Just went and picked up my 1967 Firebird today. Had to have a tow-truck carry it 20 miles to my house. Any advice on getting started? Click on the link below to view pics.

1967 Firebird Project

I am 13 now, so this is a project for my first car. My dad and I plan to do all the work. We are going to clean up the firewall and get the frame on so we can get it so it is a roller. The guy gave us parts to do disc brakes so we will get that done too.

We are north of Denver, if there is anyone in the Denver or Northern Colorado area we would like to look things over so we can get some stuff figured out.

That looks like a really good start.

First thing to do is to spend some time cleaning up the parts you have, to be sure they are good enough to use. Be sure the important items, like the body mounts and rear spring pockets and rear frame rails are safe and solid. Get all the parts that will be hidden or blocked later cleaned up, primed, and painted.

Work through your basic mechanical stuff. Replace the brake and fuel lines before installing the engine, else you'll regret it later. With the subframe off, you can do a really clean and easy install so have them on hand to install at the same time. Try to get the brakes all set once the car is rolling, then on to the wiring, then drivetrain.

After that, there are a lot more pieces, but you will have a car you can start and run, and it makes the day in the garage a lot nicer to hear a little engine music now and then.

Dude, you need to hook up with the father and son team Colorado68.

Thanks for the advice. Our plan is to get the firewall cleaned and painted and put the front end on. Then, take it to the VIN inspector and have the VIN fixed because it is a 1967 Firebird with the door hinge VIN removed. It has a 1968 title too. So, we have a little legal work to do first. My dad has already worked with the state patrol to be sure there won't be problems. They checked both VIN's......worst case it will get a state assigned VIN.

Man, I hate to here stories like that. Those kind of DMV hassles can suck all the joy out of a project right at the start.

Before you do any assembly, talk to the VIN inspector. No point in tossing money in until you have it all legal. And with the front end open, they will be able to easily inspect the hidden VINs. Please research your state's laws on getting a vehicle titled. Some excerpts from Google are below.

If the jamb is actually cut where the VIN tag was, I wonder if it was totalled at some point?

"(17) The VIN is missing from my vehicle or 2 vehicles have been put together to make a new vehicle. What do I do?
The owner will need to bring in a certified VIN inspection (DR2704 available from the Colorado State Patrol), a record search (DR2539 ) for every VIN that is listed on the inspection, any ownership documents for the vehicle, any invoices, receipts or bills of sale for the vehicle, a photo of the front and back of the vehicle, a completed Colorado Assigned Vehicle Identification Number Declaration of Facts (DR2426 ), and an application for assigned vehicle identification number (DR2408 ). Secure and Verifiable Identification and current proof of insurance will also be required.

The application fee is $3.50. All documents are remitted to the State for approval. When approved, the State will contact the local Colorado State Patrol office to affix the new Colorado VIN to the vehicle and give the owner all documents previously remitted.

The owner will use these documents to apply for a new Colorado title, with the new VIN number. A $7.20 title fee, plus any applicable sales taxes will be due. Our office accepts cash or checks only."

"Steps to Getting a Colorado Assigned VIN
The first rung is having the vehicle inspected by a law enforcement official. This official will also fill out a form DR2365 which directs the emissions assessor on how to check the vehicle. The inspection fee is $20. Call your title and registration office for a referral list. While you have them on the phone, double-check whether the inspector will have the DR2365 form, or if you need to stop by the office and grab one. You will not find the form online.
If the vehicle is a home-built or a kit model, you will complete a Colorado Assigned Vehicle Identification Number Declaration of Facts form and then apply for the number by filling out the Application for Colorado Assigned Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). The fee is a $3.50 fee for this service.
Once the number is assigned you will take it and the completed DR2365 form to an emissions testing technical center operated by the Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). For information or an appointment, call (303) 744-2442 (and press 3).
Passing the emissions test (if necessary) is the final step required to prepare the vehicle for titling and registration. From here, the process is pretty much the same as with other vehicles. Expect a $9.50 titling fee."

As you can see, the info is similar but not identical. It does look promising, though.

falconfam... how far north of Denver are you? We're in Arvada.
Congratulations on the bird and welcome to FGF.

The jamb is not cut. The rivets are just cut and the tag removed. It has a 68 vin on the dash, done very cleanly and a 68 build tag on the firewall with smooth head rivets. The hidden vin is visible and is clearly a 1967. The state has been helpfull and ran the 67 VIN through all of there databases and it is clean. To get an inspection it needs to be a rolling chassis so we need to get to that point first to get rolling. They said it will go through fine with the 68 title work, but we want to get it so it is correct. Even if that means a state assigned VIN.

Colorado68 I emailed you, we would like to see what you have done.

I love hearing stories of people bringing cars back to life. Got to hand it to you and your dad, the paperwork alone would have scared me off. Word to the wise, once you get it done don't even think about selling it. I'll bet there are hundreds of stories on this site of people wishing to have back the original cars that they worked on with their Dads of yesteryear.

nice!

Cool... will give you guys a call this evening. Would love to help in anyway we can.

Congratulations and welcome!

By the way, this was mentioned on your other thread, but the best advice is to get PHS documentation. I am sure the State Patrol would be interested in that as well. It will prove the VIN number cross referenced to how the car was built and optioned.

Here is a link:

http://www.phs-online.com/

And congrats on the car! Looks like a keeper to me.

oui vey good thing is your only 13 and have time on your side!
two pieces of advice ONE get the legal mombo jumbo done first or all this is for naught TWO STAY AWAY FROM GIRLS......
you will have your hands full with the car....Remember if it has tits or wheels eventually you will have trouble with it!

P.S.
WELCOME TO THE CLUB!
your in the right place at the right time the guys here have more knowledge about theses cars then any other place on the planet!
would not have been able to do my car with out them...

CF1, dont forget, both will also cost you $$$$.

And no matter how much you spend on it, in the long run the car will be cheaper.

and more gratifying! but will luv the attention just as much!!

On ya, a girl will usually keep others away.
A FB will bring'm in.
When i got my 1st 68FB back in H.S., all types of girls wanted a ride.
Most wanted several more

Welcome, congrats and good luck! My best advise right off the batt would be to put a realistic budget together and be sure you will have the resources (funds/cash) to see it through. Nothing I hate more than to see someone buy a project car, start pumping a ton of money into then realize they are in over their heads and end selling to the next person and always losing money along the way.

I am not trying to bring you down right off the batt, just trying to help you as I've see this time and time again. Best of luck and by the way, IMO you will not get any better help anywhere than from this website. The folks here are incredibly helpful and tons of FGF knowledge...

Welcome guys. I love the father / son thing. I'm with
the rest, get the title straight before spending to much
time and money. If it helps I have a extra front bumper
and brackets I've tryed to sell with no luck so you can
have them just pay shipping. If interested shot me a e-mail
address and I'll send you some pic's of the bumper.

Thanks everyone. Earlybird, no problem, you definitely did not bring me down. You are dead on and it has been on my mind non stop. We just finished an early Bronco for my son, so we just went through all the surprises there.
We will be doing everything ourselves, so that will save quite a bit. So far here is what we have found. All the supports, frame, underbody are clean, no rust. We do have the whole body and it is pretty decent. We will need to skin the rear quarters and a little on the bottoms of the front fenders. Interior is complete, will need seat covers and carpet kit minimum. Seems like a solid start.
Right now we are going to get the subframe on and the car a roller so we can get the state to inspect it. I don't want to do it all twice so we are going to do all the bushings and the disc brakes now.
It is overwhelming, but with this sight as a resource and my son who is incredibly mechanically minded hopefully we will have her done within 2 years.
Thanks again.

No one has mentioned this, but as a father of three girls, one of whom will be a teenager this summer, is that these old cars are not very safe for daily driving. They are easy to hotrod with, easy for people to damage and vandalize, etc. I support the idea of father/child projects, but you need to discuss (and enforce) how the car will be used some day.

I know Colorado68 went though a similar project with his boys.

I cannot imagine spending all the time and $$ on a resto project and then tossing the keys to a teeneager. But I guess it all comes down to trust. But you can't trust that some other teenager in Mommy's Land Rover isn't going to T-Bone your kid's fgf.

...just sayin...

I'd like to know what other's views are on this subject. I keep telling my girls that they can drive my cars when they turn 30. (of course I say the same thing about dating)

You said it best, it all comes down to trust. 68tpls I do respect your opinion, but here is my idea.
I do plan for him to have the keys when he is 16. He won't be watching, he will be doing the work on this one. I think him having hundreds of hours of his own time and all the money he is able to earn into the car helps to make him more aware of what he has to loose. If he screws up, he looses the car. We went through people feeling the same with my oldest sons Bronco. It is odd how giving your kid a cheap newer car is viewed totally different than a classic with the same value.
As far as unsafe. They it is a solid car, will have disc brakes and a updated suspension. Sure, no air bags but you cant keep them safe from everything.
The skills Ben will gain from this project will be irreplaceable. He found the car, and I will assist him to getting it on the road. But it is his.....Unless he looses that priveledge by screwing up. (tickets, curphew, grades, general rules)

My son is a brain (book smart) we started with the brakes, rebuilding the wheel cylinders on the work bench like I did with my dad some 35 years ago..as to show him not just the theory of how they work but hands on greasy show and tell ... well we got to the bleeding and as he was pumping the pedal he say's hey dad this car have an air bag? I thought it was funny he didnt and at that moment I lost him, Now act two, daughter starts hanging with her pop in the garage and dosent mind getting dirty and was a big help when you need that extra hand, great bonding! then boyfriend comes into the picture and he is into the fast and furious jap crap! so now poor me stuck with a fully restored FGF I'll bet they fight over it when im gone!!!!