Ben’s 1967 Pontiac Firebird 400 Rod & Restoration

Just because I haven’t been posting, doesn’t mean I haven’t been working.  Wiring is done (except for the auxiliary parts I don’t have yet – tach, a/c, etc.).  Lights all work, but there’s a funky bug in the turn signals, which I hope to resolve tonight… or this weekend at latest.  For some unknown reason, the wife has turned on the overdrive and is working away on the house.  That would normally be great, except that she expects me to stop working on the car and dive into painting and plastering…  Which makes the car project take that much longer.

Here’s a cool development – apparently my new Hurst shifter has the exact same bolt size for the shift knob as the garden variety beer tap handle.  Limitless possibilities.

The brake pedal bracket should be dry by the time I get home, so I’d love to install that, just have to deal with the devil

Here’s proof that I’m doing all this shit myself.

Okay, before I get going, I need to make a list of what I bought & sold, so I don’t forget.

Sold:
Old Wheels & Tires – $150
Deck Lid – $40
Bumper – $50

Bought:
Electrical Doo-dads – $15
Loom – $10
Hurst Shifter – $100
Original Owner’s Manual – $10
Fog Lamps – $12
Side Mirror – $25

SO, I made $240 on the day, and spent $172, which gives me $68 to subtract from the total cost.  (T.C. – $11386).  Not a bad day.  The only thing I didn’t sell was the spoiler and Michelle’s helmet.  I did split the sale of the tires with Chris for letting me mooch on his spot, so that was $75, but I’m not going to apply that to the total.  Even with that, I’d just call the day being even.  I’d love to go on about all the stuff, but for now, I’m going out to the garage to play with my new toys.

I spent about 45 minutes debugging my perfect wiring job, trying to figure out why the lights weren’t working like I knew they should.  Then I remembered that I had not plugged in the special headlight fuse.  Of course it worked perfectly from then on.  I’ve got the entire engine compartment wired (minus the few pieces I don’t have yet, like the ac compressor and the tach), all the front lights working like they should, and dancing girls giving me praise.

In the midst of deconstructing the dash, I found a problem.  The previous owner, whom I’ll now refer to as El Capitan del Douche-O, took a fucking acetylene torch to the brake pedal bracket, which also serves as a major support for the dash panel and steering column.  Dick.  Lucky for me, a kind and wonderful guy on the Firebird forums had the exact piece I need and sold it to me for $45, including shipping.  I also picked up new bulb holders for the whole rear at the parts store. ($45 & $34 – T.C. – $11454).  Oh yeah.  I’m guessing the bracket is in pretty mediocre shape, but I hope to get it Monday or so, and I can sand it out and paint it for next weekend.

Speaking of weekends, on Sunday there is a gigantic swap meet at the fairgrounds, and I’ve got a assload to pick up and/or shop for.  So much so, I’m going to make a list.

Switches: Lights (w/ blade for park lights), Wipers, High Beam Dimmer, Center Console ideas

Shifters: B&M Quicksilver, TCI Outlaw (Not so hot on it after seeing it in person at the other show), Hurst Pro-Matic 2, which looks like the best option, since I can incorporate it into my center console design pretty seamlessly.  I’m also going to keep an eye out for cool shift knobs.

Split Wire Loom: Not the corrugated shit, but the nice braided stuff.

Fog lights: I think I’m going to go with rectangles instead of my original idea for rounds.  They fit better into the valance.

License Plate Light: Mine works, but it’s crappy.  I definitely want another bulb for it, but if there’s a cheap-ass good-condition assembly, I’ll go for it.

Hood: Doubtful, but the savings on shipping is well worth it.

Spark Plug Wires: Red and customizable lengths.  I’m also going to look for the correct PONTIAC dress up brackets for it, too.  (Note to self – test fit a bolt and take it with you.)

Valve Covers & Dress Up: Check that it’s for a Pontiac 400.  Best price online is $90.

Gas Tank: Again, saves on shipping.  Also looking for sending unit and whatever other little fun things go with it.  I don’t really know if there’s a big problem unless I pull it out, so for now, it’s just research.

Gauges: According to Covan’s, I need 3-3/8″ 160 MPH Speedo, 2-5/8″ Oil Pressure, 2-5/8″ Water Temp, 2-5/8″ Fuel Level and 2-5/8″ Volt gauges.  I’d also like to keep an eye open for the gauge lights I need – directional turn signal light indicators, and a blue high beam indicator.

and finally, Flavor: Hat pins, t-shirts, ads, posters…  anything I can put in the garage.

I’m sure I’ll think of more while I’n in the garage tonight, but for now, that’s a list which outlives my budget.

I’m not going to go into details, but this last month has been very trying.  I did, however, work out a deal with the wife that lets me work on the car more, so expect more to come, and more often.

Wiring is going great!  I’ve been doing some stellar routing, and got most of the crucial sections worked out – i.e. the starter, battery, alternator, coil, distributor, ignition.  I even turned it over today and let it run for a while.  The bad news is that when I removed the brake booster (for the 4th time) I noticed 2 things.  1) The jerk who owned the car before me cut the brake bracket from under the dash, so I have to get another of those from one the fellas on the forum, and then sand it out and paint it…  time drain.  2) I broke a brake line when disconnecting the master cylinder, so I’ve decided that brake lines aren’t my bag, and I’ll pay to have them redone right.  I’ve had nothing but hassles doing them, and I just don’t have the right workspace under the car to do it right.

I think the next big expense, other that the spring mechanic’s tune-up/brake job is going to be the gauges.  I figure a budget of $500 to do it right.  Oof.  Here’s a link to the manufacturer of the gauge panel that I want ($120 plus shipping), and I don’t know if I have to wire in signal indicators and all that stuff.  If so, I’m going to have to do some research.  Good thing I made those leads from Radio Shack.  I might need a new battery too, mine seems to eat charge and lose it fast, that and it doesn’t seem to have shit for cranking power, and the negative terminal smokes when I overcrank it.  All bad signs.

Good thing I get a BIG FAT CHECK at the end of this week.  Whoo Hoo!  Looks like I’ll be checking out a few new parts.  Rock and Roll!

Oh, and I think it’s time for me to start eBaying some of the pieces that I’m looking to dump.

First things first, I ordered the wiring harness I needed from EZ Wiring.  ($200 – T.C. – $11375)  I’m going to go out and brave my filthy garage and winterize the scooters and clean the place so that when I get the wiring next weekend, I have a nice clean workspace to get things done in.  Yay.  Once I get it to run again, I’m going to drive it directly to the mechanic’s shop and have a bunch of shit done.  On the list is to have them check the transmission, brakes and all that other stuff I did.  Then, install the new heater/ac, gauges, fuel sender & tank, and get it tuned to be roadworthy so I can go back to working on things that come easier to me, like installing the whole new interior and custom shit I have planned for that.  In the next day or 2, I’m going to be researching parts and other shit that I want to install.  Oh, and I need to work out a budget and find the right mechanic.  Details.

2 months of eating shit and job hunting takes its toll, but in the end it was all worth it.  I took a creative director position for more money than I was making at the lottery, and the guys I’ll be working with totally kick ass.  In fact, my only supervisor is the company owner and president… and get this, he’s got a ‘67 Camaro.  How perfect is that?

So, I’m gonna have a poopload of extra cashflow, and I’m thinking about buttoning up the projects I’m currently working on (i.e. wiring, steering, etc.) and handing it off to one of the local mechanic fellas to take care of the heating/cooling system, gauges and double checking all my work to make it roadworthy.

I’m back, baby.

Got “let go” today, so no more parts for a while.  Bummer.

Got the new brake lines in.  I’m a little worried about the one I put infor the fron passenger wheel.  Kinda had to manhandle it a bit to go in, and I don’t know if it’ll stay in the clip.  Guess I’ll find out.

After taking the booster off and on and off and on, I finally got it right and clipped to the pedal.  Now all I have to do is figure out where to attach the little vaccuum valve thingy.  However, it’s not gonna happen tonight, since I’ve got to go home from work, go to the dump, get a haircut and get my crap together for a new job interview.  All on top of doing my shit work for this craphole.

I’ve also got to remember that I can’t do shit until I get brake fluid, power steering fluid, etc.

Working on installing the new brake booster and master cylinder.  Very time consuming, since I’ve got just enough room to wedge my fingers and wrench between the booster and the firewall, and I can only move the nut about an eighth of a turn at a time.  I spent an hour last night laying on the hood and tightening, and I’m not finished.  I should get it done tonight and plop on the new master cylinder.  It’s friggin humongous compared to the old one (see below).  In the next 5 minutes, I’m going to order the rest of the parts I need to finish up the brakes and ignition – yay!  I also need to hit the bank and deposit my big fat paypal check.  Whoopie!

I ordered the ignition switch, ignition cylinder, bezel, and front brake lines – $145.20.  The shipping alone was $41, dammit.  Oh well, I needed to buy it anyway.  (T.C. – $11175) Now all I need to buy is the new steering wheel from Summit, but I’ll hold off, and use my crappy one for now, so I can tell the difference between the old steering box and the new one and I’ll know if the pump is funky or something.  Besides, that way there’s something for Michelle to get me for Christmas.

Tonight, in about 3 hours, I’ll be finishing off the brake booster/master cylinder and connecting the pedal.  I’d love to start in on the wiring, but with no ignition to speak of, I think I’ll hold off.