Hitman's Pontiac Trans Am Forum
Trans Am Photos => Restoration Projects => Topic started by: Greenbird76 on September 30, 2011, 12:34:55 PM
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My name is Ron and I have been restoring my car for the past 2 years. I have been a back yard mechanic since I was 16. I bought the car for $2800 in 09 and did so because the car was not missing much and came from the factory with this unusual color combo according to the VIN plate. It also had a near mint white vinyl interior that is original. I have owned a variety of other 2nd gens, but did not get fully back into the hobby until about the time I bought this car. What I did, however was collect a lot of parts over the years. This made this resto so much easier. Everthing mechanical has been refurbished or replaced. New brakes, lines, TRW front springs and Eaton rears, new shocks, stripped and refurbished 1 3/16 front sway bar and 5/8 rear bar from a 80 Formula- mounted them with new bushings from Energy, new fuel tank, new e brake cables, 700r4 conversion including having drive shaft cut and rebalanced, rebuilt 410 posi, new alternater, water pump, powere steering lines, fuel pump, Edlebrock performer EPS manifold, rebuilt Edlebrock 600cfm carb, new suspension bushings front and rear, new front end except cnter link, Stripped floor inside and out- patched a few small holes, new Energy body bushings, rebuilt seat tracks, The list is too extensive right now for me to think of! The rally IIs were stripped and repainted and the trim rings and center caps are original. I also did extensive body work to the rear of the car- welded in donor tail valence, new tail panel, donor trunk extensions, donor qter extensions and 21 inches of donor frame rail on each side. In additon, i patched the trunk in afew places and resealed it. Of course, I broke about 300 spot welds removing the old rusted pieces from the 76 and removeing the rust free pieces from 2 donor Firebirds. I started my resto at the rear of the car because this was in the worst shape, and move forward. The last bit of rot on the car is on the radiator support and I will patch that this winter if I can't find a deal on a solid one. The car right now has a sbc in it pushing about 300 hp. Not my choice, old ownner put it in. I have a 77 400 pontiac with pink rods, ram air IV cam, 6x heads, bored 40 over, edlebrock performer rpm intake- about 350hp. It has been in storage for over 12 years and needs a good cleaning and rebuild.
Eventually I will repaint the car the original Metalime Green.
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/p1010013.jpg)
the way the interior looked when I bought the car
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/p1010012-1.jpg)
During the surgery to the rear end.
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/p1010005-1.jpg)
picture of donor frame rail installed and repainted
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/p1010009-1.jpg)
stripped and welded in patch panels to trunk pan, Everthing was butt welded with a MIG. finished trunk with spatter paint from Eastwood. Aqua + black
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/taillightaweld.jpg)
Rossette welded in new tail panel from AMES
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/p1010009-2.jpg)
New gas tank ready for mounting. Refurbished original sending unit and lines. Added anti squeak pads
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/p1010004-2.jpg)
Sand blasted 5 rally IIs. Repainted using eastwoods paint and dupli color clear laquer wheel paint. Came out well
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010028.jpg)
More of my body work under car
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010029.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010037.jpg)
New tank mounted using original straps that I stripped and repainted
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010063.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010068.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010074.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010078.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010082.jpg)
Sway bar, rear end, rear brakes, brake lines, new shackles bushings and springs- all mounted back into car. I spent hours stripping and repainting that 410 posi rear!
everthing was claeaned and stripped and repainted. No bolt was left unturned The suspension stops are in great original shape.
Here are some pictures of her today. I have her posted on a few other boards also including a full build post on AGTA.
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/0910111803b.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010346.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010344.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010343.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010329.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010326.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010316.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010317.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/0901111851_0001.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010305.jpg)
I have hundreds of pictures and will post more in the future
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now thats a different color and I like it! looks great... not too many esprits getting restored, mostly chopped for t/as great job!
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She looks good Ron. and welcome to 78ta
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Glad to see you here 4speed
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great looking car!
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Wow, beautiful Esprit Ron! Like Eroc said, so many get chopped up or cloned that it is rare to see such a nice example anymore.
My hat off to you for keeping it original, I love the color combo!! And it's always nice to see another CT resident on the forum! 8)
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Welcome to 78ta , nice ride
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Sweet looking car, love the color combo.
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Very impressive ! You sure do nice work . I love the color and I really like the black and white interiors. Thanks for sharing your rebuild with us
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Very nice !! , a nice different color :)
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I chose the same interior combo for my car. Yours looks great. Lots of hard work that turned out very well.I was a little unsure about seeing the green with white/black interior but it looks really great. Congratulations on a well done Espirit.
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green is my favorite color on cars and yours looks awesome and great detail and effort in restoring it. ever thought of putting a spoiler on it.
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Looks good man.
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Very nice ride. I love the under car shots. I remember doing mine. Lotta work there.
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Thanks guys. I appreciate all the great comments. As far as the spoiler, I did alot of thinking on the ssubject and I dicided to go without one. You dont see many of them around without a spoiler let alone a 76. I love the look of the tail panel and lights on the car with out a spoiler. The funny thing is I have 3 spoilers I took of parts cars over the years! Check out these pics-
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010317.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010223.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/048.jpg)
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Welcome to the site, I really like the '76, that colour is different but I kind of dig it. What a nice firebird you have there.
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Glad to see you here 4speed
Im all over the place brother.....
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Here are some more pictures. The front end and engine compartment mostly.
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010038.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/random2009229.jpg)
Berfore Resto
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010108-2.jpg)
hanging the Summit 2.5 inch exhaust
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010113-2.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010115-2.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/th_firebirdrunningside.jpg) (http://s1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/?action=view¤t=firebirdrunningside.mp4)
Video of car running for the first time
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010107-3.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010111-3.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010112-3.jpg)
(http://http[IMG]http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010113-3.jpg)://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010117-2.jpg[/IMG]
Entire front suspension was removed from car, stripped all parts replacing as necessary, primed painted or epoxied, cleared everthing. Finished results look good.
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010128-1.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010132-1.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010135-1.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010136-1.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010138-1.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/p1010142-1.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010243.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010231.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010228.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/0910111803.jpg)
FINISHED PRODUCT
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Great looking 76. I was wondering what you used to paint the underside of the car. I like that black look, thought about doing red epoxy like factory but I want to drive my car. This is something that has had me puzzled for some time now.
Thanks,
Josh
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I stripped under body down to bare metal with a angle grinder and braided wire wheel, Rust spots were patched or plug welded, smoothed out with all metal or self etching primed. 65% of the car had the original red oxide in tact so I smoothed out a little. Then the entire underside got shot with rustoleum heavy rust red primer. 3 coats. Here is the kicker, the top coat is flat Rustoleum that u can by for 50$ a gallon at homedepot. I then mixed that with a liitle hardner because Rustolem out of the can seems to never harden. Sprayed it on with my compressor and gun. I read a lot into it and many guys were doing it this way on other forums. I have to say, it resists scratches and road grime pretty well. By the way the inside of the trunk was also stripped and primed the same way except I used Eastwoods spray bomb trunk paint and a clear lacqer. I also stripped and primed the top of the floor the same way except there I used 3m professional undercoating as described by Pete of Fbodywarehouse. He has awesome instructional How to videos on his site. I resealed all the joints with a high quality seam sealer before final painting. The key to making any paint stick and last is too stripped everthing down to bare metal or at least to rough up the existing primer with some 180 grit paper. Of course here are some more pics
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010060.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010036.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010040.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010043.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010046.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/p1010024.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/p1010026.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010028.jpg)
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i seen a camaro that color at a show this year i love it!
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Thanks for the info I have been debating on what to do for so long, and I also have had issues with Rustoleum not tending to harden and being very brittle on its own. I have bought things like eastwoods chassis black but didn't like the way it looked, then I got Summits chassis shield but that has to go down to bare metal no matter what to stick very well. My car is a Norwood car so the primer is etched into the metal and is taking forever to get off. I would rather just scuff it with some sand paper or a wire wheel. I will give that a try.
Thanks again,
Josh
P.S. I also need to redo my sub frame, used the POR-15 black and was not impressed with how its holding, love the silver though it sticks like glue. Sorry to hi-jack
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89flyboy dont worry about it. I used vht chassis black and I am so far happy with it. But for epoxies, you need to go down to bare metal and take off any enamel or lacquer. Epoxy needs and likes bare metal. The good thing about rustoleum is that it is cheap and touch up is piece of cake. The spray bombs do work well but I would give it at least 4 weeks to completely harden.
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Thanks again I will keep that in mind ya going down to bare metal is a PITA on cars that were factory diped in paint. I love epoxies but I do not have the free time or the money to get them so I think I will go with the rustoleum.
Thanks for all your help,
Josh
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Nice!!!!!
That color combonation is perfect.
Screams 70's !!!!!!!!!!!!
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Great to see you post some pics Ron. I have seen this car in person and it looks as good or better than the pics show. It is amazing how good the quality of work is for being done at his home in spare time.
Great job and keep the pics coming.
Hope to see you at the last club cruise night on the 15th, it will be Halloween themed cruise night.
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As long as it does not rain, I will be there Harry! Lets cruise up together. Do we have to dress up?
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Outstanding color - you should be very proud of your bird!
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Very unique bird you got there :) As others have mentioned the Esprit usually ain't getting restored, so this is nice to see :)
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As long as it does not rain, I will be there Harry! Lets cruise up together. Do we have to dress up?
Dressing up is an option, there will be awards for best costume for person and best dressed car.
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Very unique bird you got there :) As others have mentioned the Esprit usually ain't getting restored, so this is nice to see :)
Thank you. My birds color combo was not too common to see even in 76. Metalime green was not popular by no means. However, did you know some Formulas came out wearing this color also? I will post a pic of it in the future.
I have posted in other forums that I at first hated this color and did not want this Esprit. The old owner sent me a picture of it via Craigs list and my wife talked me in to going to take a look at because it looked very original and complete. The very good white interior, unique 76 nose, and the fact that the car was mostly original (nothing was hacked up or molested by someone who had no idea what they were doing) attracted me to the car. I took a month or two to actually start to like the color. I never wanted a TA because that is what everbody restores or bought for that matter. I grew up in the late 70s to late 80s and TAs or Z28s were the in. I wanted a Formula actually because it came with most of the suspension up grades like the TA.
So now I have around 300hp under the hood (CAN'T WAIT FOR MY PONTIAC 400 TO BE UNDER THE HOOD THOUGH!), a 700r4 conversion I installed my self, 410 posi, suspension and steering that handles just as well or better than a TA or Formula on top of a rare original color combo on the car. Another thing that got me is that my car came with a 3 turn steering box from the factory- Makes it more fun to drive LOL I could sit here and list things I love about this car all day long now!
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I saw a T\A on eBay a year ago that was painted the same color as your car ;) And I kind of liked it :) What suspension do you have on the car now?
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I saw a T\A on eBay a year ago that was painted the same color as your car ;) And I kind of liked it :) What suspension do you have on the car now?
The TA did not come from the factory like that in 76. It was either a clone or repainted.
TRW front springs, Eaton 4 leaf high spring rate rears with OERs shackle and bushing set, 1 3/16th inch front sway bar with energy susp. bushings, 5/8 rear sway bar with energy bushings, Energy Susp body bushings, Energy Suspension front bumps and stops, factory stops in the rear, New rubber control arm bushings because I did not want the squeak. I will be adding in weld in frame connectors as well as solid body bushings in the future when I plug in more horsepower to the car. I was going to lower the car 1-2 inches but decided against it due to clearance issue and my driveway.
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Here is a Camaro that color I sold a while back...The seats are white I just had cheap covers on them
(http://i51.tinypic.com/nv1d7a.jpg)
(http://i56.tinypic.com/30lmnaf.jpg)
(http://i53.tinypic.com/16htaj9.jpg)
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what year is that? I think it looks so much better on a Firebird though!. To me, it appears to be a different green, but I have seen a metalime green Firebird esprit on the web that came with the green accents and dash like your old Camaro. I love my black and white combo. I see something interesting though, did mid 70's Firebirds and Camaros use the same inner door panel with the storage pockets?. They look just like mine.
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I saw a T\A on eBay a year ago that was painted the same color as your car ;) And I kind of liked it :) What suspension do you have on the car now?
The TA did not come from the factory like that in 76. It was either a clone or repainted.
TRW front springs, Eaton 4 leaf high spring rate rears with OERs shackle and bushing set, 1 3/16th inch front sway bar with energy susp. bushings, 5/8 rear sway bar with energy bushings, Energy Susp body bushings, Energy Suspension front bumps and stops, factory stops in the rear, New rubber control arm bushings because I did not want the squeak. I will be adding in weld in frame connectors as well as solid body bushings in the future when I plug in more horsepower to the car. I was going to lower the car 1-2 inches but decided against it due to clearance issue and my driveway.
I know it wasn't a factory color on the T\A, but still I think it looked good ;) I'm thinking about getting a new suspension, so that's why I asked ;)
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The Camaro was a 76 and the door panels were the same for a few years I think on both..I did own a 76 firebird a long time ago but it was tan with black interior.I put the formula hood on it,the rear spoiler,and some new centerline 15x8 wheels on it then had it painted the same factory color.That was a major change...Nothing beats a new paint job and wheels......You'r car is looking really good nice work..
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Very unique bird you got there :) As others have mentioned the Esprit usually ain't getting restored, so this is nice to see :)
X2
Any Bird that gets some TLC is fine in my book
Great car mate..love the colour combo especially the interior
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Thanks alot guys
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I polished the heck out of the car for a cruise and show today. In the process, I mounted some rain/ mud gaurds and some chrome exhaust tips. Here are lots of pictures of the tip and mud flaps plus many other cool pics of my ride.
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010097.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010093.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010091.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010088.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010087.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010090.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010086.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010083.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010082.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010079.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010075.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010070.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010067.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010074.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010072.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010069.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010063.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010059.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010054.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010052.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010057.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010061.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010044.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010043.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010034.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010041.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010035.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010029.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010021.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010020.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010028.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010062.jpg)
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Sir you have one beautiful bird. I really like those tips on the Espirt, the more I see your car the more I wish I still had my Esprit.
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beautiful ride.. you should be very proud... and congradulations
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Sir you have one beautiful bird. I really like those tips on the Espirt, the more I see your car the more I wish I still had my Esprit.
beautiful ride.. you should be very proud... and congradulations
I appeciate it guys- Thank you! I am very proud of the work I have done so far and I have a list of projects to do on her this winter including restoring the radiator support; restoring the front grills; replacing the headlight bezels; removing and resealing the windshield; a small patch and weld job on the inside panel of passenger door; and maybe throwing a set of Fuelie heads and a beefier cam into the SBC. If I can't get the heads for the right price then just a better cam and new double roller timing chain. I may also have rear end geared down a little to 3:73 so I rev a little lower at cruising speed. the 4:10 is sure fun on the back roads and Main st though!
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Nice job on the Esprit! Just thought I'ld say hello from the "Quiet Corner". I just put mine on the road for a couple months this year. I used to have a 70 bird, then a 74 bird (green with a white interior too!), now a 79 T/A. Nice pics of your suspension work. That's an area I need to work on this winter. Then in the spring I need to re-shoot the clear coat (dried too fast!) and then maybe I'll see you at a show or two.
Rick C.
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What area of Connecticiut are you at? Just did a cruise at the Panera Bread on Route 5 in Newington with Carter Oak Firebirds.
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Car looks great Ron sorry I missed you this past Saturday at Panera,Was supposed to cruise up there with you and Harry but I was having really bad back spasms stay in touch
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Harry had to leave early due to rain and his lack of his Ttops. But all in all it was a fun day.
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What area of Connecticiut are you at? Just did a cruise at the Panera Bread on Route 5 in Newington with Carter Oak Firebirds.
Northeast corner...AKA "The Quiet Corner"...at least until I start my bird up (Lol). I live in the Dayville section of Killingly...very close to the Killingly Crossings mall.
Rick C.
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The "Quiet Corner" now I get it!
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Here is a picture of my car at the last cruise/ show with Charter Oak Firebirds- Rick I will post a few more pictures on the Charter Oak Forum for ya
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010008-3.jpg)
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Here are some fall pictures of my car at dusk. pretty cool I think. Especially the ones with the lights on. ;D
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010004-5.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010006-6.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010019-5.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010030-4.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/p1010001-2.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010002-3.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010003-3.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010007-4.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010008-4.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010009-5.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010011-4.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010013-5.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010015-3.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010023-2.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010024-2.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010022-2.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010021-2.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010025-1.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010026-2.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010028-2.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010032-2.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010033-2.jpg)
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Nice pics ,and as mentioned before you did one hell of a job . I think she's very unique
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Car looks good! Looks like you have a similar Kenwood to mine with a USB port on front. I put my music on a thumb drive and plug it in...very small and convenient that way.
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I have a 6 inch USB connector running off the port because I was afraid I would hit it and break it. I have the Kenwood hooked to two Pioneer 4inch 2 ways mounted in a custom bracket up front in the stock 4x10 slot. I have two polk DXi690 6x9 out back. With the features of the Kenwood the system sounds great.
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I went out and got a set of Pro Touring F body's subframe connectors and will install them this winter along with restoring the radiator support and all mounting hardware for the nose and front bumper. I also want to do some top end work on the 350 Chevy. At least a cam and lifers and new timing chain. I would love to do some aluminum heads if the price is right. Here are some pictures of the connectors still in the wrapper and some new pics of my car.
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010008.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010010.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010005.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010003.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/p1010001.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010002.jpg)
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Still love the work you have done on your car. No white stuff there hu?
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It feels like snow today and looks like it too right now, but it is not in the forcast. Much of the state did get clobbered by that wierd October snow storm with some places getting near 20 inches of the white stuff......20 inches in October, wierd. Thanks for the comments about the car! 8) How is yours coming? Any more progress on the chassis restore?
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Man I love your interior. One of my favorite. Fav pic is the one with the lights on and facing the back of the car at an angle.2nd to last one at your house. Very nice and good eye.
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Great looking car ,the interior is a great color combo.was that a repro rear tail light pannel.
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[[/quote]
Man I love your interior. One of my favorite. Fav pic is the one with the lights on and facing the back of the car at an angle.2nd to last one at your house. Very nice and good eye.
Awseome. One of the main reasons I bought this car and chose it for my project was the fact on how complete it was. To build an interior like this one would of cost me a lot of bank. I never even thought of a white on black color combo until I saw this car LOL!!!! Justin, I love and appreciate the comments!!
quote author=aldo link=topic=34786.msg375225#msg375225 date=1324168124]
Great looking car ,the interior is a great color combo.was that a repro rear tail light pannel.
The tail panel consists of two pieces actually. The inner portion, called the inner valence is was taken from an 80 Formula while the outer tail panel was bought from Ames Performance and is a Goodmark reproduction piece. It fit ok and only needed minor modification for my Greenbird. 21 inches of each frame rail, trunk estensions and rear quarter extensions are all donor pieces from the same Formula and an 80 Esprit. I also refabbed some pieces of the trunk floor. Parts cars are a needed piece to any resto project. Original rust free GM sheet metal is the best!!!!
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Looks great! As mentioned you don't see many esprits in such aswesome condition. I agree I think it looks good without the spoiler. It's not a cookie cutter car, and thats cool!
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I can't get over how CLEAN that car is!!!! Where did you get the center console gauge plate?
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Fbodywarehouse.com Pete has some very good stuff on that site. And check out his how to Videos. He not only sells the parts, but shows you step by step on how to correctly install them. It cost twice as much as the gauges did LOL, but the white faced Sunpro gauges really add to the sleekness of the interior IMO
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Yeah I have done business with Pete, he is a great guy
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very cool with my 80 clone 77 i had to modify the rear to fit the 77 style lights.
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yes. I have had both styles and really like the 74-78 tail panel. Much more cleaner in my eyes. Plus I hate that fuel door on the later 2nd gens. Those hinges alway were a pain in the but and the door never fit correctly
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Metalime,
Nice looking Esprit- a very unique color for sure. I got Rally II's on my 75 Formie and I'm restoring them as well- hope the results come out as nice as yours.
Did your Esprit come w/ a non- PMD powerplant installed from the factory? Living in CA we have alot of Birds and T/A's here w/ non-poncho power- better a running engine than a grenaded Pontiac engine. I personally prefer Poncho power in 2nd gen Firebirds but I know we live in an imperfect world-lol. I know there are plenty of 76 Birds and T/A's here in CA that have poncho power and still pass smog though.
Geno
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Thanks 72blackbird, and I am sure your wheels will come out great! I have learned that spray bombs do work very well if you do several thin coats and the metal is prepped properly. I used the kit from Ames Performance and had all 5 wheels sand blasted and then spent another couple of hours using a Dremmel to grind down any imperfections.
And in 76, only Pontiac motors came in Firebirds. My 290hp 350 sbc was the previous owners doing. The origianl Pontiac 350 had spun a rod bearing. I stuck with it because it ran well, is cheaper to build, and I had most of the accessories for it from past truck projects. I too believe Ponchos should be Poncho powered and I have a 325hp 6.6 liter waiting to be rebuilt that will gointo this car. It has been on an engine stand for the past 8 or 9 years and sat my last firebird several years before that. Here is a picture of it still in my last Firebird. It is from a 77' W72 TA
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010036-1.jpg)
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Metalime,
I know you already got a runner under the hood, but you'd be surprised how cheap it is to get a 350P running.
I scored a 71 350P on craigslist for $50, spent another $500 making it reliable (crane 272H cam/lifters, ARP rod bolts, PRW balancer, graphite rope seal, new double roller timing chain, bearings cleaned, valley pan split and cleaned, pan reseal). They're often pulled in running condition to be replaced by a 400 or 455, so they make great stock runners- 7.6:1 SCR also means they'll run on 6-moth old 87 octane too.
My 75 Formula 400 has a deluxe interior in it too- unfortunately the horsecollar seats were pilfered at some point so I'm on the hunt for some decent cores to rebuild.
Geno
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Here are some new pics of my Greenbird taken by a friend on Saturday. Looks good in the sunset.
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/IMG_0691.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/IMG_06901.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/IMG_0673.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/IMG_0413.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/IMG_0416.jpg)
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Very sharp car!
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Thank you!
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that thing just pops in those pictures. Green looks nice on these. Wifey still wants green.
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Green I love your Esprit thanks for all the pics and all the great advice you give me
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that thing just pops in those pictures. Green looks nice on these. Wifey still wants green.
Justin, thanks alot man. You always offer great comments. Hope you build one for your wife, It would be great to see another green 2nd gen bird on here. LeighP has an awesome 71 he is building. Cant wait to see it completed.
Green I love your Esprit thanks for all the pics and all the great advice you give me
Josh, you give me advice as well and i am sure will guide me on parts selection for my wc 400 build!
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Looks great!
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Thanks every one for all the great comments. I just found out yesterday that my car will be the Feb feature on AGTA. IMO my car is no where ready, but this rare color combo and all the work I have done has gained lots of interest. I am in the mists of sorting out a vibration issue which I thought was the rear, but after inspection, drive shaft and rear seem tight. I thought it was the pinion bearing, but the seal and bearing are intact. I did find a front wheel with too much lateral play and found a faulty outer wheel bearing. I will return both bearings for new ones and buy another new seal. The vibration seemed like it was coming from the behind me, but was felt in the steering wheel. It occured with the engine off while coasting down a hill. Wierd. If it was the rear, I should feel it under acceleration, right? Oh well, I will figure it out.
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Thanks every one for all the great comments. I just found out yesterday that my car will be the Feb feature on AGTA. IMO my car is no where ready, but this rare color combo and all the work I have done has gained lots of interest. I am in the mists of sorting out a vibration issue which I thought was the rear, but after inspection, drive shaft and rear seem tight. I thought it was the pinion bearing, but the seal and bearing are intact. I did find a front wheel with too much lateral play and found a faulty outer wheel bearing. I will return both bearings for new ones and buy another new seal. The vibration seemed like it was coming from the behind me, but was felt in the steering wheel. It occured with the engine off while coasting down a hill. Wierd. If it was the rear, I should feel it under acceleration, right? Oh well, I will figure it out.
Congrats on having your car as the feature. That is quite an honor. I love that your car is so original and the color is really cool. I don't want you to take this the wrong way, but are you going to have your car re-painted to have the whole car match? It looks good the way it is, but would look even better with the whole car one color. Very nice car.
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I know. Repainting is in the future, and I will most likely be doing it in stages. I have come across a 76 Formula hood and think it will look awesome on my Greenbird. I will finish that fern green stripe on the drivers side this wwinter. I am no where done with the car. I am happy right now that after 12 years of not having a fucntioning bird, I finally have a running Bird that is unique, pretty quick and so clean underneath. And it is a 76. I appreciate your comments Ryeguy and I fully agree with you. The thing is I think I want to rebuild my 6.6 liter I have before I paint the car. I miss the mid range torque of the poncho powerplants.
When AGTA asked me if they could feature the car, the first thing I replied back is "The car is not ready and needs paint." They just love the rare factory color combo and all the work I have done on the car myself. It is the same with my fellow members of Charter Oak Firebirds here in CT. When I show it at our cruises, people tend to overlook the fact that the greens do not match. I really love this "Firebird" ride I am on and hope it never ends.
By the way, what aluminum heads do you have on your 406? Edlebrock? Ported? My motor is also a 406. Bored 30 over WC coded 1978 400 with 6x4heads.
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I didn't notice the paint didn't match
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Thankyou! Not many people notice the color diiference. Where I replaced the quarter tail extensions, I used some fern green paint I had lying around my garage, cleared it and wet sanded it and buffed it. I added a fern green stripe on the lower door, fender and rear quarter panel that mimics the black stripe you would see on a Formula. I kept on putting off finishing the drivers side stripe because I have been enjoying driving the car!
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Nothing wrong with that. Shows and magazines are fine but when it all comes down to it what I love to see is people doing what these cars were made for, and that's driving them. Way I see it, a car not thoroughly enjoyed is a car wasted
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Nothing wrong with that. Shows and magazines are fine but when it all comes down to it what I love to see is people doing what these cars were made for, and that's driving them. Way I see it, a car not thoroughly enjoyed is a car wasted
Awesome statement at the end there!
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GreenBird, I don't actually have the aluminum heads on my car they are just something I would like in the future. I am glad that you didn't take my statement the wrong way, because I really like what you are doing on the car. Believe me I know what being on a budget is like. I bought my car in 2005 when I was 17, and the car just got paint on it last year. If my car was running and driving when I got it I would have done the same thing that you did. Nice looking car.
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Thanks Ryan. your car really does look awesome in your sig. the first day you get that car back on the road is going to feel awesome. It did for me.
When I got my car it was far from running. the engine did not run and I took a gamble of buying it without seeing it run. There was a th400 thrown in it with no drive shaft. Most metal lines in the back were rusted heavily and all the rubber ones were original and dry rotted. I replaced every gasket on that motor except the head gaskets New intake carb fuel pump, water pump, 3 inch exhaust,hoses, belts, stripped and refurbished the clutch fan, tweaked the fuel ine and wiring harness to accept the Chevy motor plus too much more too list. I had to refurbish or replace everything from suspension to wheels to brakes to steering components to fuel delivery etc. All the spot welds and cutting and welding both the parts cars and my Greenbird because almost every panel I used was original GM sheet metal. The only aftermarket piece I bought was the tail panel. I accomplished in 16 months what should of taken me 3 years. The 700r4 conversion was a great decision as well as the ws6 sway bars. the car is a TA or better underneath and I am very proud of what I have accomplished so far.
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Thanks Ryan. your car really does look awesome in your sig. the first day you get that car back on the road is going to feel awesome. It did for me.
When I got my car it was far from running. the engine did not run and I took a gamble of buying it without seeing it run. There was a th400 thrown in it with no drive shaft. Most metal lines in the back were rusted heavily and all the rubber ones were original and dry rotted. I replaced every gasket on that motor except the head gaskets New intake carb fuel pump, water pump, 3 inch exhaust,hoses, belts, stripped and refurbished the clutch fan, tweaked the fuel ine and wiring harness to accept the Chevy motor plus too much more too list. I had to refurbish or replace everything from suspension to wheels to brakes to steering components to fuel delivery etc. All the spot welds and cutting and welding both the parts cars and my Greenbird because almost every panel I used was original GM sheet metal. The only aftermarket piece I bought was the tail panel. I accomplished in 16 months what should of taken me 3 years. The 700r4 conversion was a great decision as well as the ws6 sway bars. the car is a TA or better underneath and I am very proud of what I have accomplished so far.
a Nice sleeper, awesome. You have a Chevy motor in there?
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[/quote] a Nice sleeper, awesome. You have a Chevy motor in there?
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Ya it kind of sucks, but its quick and it runs well. From the history I gathered, it sounds like the car went from person to person with a thrown rod bearing for years and the last owner put a sbc 350 in it with a th400. I am the 3rd owner per DMV, however according to the reg paper I had, I was the 6th. The car was not registered for years. The only thing that was solid were the new engine mounts. No replumbing or elecrical was done and the motor did turn over but had more vaccuum leaks than I could count.I removed everthing, plopped the Chevy 350 back in it, supplied with new and used parts because I was a big Chevy truck guy for years and I had a ton of small parts including the carb.
I have a 78 WC coded 406 that needs a freshening and and either a nice port job on the 6x4 heads or a set of Edlebrocks probably right out of the box. I want 350 - 400 hp. I had 325. I have all the brackets from my greenbirds original motor so that's cool. I want to keep the 700r4 with the Pontiac motor. 2 words- Adapter Plate
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Here are some new pics at sunset I took today.
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010037-1.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010032-1.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010034-1.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010031-1.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010029-1.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010024.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010027-1.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010026-1.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010022-1.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010043-1.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010021-1.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010019.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010017.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010014.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010016.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010015.jpg)
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Hey man I was finally able to get on a computer lol. Your car looks great! You will love that WC motor when you put it in. Thanks again for all your help with everything. You have been a life saver.
Josh
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Looks like a pretty night, a big smokey burnout would have been just the right effect =) Looks good!
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Just to update. i still have not the radiator support, but have been doing several small projects. I actually decided to follow the advice on many forums and use Mr Clean's Magic Eraser on the white Vinyl and i have to say it really brightened up the white. I also used some simple green and scotch bright to clean up the A pillars, headliner trim and sail panels. It got out all the embedded dirt and finger prints. I also scrubbed the chassis of the car and polished it up in order to get the car ready for the cruise and show season. Here are some pictures.
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/pictures%20of%20car%20chassis%20and%20various/P1010192.jpg)
Here you can see just where the 1 3/16th inch sway bar rubs on the 255/60/r15 tire. Not bad at all, but it does. Thank god my rims are 15x7.
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/pictures%20of%20car%20chassis%20and%20various/P1010194.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/pictures%20of%20car%20chassis%20and%20various/P1010193.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/pictures%20of%20car%20chassis%20and%20various/P1010192.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/pictures%20of%20car%20chassis%20and%20various/P1010185-1.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/pictures%20of%20car%20chassis%20and%20various/P1010165.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/pictures%20of%20car%20chassis%20and%20various/P1010171.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/pictures%20of%20car%20chassis%20and%20various/P1010168.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/pictures%20of%20car%20chassis%20and%20various/P1010164.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/pictures%20of%20car%20chassis%20and%20various/P1010167.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/pictures%20of%20car%20chassis%20and%20various/P1010166.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/pictures%20of%20car%20chassis%20and%20various/P1010160.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/pictures%20of%20car%20chassis%20and%20various/P1010159.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/pictures%20of%20car%20chassis%20and%20various/P1010156.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/pictures%20of%20car%20chassis%20and%20various/P1010154.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/pictures%20of%20car%20chassis%20and%20various/P1010152.jpg)
I had a problem with my 3 inch exhaust and the e brake cable. I to a piece of 5/16 rubber hose and fit it around the cable. Now I have no more clanging noise.
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/pictures%20of%20car%20chassis%20and%20various/P1010137.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/pictures%20of%20car%20chassis%20and%20various/P1010117.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/pictures%20of%20car%20chassis%20and%20various/P1010093.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/pictures%20of%20car%20chassis%20and%20various/P1010096.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/pictures%20of%20car%20chassis%20and%20various/P1010091.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/pictures%20of%20car%20chassis%20and%20various/P1010078.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/pictures%20of%20car%20chassis%20and%20various/P1010072.jpg)
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Looking good!
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Nice work. Shes purty!
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it's a green machine dream machine. That thing is purty from all angles.
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Looking good!
Nice work. Shes purty!
it's a green machine dream machine. That thing is purty from all angles.
Thanks guys, I appreciate it. I was cruising yesterday and a guy in a new Cherokee pulled up beside me and called my car a class act due to the stance my car has, the metallic green paint, white interior and the way it looks from the back with all the suspension all bright and visible. He was behind me and loved the way it looked. i love it when a somebody notices all the work I put into my ride.
And Justin, your comment brings me right back to the 70's. I want to go and watch reruns of Magic Garden now LOL
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Ron's car deserves a spotlight
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I started doing more work on the car finally and repainted a 77 camel console satin black using SEM and the usual prepping. My black console had severely cracked near the front of the bin on both sides and the bin lid was cracked top and bottom too. The lid arm was broken off years before I got the car and the before it broke, the lid tension spring had started to come through the wall of console on the passenger side. Here are some pictures of my original console out of the car and all it's cosmetic and structural problems.
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010308-1.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010306-1.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010311-1.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76
/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010288.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010287-1.jpg)
I first started by rebuilding the lid by ordering a bin lid from Firebird central with the arm attached. It came in black which was perfect for me. The grain is a little different that factory and the lid is 1/8 inch wider on each side in the front than the original. I'm guessing it was modified slightly to better handle the weight of passengers leaning on it. I had found the original tension spring from my 80 Formy and the plastic hinge on Greenbird's bin was in good shape.
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010279-1.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010277-1.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010278-1.jpg)
I had a console I took out of a 77 TA years ago collecting dust in my attic. The only thing really wrong with it was the camel tan color. I gave it a good cleaning with some simple green and water, then used SEM's plastic prep. This is what I ended up with before and after paint. I even have one of the start of paint.
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010254.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010253-1.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010261.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010259-1.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010255-1.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010262.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010263.jpg)
I wanted to come up with an idea to strengthen the console when it is leaned on by occupants. I took two pieces of 20 gauge sheet metal and bent and cut them to fit and screw into the inside of the console to further strengthen it's stock plastic infrastructure. Hope these pics help explain it. the sheet metal had mild surface rust on it and it matched the factory metal ribbing of the console very well LOL ;D
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010276-1.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010273-1.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010268.jpg)
Here is a question- the 77 console had a different window switch installed in it- the housing was different.
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010284-1.jpg)
Where as the original one I reused had a decorative edging, Is the decorative edging one for deluxe interiors or is it what they used in 76 and earlier. My car has alot of 75 parts on it due to how early it was assembled in the model year (#752)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010295-1.jpg)
I used the plastic end cap from the original black console, reinstalled the power widow switch and reassemble and installed the new donor console into the car. What I next did may be frowned upon by some- I went over the entire painted console with some mild polishing compound to remove any blemishes from painting. It shines quite nicely and Greenbird is back together.
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010265.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010303-1.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010302-1.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010301-1.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010300-1.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010299-1.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010297-1.jpg)
No more crack- yes and it shines like the original one- Got to love SEM and proper prepping
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010295-1.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010294-1.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010292-1.jpg)
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really fits in with the rest of the car. When did they change the style/design of power window switch?
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Dude, you car is soooooo clean!!!!!
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really fits in with the rest of the car. When did they change the style/design of power window switch?
thanks Justin. I don't know and I wonder the same thing. I have seen switches in the Dorman Help section at Carquest and they look like the one off the 77. My brother and I, in 1990, bought a 77 gold hard top ta auto with a bored 60 over 400 for $300 running with no title. We parted it out the best we could and saved a lot of parts, most of which I got when I bought the The 1980 Formula off my bro in 2004. I was not too much into reading vin plates and codes back then. I do have the heads off the car and they are 6x8.
Dude, you car is soooooo clean!!!!!
Thanks dude!! One thing is I love to drive my car, hands down. It is no trailer queen, but I pride myself in keeping the car polished and clean, especially on all the work I have done underneath and on trying to preserve the great interior. No rear passengers ever!!!! I am anal about when and where I drive it, but in New England you can just get on a north bound highway and go. I get to 4th gear on the 700r4, lock the converter and cruise.
I like your car too. The color is unique and you really have it sitting nice.
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Hey bro that interior looks amazing congrats all your hard work really pays off.
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There should be a spotlight in this car's future :)
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Finally started to do some restomoding on my car. I installed a set of PRTFB's solid body mounts. Switched out the polys so I can weld in their sfcs. Well, I am going to bolt to the subframe and weld to north part of the rear frame rails. I set the solid mounts to stock position and I like the way the car sits; how they sharpened the cars handling,; I would have had a bad air cleaner/ hood clearance issue and I really do not want to buy any more stuff for the Chevy motor because I am very close to start putting some energy into the 78w72 325hp 400. I already have it mapped out. The 400 is bored 30 over making it a 406, 6x8 heads; ram air IV cam; edlebrock performer RPM intake and 750 cfm carb. I have a feeling the only thing wrong with the motor is a blown out rear main seal. It had really good power but was leaking oil badly at the back of oil pan when I shut her down and put her on an engine stand 15 years ago. That would be so cool if all it was just a cracked seal. If there is more wrong with it then I will have it rebuilt. Sticking with a 700r4, but I want this one to handle 400+ hp. Monstor Transmission or Bowtie. Swap out the 410s for some 3:55s out back. Should be very fun to drive with that set up. ;D . I Want to have work done on the heads too.
Anyways, sorry I got carried away there. Back to the body mounts. I had one issue- I had to modify the radiator support mounting hole slightly to accepted the larger bushing assembly and needed bolts longer than what was offered in the kit due to the factory installed body shims. Everything else was a piece of cake. I will post pictures soon!
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Looks good. Sounds like you have a good project planned out for the motor, wil be a total sleeper, I love it! Mine is currently down for a blown rear main, the 400 had some otehr things that need fixed so it has to come out to get them done. I am actually *gasp* seriously considering going back to the 301 to put it back to stock, just like she rolled out of the factory.
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Here are some picture the PTFB solid body mounts installed in Greenbird. The first picture is a comparison of the original 76 radiator support mounts, OEM modern rubber support mounts and the solid mounts installed in the car.
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/pictures%20of%20car%20chassis%20and%20various/P1010316.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/pictures%20of%20car%20chassis%20and%20various/P1010329.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/pictures%20of%20car%20chassis%20and%20various/P1010331.jpg)
And the rearward subframe mounts.
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/pictures%20of%20car%20chassis%20and%20various/P1010318.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/pictures%20of%20car%20chassis%20and%20various/P1010324.jpg)
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Thanks for posting those pics. I have some PTFB solid bushings waiting to go on my car. It will be coming off the rotisserie pretty soon and I need to figure out if I want to do the half inch drop or not. Want to go lower but I'm afraid of what problems will arise.
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Yes. I almost did it. But I would of had air cleaner/ hood clearance issues. The body sits great. I think even better than with the poly bushings. Recent pic. Not the best, but works
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/pictures%20of%20car%20chassis%20and%20various/P1010334.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/pictures%20of%20car%20chassis%20and%20various/P1010333.jpg)
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On Thursday I took the car on 40 mile round trip and noticed that my steering had some play in it. I rebuilt the entire front end at the beginning of last year including ball joints so I knew that unless a component blew preternaturally, it had to be the dang steering box. It along with the brake power booster and master cylinder were the last original pieces on the car that had not had any overhaul. I actually have been dreading replacing the steering box because I never had to do one before on any of my cars over the years. Other wise I would have replaced it when I had the everything off the car. well you live and you learn LOL. Anyways I got the car home and started to trouble shoot what was causing the steering play. I examined all front end components and they were as tight as they were the day I installed them. I topped off the grease in all the joints; inspected the 6 month old power steering pump and belt which checked out great (knowing this would not cause the play, but figured it was worth it while I was under the car!) And with the car securely up on jack stands, I started the car, and with my hand on the steering shaft, I rotated the gearbox and noticed the the input shaft and rag joint moving, but the output pit man arm had a distinctive delay to it creating a two inch play in the steering wheel. I thought this to be quite odd that this would just occur all of a sudden, but since the box was already leaking from the pitman shaft seal and the front cover seal, I decided it was time to replace the 36 year old original steering box with a re-manufactured one from Napa. I bought the 2.5 to three turn box from them along with a kit to rebuild my original rag joint (steering coupler). The old steering box and rag joint actually came out without too much of a fight. I had to replace one of the 4.5 inch 7/16th course thread mounting bolts with a new one due to the old one being rusted to almost non existence. The other two looked brand new when I remove them so I cleaned them up and reused them. I decided to leave the steering pump in the car because it was replaced in February and i was going to flush and bleed the system in the car using the starter motor. I did find that bleeding those pumps and boxes can sometimes take a while to remove all the air.
All went back together well except I am still need to realign the steering wheel back up because it is off by 15 degrees or so when I am traveling straight on the road. Note- I did torque everything to specs as listed in haynes. The rebuilt box did fix the problem and the steering once again feels tight and nimble. If I would have marked the steering shaft end in relation to some part on the frame, I bet i would not be having this issue of the steering wheel being off. So next week end, I will visualize where the wheel is when the car is going straight, pop the rag joint back off, align the steering in straight/ neutral position and then reinstall the rag joint. I also plan on getting an alignment also just to make sure all is perfect. If anybody has any other ideas on realigning the steering wheel please chime in. And before this the steering wheel alignment was dead on when going straight.
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I found the original pictures that the previous owner had sent me of Greenbird. I thought these pictures were deleted when my laptops hard drive went. Low and behold they show up on my iMAC. Wierd!!. The car did not look that bad which why I went and looked at her. Of course the rot in the rear was quite severe when I ripped into her :(. I was disappointed to see the chevy sb in that engine bay. Well at least it runs well and I have all the original pontiac engine accessory brackets and original th 350. I have included recent pictures for comparison.
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/random2009227.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/random2009228.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/random2009229-1.jpg)
RECENT- These have been posted before
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010007-4.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/p1010001.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010079.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/IMG_0691.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/IMG_06901.jpg)
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niiice
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So I finally started to do real work on Green again. ;D Since I already installed ProtouringFbody's solid aluminum bushings using stock orientation, I complimented them with a pair of their sub frame connectors. I welded them in to the rear frame rails for strength and did a bolt on/ tack weld combo to the sub frame. It was not hard and like usual I took my time. I did have to shim the passenger side front of the connector to the subrame. In addition, I purchased a set of Bilstein HD shocks to complement my upgraded suspension. So as it sits right now, Greenbird has Eaton ws6 rear springs, OER's shackle and mounting kit, new Trw coils, new OEM rubber bushings for most moving parts except the 1 3/16th inch front and 5/8th inch rear sway bars which have energy poly ones, new Energy poly bushings for most static components, PTFB's solid body bushings and sub frame connectors, new or rebuilt complete steering from gear to tierod ends, new Bilsein HD shocks (still in the box and going on Thursday) LOL. PLUS many other things I am forgetting right now. All of this in the past 2.5 years. I will post more about install in a bit after I install Bilsteins and take more pics!
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010373.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010355.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010362.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010351-1.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010368.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010364.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010346-1.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010349-1.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010352-1.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010375.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010336-1.jpg)
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Greenbird, looking good. Thanks for posting the pics. Mine are still leaning up against the wall. Someday I will get them on.
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I want to install these but it scares me that it would be one more thing to drag on speed bumps
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I want to install these but it scares me that it would be one more thing to drag on speed bumps
Dave, they actually hang higher than my mufflers , about a half an inch(see first pic). Ive read a lot of posts comparing PTFB"s SFCs with those of companies. And PTFBs connectors just hug the floor the best. The price was very right also. Pretty much 1/2 the price of the ones offered by Hotchkis.
Greenbird, looking good. Thanks for posting the pics. Mine are still leaning up against the wall. Someday I will get them on.
Elz, Mine were standing against the wall in my house for months and that got moved to my garage where they sat leaning against my pontiac 400 and engine stand for another 4 or 5 months LOL. Get to them when you get to them. I just can't wait to try out the car. It's still up on jack stands waiting for the new shocks.
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Good work Ron. Bet it handles real well.
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Well, Today I installed the Bilstein shocks, finalized the rebuilt master cylinder install with a final brake system bleed, rechecked the installation of PTFB's sub frame connectors and tidied up the undercarriage. The first thing I did once I deemed the brakes to be in condition, was check Green's new found rigidity by jacking her up under the right lower control arm and watch the entire side of the car go up in the air just as others have stated. :o
Then I took the car for a cruise to see what PTFB's solid body bushings and sub frame connectors together with the bilsteins do to the handling of my car. All I can say is OMG!!! Freaking awesome!! I put the car in drive and hit the gas- the front of the car did not budge, it just stayed level no matter if I was in motion or hitting it off the line. The subframe connectors just make the car solid. No more creaks or body noises. It was awesome. I never had a car that handles or feels like this one does now. Here are some pictures
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010392.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010391.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010390.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010387.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010384.jpg)
I love these pics of the car running while up on ramps and jack stands- 8)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010381.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010379.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010377.jpg)
And here are pics of the rebuilt master cylinder installed- painted blue metallic steel
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010368-1.jpg)
And pics of the shocks installed
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010357-1.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010358-1.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010352-2.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010353-1.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010350-2.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010347-3.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010344-2.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010341-2.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010334-2.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010343-2.jpg)
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VERY nice
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Hello, this is very nice thread.
Some month ago, this lime green Camaro '76 was for sale in Stockholm, Sweden. In excellent condition and 35k miles on the meter. All original.
(http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/q748/metalime/8797332905_zpsf9949144.jpg)
(http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/q748/metalime/8788809586_zps785117da.jpg)
(http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/q748/metalime/8780286267_zps9b68a68f.jpg)
(http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/q748/metalime/8731426181_zps865e9900.jpg)
(http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/q748/metalime/8722902862_zpsb7ffb1f1.jpg)
(http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/q748/metalime/8705856224_zps609f5fc6.jpg)
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Metalime, that is quite cool. I love the Rally rims. I have never been a fan of the Camaro dash, but those seats and door panels look awsome. Super clean. BTW, how is your metalime green 76 Esprit going. Do you still own the car, I would love to see more pics.
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Took these pics some weeks ago, just took her for a short cruise and love the way she contrasts with the newer cars. And boy does she sit really awsome with sit with the suspension and chassis mods I did. I am quite happy.
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010417.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010416.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010419.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010418.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010420.jpg)
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Metalime, that is quite cool. I love the Rally rims. I have never been a fan of the Camaro dash, but those seats and door panels look awsome. Super clean. BTW, how is your metalime green 76 Esprit going. Do you still own the car, I would love to see more pics.
Hi Ron,
The summer of 2012 was very rainy in Sweden and almost all of the US-car happenings was affected. I just dream about sunshine and warmer climate, just wondering why I'm not living in California. Wintertime here can be very cold, now there are around -20 degrees Celsius outside and a lot of snow. Besides I have two small baby boys that takes almost all time. Sometimes I feel bad that I can not restore it in a more serious way, I just got no time. Especially bad when I'm looking on your green beast :).
I will never sell this car, I did groove up in this one (actually another identical car that my father bought new), and so will my boys. I will post some pics later on, I have completed interior details and some outer (sail panel emblems) and moldings. More to come, I have a new floor carpet just waiting to be installed.
Best regards,
Stefan Westlund
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Stefan, your car and how original it looked in those pictures you posted on that Swedish car site is what inspired me to build a metalime sleeper 8)( aka Greenbird). I'm glad you are enjoying reading about the build of my car. Your compliments mean a lot. It still needs quite a few things like paint and the 400 Poncho under the hood for starters. But, it is an eye catcher, fast, fun as heck to drive, handles like a dream and I am proud to say I did all the work my self. Our cars are quite rare giving what they offer in color options. Pontiac probably produced a fare share of them, but over the years very few survived in their original form. I am pretty sure I have the only one in CT and maybe the only one in the Northeast USA LOL!. ;D
I just thought of something- Can you post some good detailed pictures of your bucket seats. I am in need of recovering the front drivers seat on Greenbird. Except for that and the sail panels, the interior is pretty much show worthy. The perforated inserts seem to be an off white compared to the rest of the seat. Any research I have doing on seat covers from PUI, Legendary etc show the seat covers as all white. I really want to retain the factory look and do not want to have to recover my excellent passenger seat. If I cannot find an original looking after market seat cover, then I will Have the original one patched by an upholster.
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010297.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010294-1.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010061.jpg)
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I finally got around to replacing the reproduction outer window felts that never functioned correctly since the day I installed them and installed new inner felts on my factory door panels. Pete set me up with the correct ones (without chrome bead) from Fbodywarehouse. I adjusted the windows correctly and gave the interior a good cleaning with my favorite product for white vinyl- Mr Clean's Magic Eraser. Any ways, here are some pictures-
passenger side outer and inner felt
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010432.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010434.jpg)
Driver's side inner and outer felts
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010405.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010405.jpg)
Pictures of Interior all cleaned up including some of the original 37 year old white head liner
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010421.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010418-1.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010413.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010415.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010411.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010437.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010435.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010435.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010439.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010441.jpg)
And some general pictures of the car.
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010445.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010430.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010428.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010427.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/1a1f744a-002e-45b7-83ca-43d298c8fd8c.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010424.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010422.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010397.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010395.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010394.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010400.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010402.jpg)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/1976%20Firebird%20Esprit%20Commplete%20Restoration/P1010403.jpg)
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I love how clean this car is. It is amazing..
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Ron, the more I see your Esprit, the more I love it! It is so cool that you've kept it original and didn't clone it into a TA or Formula, or change the color. Makes me miss my 1980 Esprit even more. Thanks for sharing your pics, and keep up the good work!
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Ron, the more I see your Esprit, the more I love it! It is so cool that you've kept it original and didn't clone it into a TA or Formula, or change the color. Makes me miss my 1980 Esprit even more. Thanks for sharing your pics, and keep up the good work!
Thanks for the kind words sir!
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I have always enjoyed the look of contrasting interior colors in these cars. My recently sold W72 had three shades of tan/brown and I felt it helped appreciate how nice the pontiac interior really is. the black and white is no exception and is very classy! Love the color and really enjoyed reading through this!
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Thanks for the compliment Bayou_Flyer!
I had her out today. She is just so solid on the road. All the modifications really work together. A joy to drive. And I have not seen another one this color in person yet. The contrast in color is an eye catcher. 8)
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A buddy of mine is into restoring antique metal lathes the same way we like to restore our cars. He loves to use them as well as restoring them. His current lathe is a 1947 South bend 9a. He has been making one off shift knobs for his friends and offered to make a factory like replacement knob for my 76's automatic shifter. The knob installs as the factory one using custom made set pins and the factory c clip. This is only a prototype and the extension or handle on the bottom has been milled off. (see 2nd pic) What do you think? I like the look with my interior. In addition, we are going to mirror polish the finished product using a buffing wheel. Can't wait.
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/photo2.jpg) (http://s1184.photobucket.com/user/greenbird76/media/photo2.jpg.html)
(http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/photo1-2.jpg) (http://s1184.photobucket.com/user/greenbird76/media/photo1-2.jpg.html)
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Looks awesome! Even better when polished up!
Like most of us, I love old machinery, tools, etc. as much as cars. I bet your buddy is a cool guy..... We have an ancient lathe where I work he would be interested in, Niles brand with a huge swing (120 inches or better), built in the 1920's or before if I recall correctly.