69 firebird

[chevval]

Hey plp....just new to the site and must say very impressed with quality of cars I have seen so far. This is my 69 firebird, 400, 4 speed. Hope to catch up with some of you down the coast or around logan and bayside areas some time.

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[oldschool67]

Nice ride and welcome.

[Ham69]

Welcome Jase nice 69 pont real clean:)

[chevval]

thx guys..thought I would get something a bit different for a change, havent seen many of these around but I'm sure they are out there somewhere

[RAW454]

Howdy Jase! Glad to see I could sway you to come on over to a friendly place to hang out ;):D The Ponti looks sweet as. A few 'bird regulars Smote & Downesy we will happy to get their representation up. Ditto we're short on Banana-benders :p Be sure to check out SRC's mental '67 'vert (http://www.usmuscle.com.au/Forum/showthread.php?t=2245)too :cool:

So what's the plan, just enjoy as-is, or tinker bit by bit? Sure doen't look like needs anything... Congrats & welcome again! :)

[69SS]

Nice 69 Poncho Jase, does make a welcome change. And welcome to a great site with some real helpfull dudes!!

[chevval]

Yeah best site I've ever joined thx to RAW454, I'll throw some dress up in the engine bay, its had a front disc conversion but no booster so thats on the cards and muck around with the exhaust mainly extractors....I should be able to twist the old man arm to join as well, currently under resto is his 69 mach 1 'stang

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[gke60]

chevval, if you are looking into headers, may i suggest these dougs headers, for the pontiac v8 there is no better fitting header, for a low car they are a good fit, got mine from summit racing, i bought mine uncoated & had them coated here.

[chevval]

Looks good, definately going that way...get yours direct from the states???

[Russ]

That looks nice & tidy. Nice purchase!

I do spot a missing bolt on the hood latch-support though :)

[Nev68]

Yeah best site I've ever joined thx to RAW454, I'll throw some dress up in the engine bay, its had a front disc conversion but no booster so thats on the cards and muck around with the exhaust mainly extractors....I should be able to twist the old man arm to join as well, currently under resto is his 69 mach 1 'stang

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Jase, looks like you come from good stock.
Wish my old man had a Mustang.
How's he feel about the Poncho?

[chevval]

Jase, looks like you come from good stock.
Wish my old man had a Mustang.
How's he feel about the Poncho?

Two words......F#$%*&$ TRAITOR!!!!!! :p ;)
gotta keep him on his toes

[chevval]

chevval, if you are looking into headers, may i suggest these dougs headers, for the pontiac v8 there is no better fitting header, for a low car they are a good fit, got mine from summit racing, i bought mine uncoated & had them coated here.

Have you got a part number for those extractors???

[gke60]

the picture is of the coated headers, but they are the uncoated ones, coated are available for a few more $.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/DOU-D569-R/

[blackoutsteve]

Nice 'Bird Jase. ;)

[chevval]

finally got the bitch home today

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[Russ]

Noice one moit!

[Downesy]

Nice looking Firebird....:cool:
Just wondering why my inner door panels are different to yours? any Pontiac Guru's on site?

gke60 i might look into a set of those headers because my Heddman Hustlers hang low on the drivers side and are starting too get quite dented ....:mad:

[Nev68]

Nice looking Firebird....:cool:
Just wondering why my inner door panels are different to yours? any Pontiac Guru's on site?



As I understand it there are "standard" and deluxe interiors (just like the Camaro cousin)
Looks like Jase has the deluxe

[chevval]

good to know that, what the deal with clutch linkages...this thing isn't cable or hydraulic...its like a rat trap...any adjustment near the fork for pedal travel?????

[chevelle]

Looks to have Deluxe door panels with standard seat trim. It looks like it has a fold down rear seat?

[christian]

Nice to see another poncho in a sea of chevs...Camaros
Welcome mate
Chris

[70mach1]

Very nice 'bird.Have you got used to the manual shifting with the right hand yet?Takes a while..............

[chevval]

yeah bit different but getting used to it....it'll stay a left hand hook

[chevval]

nice hood tacho on it now...not original but when the old boy swap a genuine mustang jack for this tacho I wasn't going to complain....car nearly ready for rego...just a couple of bits and pieces to do on it.

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[AUSCAMARO]

I love that look! Killer..

[cluxford]

Yeah best site I've ever joined thx to RAW454, I'll throw some dress up in the engine bay, its had a front disc conversion but no booster so thats on the cards and muck around with the exhaust mainly extractors....I should be able to twist the old man arm to join as well, currently under resto is his 69 mach 1 'stang

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Only stang I would ever own...they are just a tough looking car. Plus my old man would have loved one, said one day I'd buy him one, waited too long and he passed away last year....should have pulled my finger out

Love the stance of that thing

[chevval]

Only stang I would ever own...they are just a tough looking car. Plus my old man would have loved one, said one day I'd buy him one, waited too long and he passed away last year....should have pulled my finger out

Love the stance of that thing


sorry for your loss mate..deal with these things everyday owning a funeral company...now you'll just have to buy a 'stang in memory of your dad ;)

[69SS]

Love the look of the hood mounted tachos - OEM that is!

Chris, you Dad would be so proud of your build! Don't beat yourself up mate :).

[chevval]

factory gauges back now fully reco'd and calibrated ready for install...dads mate even put on graduation marks for km/h with red dots after we done some rolling calculations for the speedo rebuild...top job!!!!

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[chevval]

new plates on the way US style

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[snap_point]

Very nice ride there chevval. Big fan of this style! :cool:

Wish we had the US stlye plates down here in Vic..... hopefully soon we will get them.

[chevval]

Very nice ride there chevval. Big fan of this style! :cool:

Wish we had the US stlye plates down here in Vic..... hopefully soon we will get them.

Thx mate..very clean ride you've hot yourself too...good to see another pontiac...lookout camaros we are catching up with you in numbers now lol!!!

[chevval]

took the beast out for a bath today...RWC wednesday morning then rego!!!!!

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[snap_point]

Looking nice mate:cool:
All the best for the RWC by the looks she will pass with flying colours.

[69SS]

Really nice stance there Jase, looking sweet and good luck with the rego!

[chevval]

UPDATE: RWC all good and rego'd....see u guys on the road!!

[rodent]

UPDATE see u guys on the road!!

Scag!!!!! :D

[cluxford]

Cool, gotta be happy with that....happy motoring

[Rex]

Nice chicken you got their bro

and the muskrat aint bad either

Welcome

[anychevy]

new plates on the way US style Nice plates, wish we had them here too :confused: Nice car too BTW :D

[chevval]

car went ok on its maiden run..pulls fairly hard through all gears, brakes and steering all good...got an issue with it running a bit warm but the timings probably out and the whole thing needs a good flush and attention to the radiator, and also need to sort out a pain in the arse oil leak by the oil pressure sender but other than that it goes like a shower of s***!

[tezza101]

Cool - must be great to be on the road!

[Not 028]

Good work Jase, I will have to bring my Camaro out for a cruise with you.
Sheridan.

[RAW454]

Congrats Jase! Best feeling getting out there and only a few minor tweaks needed by the sounds. Enjoy!

[chevval]

thx guys first show will probably be the Beenleigh swap and hotrod show, its usually a decent show to get to...
Sheridan I got hold of Paul and getting a shirt soon so will be easier to recognise at meets..looking forward to teeing up something later on.
Hey tezza, what size is your motor and whats your casting number on ya heads if you don't mind me asking.

[tezza101]

Hey Jase, mate she was a 355 Pontiac... sold about 3 years ago into Adelaide, so couldn't tell you a casting no. Great car.. and her replacement is currently bobbing its way across the Pacific :D

[chevval]

just found out via the block cast numbers that this motor is a 455!!!!! no wonder it pulls like a bastard in all gears....stoked!!!! :D :D :D

[RAW454]

just found out via the block cast numbers that this motor is a 455!!!!! no wonder it pulls like a bastard in all gears....stoked!!!! :D :D :DAwesome Jase! Brilliant to hear a story of that kinda discovery going in somebodys favour, not the otherway round. Now I gotta go oversize to make up that 1ci! Haha..

[gke60]

i think the engine cid is cast in the block just near the fuel pump somewhere, from memory. pontiac used the same engine prefix number for various cid over many different years, good score if its a 455.

[chevval]

i think the engine cid is cast in the block just near the fuel pump somewhere, from memory. pontiac used the same engine prefix number for various cid over many different years, good score if its a 455.

definatley a 455...number is cast on the block LHS front and the block serial casting number near the distibutor is sequential with that as well

[chevval]

new aluminium radiator with custom mounts and shroud done ...just got to cut a hole in the shroud and fix it to the radiator...got the mounts made up as blanks spaced at factory dimensions so it gives me optimal placement on the support panel

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[firebird69]

nice bird mate, good to see another on the road

[chevval]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irIL0ael3E4here a little something I did just muckin around

[GOATMAN]

oh yea the Ponti donk sounds awesome.

[chevval]

thought I would share these car mats my lovely wife got custom made for the car from the states for me....check the site out...www.pontiacmall.com


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[69SS]

They look super cool, a good wife is worth her weight in gold !!!

[Bandit1977]

Very nice ride there chevval. Big fan of this style! :cool:

Wish we had the US stlye plates down here in Vic..... hopefully soon we will get them.

Andrew,
We do have US style plates down here...........just make your own like I did.
Stuff waiting for VicRoads to pull their finger out, it'll never happen!

Ken D

[chevval]

got some good gear now...ansen rocker covers, 750 double pumper and in the second pic got rid of the ally radiator (which is for sale now) and gone back to OE...4 core brass/copper, shoud and clutch fan and while I was at it new timing chain and balance from Summit. The original balancers outer ring had turned 5 degrees putting my initial timing up to s***.
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[RAW454]

got some good gear now... 750 double pumper Looking sweet Jase. What carb was on before? Look forward to thoughts on the 750DP (fuel consumption, performance etc). Cheers!

[chevval]

before was a crappy holley 600 vac, but have now updated to the 750 by procarb....not to worried about fuel consumption as long as there is a fuel tanker beside me lol, but performance should be alot more noticable with better timing, cooling and fuel delivery.

[blackoutsteve]

That plain black top radiator hose looks so much better over that bling one. ;) -I'm hoping that's the "after" pic. :D

Deano, a DP won't offer any better of worse fuel consumption over a 750 vac on cruise.
It will if you open the throttle more often (due to the additional pump-shot), and obviously it will if it adds more cfm/power over what you currently have. :)

[67SS502]

got to have a double pumper mmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

[chevval]

well all done and what an improvement, temp sits on 175-185, nudged 190 in traffic and recovery was quite impressive as well...need to time and tune it properly yet but the double pumper has made a noticable difference in acceleration...wish I was taking it to lakeside tommorrow, but some well earned time away with the family at the Sunny Coast is a good consilation....and yes steve that was the after pic lol

[chevval]

Went out to Queensland Raceway today to put the bird through its paces and surprisingly it handled not so bad....into the 6th or 7th lap things were getting a bit hot (220+) so in the pits I went and spewed out about 3 ltrs of coolant out the overflow, driving out there and back considering its stinkin hot day it was happy on 175 cruising and 195 in traffic, so all in all a fairly successfull day. Just don't know about the overheating on the track but its not a racecar.
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[chevval]

took the family for a cruise to Victoria Pt this arvo...had a good time and my better half went psych with the camera.....few pics of the car...
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my eldest daughter telling me to move or you'll ruin the photo dad....little s***! :D
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[chevval]

replaced the front springs over the long weekend, got rid of the factory ones for a set of nice stiff pedders set which raised the front by an inch...now eliminating the PITA tyre scrubbing on the gaurds. Still has a decent stance!!! I don't think I'll alter the rear end though...

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[weathdan]

That plain black top radiator hose looks so much better over that bling one. ;) -I'm hoping that's the "after" pic. :D

Deano, a DP won't offer any better of worse fuel consumption over a 750 vac on cruise.
It will if you open the throttle more often (due to the additional pump-shot), and obviously it will if it adds more cfm/power over what you currently have. :)

Are those plain black top hoses available locally at auto stores in Australia? What about water pump gaskets etc for first gen firebirds and camaros?

Any help would be appreciated. I got some leaks.

Dan

[chevval]

hey Dan, I got my hoses and gaskets through Dave Clee at Pontiworld
www.usgmsp.com.au

[chevval]

Got hold of a set of Kauffman heads the other day for the start of the rebuild hopefully mid next year.....2.11in, 1.77ex, ported, comp cams beehive springs, screw-in studs and guide plates....will get some pics up soon..........

[chevval]

The rebuild has started....here are the kauffman heads I picked up a few weeks ago.....should breathe some life in the ol' smogger!!! Just about to drop a nice order of parts from the states this week...will keep this updated as I go along

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[hothead]

Very nice Ponti you have there Jase!
I think I know what my next cars gonna be.

[gke60]

those heads will wake it up, make sure you put some good rods in it, the cast rods arn't worth the risk when you can buy good rods for not a lot of money, good luck with the build, what cc are the heads 87 ??

[chevval]

Graham, the heads are 62cc, so to maintain a 10.0-10.5 compression ratio I'll use Keith Black 'claimers' pistons with a 30.5cc step dish, otherwise it'll bump it up to 13:1. I will be ordering new rods soon but not sure which brand yet...will get stock stroke 6.625". What rods would you recommend???

[gke60]

i am using the eagle chevy rods on an sgi forged crank, but any of these rods will be alot better than the stock pontiac rods, you are right you will need to dish the pistons, you can have the ross pistons custom dished, are you getting your parts from a pontiac supplier or summit, summit don't offer much advise, with a supplier like sd you pay a little more but the support and advise is worth every cent.

http://www.sdperformance.com/listProducts.php?categoryID=3

[chevval]

been talking to kauffman and dealing with summit and jegs for stuff like distributor, cam and the dougs headers (D569). My engine builder who has built pontiacs for many yrs has recommended changing out the rods but the crank should be ok. I'll get on to SD and query them with specifics and see what they can do for me...I believe marcell is the guru????

[gke60]

dave is the guru, marcell knows a lot, if your guy has built pontiac you are way in front already, the pontiac crank is fine, what year is your block ? if you are going to race it a forged crank is not that much more if you have to do work on the cast crank.
i think you will be pleased with those headers, a lot of guys have tried to save a few dollars on pontiac headers, spent more attempting to make them fit & then buying a new set in the end, start right the first time and save the headache.
cheers

[chevval]

not sure of the yr on the block, have to check the codes but fairly sure it a 1975-76 block as the heads are coded 6H which would be correct for that era IF the motor was out of a transam. The car will be predominately for street use but occaisionally a bit of circuit and drag racing at certain events.

[chevval]

The rebuild begins...oh joy!!!!!:p:D
Will give a final spec list for those who are interested after I finalise my order. cheers

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[chevval]

motor is now stripped to its undies....bugger all lip on the bores and the pistons look like factory units so hopefully my engine builder tells me its a virgin bore...fingers crossed

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[chevval]

good news from my engine builder, took the block, crank and heads to him on Saturday, he's real happy with the condition and as suspected is a virgin block. Motor hadn't done too much work and the crank journals look great, probably only need a 10/10 grind. Also he is going to cc the Kauffman heads and radius around the combustion chambers to open it up a touch, so once this is done I'll be able to order some ross forgies from the states when I get some cc figures.

[blackoutsteve]

Ask Ross if they can machine a dome that suits the Kauffman chambers. They might have the shape in their cnc/cad program.. My Ross piston's domes were milled to suit my Edel 6045 heads.

[chevval]

Thanks to Graham (gke60) for his advice in earlier posts, I now have a set of new dougs headers. Great finish and nice thick 3/8" header plate. Parts are slowly coming in now.

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part # D569

[gke60]

thanks chevval, they are a nice, off the shelf set of pipes, glad you are happy with them..cheers

[GAS455]

Who are you getting to build the engine Jase?

[chevval]

Who are you getting to build the engine Jase?

Marty White from John White Racing, we've known marty for a lot of years and does a bloody good job too. Being a mechanic by trade myself, I would love to do the assembly myself but just don't have the time, at least Marty can run the cam in and get some figures when done.

[chevval]

got the day off today so this morning done a test fit on the pipes I bought of Fausto a while back and not a bad fitment so far. Still have to put extra mounts on and align it properly yet but needed the rear resonators on so I can do some measures for the custom fuel tank to be fabbed up.

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[Not 028]

Jase,
Good choice with Marty, I can recommend him, he knows his stuff and is one of the few places in Brissy to go to.
Sheridan.

[Birdman]

That is a very nice ride, realy like the red/Black combo.

[chevval]

thinking of ideas for the fuel tank as I can't use a factory tank and I don't particularly want to cut the boot floor so this is the alternative so as to use the rear resonators. Should look good with ally or stainless, but looks kinda strange but it'll grow on me. Calculated 63 ltrs. First 2 pics are with the back wheels on ramps and the other 2 on ground.

Don't be afraid to voice an opinion, I'm open to constructive criticism and ideas

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[gke60]

my opinion would be to ditch the rear mufflers or what ever they are and use the stock fuel tank, get some decent tail pipes made and away you go.
cheers

[chevval]

my opinion would be to ditch the rear mufflers or what ever they are and use the stock fuel tank, get some decent tail pipes made and away you go.
cheers

does look weird and would be such a wank factor too, but cardboard is a hell of a lot cheaper than stainless and I won't feel guilty binning it. Thx for the comment.

[BLU367]

why don't you go to a zorst shop and get some smaller resonators? if you are keen on using them I don't have a problem with that at all, but with smaller resi's you may be able to get the 65 litres by going wider rather than deeper if you get my drift.

just my opinion.

Ash.

[chevval]

yeah ash thought about that too but I reckon I'll get this tank from the states through summit and get some tails made up on the exhaust

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from ricks hotrod shop

[BLU367]

that looks like a better option!!

[blackoutsteve]

If you route the exhaust like the factory did, -which is mufflers in the regular position and your resonators mounted transversely behind the axle, then an OE or the sumped OE style tank will easily fit.
I really don't like the look of fabbed drop-tanks. If you really have to.. -paint it black.

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/9324/nc8a2sml.th.png (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/141/nc8a2sml.png/) http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/2503/exhaust108.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/156/exhaust108.jpg/)

[chevval]

ditching the drop tank steve and going for the sumped tank...look a lot better IMO...that was the whole idea of the cardboard construction to get an idea if its works or not....short answer, NOT!!!! :eek::eek:

[chevval]

Just ordered this tank from detroit speed....narrowed 17 gallon (pic shown is a to suit 67-68 but virtually the same tank)

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[chevval]

Got this delivered today from the Rocket Industries clearance, Barry Grant speed demon 850 annular....was $400 on the site but only charged $300 woohoo win for me...all the parts are starting to arrive, should get fuel tank and manifold by end of January hopefully.

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[blackoutsteve]

Bargain! ;)

[guffer]

Thats a bargain on the carb Jase, just dont hold your breath waiting for the manifold, someone stuffed up with the shipping, missed the boat and now its still in LA, :mad:
hope to have it by late Jan but no guarantee :(

[chevval]

no worries shane...all good mate...got other stuff to get on with anyway