New dude with a '67 project

MoGas

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Hello all,
My name is Dave and I just picked up a 1967 Firebird that was a stalled project.

It is originally a Sprint Six 4bbl 3 speed floor shift car. The PO had purchased it in 2002 with a leaky, smoky Chevy 230 in it.
He was very excited, bought the full PHS document package, did a bunch of research, ready to do it right. It was originally optioned like this:
2012-07-09_18-35-35_235.jpg


He then disassembled it, planning on a restification (body restoration/performance modification) of it. He bought a 325 horse 389 from a ’66 Bonneville and had it rebuilt. He sold the 3 speed and bought a BOP TH350. He started stripping paint and purchased some replacement sheetmetal, and then the project stalled. It sat in his garage for 8 years, then in his field under tarps for 2. Now it is mine.

I am not a body guy, so that part is being farmed out. I am dealing with the mechanicals. The receipts on the 389 show all the parts and work completed. It was taken .030 over and the crank did not need ground. He used cast 9.5 pistons with a Crane H-272-2 camshaft. The Carter AFB from the Bonnie has been rebuilt, and he added Hooker Super Competition full length headers. I have a TH400 that will be going in this. It has 3.55 gears in the rearend right now.

I’m thinking with a 25-2800 stall, I should have a decent street/strip car that can be driven daily.

Since the engine was built almost 10 years ago and has never been run, I am going to take it down and inspect, reseal and reassemble it. I like to KNOW what is going on. I work for a medical device manufacturer and calibrate manufacturing equipment and instruments to extreme precision, so that is how I approach my own projects.

My plan:
Have bodywork completed (farmed out), painted Verdoro Green
Go through the engine
Rebuild the transmission
Go through rear end, install posi or more likely a powertrax locker.
Add front disc brakes
Assemble the vehicle and drive it like my socks are on fire.

The car will be 45 on July 27th and I hope to have it completed by it’s 50th birthday, so this is a 5 year plan.

These are the only pics I have right now. I have all the glass, interior and other parts in my shed. I'll be inventorying it all over the next couple weeks.
2012-07-09_17-02-55_225.jpg

2012-07-09_17-03-39_553.jpg

2012-07-09_17-04-01_93.jpg

2012-07-09_17-03-27_350.jpg



Your opinions are welcome, and experience is appreciated.
Dave
 
a gem in the rough, love those prices, post any specific questions
 
My "dream car" as well; someday, I WILL own one... Very jealous, and will be watching this thread for sure!

ETA: And when you're done with the restification, I'll gladly give you $2750 dollars for it...lol...a $9.25 profit!
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Nice, you have your work cut out for you, but sounds like you a reasonable time line and plan. Love that Verdoro!! if you need a finish pic of that color, let me know. As to the engine, make sure you have the heads checked out, would be terrible to have a stuck valve kill a piston, or find out the seals are bad after you've put it back together. Oh, and I'd recommend you spend what ever it takes to get rid of all the rust and prevent it from coming back, otherwise you'll be fighting it forever....
 
Update:
I went and picked it up, pulled the engine, and on Friday afternoon, my new dollies showed up from Harbor Freight.

On the trailer:
2012-07-15_18-48-22_510.jpg

2012-07-15_18-48-54_497.jpg


On the dollies:
2012-07-22_14-39-00_779.jpg


She's in there somewhere:
2012-07-22_14-41-55_636.jpg


I started to take inventory of all the parts. There were a couple pleasant surprises. Hurst Pro-Matic 2 shifter, center console, some new sheetmetal, hood insulation kit, etc.

2012-07-22_14-34-44_193.jpg


I think these will be staying....Why advertise?
2012-07-22_14-32-54_533.jpg

2012-07-22_14-40-03_183.jpg


I pulled the engine apart, it is .030 over and the crank is standard sized "N".

I am on the fence for upgrading the rods (what are decent 389 rods?) and going to forged pistons.


I need to find a few things like: All the pulleys and brackets for an 11 bolt water pump setup with power steering, a fan shroud for a 7 blade clutch fan, stuff like that. There are still a couple boxes of new stuff from different restoration companies that I have yet to open.


I'm looking forward to Winter so I can really get into it.

Dave
 
unless you are going all the way, forged steel crank, 4 bolts mains, etc. going for cast pistons if you need them and checking the rods should be fine.
 
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