1969 Firebird Restoration

[Cobalt232]

My dad has a 1969 Firebird that he bought from a guy at work (North American Aviation) in 1970. His coworker also worked at the GM plant in the valley that built the Firebird and he helped build this one. 1969 Firebird 400. 4-speed Hurst. Carousel Red with black interior.

My dad has not been able to drive it for a couple of years and is giving it to me. When I was 16, our auto insurance company told us that I was not allowed to drive it, so I never really drove it too much even later.

The car has about 250,000 or so miles on it. The car is 100% original, except for the carburetor. The engine has only had a valve job due to unleaded fuel. The clutch, transmission and rear end have not been touched.

The car was repainted 25 years ago and the paint is still good. It has always been garaged. The chrome needs to be redone and the interior needs work. Apparently, when it ran last, it would foul the drivers side rear spark plug and my dad would often change it in the work parking lot. So the engine needs going through and freshed up externally as well. I'm sure the suspension is shot too.

The car is in Newport Beach. I'm considering taking it to DWS Classics in Huntington Beach. Anybody worked with them?

 

[Cray Paper]

I can put you in touch with a buddy that is a diehard Pontiac firebird fan. He's from Canadia so forgive his sense of humor and accent but has about 10 Firebirds and has done all the work on them himself. Engines, sheet metal, paint, interior. He was the president of the western washington firebird association for a long time. https://www.wwfirebirds.com/

 

[bonesfab]

Nice looking car. We are just finishing up a 1968 firebird we did a complete on. It has been in the same family since 73 or 74. Darren is a good guy. I have hung out with him and the crew a few times.

 

[Cobalt232]

I can put you in touch with a buddy that is a diehard Pontiac firebird fan. He's from Canadia so forgive his sense of humor and accent but has about 10 Firebirds and has done all the work on them himself. Engines, sheet metal, paint, interior. He was the president of the western washington firebird association for a long time. https://www.wwfirebirds.com/

It looks like they have a pretty good club up there. I will let you know if we need to look for something specific.

 

[Cobalt232]

Nice looking car. We are just finishing up a 1968 firebird we did a complete on. It has been in the same family since 73 or 74. Darren is a good guy. I have hung out with him and the crew a few times.

Thanks for the info. The reviews for DWS look good and it looks like a small shop that has done quite a few cars of that era.

 

[boatpi]

I would consider removing the engine and detailing that area 100%. You will sell much faster and you get your money back. Not wort has much as a Camaro, but these were great cars and tons of torque. Too bad i is not a Trans Am$$$

 

[J&k beer can]

Whats the plan??
keep stock? $$$$.$$
upgrade? $$$$$.$$
What ever your budget is make sure you have extra because unexpected stuff will pop up.

 

[Cobalt232]

Whats the plan??
keep stock? $$$$.$$
upgrade? $$$$$.$$
What ever your budget is make sure you have extra because unexpected stuff will pop up.

The plan is to keep it 100% stock (although air conditioning would be nice). I don't really have a budget or price in mind, but was figuring in the 25k-40k range. The body and paint are good except for the chrome. The interior needs work, so I guess the most will be spent on engine work plus all the small details.

Do I need to budget more? Less?? Never done this before.

 

[Cobalt232]

I would consider removing the engine and detailing that area 100%. You will sell much faster and you get your money back. Not wort has much as a Camaro, but these were great cars and tons of torque. Too bad i is not a Trans Am$$$

No plans to sell it. It doesn't need to be a top tier show car, but would like to bring it back to nearly new.

 

[Todd Mohr]

25 grand should be enough to make it a nice driver. Vintage Air and a 5 speed make an old car so much more usable.

 

[bonesfab]

Depends on the option boxes checked you can spend the 40k real quick. Pontiac engines are not cheap to do. Vintage Air kit is 2000.00 tremec 5-speed is 2900.00. Cooling system will need to be done. Up grade the suspension and brakes a little to make it a little more enjoyable to drive.

 

[HST4ME]

Butler for all your Pontiac needs

 

[bonesfab]

Butler for all your Pontiac needs

You just went over budget in one phone call.

 

[HST4ME]

You just went over budget in one phone call

Gonna do another 535 soonish.

 

[Cobalt232]

Butler for all your Pontiac needs

Whats Butler?

 

[4Waters]

Whats Butler?

https://butlerperformance.com/

 

[HST4ME]

Whats Butler?

https://butlerperformance.com/

 

[JFMFG]

We have a 70 trans am. It’s a project dad’s health has set us back. Has a butler motor, tremec trans, new rear end, ride tek suspension, we have the ac kit for it and wiring stuff just needs to be put together. I don’t think we will ever finish it ourself. I’m ready to sell it. Just up to the old man. I’m sure paying someone to finish it would be 50k+

 

[J&k beer can]

Price out what your after.. 25k spent should get you real nice car at a good honest shop ..

here is my .02 from doing muscle cars.. a base line on prices.. will vary if stuff can be rebuilt not replaced...

Stock rebuild 3500-5k depnds on whats good internals
Carburator $500-800
A/C $2000
Trans rebuild $1500-2k or go 5 speed? tremec $3-5k.
Interior stock(seats covers, carpet headliner door panels) depends whats good and whats not $4-6k
Tires $5-800 depends what u buy.
Radiator with elct. fan $6-800
Suspension bushing $3-800 good stuff
Shocks $4-1200 coilovers being the high
Brakes front disc if needed $5-800.
then all your smalls hoses, plugs. clamps. fliuds. belts. plug wires. coil. etc.. $4-800.
Probaly going to be more stuff that will pop up while working on it...
thats not any labor if you take to a shop.. if they want hourly it will add up real fast..

 

[J&k beer can]

We have a 70 trans am. It’s a project dad’s health has set us back. Has a butler motor, tremec trans, new rear end, ride tek suspension, we have the ac kit for it and wiring stuff just needs to be put together. I don’t think we will ever finish it ourself. I’m ready to sell it. Just up to the old man. I’m sure paying someone to finish it would be 50k+

Any pics of said porject if he decieds to sell????????
pm me if you u do not want to post it here..lol

 

[JFMFG]

Any pics of said porject if he decieds to sell????????
pm me if you u do not want to post it here..lol

I don’t have any in this phone but interior is also completely done. It was done by bill Dunn.

 

[Cobalt232]

We dropped the Firebird off a week ago. They already have the engine out and its at the machine shop. It is the first time the engine has been out since 1969. Attached is the original build sheet from the Pontiac Historical Society that has access to the GM microfiche records.

 

[Cobalt232]

I took my dad to see the Firebird progress on Saturday. It's coming along well. The detail guy was working on the paint, especially the areas where the emblems will go.

I'm going to put a set of BFG TA radials on it instead of the original red stripe tires. Also a Flowmaster 50 series exhaust to make it a bit louder than stock. The engine is at Q&E machine shop in Anaheim currently. We next need to decide on which cam to install. Open to suggestions.

 

[Cdog]

The plan is to keep it 100% stock (although air conditioning would be nice). I don't really have a budget or price in mind, but was figuring in the 25k-40k range. The body and paint are good except for the chrome. The interior needs work, so I guess the most will be spent on engine work plus all the small details.

Do I need to budget more? Less?? Never done this before.

Do a vintage air system & a efi & ignition retrofit.

After that a disk brake on all 4 upgrade. Baer makes a nice kit.

Drive & enjoy it. Don’t go too far with it. These are never worth what Camaros go for.

 

[Cobalt232]

The brakes are already done. Not sure what went on it, but we did just go with drums again in the rear and like original discs in front. Trying to keep it as original as possible.

A/C will add about 6K to it, so I decided not to do that for now. My dad drove it daily from Irvine to Downey or Seal Beach everyday without A/C, so I figured I can give it a go without for awhile. I've waffled back and forth on adding A/C quite a bit.

We have already planned on going over budget and I'm sure the spend will be close to its value. So far the parts list is several pages long that really add up along with all the labor. Luckily the body and paint are good.

 

[OC Daytona]

Here's a few pics of my 67 Camaro restomod I finished back in 2015

Pretty much replaced everything except the hood and the roof. That American Autowire kit you have is the one I got and the shop I used said it was the one they preferred. I didn't get Vintage Air, cuz I'm in CA and I always cruise with the windows down, even in the summer. If you're in AZ or TX, you'll prob need it.
My shop told me of the ones they install prob only 10% ever get charged with freon. So you might not want to spend $5k between the parts and install

As said before, definitely get good 4 Wheel Disk Brake Kit and upgrade to power steering with an AGR or Lee variable ratio power steering box. It feels like rack and pinion without the cost. PM me if you have any questions. Too much to list here. Oh and count on spending double whatever you budgeted and you're prob still a little short if your having a good shop do the work.

Keep the updates coming. I love the see these kind of projects.

 

[Cobalt232]

Here's a few pics of my 67 Camaro restomod I finished back in 2015

Pretty much replaced everything except the hood and the roof. That American Autowire kit you have is the one I got and the shop I used said it was the one they preferred. I didn't get Vintage Air, cuz I'm in CA and I always cruise with the windows down, even in the summer. If you're in AZ or TX, you'll prob need it.
My shop told me of the ones they install prob only 10% ever get charged with freon. So you might not want to spend $5k between the parts and install

As said before, definitely get good 4 Wheel Disk Brake Kit and upgrade to power steering with an AGR or Lee variable ratio power steering box. It feels like rack and pinion without the cost. PM me if you have any questions. Too much to list here. Oh and count on spending double whatever you budgeted and you're prob still a little short if your having a good shop do the work.

Keep the updates coming. I love the see these kind of projects.

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The Camaro looks great!

Thanks for the suggestions so far.