Project Frankenbird - 1968 Pontiac Firebird

[bdahlg68]

Originally Posted by WSSix

Forward opening hood like a vette? The C5/6 hood hinges lift up so the hood actually doesn't dip down into the area in front of the radiator that much. At least not compared to how a C2/3 vetter did. Looks good Brian.

I think Eddie Motorsports Billet hinges might work. I'm just hesitant to drop the coin and find out otherwise. Regardless, this is not a hard stop - there is a solution here. Vette hinges may be it as well.

Originally Posted by hersheys69z

Glad to see someone attempting strut suspension

Let's hope it all works as it does in my head!

Originally Posted by 65_LS1_T56

Just put a tilt front end on it

I was thinking I could just lift the whole body to get under hood, or into and out of the car for that matter.

[WSSix]

Tilt body FTW!

I have no doubt you'll find a solution, Brian. Good luck!

[RussMurco]

Troy Trepanier made these for Chicayne, I've always loved them and they don't eat-up a lot of under-hood space! Lots of trial and error in getting the travel, angle, and strut geometry right, but what a great look!

[65_LS1_T56]

Haha, how's it going Brian? Haven't talked in a long time!

[bdahlg68]

Well, haven't touched the car since July. Jen is getting her MBA, I got a promotion and we had our floors refinished twice which means our furniture was taking up most of the garage. Still finishing up installing new shoe molding and putting furniture back. Not optimistic I will make much progress this winter either. Plus I may pick up a fox body here shortly. There is also intention for a GT350 in 2017 (at least that's the current plan). Hoping to hold onto the bird as well but will quickly run out of garage space.

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[bdahlg68]

And yes it has been too long. We should try to meet up over the break. You guys working or are you off?

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[65_LS1_T56]

Originally Posted by bdahlg68

Well, haven't touched the car since July. Jen is getting her MBA, I got a promotion and we had our floors refinished twice which means our furniture was taking up most of the garage. Still finishing up installing new shoe molding and putting furniture back. Not optimistic I will make much progress this winter either. Plus I may pick up a fox body here shortly. There is also intention for a GT350 in 2017 (at least that's the current plan). Hoping to hold onto the bird as well but will quickly run out of garage space.

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I figured you've been busy.
Sorry to hear about the fox body

Originally Posted by bdahlg68

And yes it has been too long. We should try to meet up over the break. You guys working or are you off?

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Yeah, what break?? 24th and 25th, then the first we are off.
We are buried at work. Like beyond buried.

[atomicjoe23]

Just finished reading this thread and although it's not all my style I was impressed with how far you've come. . .

. . .I would suggest adding some diamond plates to your front and rear subframes where you butt welded them together (the Jake's subframe you originally purchased had them as do the Morrison stuff).

[bdahlg68]

Well - it's only been about 4 years of quiet on this car...
Here are the cliff notes...
1. Bought, modded and sold a Fox Body
2. No GT350. Was holding out for a GT500 but subsequently left Ford Performance so that's out too. The good thing is the new job gives me a bit of time to work on the car!
3. Had been slowly working on my own chassis design. Peeled it back some to use some current Mustang chassis parts. Was originally going to put this into the fox body but since that's gone - the Firebird is the only target! All the geometry was worked out in CAD - checked bump steer, camber gain and ackerman to make sure all were where I wanted them to be.
4. Ordered a bunch of laser cut tubes and plates that have gone together amazingly close to as planned.
5. Have sold a bunch of parts that will no longer be used / needed. All the BMW stuff is going away. It was a cool idea, but all the front stuff was probably going to need to be reworked or redesigned and there was still alot to do out back to tie in the IRS.
6. Car will have 15.5" front brakes so it will have to run 19" wheels. Planning to run 315's on all corners.

Hoping to be able to provide more updates over the next few months! In the meantime here is a shot of the CAD work on the frame rails and the current state.

[rustomatic]

This sounds great--I love the sound of Ford stuff under a GM body (with an LS, maybe)!

I wish I'd seen this thread years ago, as I'm on the precipice of doing something really dumb with a BMW e39 suspension/brakes/steering.

Keep at it!