Ben\’s 1967 Pontiac Firebird 400 Rod & Restoration

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.