I'm looking at picking up a 69 bird. It's in rough shape. Has motor n transmission but missing quite a bit of parts I'm not afraid to tackle a project and will do most if not all the work myself. I'm expecting to throw 4-5k into it to get it road worthy again. And all the "rust" is only surface. The floor pans and trunk pan are all solid! Btw I can get this car for $200.00 Yes $200.00
Hi and welcome. I bet that theres more than $200 worth of parts there so it might be a good parts car for someone. For me personally there are not enough weekends left in life to spend every one of them for the next 5 years trying to make that into a nice car. You would be much further ahead to spend more initally and get a complete running vehicle that you can drive and enjoy and fix up as you go, as required and as money is available. Just my personal opinion.
I agree. Let her rest in peace! Unless PHS shows it to be some ultra-rare build of course! Then it may be worth the save.
I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure. I feel like I am diagonally parked in a parallel universe. 1968 400 convertible (Scarlet) 1976 T/A - 455 LE (No Burt) 1976 T/A New baby, starting full restoration. 1968 350 - 4 speed 'vert - 400 clone (the Beast!) 1968 350 convertible - Wife's car now- 400 clone (Aleutian Blue) (Blue Angel) 2008 Durango - DD 2008 GXP - New one from NH is AWESOME! 2017 Durango Citadel - Modern is nice! HEMI is amazing! 1998 Silverado Z71 - Father-daughter project 1968 400 coupe - R/A clone (Blue Pearl) (sold) 1967 326 convertible - Sold 1980 T/A SE Bandit - Sold
I think you could easily triple or quadrupal the restore number, even if you do the work yourself. I'm not kidding. Add it up. Motor rebuild-$4K alone. Tires and wheels another $1K. Trans rebuild-$1K.Your already over you budget and you have just gotten started. You could paint it with house paint and it would cost you $300! It's basically a parts car at this point. That being said I would be interested in buying it as such. I'd be willing to pay you a couple of hundred finders fee if there is enough on the car still to make it worthwhile. Email me at bobman58ya@yahoo.com. I'm near Berkeley.
If the core of the car (floor boards and trunk are good) it's worth taking. Once you have to do rockers and floor pans your into big bucks and/or time. Everything else (body panels) you can get and bolt on. Up here in the rust belt it's almost impossible to get a core without gaping holes in the floors!
Engine Test Stand Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwoxyUwptUcdqEb-o2ArqyiUaHW0G_C88 restoring my 1968 Firebird 400 HO convertible (Firedawg) 1965 Pontiac Catalina Safari Wagon 389 TriPower (Catwagon) 1999 JD AWS LX Lawn tractor 17hp (my daily driver) 2006 Sequoia 2017 Murano (wife's car) 202? Electric car 203? 68 Firebird /w electric engine 2007 Bayliner 175 runabout /w 3.0L Mercuiser__________________________________________________________
As far as metal it needs, is just a driver door, driver fender, and front grille, all the other panels are in good shape including floors and trunk. I don't see how a motor rebuild is 4k. I estimate it at 2k And a transmission rebuild I can do myself. Or for the time being I can throw a sbc and th350 trans in it just to get it on the road, which I have sitting in my garage. Tires and wheels about 1k. I can rebuild the rear end. And paint can wait. Wire harness $500.
I have seen worse cars than this be restored so I know it can be done
Sounds like you have a plan. Let us know how it turns out.
I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure. I feel like I am diagonally parked in a parallel universe. 1968 400 convertible (Scarlet) 1976 T/A - 455 LE (No Burt) 1976 T/A New baby, starting full restoration. 1968 350 - 4 speed 'vert - 400 clone (the Beast!) 1968 350 convertible - Wife's car now- 400 clone (Aleutian Blue) (Blue Angel) 2008 Durango - DD 2008 GXP - New one from NH is AWESOME! 2017 Durango Citadel - Modern is nice! HEMI is amazing! 1998 Silverado Z71 - Father-daughter project 1968 400 coupe - R/A clone (Blue Pearl) (sold) 1967 326 convertible - Sold 1980 T/A SE Bandit - Sold
An engine build...cranks $100 to cut and polish(unless you can do that too), mains and rod bearings $150, clean/bore/hone $450(hone with a torq plate another $150-$200, balance $175, timing set $100...I could keep going but sufficed to say you might get it done a little cheaper by cutting corners but...or I guess you could buy an OReilly's short block for $10, I suppose.
I think you should buy it and restore it. It's too cheap not to but you're not going to do it for $5k. Just sayin.
I'll keep you all updated. I'm licking it up Sunday. Can't pass it up for $200 And I don't cut corners, I just find good deals and know people. I'm not building a race motor or a race car, just a nice street car. Thanks for all the input.
I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure. I feel like I am diagonally parked in a parallel universe. 1968 400 convertible (Scarlet) 1976 T/A - 455 LE (No Burt) 1976 T/A New baby, starting full restoration. 1968 350 - 4 speed 'vert - 400 clone (the Beast!) 1968 350 convertible - Wife's car now- 400 clone (Aleutian Blue) (Blue Angel) 2008 Durango - DD 2008 GXP - New one from NH is AWESOME! 2017 Durango Citadel - Modern is nice! HEMI is amazing! 1998 Silverado Z71 - Father-daughter project 1968 400 coupe - R/A clone (Blue Pearl) (sold) 1967 326 convertible - Sold 1980 T/A SE Bandit - Sold
Glad you decided to save it from getting in any worse shape than it is already. $200 is a no-brainer if you have the space for it. Lots of people on here looking for a decent subframe lately if you decide to part it out. Make your money back on that one part and the rest of the car is free.
Yeah this guy has a field full of old classics. Most of them are just destroyed and will never be reborn. I just see life in this old bird and would love to get her back on the road
Would love to see that myself. I know lots of people around the area that have extra parts laying around so if you need help finding something, I can probably find it for you.
I could probably find a driver fender. You might be better off re-skinning the doors if the main frame is good. Or there's always GM Sports if you want to pay their price. Doors come up on CL every once in awhile.
I don't have any of the window mechanism in the door. Is there a place I can get the guts?
I have a few sets for standard interior if anyone needs them. Mine are from '68, but I believe they are the same for '69.
I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure. I feel like I am diagonally parked in a parallel universe. 1968 400 convertible (Scarlet) 1976 T/A - 455 LE (No Burt) 1976 T/A New baby, starting full restoration. 1968 350 - 4 speed 'vert - 400 clone (the Beast!) 1968 350 convertible - Wife's car now- 400 clone (Aleutian Blue) (Blue Angel) 2008 Durango - DD 2008 GXP - New one from NH is AWESOME! 2017 Durango Citadel - Modern is nice! HEMI is amazing! 1998 Silverado Z71 - Father-daughter project 1968 400 coupe - R/A clone (Blue Pearl) (sold) 1967 326 convertible - Sold 1980 T/A SE Bandit - Sold
The only difference is the position where the door lock rod comes out the top. Not that hard to change I wouldn't think. I saw a pair of fenders in my buddy's shop the other day but I'm not sure if he's keeping them just in case or what. I check him out and let you know. I'll see if he has any doors too while I'm at it.
If you need any parts I have alot of 69 stuff I'm doing a convertible right now and have extra parts, front bumper assembly,fenders, hoods,doors, bumpers,and more. these parts go quick let me know when you get your list. Bill S. 520 490 9097
Hello - been on the forum for a few years but don't think I've ever posted. I'm with ya on restoring the '69. Back in 2000 I restored my '68 Convertible. It was a mixture of joy, frustration, money, and satisfaction. More power to you. Enjoy the ride. BTW...it was KISS who did the song "lick it up". Showing my age too!!
You guys have waaaayyy more talent than I do to tackle such a project. The steering wheel! Had one in high school on my Chevelle.
Ditto- had one in my Chevelle as well, unfortunately have one again in my Bird..
Does anyone have a red standard wheel?
Cant wait for summer... 68HO4004spvert Sleddog Iowa
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