New to site doing a 1968 Firebird

[chauffeur1st]

New to forum but wanted to share my project I am starting a 1968 firebird. I have a rendering I'm following and have the car already, my late model front and rear bucket seats from a Gto, my 9 inch rear axel, and all my sheet metal on the way, still looking for passenger side front fender louver. Here's the car as it sits and the car it will look like! Hope u guys like it. I also am needing to find the side mirrors like in pic, as well as the front grille if its even made, if not ill be doing it. Oh ya I'm doing a 525 ls3 motor with 6 speed.

[chauffeur1st]

Another pic

[chauffeur1st]

Not sure why I can only do one pic at time from phone.

[chauffeur1st]

Out of gas :)

[DETON8R]

Wow, you've go quite a project ahead of you.

I passed up on a few cars that were in much better shape than that one before I settled on my car, which didn't have any rust compared to your car.

I think you will be doing a bit of sheet metal grafting. :hairpullout:
Maybe a whole LOT!!

Any plans for the suspension you want to share now?

[chauffeur1st]

Im going with Detroit in the rear and prolly their front as well minus the frame, so the one that utilizes the stok frame rails. Going to be painting gloss black and clear over it too on all frame. Im smoothing out front fire wall too. Oh ya doing tubes from detroit for rear too. Prolly going 19 inch in rear and 18 front not sure width yet though. Looked for cars for awhile,I wanted this type of car clean title and no one has gone into it yet and re metaled or hid crap. Im the first and last one in, feel better building this type of car from ground up want it solid especially with the power putting into it. I have bout 4000 dollar of sheet metal getting picked up this week, thanks to my dad doing the drive to pick up. So your right alot alot of new metal. Already sent him on 6 hour road trip to pick up my front and rear bucket late model gto seats :thankyou: I am looking foward to this project. Something ill be building forself.

[chauffeur1st]

Funny thing is the car picks I posted are actually cleaned up. It had two ancient spare donuts flat on rear and the front were ancient flat snow tires on white steel rusted wheels car wouldnt roll had to work on drums for awhile too get moveable. Had half door frame full of dirt also had to airchisle the doorskins offcause somehad had put door cylinoids in and shaved door handles like in 1990. Im happy its mine though now.

[DETON8R]

I always liked the shaved look.

I had a 1967 Camaro, and I never understood why the 1969 had the "gills" in front of the rear tires. If the paint wasn't already done when I bought my car I'd shave the drip rails, and door hardware, or at least install flush handles.

Any thought of putting a full frame under the car? Roadster shop, Art Morrison and Swartz Performance make full frames?

[chauffeur1st]

Well I have looked at them all. Im trying to keep price down a bit, I've been in cars with both ways and ill be happy with either way I go. I decieded on ls3 525 hp recently which added cost. I wish I had unlimited resources only reason I can be do this all is cause ill do the whole car and labor cept the interior upholstery. Im going to keep the gills and factory type handles and adding the louver on front fender, but willbe doing modern mirrorslike in rendering. Old school with some new school.

[BMR Sales]

Welcome & Good Luck!

[chauffeur1st]

Good day for parts time to start

[chauffeur1st]

Got all the body parts this is a quarter of them didnt want to upload the 4 other pics of parts . Oh also got these :)and the backs to. Time to cut and weld

[tubbed69]

That will keep you busy for a while,are you replacing the floor in 2 pieces instead of one?:gitrdun:

[chauffeur1st]

U caught that huh? They messed up my order there going back and one piece will be going in. Cleaner and I'm finishing it all off. Got one door skin today done. Progress after a day at work.

[GregWeld]

I always liked the shaved look.




That's way too much personal information right there dude!!! LOL


++++++++++++++++++++++++





I think this is the first Firebird I've ever liked --- as in E V E R…..


Huge project for sure!! But welcome to the site!

[chichirone]

Awesome rendering. Cant wait to see the progress. You do have quite a project ahead of you. Looking forward to updates.

[Rod P]

:thumbsup: love those birds

[chauffeur1st]

Here is a pic of what I have gotten done, finally was able to get it into the shop. I'll get my 1 piece floor into this next week, sand blast then install the rear of the car!

[chauffeur1st]

This is the car that was the hold up on the start of the bird. Anyone know what this is??

[Rod P]

This is the car that was the hold up on the start of the bird. Anyone know what this is??

nope :waveflag:

[Vince@Meanstreets]

This is the car that was the hold up on the start of the bird. Anyone know what this is??

That be a 1962 Austin Healey Sebring 5000 right??? Love them Healeys. Then again it has Bristol features.

[zz430droptop67rs]

Can I play?

Early 50's Nash Healey?

[chauffeur1st]

.... Ok try a kit car that was in like 4 pieces of broken and missing areas of fiberglass when we got it. It's actually a 1953 glasspar gt2 with the Nash grill, I believe there was 6 made with that grill, the number is 4-8 actually , and a total of about 100 made.

[geberhard]

Really dig the project and glad to see another bird! I will send you info on the grille, I know a company in CA that does them, and I believe they are not too pricy and are well made (actually metal not plastic). Steve has a set on his Firebird currently mocked up and in process.

I did something similar on my wife's Firebird, modified front fenders, grafting 69 louvers and shaved the rear louvers.


I dig the color choice, I believe ZVT was planning on a white pearl of sorts, so some inspiration (not mine):

http://www.quartermilemuscle.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/I-pad-september-11-213.png

old pic showing the 69 grafting for reference:

http://cdn.speednik.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/10/files/2012/04/lolapass-635x506.jpg

BTW where are you located?

[geberhard]

Here are a couple pics I found I had of Steve's in progress bird. I believe he ordered the grilles from the guy in Southern CA, but I will dig whatever contact I can find. The grilles are nicely made from what I remember.

pics:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v256/geberhard/geberhard016/IMG_7642_zpsf4124558.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v256/geberhard/geberhard016/IMG_7641_zps8abc101f.jpg

Gui

[chauffeur1st]

I'm in Oregon portland area, I have talked to zee (the guy who did the concept). I'm painting my car a Lexus starfire pearl. (Tri coat) that would be awesome to have his contact information on tr grill!! I like the first pic you posted slammed in the dirt! The interior color is something I have been pondering too, as in I like the color in the pic, looking at the Lexus Color, but prolly will be going with a BMW or Mercedes Leather. Thanks for the help.

[geberhard]

Hi, will be glad to help. I will check teh ocntact in Southren CA, but Steve may have the contact and info since he ordered the grille not long ago. I hav seen in person and it is very well made, I think the guy also makes it in black if not mistaken.

The bird in white pearl on the picture I believe was done by Quarter Mile Muscle.
http://www.quartermilemuscle.com but I do not have much info on it.

On my vert with the 69 grafted fenders I have the Lexus white pearl - note Lexus has several pearl colors; I believe mine is the Starfire or Crystal white IIRC.

Great project ahead, and good luck on the build

Gui

[chauffeur1st]

Geberhard do you have any pics of your car with the Lexus paint!? I'm painting mine starfire pearl!!! Thanks for the help

[BMR Sales]

Can I play?

Early 50's Nash Healey?

That's my Vote as well, but maybe a Nash-Healey Kit

[chauffeur1st]

That's my Vote as well, but maybe a Nash-Healey Kit

1953 glasspar gt2 with the Nash grill.

[69camarorsssls]

Welcome! Love the design! Lot's of work ahead of you. Looking forward to seeing your progress!

[geberhard]

Stephen is out of town (military) for a few weeks, but will get me the info as soon as he is back on the place he got his billet grille.

I found this company out of Vegas ebay selling them as well, pretty affordable and also look pretty clean:

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NDUxWDgwMA==/z/Mr0AAOxy4t1SoWIG/$_3.JPG

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MjA2WDgwMA==/z/JC8AAMXQfvlSlsZs/$_3.JPG

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1967-1968-BILLET-GRILLE-GRILL-NEW-Firebird-Trans-am-/360802740027

Gui

[chauffeur1st]

Awesome. I'll be looking forward to hearing from you when he's back. I wish I could post some recent pics, it says it's to big and I do t know how to downsize them on the iPhone. I did get my floor board in, my trunk floor, and welded it all up. Frame rail and all. Taking car to sandblast, them time for Body work, and paint under the car. I'm doing base and clear on it all. Oh yea got my firewall all welded up. I should have the last bit of parts this week for my body, I forgot to order my DSE min tubs, rear valance inner trunk panel and front side cowl.