looks good, please tell us you are getting new tail lights?

 

I'm just curious as to how much you snagged this hunk-o-junk for? Also, thanks for not parting it out, I'm sure you could've done that and made a nice profit.

 

Yes, replacing the tails, headlights, and corner markers with stockers.

Restoring the interior and exterior to factory. Just modifying the drivetrain.

 

how can I find out how many of my car there is? where did you find the info

 

https://ls1tech.com/forums/pontiac-firebird-1967-2002/253178-production-numbers-thread.html

Keep in mind that GM didn't really put together breakdown numbers better than the ones you'll find. In other words, There is no exact number of how many of the 271 1998 model year Z28 Sebring Silver (13U) Convertibles were automatic and how many were standard. Or how many came with one color fabric top versus another color. They only provided very vague numbers.

As for mine, I'm sure it is even rarer than 1 of 271 if I could find a breakdown of transmissions, rear-end options, interior colors, top colors, etc.

 

Well, since I don't get a day off until Wednesday, I figure I would order some parts.

Decided to hold off on a completely new exhaust for now (but, will replace it few weeks down the road) and order a Yank PT4000.

I guess I'll have to order some M/T ET Street Radials in the next week or so.

Just in case anybody is wondering, my plans for this staged restoration go like this:

1. Drivetrain
2. Body
3. Interior

Now, I'm not sticking to this verbatim. As you can see, I've done some bodywork along with the drivetrain.

One thing you should keep in mind, if you decide to take on a project that requires this much work, is to do ONE THING AT A TIME. That way, you can see something completed and keep from feeling like nothing is getting done.

 

Looks like fun. Do really trust the shop that did the engine and trans rebuild though? I mean look how they put that **** back together...

 

I'm familiar with the engine builder and I'm not worried about the engine. All the mangled up hackjob we see in the pics was the owner, not the shop.

As for the tranny builder, that one I'm concerned about. Seems the tranny shop told the owner that he should keep the stock stall with this huge cam so that he "would have better low end torque". You can see why I'm somewhat concerned. Not too much, though. If it blows up, just reason to upgrade.

 

Update: Drivetrain and Body

Ordered a PT4000, arrived a couple of weeks ago. Just haven't had a chance to throw it in yet. Got some more bodywork done. Been doing it when I can, then shooting some primer/sealer on it to keep the filler dry. Still need to go back and put some glaze on it, but will do that after all the filler work is complete. Still have the rocker panels and driver's quarter panel to finish filler work on. As for the hood, I can't decide if I want to go with a steel stocker or a fiberglass stocker replica from VFN.

As for tuning, I got it to idle decent now. I just need to play with the throttle cracker settings to eliminate the cruise control effect. Still need to finish the VE tables, timing, etc. Will adjust shift points after the VE and timing are squared away and I have the stall on there.

And since I didn't have the build sticker on the door (due to it being replaced with one from a V6 car, apparently after a wreck), I got joshp14 to send me all the info on it. It is a real 13U car:

AG1 - SIX-WAY DRIVER POWER SEAT
AK5 - NEXT GENERATION DRIVER & RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS
AR9 - CLOTH BUCKET SEATS
AU0 - KEYLESS REMOTE ENTRY W/ ILLUMINATED INTERIOR FEATURE W/THEFT DETERRENT ALARM SYS
AU3 - POWER DOOR LOCK SYSTEM WITH DELAYED ACCESSORY BUSS
A31 - POWER WINDOWS W/ DRIVER'S SIDE EXPRESS DOWN
A90 - POWER HATCH RELEASE
B35 - COLOR-KEYED REAR CARPETED MATS
B84 - BODY SIDE MOLDINGS
C60 - AIR CONDITIONING
DG7 - ELEC TWIN REMOTE SPORT MIRRORS
DL5 - ROADSIDE SERVICE INFORMATION DECAL
FE2 - RIDE & HANDLING SUSPENSION SYSTEM
FE9 - FEDERAL EMISSIONS
GU2 - REAR AXLE 2.73 RATIO
G80 - LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL
IP2 - TRIM INTERIOR DESIGN - AR9
J65 - POWER DISC FRONT & REAR BRAKES
K34 - ELECTRONIC SPEED CONTROL WITH RESUME SPEED
K68 - 105 AMP GENERATOR
LS1 - ENG 5.7 LITER SFI V8 ENGINE
MX0 - 4-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
M30 - 4 SPEED ELECTRONIC AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH OVERDRIVE
NF2 - FEDERAL EMISSION SYSTEM
NP5 - LEATHER WRAPPED STEERING WHEEL
NW9 - ACCELERATION SLIP REGULATION
N96 - 16" ALUMINUM WHEELS W/ LOCKS
QLC - P245/50 ZR-16 S/B RADIAL B/W HW4 TIRES
R7A - GENUINE CUSTOMER CARE PACKAGE * NO DEDUCTIBLE BUMPER- TO- BUMPER 3 YEAR/36,000 MILE LIMITED WARRANTY * 24 HOUR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE * COURTESY TRANSPORTATION AT PARTICIPATING DEALERS * "SCOTCHGARD" PROTECTOR * SEE DEALER FOR DETAILS
R9Z - POMS AUTO SEQUENCE
STE - ST THERESE, GM OF CANADA PLANT CODE
T82 - TWILIGHT SENTINEL HEADLAMPS
T96 - FOG LAMPS
UA6 - THEFT DETERRENT ALARM SYSTEM
UB3 - GAGE PACKAGE WITH TACHOMETER
UN0 - MONSOON PREMIUM AUDIO SYSTEM ELEC TUNED AM/FM STEREO RADIO WITH SEEK-SCAN DIGITAL CLOCK, COMPACT DISC PLAYER AND SPEED COMPENSATED VOLUME
U62 - DUAL COAX 4-SPEAKER SYSTEM
U73 - FIXED MAST ANTENNA
VK3 - FRONT LICENSE PLATE MOUNT
VM3 - CONSUMER INFORMATION LABEL
V73 - STATEMENT OF VEHICLE CERT.-U.S. /CANADA Z28 - CAMARO Z28
1AA - RETAIL AMENITY DELETE
1AZ - SOLD ORDERS PROC OPTION
1SH - Z28 CONVERTIBLE
1SZ - PREFERRED EQUIPMENT SAVINGS
13Q - SEBRING SILVER METALLIC BODY SIDE MOLDINGS
13U - SEBRING SILVER METALLIC
14I - DARK GRAY INTERIOR TRIM 142 - DARK GRAY LEATHER
41T - BLACK CONVERTIBLE TOP
6ZM - FRONT SPRING
7ZM - FRONT SPRING
8TJ - REAR SPRING
9TJ - REAR SPRING

 

Pics of my purdy new billet torque converter


Shot of the deck lid repair. Will glaze everything later, just primer/sealer sprayed to protect the filler (note: filler is hydroscopic, meaning it will absorb water.)

 

Coming along nicely, good luck with it!



(subscribing)

 

LOL they really did a number to that car but awesome work and nice details on the restore! Keep us posted!

 

lucky man, wish I'd of had a dad around to do a project car with.

 

Update: Drivetrain

Got sick and tired of not having time off from work to install the torque converter, so I just had the local trans shop do it.

Picked the car up on the way to work, and no more than 100 feet down the road, it starts shuddering something fierce. I'm thinking, "Oh great, what did they do?". Well, I didn't have time to stop, so I just babied it to work. The next morning, after I clocked out, I broke out the laptop and started scanning. I saw that the O2 sensors weren't switching again, so I just put it into open loop. It was like night and day. The car was running very smooth. Good thing I got the VE tables pretty tight. On the way home, I had a nice desolate piece of road and punched it from 55-80mph. Wow. I mean, really, wow. Still not wanting to push it too hard, I babied it the rest of the way home.

I guess my next day off, I'll see what the trans shop did to the O2's. Seeing how neither one is switching, I'm willing to bet they disconnected the temporary ground and didn't hook it back up.

 

Please tell me you put in a trans cooler with that stall? Anyhow, looks like your doing some good work, personally i would have burned the car to the ground to do it a favor. LOL. But im glad to see you have patience and are doing it right. When are you ordering new tails/heads/sidemarkers? Plan on doing tires soon? I would also love to see some updated pics. G/L!

 

Yes, you MUST install a tranny cooler with a stall.

I chose the Hayden Rapid Cool and had the tranny shop build custom brackets to mount it. I will post pics of the cooler mounting probably tomorrow or Tuesday when I am off.

As for tires, I may go ahead and and order them this week or wait until next week. Getting some M/T ET Streets.

I'm in no hurry for the exterior lights. I prefer to get to the body all lined out, first. I'll order the lights sometime over the next month.

Going to spend some time Monday afternoon and Tuesday finishing up the filler and glaze work and have the muffler shop rebuild everything from the y-pipe back.

Slow and steady wins the race!

 

^Nice work. Anyhow i would browse part out threads in the FS section. Cheap headlights/tails here and there. Keep an eye open. G/L!

 

I would have spit on that car and ran. But thank YOU for choosing to save one. Keep it up.

Subscribed

 

Im still curious of this ridiculously low price you bought it for. I know you have been avoiding the answer!

 

Can't wait to see some more updates!