"Gettin' the 'Bird!" [Archive]

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OLDFLM

06-21-2012, 01:48 PM

Well guys, I've reserved a U-Haul "auto transport" and will be going to get my Firebird this weekend!!! ...it's been gone for over 4 years! :willy:

Swain

06-21-2012, 01:49 PM

Sounds like a Great Day for you. :thumbsup:

OLDFLM

06-21-2012, 01:53 PM

It's been a long and winding road... but the journey and the friends made along the way have been well worth the ride! :lateral:

Rick D

06-21-2012, 03:14 PM

Where has it been all this time??? Have safe trip to get it!

Well guys, I've reserved a U-Haul "auto transport" and will be going to get my Firebird this weekend!!! ...it's been gone for over 4 years! :willy:

tones2SS

06-21-2012, 05:36 PM

Awesome. Have a safe trip.
Take lots of pics!:yes:

ccm399

06-21-2012, 06:08 PM

Have fun Ty!!!!

OLDFLM

06-21-2012, 06:14 PM

Thanks guys! The car left on Friday the 13th of June 2008... I should have known better! Lol. :_paranoid

130fe

06-22-2012, 05:16 AM

Glad to see you are getting it back Ty! Thats a long time. I haven't driven mine in 2 and it will be another year until we return back to the CONUS. Mine is getting some upgrades in Orlando at the moment, I hope it will be finished by the time I get back :_paranoid Take some videos and post them up!

OLDFLM

06-22-2012, 05:19 AM

Thanks Chris! I'm excited beyond belief! Like that little kid in that Disney commercial = "I'm too excited to sleep!" :willy:

I plan to take LOTS of pictures!!! And may even start a new thread to document updates to the car! :unibrow:

Rick D

06-22-2012, 05:38 AM

Ty make sure to document the whole trip of picking the car up because

:ttiwop:

:lol: :lol: Maybe a video diary of the event now that would be cool! :lol:

OLDFLM

06-22-2012, 10:51 AM

Oh I will! Trust me! :yes:

I like the video idea... :unibrow:

:lateral:

OLDFLM

06-22-2012, 12:01 PM

It's looking like rain all the way up and back though... :(

JKnight

06-22-2012, 03:30 PM

Great news Ty!! Was it being used to fulfill sponsorship commitments? That's a long time!

Steve68

06-22-2012, 04:40 PM

Never said where you were picking it up???

Matt@BOS

06-22-2012, 06:08 PM

I can't believe you've still never had it in your garage! Enjoy driving it!

Matt

OLDFLM

06-22-2012, 06:26 PM

Great news Ty!! Was it being used to fulfill sponsorship commitments? That's a long time!

SEMA was the only sponsorship commitment... although the car also went to PRI and the Chicago and Indy shows thereafter...

OLDFLM

06-22-2012, 06:27 PM

Never said where you were picking it up???

Running up to GA early Sunday... hoping the weather cooperates. :_paranoid

OLDFLM

06-22-2012, 06:29 PM

I can't believe you've still never had it in your garage! Enjoy driving it!

Matt

I know huh Matt! I'm going stir crazy! Pictures and updates to follow after I get her down here and in the garage! :cheers:

OLDFLM

06-23-2012, 04:45 PM

Ready to roll EARLY in the morning!

http://i691.photobucket.com/albums/vv273/OLDFLM/Uhaul.jpg

Rick D

06-23-2012, 04:50 PM

Ty, make sure to check the air in the tires on that trailer and also look see if there are any bad areas on the tires you don't want one of those giving out with the bird on it. Have a safe trip. And DON'T forget the pictures!

CornHusker4Life

06-23-2012, 05:12 PM

Ty,

I bet you will not be able to sleep tonight. I cannot wait to see the video of you picking up your pride and joy. Gettin ready to PCS to Offutt AFB. Robins was good:thumbsup: Enjoy retirement and THANKS for Your Service!

Steve68

06-24-2012, 06:51 AM

Running up to GA early Sunday... hoping the weather cooperates. :_paranoid

Where you living in Orlando, I'm out in Wedgefield,

OLDFLM

06-24-2012, 03:59 PM

We are in Avalon Park... very close to you!

OLDFLM

06-24-2012, 04:04 PM

Before the rains came this morning around 10am...

http://i691.photobucket.com/albums/vv273/OLDFLM/IMG-20120624-00071.jpg

http://i691.photobucket.com/albums/vv273/OLDFLM/IMG-20120624-00070.jpg

OLDFLM

06-24-2012, 04:06 PM

Long drive in the pouring rain... but she's home... finally...

http://i691.photobucket.com/albums/vv273/OLDFLM/MasonTeeballGameJune164.jpg

OLDFLM

06-24-2012, 04:08 PM

Here's my super excited 4 year old Mason... he ran out in the rain as soon as I got home just to give me two thumbs up!

http://i691.photobucket.com/albums/vv273/OLDFLM/MasonTeeballGameJune165.jpg

The car left when he was just 3 days old. He turned 4 on June 10th!

OLDFLM

06-24-2012, 04:12 PM

Off the trailer and back home where she belongs!

http://i691.photobucket.com/albums/vv273/OLDFLM/FirebirdHomeJune2012001.jpg

http://i691.photobucket.com/albums/vv273/OLDFLM/FirebirdHomeJune2012002.jpg

http://i691.photobucket.com/albums/vv273/OLDFLM/FirebirdHomeJune2012006.jpg

:lateral:

WSSix

06-24-2012, 06:17 PM

Gorgeous!

Rick D

06-24-2012, 07:40 PM

Awesome Ty :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :woot: :woot: :woot:

instro84

06-24-2012, 08:22 PM

yup you know we gotta see the pics:D

Ron in SoCal

06-24-2012, 10:12 PM

Congrats on finally getting your baby home Ty! It must feel great to have it sitting on your garage. :thumbsup:

Spiffav8

06-24-2012, 10:39 PM

Ty I am super happy for you. Huge day for you and the family. There are some serious good times to come. Reap it my friend!

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Vegas69

06-24-2012, 10:53 PM

Man, I thought you had been driving it all this time. I think it's about time you deserve to USE it. Enjoy, it's by far the best part.

Steve68

06-25-2012, 05:03 AM

We are in Avalon Park... very close to you!

Yes you are, we'll have to hook up sometime,

Good job one getting the car home,

OLDFLM

06-25-2012, 05:18 AM

That drive back in the rain was very taxing on my nerves!!

There were a few "oh crap, oh crap, oh crap!" moments when the trailer got "fishy" or when I had to straddle a tire that had just come off a Prius that spun out in the rain, hit the center guard rail twice, then shot back across all 3 lanes of I-75 south only to hit a tree and land on it's roof! The tire apparantly got off that ride and decided the best direction to take was toward oncoming traffic... there was no way to avoid it! :brix:

Phew... there were four such accidents yesterday! That one, a truck that had done a 180 pulling a trailer that came to rest in the median against the guardrail facing oncoming traffic... another that'd spun into the ditch... and a small crossover SUV on it's roof as soon as I got off I-75 and onto the 408. :(

fesler

06-25-2012, 09:42 AM

68/Camaro

06-25-2012, 09:48 AM

HeyTy!
Glad you made it home safely :willy: .... now get busy....:lol:
BTW it was great seeing you a couple weeks ago at the Disney show thanks for stopping by!

OLDFLM

06-25-2012, 10:27 AM

Well you at least made it home now wash that thing up so we can really see how it looks. I bet you cant wait to go drive it and show it off. Car still looks good even wet.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Already washed and shiney Chris!! My wife and boys helped immediately after the last pic was taken! Just need to vacuum/detail the interior... polish out the rims and all that shiney billet under the hood! She didn't stay wet for long! :thumbsup:

OLDFLM

06-25-2012, 10:32 AM

HeyTy!
Glad you made it home safely :willy: .... now get busy....:lol:
BTW it was great seeing you a couple weeks ago at the Disney show thanks for stopping by!

Thanks Bill! EVADE looked AMAZING!!! Definately deserving of Best In Show!! I hope to give you some competition next year at Downtown Disney Car Masters! (c:] Can't let you get all the face time with Foose! LOL

I should have her finished and sorted out by then! :thumbsup:

jy211

06-25-2012, 10:50 AM

We are in Avalon Park...

I'll be up in Sanford soon checking in on my bucket! :D

Glad to see it's back in your hands! :thumbsup:

OLDFLM

06-25-2012, 11:08 AM

OLDFLM

06-25-2012, 11:09 AM

http://i691.photobucket.com/albums/vv273/OLDFLM/Firebird3.jpg

OLDFLM

06-25-2012, 11:10 AM

Like staring down the barrel of a gun!

http://i691.photobucket.com/albums/vv273/OLDFLM/Firebird2.jpg

HWY Nova

06-25-2012, 11:17 AM

Awesome pics!

--Eric

OLDFLM

06-25-2012, 11:56 AM

Awesome pics!

Thanks! I'll pass that along to the photographer! My beautiful bride took those for me today! :yes:

intocarss

06-25-2012, 03:41 PM

Great to see you got your car back! Sorry, I don't know the story of where it's been all this time..........So??

And thank you for your service Ty :cheers:

camcojb

06-25-2012, 05:42 PM

congrats Ty!!!!!!! :cheers:

Rick D

06-25-2012, 06:50 PM

Ty glad to see you made home safe and sound :thumbsup: Car looks awesome!
So what are the plans now that you have it back home? I know you said there where a few things you want change and a couple things that need to be finished? Great looking car, Chad did a great job getting to where it is today :hail:

DOOM

06-25-2012, 07:37 PM

Ty glad to see it home. Tell me that's not a blotch on the fender in that first picture:wow:

glassman

06-25-2012, 07:51 PM

Sexy 2nd gen F body....keep her sideways...

OLDFLM

06-26-2012, 01:30 PM

Great to see you got your car back! Sorry, I don't know the story of where it's been all this time..........So??

And thank you for your service Ty :cheers:

Ty glad to see you made home safe and sound :thumbsup: Car looks awesome!
So what are the plans now that you have it back home? I know you said there where a few things you want change and a couple things that need to be finished? Great looking car, Chad did a great job getting to where it is today :hail:

The "short story" is that around my 40th birthday I decided I would rather update my old muscle car that I’d had since high school (my first car) than go out and buy a mid-life crisis! LOL So, I order a set of Rushforth SuperSpokes from Jason and a hybrid set of C5/C6 brakes from Tobin at KORE3. Those updates along with a $3K scuff-n-shoot paint job from a local painter that was supposed to take just 3 weeks was all I originally had planned for the car. But, the car left on Friday the 13th of June 2008 to that first shop, and 4 months later I ran out of patience. I called Frank at Prodigy to ask for advice and he told me about this shop in south Georgia, Fletcher’s Customs. The rest, as they say, is history and can be found here in the build thread:

http://www.lateral-g.net/forums/showthread.php4?t=17027&highlight=FREEDOMBIRD

Chad agreed to take on the scuff-n-shoot project for the same $3K the other guy had quoted. Along the way he offered to smooth the firewall and detail the front and rear suspension (at no additional charge I might add) along with bedlining the bottom of the car. His way of “paying it forward” in his words for all the years I’d spent on active duty in the Air Force.

Chad asked if he could start a build thread and then the project snowballed and parts started rolling in from vendors/sponsors! Every part and good deal put more of a burden on the shop to provide the labor involved to make all the modifications necessary and install all of the parts… far beyond the scope of the original offer Chad had made to paint the car. Yet the team at Fletcher’s Customs did just that and still wouldn’t accept nor ask for more money to cover all the labor. The scope increased so much that my car was the only one being worked on most of the time and that was not making the shop money.

I’m thankful beyond words to Chad Fletcher and his family, Jerry and Josh at Fletcher’s Customs for the extra work they did because of all the parts that rolled in and I know Chad invested his own monies to ensure the project made it to SEMA 2009.

And I can’t thank all the vendors and sponsors involved enough as it is their parts that made the car into what it is today!!

SEMA 2009 was the experience of a lifetime!! Not only did I get to have my car at the biggest show on Earth, I got to share that experience with the guys from Fletcher’s Customs who’d literally put their blood, sweat and tears into finishing the car in time to get it there! Not only was the car well received and a huge success, we were also interviewed by Barry Meguiar for Car Crazy on SPEED channel!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmWVvSXh3fA interview with Chad is at about the 12:40 mark.

After SEMA, BMR Suspension asked if they could take the car to PRI in Orlando, FL to show off their prototype 2nd Gen Torque arm suspension on the car (Dec 2009). Then we were invited to be on Powerblock TV on SPIKE http://blog.powerblocktv.com/?p=1297 which aired several times throughout the summer of 2010. BMR again graciously trailered the car up to Franklin, TN for us to attend the taping for the show and then they took the car to the Race and Performance Expo in Chicago, and the Hot Rod and Restoration Show in Indianapolis (Mar 2010). Thereafter, several articles appeared in Pontiac Enthusiast magazine, a Car Craft centerfold, and other appearances in PHR.

Sorry, I said “short story” didn’t I?… LOL In the end, Fletcher’s Customs had to move on to projects that would turn a profit and pay the bills. Thus this thread… (c:]

Now that I “Got the Bird!” I’m going to finish up a lot of the time consuming final assembly work that wasn't able to be completed during the “thrash for SEMA” deadline. Again, I can’t express just how much I appreciate all the work completed by Fletcher’s Customs and all the involvement and support from this great community!!! The friendships made along the way will last a lifetime!!

I’m excited to finish it up and will most likely start a new thread to detail the “Punch List” of things I’m going to do myself and will be asking your advice on what to prioritize and how to go about getting them done one at a time! I will endeavor to keep you informed and provide LOTS of pictures along the way!

:lateral:

OLDFLM

06-26-2012, 01:36 PM

Ty glad to see it home. Tell me that's not a blotch on the fender in that first picture:wow:

No Mario, pretty sure that was dirt on the camera lens! And the dark dot on the CF on the hood scoop is actually a blue wiffle ball tacked to the ceiling with fishing line so my wife didn't pull her Suburban in too far and hit the garage fridge... again. :_paranoid

Rybar

06-26-2012, 01:51 PM

Hey Congrats Ty, I like others had no clue it wasn't in your possesion. Like Todd said get out and drive the thing! That's the best part IMO :thumbsup:

intocarss

06-26-2012, 07:32 PM

Thank you for the explaination! I read your build thread and all I got to say is...

:woot: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :lateral: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :cheers:

Lenie

06-26-2012, 07:35 PM

Ty, you've got to be stoked to have the car now. Looks great!

OLDFLM

06-27-2012, 04:33 AM

You have no idea Lenie! :willy: My wife is already calling her "the metal mistress!" LOL :unibrow: She keeps catching me out in the garage going over the car at all times of the day and night... sometimes just staring at the car!

I've even changed my morning routine a bit to where I go out in the garage with my first cup of coffee and stand there staring for a while before I leave for work! :wow:

The "Punch List" is already started and I'll be starting a new thread soon to show what I'm doing. At the same time, let me know if there is anything you want to see, have questions about or want pictures of... :lateral:

Steve68

06-27-2012, 04:42 AM

Ahhhh, now I understand, good story,

NOT A TA

06-28-2012, 07:05 AM

Good to see the car arrived safely at your house Ty! Once it's ready we'll have to meet up at Palm Beach International or Sebring for some track time with our birds.

bentfab

06-28-2012, 08:12 AM

Congrats !
I could picture my self doing the same thing with my first POT of coffee...um I mean my first CUP of coffee every morning:thumbsup:

Mark

OLDFLM

06-28-2012, 08:15 AM

Sounds great John! :thumbsup:

Already planning on joining the local SCCA club to do local autocross events and Orlando Speed World is literally just a few miles from our house! :unibrow:

http://speedworlddragway.com/

OLDFLM

06-28-2012, 08:18 AM

Congrats !
I could picture my self doing the same thing with my first POT of coffee...um I mean my first CUP of coffee every morning:thumbsup:

Mark

It's like getting reacquainted with an old friend you've known since high school Mark! :cheers:

Firebirdsteve

06-28-2012, 09:34 AM

That BIRD is sic man!!! Love the fibre!!!

GoolsbyCustoms

06-28-2012, 10:59 AM

Congrats on getting the car back I know your almost as excited to see it as your wife and son ,:D

OLDFLM

06-28-2012, 12:57 PM

That BIRD is sic man!!! Love the fibre!!!

Thanks Steve! Can't wait to see yours finished! :thumbsup:

OLDFLM

06-28-2012, 12:59 PM

Congrats on getting the car back I know your almost as excited to see it as your wife and son ,:D

Thanks Josh! My boys are especially nuts over the car! My 8 year old, Tyler, asked if his friend could sit in "our" Firebird last night and check out the gauges! LOL :D

Spiffav8

06-28-2012, 01:17 PM

Thanks Josh! My boys are especially nuts over the car! My 8 year old, Tyler, asked if his friend could sit in "our" Firebird last night and check out the gauges! LOL :D

The next generation of Hot Rod guys begins. Nice! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

OLDFLM

06-28-2012, 01:39 PM

Watching their eyes light up and hearing their questions is the best part!!
I know I said this before, but my youngest, Mason, who just turned 4 on the 10th had never seen the car before Sunday... only pictures.
He was telling the neighbor kids not to get too close last night when I was showing their Dad, my neighbor, the car! LOL :lol:

Spiffav8

06-28-2012, 02:51 PM