My Firebird build

[PonchoJohn]

Nice car- Poncho powered to boot!
Good looking kids- enjoy them, they shoot up quick. I still scratch my head when I look at my oldest and think "weren't you just born yesterday?!"

[10Seconds]

That's a really great idea on getting a 18x12 wheel on the cheap. I am thinking that I may do the same thing.

Which offset did you get?

But am I figuring this right, assuming you got the 38mm offset, your wheels now have 9 inch backspacing? How does that work? I just have never heard of anyone running a wheel with that much backspacing.

[waynieZ]

Looks like the guy who did your wheels did a nice job. I was going to have a set done like that but was crunched for time. progress looks good.
Wayne

[Jimmy Sean]

Originally Posted by 10Seconds

That's a really great idea on getting a 18x12 wheel on the cheap. I am thinking that I may do the same thing.

Which offset did you get?

But am I figuring this right, assuming you got the 38mm offset, your wheels now have 9 inch backspacing? How does that work? I just have never heard of anyone running a wheel with that much backspacing.

I bought the ET20 and the backspacing works out to be 8 5/16" after having them widened.

Here are some pictures of a camaro with wide wheels and stock width rear end.

[Jimmy Sean]

Wow it’s been a while. I got sidelined and remodeled our bathroom. I was supposed to do it before we moved into the house, that was seven years ago. I’ll attach some pictures of the before and after of the bathroom. I totally gutted it down to the studs, expanded and took the hall closet. I did all the work myself except for the taping and mudding. Well I got eczema really bad on my hands when I put the floor down. The thinset killed them, like a doof I didn’t were any gloves. So I have been battling that for two years and still have issues, so anyone that reading this, be sure to where gloves when working with the thinset.

Ok back to the firebird. I have been working a lot on it lately and have made some progress. The driver’s side mini-tub was finish before I started in on the bathroom. Recently I made (for free) and installed a DSE style cross member and started the passenger’s side mini-tub.

Here are few of the purchases I have made recently.
New gas tank – Rock Auto $97 Shipped
Megasquirt EFI DIY Kit – DIYAutoTune.com
In tank fuel pump PA_Series – Tanks Inc.
SS 2-1/2” Magna Flow Exhaust – Prodigy Customs, Thanks Frank.



Mold!!

[Jimmy Sean]

Remodeled


The shower

[Jimmy Sean]

Progress has been slow. I have been working on the torque arm suspension. I also modified the front lower control arms to accept the Ridetech coil overs.

Control arm modification.


The rear lower control arm mount - front


Rear Shock mounted



Panhard Bar

[Jimmy Sean]

So it’s been a long time but that is what happens when you don’t have money or time and life gets in the way. I have owned this car for 11 years and I recently told my wife that I wanted to get it drivable by my birthday in May 2015. Then my father-in-law called a few days later and wanted me to bring it down to Arkansas (from MO) for his birthday in late April. He also wanted to make sure I met that goal by helping me financially with it. What a blessing!

Some things have changed with the project since I last posted. I have two LS truck engines that I have acquired a 5.3L and a 6.0L that has some damage but I’m not sure what it is yet. I will be using the 5.3 instead of the Pontiac engine that was in it. Instead of fabricating a bunch of parts I have decided to buy parts that I can bolt on and speed up the progression. I want to focus on getting it running, get the under carriage painted and worry about the body after I get it road worthy. I’m tired of not being able to enjoy it.


Here is the initial list of large parts.

Hooker LS retro-fit adapter motor mount brackets
Hooker T-56 crossmember
Holley reto-fit oil pan
DSE subframe connectors
DSE Firewall fill plate
DSE Fuel pump access door kit
Ridetech tru turn
600 Steering box
Tanks Inc. Fuel injection tank
3/8” confer fuel lines
Matt’s Classic Bowtie Griffin Radiator combo
Classic Auto Air
Dakota digital VHX Gauges
Moser Axles

More to come…..

[Jimmy Sean]

I'm tired of the black subframe and want to do something different and felt inspiration from Mary's camaro and the Trans-am series race cars. I like the darker grey, it is darker than the picture shows.



I was able to get the firewall fill plate installed.



Looks like I need to find somewhere else to host pictures but until then....

[WSSix]

I can sympathize with the wanting to just drive it feeling. Just make sure you do it right as you go. Good luck!