1969 Pontiac Firebird "Routy"

[V8TV]

http://v8tvshow.com/images/stories/69_Firebird/RoutyCropSmall.jpg

New car build coming to V8TV - 1969 Pontiac Firebird "Routy"

"Routy" (rhymes with Rowdy) is the name given to this 1969 Pontiac Firebird project. It's a play on the last name of the owner, and the car's demeanor and looks are designed to cause a stir on the streets. We're starting with a 1969 Firebird that was originally a 350 2-barrel car, and adding a full Trans Am body package, upgraded interior featuring late model Trans Am seats, and 17" and 18" Boyd Junk Yard Dog wheels. The new engine is a 400-based Pontiac with lots of performance tricks. The design came from the creative mind of Ben Hermance at Hermance Design and highlights the car's original lines with a bright red scheme and subtle charcoal stripes. The stripe treatment suggests other Pontiac themes, like the 1969 GTO Judge. We'll be posting video and photo updates of every step of the restoration process. V8TV Forum member "Steve Firebird" is the man behind this car, and we're going to be using the forum to make lots of build decisions and choices along the way, so feel free to jump in an be part of the process.

http://www.v8tvshow.com/forum/index.php/topic,2383.0.html

[bigtyme1]

nice and clean, I like it!

[70TWO NOVA]

diggin' the hood

[Steve Firebird]

I am very happy with the job Ben did on the rendering it is just the look I was going for. The hood is one of my favorite parts of the car. Its a steel repro of the original TA hood and I also got all the ram air parts to make it functional.
Steve

[dhutton]

Looks good. I like the GTO stripes, great idea.

Don

[awr68]

Nice looking! Great work Ben!!

[Ummgawa]

Very Nice car..love the 69 Trans Ams and the general theme of the build.

Are you looking for any parts for the build?

[Stuart Adams]

Nice.

[rich-allen]

Great looking project

[V8TV]

Ben Hermance deserves all the credit on the design. The owner and I just looked at a bunch of different rendering ideas until this one just jumped off the screen... it looks like a super-fun car to drive. Thanks for the compliments!

As for parts, the owner (Steve) has a ton of parts already, but we'll see what we need going down the road. You have some stuff, Mr. Ummgawa?

[Steve Firebird]

Ben Hermance deserves all the credit on the design. The owner and I just looked at a bunch of different rendering ideas until this one just jumped off the screen... it looks like a super-fun car to drive. Thanks for the compliments!

As for parts, the owner (Steve) has a ton of parts already, but we'll see what we need going down the road. You have some stuff, Mr. Ummgawa?

Thats 100 percent right. Ben sent bunch of great renderings based on what I had in mind but non of them really reached out and grabbed us. I finaly just told him that I might like red with some type of grey accents and he came up with the rest. I think as soon as we saw it it was done deal.

I am sure I will need some parts just not sure what they are yet.

[Steve Firebird]

They are getting ready to order a bunch of parts for my 69 Firebird at V8TV and they asked me what I want to do about the sway bars. I originally told them to just reuse the stock one but now am questioning that.
The car is going to have a QA1 coil over kit in the front, DSE 3" drop springs in the rear and Global West Del-a-lum bushings front and rear. We are also going to get sub frame connectors as well.
This car is going to be a weekend cruiser and for the whole family to enjoy not a track car but if I can gain a real noticeable advantage in handling with the bars I will do it.
I guess I never thought the upgraded sway bar was needed unless you were really pushing the car. I am open to comments, is a bigger bar worth it? I could even be talked into a rear bar if it makes a huge difference. Thanks Steve.

[x-sprint]

You mentioned a steel repro T/A hood? Who is it made by. Thanks

[Steve Firebird]

You mentioned a steel repro T/A hood? Who is it made by. Thanks
I got it from The Parts Place they are near Chicago

[x-sprint]

Thanks Steve Firebird. I've been looking for a T/A hood for my 68 project. By the way, how is the quality & fit? Thank again

[Steve Firebird]

Right now all I can say is it looks pretty nice. We have not tried to bolt it on yet. Keep an eye on the build at V8TV because they will be talking about it at some point during the build. Steve

[Steve Firebird]

Update on the build.
http://www.v8tvshow.com/forum/index.php?topic=2383.new;topicseen

[SteveMcqueenRules]

Wow that is nice. Simple Clean and the stripes are subtle but effective.

[WILWAXU]

Nice rendering!

[Steve Firebird]

Moving along

Floors replaced
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1pegxYfEEY

Trunk floor replaced
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aegbKrp_m5o

Subframe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hpeq_7OiFmU

seam sealer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5tZyCCWWhE

[Steve Firebird]

I picked up the car last weekend and it turned out better than I had hoped.
I want to send a big thanks out to Kevin, Kelle & all the crew at V8TV for their hard work.
I picked up an award at the Goodguys Chicagoland Nationals with it. It won the Snap-On Innovation award.
I also got in invite to be a VIP car at the World of Wheels next may in Chicago, so it was a great weekend. My son Clayton was with me and we had a blast. Here are some pictures of the final product with the boy keeping it show ready.

I also sould thank Bem Hermance for the great rendering he did that was the guide for the build

http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/sprouty64/Routy/RoutyV8.jpg

http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/sprouty64/Good%20Guys%202010/DSCN0830.jpg
http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/sprouty64/Good%20Guys%202010/DSCN0833.jpg
http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/sprouty64/Good%20Guys%202010/DSCN0834.jpg
http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/sprouty64/Good%20Guys%202010/DSCN0841.jpg

[Sandbagger]

Thats one sharp fire chicken :thumbsup:

[ja.stoner63]

Great looking ride and congrats. :thumbsup:

[tones2SS]

Great looking car. NICE color and hood!:thumbsup: :cheers:

[70TWO NOVA]

Car looks great man! Awesome job!!!:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[Hdesign]

Glad to see it done Steve, looks awesome! Great job Kevin, Kelle and the crew!:thumbsup:

[Steve Firebird]

Glad to see it done Steve, looks awesome! Great job Kevin, Kelle and the crew!:thumbsup:
I sould have thanked you as well Ben it was your rendering that really set the stage for the whole project

[waynieZ]

Steve the car looks great . Glad to see it got the recognition it deserves. I enjoyed watching Kevin, Kelle and the guys putting it together.

[68400BIRD]

Looks great. Any chance you might make it over to Mn next year for Car craft or the all Pontiac show? I would love to see it in person.

[Steve Firebird]

Looks great. Any chance you might make it over to Mn next year for Car craft or the all Pontiac show? I would love to see it in person.
I want to hit a bunch of shows next summer as time permits. What are the dates?

[68400BIRD]

I want to hit a bunch of shows next summer as time permits. What are the dates?


I'll see what I can find for dates.

[DOOM]

Kevin and crew GREAT JOB!!! This car was one of my favorites at GOODGUYS....:hail:

[V8TV]

http://www.v8tvshow.com/images/stories/69_Firebird/V8TV_Routy_NewPromoF.jpg
http://www.v8tvshow.com/images/stories/69_Firebird/V8TV_Routy_NewPromoR.jpg

[Josh69]

Awesome, congrats! I love the stripes, they work really well. Glad to see a bird done in a true Red, vs Carousel (orange). The T/A hood fits pretty nice, much better than the glass ones. Hope to see you at the Car Craft show, it's usually 3rd weekend in July.

[tones2SS]

VERY NICE! Car looks great and the color scheme is awesome.:thumbsup:

[V8TV]

We've just completed the entire Routy video series and a new page for the car, complete with thousands of build pics. Check it out if you're so inclined..

www.v8tvshow.com/routy

http://www.v8tvshow.com/images/stories/69_Firebird/69FB_W_10/images/69FB09.15.10s_274.jpg

[bonecrrusher]

Nice.....

[fleet]

Very cool.

Congrats all. :thumbsup:

[waynieZ]

I checked it out as it was being built on V8 Nice work Kevin and Kelle & guys.

[St3v3]

What is the size on the wheels and tires?
Any modifictions done to the body to fit the wheels?

//Steve from Sweden

[Steve Firebird]

What is the size on the wheels and tires?
Any modifictions done to the body to fit the wheels?

//Steve from Sweden They are 17X8 front and 18X9 rear. We trimmed the rear fender lip back for some extra room but thats it. You just need to make sure yuo measure your car to get the right backspacing on the rim.