Yay! So picked up a sleeping beauty! This bird has been hibernating on and off for the past 10 years. A lot of resto had already started, body in extra clean shape, no rust, interior almost completely redone. It is an original 400 with a column shifter 400, pretty sweet!

It took a bit of time, but was able to make her run and go on the trailer on her own. Popped spark plugs, poured some PB blaster and oil on the cylinders, plugged a new Battery (Optima), some starter fluid, and after a couple tries on she went

She is running VERY rich! At a minimum, I need to check and clean the carb, need new spark plugs, remove old gas (thankfully the tank only has about a 1/4). Planning to redo all fluids, any other recommendations?

















I appreciate all help and tips as I am not a total car newbie, but am a Bird newbie (I like working and building Jeeps for rockcrawling), and this forum has a lot of great info and knowledgeable people. Forgive me if my questions are too newbie, but I gotta learn somehow

The tires are shot, how often do you have to almost scrape the tires from the floor to move the rig? I brought a tank and popped some air in so they are decent rollers. I was afraid they would just blow up through the cracks!!



I got a few boxes of parts, trim items, etc. Need to go through them and see what is missing.

Plans for the Bird is to make it a driver and work slowly on the other body and other cosmetic stuff.



Some questions:


1- The oil dipstick is missing, where can I find one?

2- Also when the car starts, the infamous “GEN” light on the dash lights up, what is that? Saw this info here as well: https://firstgenfirebird.org/FAQ/elect/index.html

I will double check all wiring, grounds, etc, not sure what voltage I am getting at the bat with the car running, but at the same time when I installed the battery the terminals were not tightened all the way. Will check the voltage regulator, any other tips?

3- As far as removing the old gas from the tank, any suggestions, siphon it out, or any additives, cleaners I should run through? I should be replacing the gas filter anyway, was thinking some good Techron gas to help clean her up.



On the other to do’s list:

1- Need to get new tires, what size can I fit without major issues on a first Gen Bird? I bought for some extra $$ a set of original American racing wheels from the seller. They are 14’s, seem to be mag or alum, very light. I am not 100% sure on the actual rim width, the fornts are narrower than the rears. Measuring between inner lips the fronts are about 6”and the rears are about 8”. What size tires can I fit on those that will work on the Bord? Any tire recommendations? Want good tires, but also keep the retro look, BFG T\A’s? Cooper tires? the seller mentioned I will need to run some spacers to clear the rera wheels (he included with the wheels) The wheels I got look identical to these, any leads on where can I find the center caps? (I love the stance on this Bird)

2- Retro audio. Thankfully the dash is original and has the original stereo cut-out. I saw a few retro audios online, any recommendations? I do not want to spend $600 on a stereo, Was shooting for something like this. Any other ones that will give the retro look and are in the $200 or so ballpark?
3- Where can I find the rubber for the front nose\bumper (between fenders\valance and front chromo bumper?
4- Vendors you recommend out there that will carry the misc stuff? I.e. I have some of the cranks for the windows, but they look like missing the small rotating knobs
5- Tacho and Rear spoiler? I believe the 400 67 came with the rear spoiler? It has the 400 hood, but no hood tachometer.
6- Suspension. I am thinking lowering the suspension all around some, maybe look into hotchkis? Do I need to replace the torsion\sway bar on the front as well, or the stock will suffice?

Thanks for all the help!

SELL IT NOW ... SELL IT FAST ... TO ME!

Just kidding. Man what a great ride! A real diamond in the rough.

I will formulate a response to your questions along with a bunch of the other guys.

Good luck with the car!

I see you have the Bjorn / Buick rim details going...

1. Do a search about tires, there have been endless threads about this.
2. Ditto
3. Used, here or Epay. I don't think there is a repop of these.
4. Ames, Classic, NPD, some others. Classic has rediculous shipping prices, but they are in CA, so maybe not so bad for you. Try classicindustries.com.
5. Hood tachs were an option, not stock for the 400 model. These can be found used, or repop. Rear spoilers are for Camaro's, not Firebirds. (ditto for front spoiler)
6. Many options out there. Most through Epay or repro houses. Stock front sway bars seem small, but overall stock suspension leaves a lot to be desired anyway.

My biggest question to you: Why not take everything back to stock, rather than continue a modded car? Looks like a clean starting point.
Also, order PHS to verify originality and build info.

Nice car!

Thanks for the big help! I am still dreamy about the car. I have been on the Bird hunt for some time, and this last month has been full of surprises, several stones and no hitting birds with the same stone or however the saying goes, hehe

As much as I would like to restore her to original, I know myself, and woudl like to get some things here and there done to enjoy the car more. I.e. front drum brakes, etc.

What is the rubber on the nose called?

Just checked your photobucket, beautiful birds BTW!

Your alternator is probably discharging. Have it rebuilt (do not exchange it).
Hirsh has what they call the best gas tank re-conditioner kit. I'm going to give them a try.
Hirsh auto
Any restoration supplier: Classic, Ames etc.
You can get a fiberglass rear spoiler on the trunk for 67/68. New after market tachs are available. Make sure you wire according to the ignition system you intend to use or you can fry it.



The stock torsion bar is weak. Get a free catalog from all the suppliers you can find and that will give you tons of ideas and options.

Here is a partial list of suppliers:

AMES
YEAR ONE
PADDOCK
CLASSIC
Tanraz's
Goodmark
ThePartsStore
AMD Direct
Just Dashes
Firebird Central

Gus, awesome thanks!

I will foucs on getting teh Bird driveable first, so want to address some of the major to do's right away. I had to resist the urge to take the rig for a spin on the rotten tires, hahah!

Thank you! And regarding your gen light issue, it may be a sticky regulator. My '67's gen light comes on from time to time, sometimes goes off by itself, sometimes stays on for many days. I've had the entire charging system checked, and everything seems to be fine. The regulator was brand new from Ames, and I called them about it. But their take was that it (the regulator) was an electric part, so I was SOL. (never got around to complaining on this site about that one). Anyhow, whenever it stays on for more than one drive, I give it a rap with a screw-driver, and it seems good to go for another month or so. this has been going on for two summers now. I'm just lazy about replacing it.

So that possibly could be the issue with yours. Try a couple of good raps with a screw-driver handle and see what that does.

I like the rims! lol...I have 235/60/14 BFGs on mine now as I couldnt get the 245/60/14 Road Huggers anymore, you can add PMD centercaps to these...check my picture

the missing center part buy from Ames...you can get dipstick from Ames too...
http://www.amesperf.com/ ....it doesnt need a hood tach unless you want one...betcha Ames has one too!

rear spoiler is a Camaro item ,so is the front, but many Firebirds have them/had them...they DO help, they are functional, esp at speeds over 80- mph....

looks like a great find...as for the tank....there are places that clean these...I`m not sure Id put stuff in it to 'liner' it...I had that in an old Studebaker (someone else had done it), it started coming off the walls of the tank, not good...Id have someone professionally clean it ,IF it needs it....get it emptied out shine a light into it (electric! lol)if rusty ,get it cleaned , it can also have pinholes in it if rusty (that will come thru when cleaned (had that in my old GT6)...so maybe you need a new tank..Classic and Ames sell those...

and welcome aboard!

thanks, I will check on the regulator, that is what I think could be the issue or another ground, etc as the rig was probably taken apart for paint. Ah all teh fun gremlins to get started on can not wait

Thanks, the tank looks surprisingly clean and solid form the outside. I am hoping to avoid dropping the tank, but does not look too bad with the small amount of gas. I will try syphoning some of the gas out and bypassing the lines with another electrical pump. Getting the residues without getting the tank out will be a PITA, but only way to tell.. you guessed have to drop the tank

She is running VERY rich, any tips or suggestions on what to get started? I am going to replace all

As far as gas what do you guys recommend octane and brand wise 91-92, and any brand works better than other, Chevron, etc?


I did some search online around lunch, and think the parts on the front bumper are called fillers? I found a place selling them new in PVC, is that what they are made off? Also do not have the rig with me today, is there a filler on the top area as well (i.e like in the 69's, or just side by the fenders?

You can get alternator rebuild kits and do it yourself. I saw a how to on Utube.

Ah, for kicks a couple pics of my former Landcruiser buggy with a Firebird 400 engine




notice the grille

Very nice buggy. Where was that at? I do rock crawling too, though my rig is much more mild.

So where are you at in the Bay, I'm up here in Elk Grove about 20 minutes from Sacto.

does gui mean object oriented or forgetaboutit?

and I always like studying the backgrounds in peoples photos too, you see the darndest things... nice wheels in the air!!

G rafical U ser I nterface

how about this one?

was my sons , we sold 8 yrs ago....I got it from Sweden...no 127 of 724 made...we did make some "changes"...lol

we took the Volvo straight 6 out ,replaced w Chevy 350, Holley 650 carb., Volvo 740 front seats, Volvo 122 rear seat, AC, air shocks, TH350 tranny, Pioneer CD player,added Volvo Girling brake booster, custom rims with BFG Allterrains...etc,etc...
6500 lbs with drum brakes that had 2 wheel cylinders per wheel...stopped on a dime!

Very cool!!!

Looks like a Beetle on steroids!

I love the paint scheme. Well done!

Bjorn very very cool! My wife is from Sweden (Boras\Gotteborg area), were in Sweden are you from?

We should be heading to Sweden sometime in the next couple months Loved wheeling in Sweden with Volvos!








The pic of the buggy is at Fordyce Creek, really nice trail not too far from the Bay Area. I am in the Dubllin\Pleasanton area.

This is the other rig I am currently working on and will have what little time stolen from as I work on the Bird. Daily driver from hell of sorts I am looking forward to be abel to drive the Bird as soon as I can

Looks like you weren't real happy with the camera man in that third picture!

the cops here were VERY INTERESTED in the paint scheme too! he got stopped frequently by cops , just wanting to check it out...I told him he couldnt misbehave in this one, as EVERY cop in town would recognize the car!

I`m from Stockholm, my buddy here is from Gothenburg though...also had friends in Borås, they moved 3 yrs ago to Gränna

here`s another Volvo I had before , it was no 60 of 90 prototypes built for the Laplander..it came with a B16 , 65 Hp, single down draft carb., but I replaced it with a 1972 Volvo B18 engine, 115 hp with 2 carbs...as you can tell I once rode dirt too...

If you want to put discs on and keep it otherwise stock why not. Thats what I did. It's more a safety upgrade.....

Nice base you have there Gui!