blswan

iTrader: (2)

Starting my 71 Firebird thread. I bought this car two years ago after seeing the All Speed Customs Firebird. I tore it down and rotisserie restored the body. I installed the CPP pro touring suspension with coil overs. Discs all around and a custom posi rear with Yukon posi and 373s. Just purchased an 04 GTO pullout with 59k miles. Pics begin.

blswan

iTrader: (2)

Pics revised for size

lowerthanyou00

iTrader: (8)

Awesome, I used the hooker mounts/exhaust if you haven't looked at those yet on my 72. Also I think you'll have to swap the shifter to a f body one. Anyways good luck with the build

oldgoat69

Way cool, what are the colors going to be?

M6 Swap

iTrader: (1)

More pics! Subscribed

blswan

iTrader: (2)

Ok, here are some prior pics and some during restoration. New floor plans and trunk pan. I sprayed the entire underbody with truck bed liner. Harder and better than undercoating.

blswan

iTrader: (2)

I had a lot of metal work too. This is just some of it. Lots of quarter patching and I had to replace the entire tail panel. I found 1" thick bondo in it. I coated the whole car in black epoxy primer prior to the gray high build. This allows me to see the high spots when I block through the gray.

blswan

iTrader: (2)

Going black with a silver center stripe like the All Speed Customs firebird. I built custom fenders to match it. I won't have the skirts or rear though, I'm not skilled enough in metal fab nor do I have the tools.

RacnJsn95

iTrader: (4)

Very cool, I'll be watching this one.

Is that a speedway rear disc brake kit?

blswan

iTrader: (2)

The whole suspension and brake system is from Classic Performance Products. Its their Pro Touring kit. Its a good value for a complete package. The install instructions stunk and half the hardware didn't fit, but overall its nice stuff.

http://www.classicperform.com/Store/.../6874PTK-3.htm

Jimbo1367

/Very nice build. Subscribing. Any pics just of the wood body dolly? Keep up the great work.

thanks,
Jim

blswan

iTrader: (2)

I found this pic that shows it a little better. I borrowed the rotisserie while my neighbor was up north for the summer (he's a snowbird). I had to give it back when he came home so I needed something to roll the body around. I didn't want to fork over $450 for a body cart so I went to Homedepot and bought their 500lb casters and some 2x4s. I made the cart base first with double ply 2xs on their sides. I connected them with cross 2xs flat. I then jacked the car up and slid the cart under. I started just adding more 2xs until they hit structural points. I used a 2x12 for the back because the body humps up. After I got within an inch of the jacked up car, I pulled it out and used lag bolts and screws to make sure the cart was nice and tight. I never had any probs with it. I recycled it by cutting it down and using it as my engine cart for the LS/T56.

Jimbo1367

Thanks for the pic. That shows it good.

lowerthanyou00

iTrader: (8)

Noticed you have an 80-81 spoiler on there

blswan

iTrader: (2)

The spoiler didn't change from 71 to the later years I don't think.

Update: Lots of elbow grease, steam cleaner, 10 cans of brake cleaner, and a lil paint. Check out the shiny new engine. I didn't clean the oil pan because I have to swap it out for a rear sump.

blswan

iTrader: (2)

Ok so I had a bad weekend. I went to swap the oil pan, easy enough right... should have been. Except for my dumb #&*I breaks the bolt off in the oil pick up retainer bracket. I tried drilling it out, no luck. After an hour I tried a Mcguyver alternative. There are two threaded holes for the pick up retainer. I welded 1/8" plate to the retainer bracket on the other side and used the secondary hole. Its harder to get to, but it worked.... At least I hope it does its job retaining.

blswan

iTrader: (2)

This evening I swapped the GTO shifter for an Fbody style. Anybody who is looking for info, look no further. You need to purchase the fbody shift cup bracket as well as an fbody shifter. Remove the GTO shifter, first the cover, then the 4 bolts that hold it to the trans. Tap out the pin that holds the GTO offset shift cup. Replace it with the fbody shift, cap, reinsert pin. Install factory or aftermarket fbody shifter. Don't forget to grease the cup a bit before reinstalling bolts.

lowerthanyou00

iTrader: (8)

Center spoiler didn't change but the ends spoilers are different. Yours are more square and wrap around the sides where as the earlier ones came to a point and were more triangulated. The ASC bird made his own tho molded into the body out of metal if I recall. Certainly a work of art. Great work so far with your build.

Jimbo1367

BLSWAN,
Looks good. I like the motor. FWIW, EAGLE ONE mag wheel cleaner is a mild acid wash that cleans aluminum to new condition. If you decide to try it, they sell it at chain auto stores. Be aware they make a few different formulas so you have to read the directions and warning labels to get the correct one. Another great cleaner is LA's Totally Awsome Don't deloute for best results. $1.00 a bottle at local Dollar Genral stores here,


Eagle One Mag cleaner willIt will get rid of little deposits of dirt in crevis and what not. You need to hose it off so if you do the engine, be careful on spraying it. It would be perfect for the trans.

blswan

iTrader: (2)

So I worked on the brake system and it was a pain. The master cyl from CPP is a custom unit with internal proportioning valve. It took me multiple attempts and I had to pull it off twice to bench bleed it. Brakes are working.

Also, for those of you with a GTO T56, you will need swap out the hydraulic line fitting. While I had the trans off, I swapped in a remove speed bleeder system. See pics below for how its done. I would recommend some help because the trans is heavy for one man to try to get it back in on the splines. My back is a little sore from lifting it.