I purchased my 68 350 Firebird back in 2002 off ebay, sight unseen for $1200. I joined FGF in the fall of 2002 and was pretty active until about 2005. Two new jobs, three houses, two new kids has really put the Firebird on the back burner. Right before Thanksgiving of 2011 I decided I would tackle some of the body work I've been putting off since I purchased the car (triggered by a 45+ year old wiring harness smoldering). So I started the tear down once again...the third tear down to date. I knew the outer cowl panels behind the front quarters were rotted so I started there. I cut open the outer skin and the damage was pretty extensive with rot from the inside out...and then the car sat in the garage until January of 2013, when I decided to replace the center section of the trunk. Cut the trunk out, fitted the new panel and then we sold our house in February 2013, so we moved again... It's taken a year to get settled in the new house. Garage is much smaller, so working on the Firebird is "interesting". I finally got the trunk welded in last month, first time doing metalwork..first time welding. Now I'm going to replace the entire firewall, entire floor, both outer cowl panels (both inner and outer structure which is currently cut out), both quarter panels with outer wheel housing. I replaced the entire drivetrain on the Firebird back in 2005 so I'm good to go there (complete aftermarket four wheel disc brakes, 200-4r modified tranny, rebuilt Pontiac 350, custom driveline, 8.5" rearend with 4.10 posi out of a 73 Ventura with aftermarket axles, complete Eaton Detroit Spring leafs and coils, PST bushing and sway bar kit, tubular upper control arms, fast ratio power steering box). I plan on adding aftermarket AC (car came with AC originally but previous owner stripped all the AC components off the car), and FAST fuel injection (Nevada high plains is brutal on carb tuning!). I will create a new thread in the bodywork section detailing the sheet metal replacement. It's good to be actively working on the Firebird once again and it's better to see many of you still actively participating on the list still. Many of you have helped me out through the years with knowledge, parts and motivation.

Welcome back. I purchased my 'bird in 1998, then tore it down, moved 3 times since, got it back on the road to stay in early 2010, and it's still total stripped on the inside and out waiting for paint.

Welcome G.J. !! Good to here your back at her. More fun a barrel of monkeys ehhh!

I'm in the process or replacing my floor pan, rear wheel wells and patching my rockers and a cowl among other things.

How are your rockers?

I have my car on a Resto-Revolver

I hope we can help each out.

Good luck!
Brian

Busy weekend...removed the firewall. A small rust spot on the cowl became large rust area.

Firewall removed


"Small" cowl rust area


Actual cowl rust area

Are your rocker panels ok? With all that rust it would seem impossible for the rockers to be unaffected,

Are you considering building a cart to put the body on?

Got some plans...see attached

Note: your 2nd hidden vin is (was) stamped on the RH outer cowl beside the hole for the fan. You might want to keep that.

If you read the 1st page, I include where I found the plans in camaros.net

That's one thing that is fairly cheap here. I get the steel from a scarp yard that recycle's old steel into rebar and other products like square tube.

I worked hard over 2014 summer and took a break during the winter. I'm ready to get back to it though since a stock 1971 455 YC block just dropped into my lap. I need to grind welds, get the seat platforms installed, then I can epoxy the interior. Once that is done I need to get subframe and rearend back on so I can start replacing the quarter panels and tail panel.

A little more rust...


Passenger rocker, one piece floor, upper cowl, firewall, and inner cowls all installed.