"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
04/09/2016 at 12:41 • Filed to: 1979 firebird trans am beater restoration my bird is the word
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"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
04/09/2016 at 12:41 • Filed to: 1979 firebird trans am beater restoration my bird is the word | 10
| 21 |
Hi, everyone! After gracing you all with my inane/inflamatory comments, I thought I should introduce myself and my baby which I will hopefully be writing about and posting some DIYs once the weather and my schedule permit me to get some work done. So here it is in all its dilapidated glory:
So some info:
Car has the original oldsmobile 403, turbo 350, and a sad 2.45 rear axle ratio (limited slip!) Interior is ripped apart in these pics, but I have no carpet or headliner.
What does it need?
Everything.
Seriously, I am trying to get it inspected for this summer, so I will be doing the following:
fiberglass patch floor pans (structually sound don’t worry)
rebuild carburetor
diagnose/repair nonfunctioning headlight problem (think it is fusible links)
diagnose/repair heater/ac blower motor (same problem I think)
new exhaust system with headers.
new parking brake cable
tires.
Its old, virtually every body panel will need replaced, but it runs like an absolute champion. Looks pretty good when the sun hits it right.
budget is limited, since I am still in school, but it looks like it is going to be a fun/ veeerrrryyyyy long summer! Will probably do another post later with all the weird shit I have found already. Here is a preview: this car has imperial fasteners, metric head fasteners with imperial threads, and straight up metric fasteners. wut.
My other ride:
edit: wont let me share pics, so imagine a blue mini cooper s here. KINJA’D
Glad to me a part of the family! AMA.
dogisbadob
> My bird IS the word
04/09/2016 at 12:50 |
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Nice car! T-tops are awesome
crowmolly
> My bird IS the word
04/09/2016 at 12:50 |
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virtually every body panel will need replaced
I’m surprised to hear you say this. From the pictures this looks like a rock solid base for a project. It doesn’t appear to have any of the typical 2nd gen F-body rust. Unless it’s plastic filler under the paint, of course.
$kaycog
> My bird IS the word
04/09/2016 at 12:50 |
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Welcome to Oppo, new
victim
kid on the block! Yay your project car! It looks like you’re going to have a busy summer for sure.
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My bird IS the word
> crowmolly
04/09/2016 at 12:55 |
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I don’t have great pics, but these things like to hide the rust. the problem is the places you cant see. for instance, under the doors where the drains are, the tail panel under the bumper, the trunk on the bottom, and the front bumper has a pretty big dent in it. trunk and floor pans are pinholed in spots I cant easily patch. this is the one that gets me though:
that is the right side quarter, that rocker is all eaten out too. this car just photographs nice.
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My bird IS the word
> dogisbadob
04/09/2016 at 12:57 |
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Thanks, I wasn’t getting one of these cars if it didnt have t-tops. lol
Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
> My bird IS the word
04/09/2016 at 12:59 |
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Welcome! Do the t tops leak?
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My bird IS the word
> Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
04/09/2016 at 13:00 |
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Do you even need to ask that? haha yes. yes they do. To be fair, the weather seals have never been replaced. I have a nice car cover for it though.
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crowmolly
> My bird IS the word
04/09/2016 at 13:05 |
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Gotcha. How are the rear frame rails down near the rear seat pan? That’s a big rot area.
Needmoargarage
> My bird IS the word
04/09/2016 at 13:08 |
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Awesome project! My first complete restoration was on a school budget of nothing as well haha.
A word of caution on fiberglassing over holes in the floor pans: it may be (temporarily) structurally sound, but I can promise you that it won’t last more than a couple years, especially on a T-top car. Water gets trapped in between the metal and fiberglass layer and actually accelerates the degradation of the metal. If you absolutely can’t borrow a welder to make some metal patches, you’d be better off riveting on patches and sealing the seams really well.
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My bird IS the word
> crowmolly
04/09/2016 at 13:09 |
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Previous owner did some work to get it semi-roadworthy, and replaced the right rear one. The rest of the subframe is in good shape, if a little crusty looking.
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My bird IS the word
> Needmoargarage
04/09/2016 at 13:14 |
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I can’t weld. I have some friends that could help, but the holes are in weird spots, like in the “corners” where you can’t really patch. there are enough of them that I want to replace the whole pan, but the bodywork is the very last thing that is getting done. I am hoping keeping my car covered in the rain will let it last long enough that I can get it professionally done. All I need is it to last until I move out.
PorkchoPlissken
> My bird IS the word
04/09/2016 at 13:55 |
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Welcome! These are my T-tops. Nothing beats taking them off on a nice day. Trans am looks great, make sure to keep us up to date on the progress.
shop-teacher
> My bird IS the word
04/09/2016 at 14:18 |
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Welcome! Cool project!
JeepJeremy
> My bird IS the word
04/09/2016 at 14:29 |
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Awesome car!!!!!
JGrabowMSt
> My bird IS the word
04/09/2016 at 15:07 |
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So I know a thing about the fiberglass patching, and if I’m being perfectly honest, you may want to check out Sherman Parts before you go with the fiberglass. Sherman may have a complete floor pan allowing you to cut out the rust, and tack in the new pan for better structural support and you know, more complete rust removal.
I can’t weld myself, but it’s on the bucket list of life. I strongly encourage giving yourself the benefit of the doubt and seeing what you can do. Lots of people here can weld and a lot are very good at it. Welders are not terribly expensive either.
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My bird IS the word
> JGrabowMSt
04/09/2016 at 15:55 |
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It’s more of a time/money thing. 600$ for a pan, 700$ for a tig welder. Then another 250 for a trunk pan. None of that factors in shipping truck freight. I live with my parents, I just can’t justify that now. It will be done eventually, just not until I get a real job and move out.
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My bird IS the word
> PorkchoPlissken
04/09/2016 at 16:00 |
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T tops for life. Love those 300zxs, way underrated cars imo .Was on the list of backups if I couldn’t find a 70s or 80s t/a
Bandit
> My bird IS the word
04/09/2016 at 18:48 |
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Who are you, are you me?
Glass patches are fine for that area you’ve done them on the floor. Mine have held strong for 3 years now. Glass works ok for the rockers and places you don’t see, but you’ll need actual metal welded in for any big body rust. Mine were pretty rotted underneath the rear flares so watch that area.
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My bird IS the word
> Bandit
04/09/2016 at 19:29 |
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Yea, she's got the quarter rot on the right side. Just trying to get her to pass PA inspection so it can be a driving project. She will get a full resto at some point and I will do it proper but for now I'm cheaping out on anything I can
gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
> My bird IS the word
04/09/2016 at 20:56 |
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bitch’en
19JRC99
> Bandit
02/26/2017 at 11:29 |
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Huh. This must be common. My dad used fiberglass on the floors of his ‘73.