Filed under: Uncategorized
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
Filed under: Uncategorized
Here’s proof that I’m doing all this shit myself.
Filed under: Uncategorized
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.
Filed under: parts
Today has been a fun, car-filled day. I tried to get the wiring in the trunk finished last night, but Dad called, and I wound up on the phone for longer than anticipated. This morning, however, I got out to the garage and finished the tail lighting, and ran the extra bit of electronics. I’m not really sure why there’s a lead for a fuel pump in the back, but I ran it and terminated it anyway. There might also be something finicky with the flasher fuses, but they seem to work fine right now, so I’ll leave it alone.
Just as soon as I finished the rear wiring, I got a call from my friend Chris, who has a booth at the big swap meet at the fairgrounds tomorrow. He’s letting me put up a few parts, so I loaded up the old wheels, the deck lid and spoiler, the front fender, and a couple of other little bits and pieces. I told him that anything that gets sold, I’ll split with him 50/50. Hopefully they’ll sell, and I’ll only be bringing new stuff home (though I don’t have much faith in the front bumper going away just yet).
For this evening, I definitely need to go into the garage, get the right sizing on a few bolts, find the last pieces of the grill, and pack them up for the morning. I’ve also got to make a list with prices for Chris, and print it out along with my other list. Due to some other plans that can’t be arranged, I’ve got to get up at 5:30 am so that I can get over to the fairgrounds and into the show around 6, which will give me a few hours to shop. I should probably hit the bank, too.
Filed under: Uncategorized
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.
Ben\'s 1967 Pontiac Firebird 400 Rod & Restoration 