: (1)

Awesome project! I saw you said you used the "CPP full pro touring susp w/ QA1 adjust coil overs." The CPP website doesnt have a kit for 2nd gen firebirds, did you just use the Camaro one? If so what stage Pro Touring Kit did you get? Thanks

fastbird02

iTrader: (4)

any updates??

Cape T/A

Id love to see some updates as well!

cpd004

iTrader: (13)

Me too!