'67 Firebird CAM Build

Cash Davidson · **Posted:** Tue Sep 02, 2014 9:13 pm

Since Art and Rodney predict it will be three years before we see this car at an autocross, I thought I would document the process to see if they are correct.

History
I bought the car on June 22, 1981 for $300 delivered and not running. I was 16yrs old, the car was 14. I drove it thru High School and College. Autocrossed it with SCCA-MoHud and New England Sportscar Club. Over the years, there have been 3 engines: the original Sprint6, a Buick V6 and the current Pontiac 350. Three different trannys: the original 3spd, a Borg-Warner T10 and the current Muncie close-ratio M21. I parked it in 1999 thinking I'd start restoring it in a couple years.

Here it sat for 15yrs - on blocks, under a piece of rubber roofing.

Tonight I dragged it into the garage. :thumbsup:

The interior is familiar and makes me smile:

I'll be cleaning for a while. Then I'll pull the plugs, squirt some oil and turn it over by hand. Change the fluids, clean the carb, give it some fresh gas and see if she'll start. The good news: all four wheels roll, tires hold air, clutch is not stuck.

I think Art & Rodney are wrong. :sing:

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Tue Sep 02, 2014 10:10 pm

That was my favorite firebird year, none of the others come close. Soooooo glad you're starting on this project. Looks to be in decent shape for having sat all of these years. Damn, I might even come over and help some just to get that back on the road.

Good move Cash, so glad to see you getting the car back in driver condition. I do hope you're going the resto-mod route and not putting the stock suspension back on it. Lot's of new toys and setups out there for the car.

BTW, digging the old school pin striping on it....

Jason Mauldin · **Posted:** Tue Sep 02, 2014 10:38 pm

That could be a fun project, and I agree with Rodney. Please restomod that!

You might make me jealous enough that I buy a 65-67 mustang, and join in the fun.

JamesMilko · **Posted:** Wed Sep 03, 2014 12:08 am

I can't wait to see what kind of suspension parts get fabbed during this.

Andrew Jonell · **Joined:** Mon Mar 23, 2009 6:43 pm **Posts:** 1350

The sentiment is the same... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1v3CzvQ9e_w

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Wed Sep 03, 2014 9:56 am

It looks like you need to a take a few days and clean up the shop before you start.

Cash Davidson · **Posted:** Wed Sep 03, 2014 12:41 pm

RodneyWright wrote:

I do hope you're going the resto-mod route and not putting the stock suspension back on it.

Definitely going the resto-mod route. :thumbsup:

JamesMilko wrote:

I can't wait to see what kind of suspension parts get fabbed during this.

I already have a fresh Ford 9" rearend with a Detroit Trutrac. :mrgreen:

Steven Carter wrote:

You can start by building it to STU, then go from there.
http://www.rhoadescamaro.com/build/

I bookmarked that a year ago. Great info, but I felt ST was too confining for what I wanted to do. The front suspension geometry is soooo bad on these cars, it is really hard to correct within the ST rules. I'm really excited about CAM!

Vincent Keene wrote:

It looks like you need to a take a few days and clean up the shop before you start.

Yeah, probably a half-day. :lol:

I'm definitely gonna need more room. I wish a new shop were in the near future, but college tuition is KILLING me!!

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Wed Sep 03, 2014 1:07 pm

Cash Davidson wrote:

I already have a fresh Ford 9" rearend with a Detroit Trutrac.

Resto-Mod or not, Ford parts on a Pontiac is sacrilege. :stick:

Jason Mauldin · **Posted:** Wed Sep 03, 2014 2:08 pm

Vincent Keene wrote:

Cash Davidson wrote:

I already have a fresh Ford 9" rearend with a Detroit Trutrac.

Resto-Mod or not, Ford parts on a Pontiac is sacrilege. :stick:

What about a LS1 into an old mustang?

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Wed Sep 03, 2014 2:10 pm

Jason Mauldin wrote:

What about a LS1 into an old mustang?

Same thing. If you have a Mustang and it needs more power insert a proper Coyote.

Jason Mauldin · **Posted:** Wed Sep 03, 2014 2:12 pm

Vincent Keene wrote:

Jason Mauldin wrote:

What about a LS1 into an old mustang?

Same thing. If you have a Mustang and it needs more power insert a proper Coyote.

Well, the LS1 will fit just about anywhere that a 302 will fit. I don't know that you could get a 3valve mod motor or a Coyote into a 65-66 mustang. It might fit in the later models.

Jason Mauldin · **Posted:** Wed Sep 03, 2014 2:16 pm

Vincent Keene wrote:

Jason Mauldin wrote:

What about a LS1 into an old mustang?

Same thing. If you have a Mustang and it needs more power insert a proper Coyote.

Here ya go:

Quote:

Wilwood Engineering is dropping—or maybe we should say cramming—a Coyote into its '66 Mustang. Arguably, the '641⁄2–'66 'Stangs and their early Falcon sisters provide the ultimate test of Coyote fitment and engineuity: They have the narrowest engine bays, plus intrusive, high-mount shock towers. Frankly, the engine swap is well-nigh impossible without an aftermarket front clip that axes the shock towers in favor of a modern rack-and-pinion steering and suspension setup. That's where TCI rides to the rescue with its complete front end. Helping ease fitment are Doug's brand-new, long-tube headers that are designed specifically to fit the TCI clip. Out back, you'll see TCI's trick torque-arm rear suspension supporting a full-floating Strange Engineering 9-inch rearend.

Read more: http://www.hotrod.com/feature_stories/h ... z3CHHr4ndi

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Wed Sep 03, 2014 2:17 pm

Jason Mauldin wrote:

Well, the LS1 will fit just about anywhere that a 302 will fit. I don't know that you could get a 3valve mod motor or a Coyote into a 65-66 mustang. It might fit in the later models.

True the mod motors are wide, but an old school Ford 5.0 is very compact and it would likely fit.

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Wed Sep 03, 2014 8:13 pm

This will be fun to watch!

I am fairly sure that there won't be much that needs to be fabbed since the PT movement, Goodguys, YearOne et al probably have everything you could possibly need. For a price, though...so the real question is how fast will Ca$h spend his ca$h?

Of course, he could probably fab something that is already available, just to say he did it, and to save a few bucks. That would be cool, too. :thumbsup:

Arthur McDonald · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 1:54 am **Posts:** 2052

Cash Davidson wrote:

Since Art and Rodney predict it will be three years before we see this car at an autocross......
I think Art & Rodney are wrong. :sing:

I stand by my prediction, but I think it would be cool if you had it road-worthy & autocross-worthy in time for the 50th anniversary of the Firebird's introduction. I think that gives you until January 2017

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'67 Firebird CAM Build

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