'69 Firebird Progress Update

"jlmounce" (jlmounce) 10/28/2013 at 13:12 • Filed to: Firebird, Pontiac, Muscle Car, Classic Car, Restoration

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Although I didn't have as much time as I'd like this weekend, I was able to get the new Hotchkis leafs bolted up to the car and the new Moser 12 bolt on it's perches. I ran in to a snag with getting everything bolted down with the new u-bolts. Hotchkis provides heavy duty shackles and u-bolts which require the factory mounting holes on the spring pads to be drilled out. I simply didn't have a big enough drill bit to accomplish this.

As the car sits now I should still be able to swap out the rear brake lines and get the axle sealed and filled this week. I'll tackle the spring pads and the front springs next weekend. Hopefully pictures of the car back on the ground to follow!

The Swedish Bandit > jlmounce 10/28/2013 at 13:18

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This is what you need! Probably one of the best tools in existence.

Otherwise looking real good! Love the fact that you're sticking with old school leafs instead of converting the whole thing to modern springs and all.

04sneaky - Boxers. Blowers. Bikes. And bitches. > The Swedish Bandit 10/28/2013 at 13:21

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Christmas tree oh how I love thee.

jlmounce > The Swedish Bandit 10/28/2013 at 13:34

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Good thinking! I'll probably pick a couple of these up!

The way I see it, the cars that ran in the old Trans Am series were barn burners and still did it all on near stock suspensions. Yes the car is getting some revised suspension geometry up front, but with a quality pair of leafs, front springs and shocks, it should still handle nicely.

Now if only somebody made a 600 series steering box that would clear a Pontiac with headers!

desertdog5051 > jlmounce 10/28/2013 at 13:34

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Check with a file to see if they are hardened.

jlmounce > desertdog5051 10/28/2013 at 13:40

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The lower shock mounting plates should not be. I have no doubt that the plates on teh axle itself are. Moser makes a freakishly beefy 12 bolt.

This one has thick wall tubing, big ford ends and bearings, beefed up center section, 33 spline axles and I went with a TruTrac carrier with a 3.73 ring and pinion. They assured me I wouldn't break it!

The Swedish Bandit > jlmounce 10/28/2013 at 13:44

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You and I think in the same ways. When the time comes to upgrade my suspension I'm definitely gonna go with leafs and some reworked geometry.

Unfortunately I don't know shit about steering boxes, other than that the stock one is utterly crap. I mean seriously what were they thinking?! "Mmmhm yes, people need to feel as disconnected from the road as physically possible. Then they'll surely love the handling of our car!"

jlmounce > The Swedish Bandit 10/28/2013 at 13:54

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You can actually have your factory box rebuilt with modern pitman arms and such. This drastically improves feel. Especially on-center feel. The reason I want a 600 box is the steering ratio. I think the factory 500 series boxes in these cars are something like close to 15:1. over 3 turns lock to lock.

As far as finishing up the suspension on mine, I'm pretty much set on the SC&C stage 2+ package as it'll get me close to ATX spindle geometry without the need to change the disc brakes I already have. I'm currently researching front and rear bars, but given the geometry changes planned I'm probably going to end up with the hotchkis hollow bar up front and possibly the Heidts rear bar which has more adjustment.

I'll round that out with solid body mounts and sub-frame connectors.

desertdog5051 > jlmounce 10/28/2013 at 14:12

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Wow. What are you using for power?

jlmounce > desertdog5051 10/28/2013 at 14:59

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The engine is a forged XJ code 455. Heads are big valve, 72cc #62's which put the compression a bit north of 11:1 when you factor in quench area and piston valve reliefs. The cam is a bit larger than the RAIV 068 grind. It would function about the same as that cam would function in a 400. Power should be between 450-475 hp. It's the torque that gets you. North of 500 ft lbs easily.