When I started to replace the motor mounts I noticed that the engine is a little bit turned to the passenger side . I thought it was depending on the bad old motor mounts but it was in the same angle even after the job. I called a friend ( with one red and one vendorgreen Firebird 400 conv ) and he thought that my car was wrong or that there was something missing. He called me back a couple of minutes after and told me that both his cars was the same. Then we checked 2 other cars and guess what? It’s a little bit turned to the right
Isn’t that strange that the engine isn´t lining up with the cars centre line? Or is it a local thing on Swedish Firebirds .

I thought it was strange too, but I've been reassured that it's perfectly normal for Firebirds. I first saw it when the car was up on the hoist for a new exhaust system.

Now that was a Fantastic nice drawn exhaust system . How did you do that ? Is it 2 ¼ from the manifold ? Is it laud or quiet ? I´m looking for a complete system here in Sweden but I can promise you that its not easy to find or cheep ether . What´s the fabricate on the crossover ( think it´s called that? the one between the axle and the tank ) muffler and the two primary muffler, is it Dynamax or?
Do you have more pictures?
Tommy

I think that it's part of the crappy engineering in the quickly designed/thrown-together f/g/f, but I had heard that it was done to help stabilize torque thrust.

It's because the chassis was designed by Chevy for the little itty bitty SBC motor in Camaros. Pontiac motors are wider and the motor was offset for clearance purposes. Notice the fan shroud hump is offset too. Supposedly BBC's in Camaros are offset too.

Bjorn's theory is that Pontiac designed it that way to offset the weight of the driver so the car is perfectly balanced

I like the exhaust system. It was custom bent and welded by a local shop that does street rods and classics as well as everyday cars and trucks. The crossflow muffler (2 inlets, 2 outlets) in front of the axle is still available but the brand name is not on the receipt. The resonators are DynoMax Super Turbos. They have a quiet low rumble at idle, a rich not overpowering sound on the freeway and a nice throaty roar at full throttle. 2.25" throughout, except the tailpipes at 2". They might not be suitable for a car that spends a lot of time at the track, but they are very nice on a street cruiser.

My car is the same way 69 400. When I first looked at it I thought the car was hit at one point and put back together for a quick sale.
The GTO is not like that.
Yellow bird what does a system like that $$$.
It's sweet. Does it add HP? Thanks RON

$440 installed...$130 of that was labor

I'm sure it adds HP over the original 2" to 1 7/8" factory exhaust, which was in really miserable shape. It's not more efficient than open headers or straight pipes but is much nicer for top down cruising without going deaf.

An X pipe is more efficient than an H pipe, which is more efficient than a crossflow muffler, but since you CANNOT fit a X or H pipe above a convertible's X brace the crossflow was a nice compromise.

The tail pipes exit under the quarters as original, not out the back.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif"> Bjorn's theory is that Pontiac designed it that way to offset the weight of the driver so the car is perfectly balanced</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">No Bob , thats not so! LOL

I heard it was to help clear brake boosters etc...
Now ,just imagine the trouble for the guys in Australia that had to switch steering wheel side! now w 2" less to work with...

I measured this myself 3 yrs ago, because I had a friend asking me the same question as "Viking" asked his buddy...mine was also offset 1" - 1.5" to the right...(pass side)...I think I got the answer from the L list about the brake booster

BUT ,the offset is correct and is on all Birds ,not just the Swedish ones!

Well, my OHC is offset as well, but I figure the frame took a hit at some point or maybe the motor mounts are off. I was only able to see this once I installed the new tranny. Maybe it's the rear mount I am using... (ponder).

my ohc motor appears straight, but the th400 crossmember i used was offset, so i had to cut, extend, and weld the mount pad.

the th400crossmember mount pad is offset similar to this Camaro BB 4spd crossmember, though it looks different. th400 is tubular and the mount pad is an extension. sorry, no pics of it.

Top/rusty is regular X-member, bottom is BB4spd x-member.


these pics were borrowed from the camaro tech site.

more pics.
top, th400Firebird v8 crossmember
bottom, SB&6 OD conversion crossmember

kinda hard to see, but the top one is offset slightly, bottom one appears centered.
[img]http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb.dll?parta~showpic~0000136d~DACGE~~~[/img]




(let me know if both pics come up or not.)

Not to get too far off topic but, I have an "H" pipe on my 69 convertible with the x brace installed. The shop that did my exhaust put it in before the pipes bend up and in behind the x brace so it can be done. Adds more hp. Pete

I wish the motor was off toward the passenger side another inch. Not looking foward to hammering my new round port headers to clear the steering housing and steering shaft just a bit. Oh well it the price you pay. Hope to have it on the road by the 3rd week of May. Bill

Are there anyone who has seen a Firebird for UK ( with the steering wheel on the right) Was there ever made? And if so is the Engine angled the same way?
Tommy

Pete: You still can't fit one above the X brace with the X brace in the original position, where it's located in the coupe installation kit sold in the catalogs. Do you have a picture of yours? What trans do you have?

Tommy, I havent seen one....but I`ve heard the guys in Australia talk about the problem switching over after they bought a US car....regulations there are evidently changing now or soon ,so it wont be necessary any longer...
I wish I had got pics from a guy I was emailing with 3 yrs ago, Ian Highfield in Straford Upon Avon (sorry ,didnt keep his email after he sold the car..), he had a Firebird ,but later had to sell it...he may have a pic on the online show, but I doubt there would be anything regarding the offset engine...not even sure if his car was right hand steering..? But he would have been a great source of answer to your question!

Well I know a Guy in Australia who drives Cougar. He has got:
68 XR7 302 4V,
69 Std Convertible 302 LPG,
70 XR7 Convertible 428CJ RA
70 Eliminator,
70 XR7,
70 Std Coupe,
77 Cougar Villager Brougham
93 XG Falcon Ute IL6 4.0
I would as him if he might know someone with a Firebird

Found this article in HPP. It is of a U.K. Firebird a guy over there bought there in the U.K. (apparently built in Belgium,see article and pics of Tag) but it is a left hand side drive.Very nice car
http://www.highperformancepontiac.com/features/0411pon_birdgray/index.html

David

If you do a directory search in FGF for Australia as the location, you'll see there are quite a few members from Down Under...drop them a message and see if they can answer.

Have spoken to Leon:
Tommy:
Hi Leon
As you know I have one fot in each fort ( GM and Ford ) My wife drives a Firebird conv 68
I thought as you are in to American muscle cars :
I wonder if you might know if there are any Pontiac Firebirds 67 68 or 69 in Australia with the steering wheel on the right side ?
Tanks Tommy

Leon:
Tommy
There are a few. I have a friend with a 68 and a friend with a 69 GTO and 69 LeMans 4 door - all converted to right hand drive using Australian GM parts

Tommy:
Wow. Now that’s really interesting. Is there any pictures available?
Does that means that there was no Firebirds sold in Australia from GM as new (converted by GM to right-hand drivers) So if you wanted one you had to build it yourself?

Leon:
Firebirds were not imported by GM. Conversions to RHD were done by local importers and agents
Look at
http://www.members.optushome.com.au...irebird/nsw.htm

Link to Australian owners club

OK, now I'm interested in seeing this link.

Could you please update the link as it is not correct.

Thanks

found it:

http://members.optusnet.com.au/camarofirebird/nsw.htm

Is there nothing you cant do Vikki?LOL

They really don't have much info there. I gues you would have to email each person individually and hope the address is still valid.

Yes, but I'm not telling :p