Hi everyone, I'm new to the forum. My wife and I just bought a 68 Hardtop 350 and have begun the process of restoration. The motor is currently out and being built, it was SUPPOSED to be a numbers matching car, but once I got it out and ground off the dirt, I ran the numbers and the block is from a 71, so that changed things. The original plan was to restore it to original paint, but since the motor isn't original, my wife said she hates the Verdoro Green and we decided and a gunmetal/blueish color found on a Samsung washer and dryer at lowes. Haha, serious.

The motor is bored .040, has a 270H cam, .020 undersized crank, and all new Miloden valves, Comp Cams roller rockers, springs, pushrods, etc. Also has an Performer RPM intake and Edelbrock 600cfm carb. Interior is pretty nice, some small quarter size holes next to the floor plugs, but that's easy to fix. The only issue I have are the rear subframe rails are bent/cracked, passenger side especially. I'm guessing it was Dukes of Hazzard-ed in a previous life. The body is pretty much rust free, but had some damage covered up, so we're planning on new full rear quarters and new repro front fenders from Year One, hopefully the install of the rears with new inner fenders won't cost me my first born (he's 15, no one would want that trade anyway.)

I think I am going to attempt the frame rail installs myself, good excuse to get that new Mig I have been wanting for the shop.

I wanted to ask if anyone has removed their front subframe in order to clean it and paint it? I plan on doing this in the next few weeks while the motor is out, and then install the motor and trans as one unit then slide it in (there's a video out there showing it, looks easy, we'll see.)

I'll post some pics in the future.

-B

As you can see, the rear passenger side rides high, I think this is due to the damaged frame and buckled inner fender back there. Any thoughts?

Welcome aboard Brett, hopefully you can engage the 15yo in some of the restoration...
Removing the front subframe is pretty easy. You need to change out those subframe bushings anyway!
Cal

Welcome Brett. Many restorations have been done here. I just went through a complete restoration myself and have a lots of photos of the restoration in my photo gallery. http://www.firebird400ho.com/photo-gallery/ Feel free to browse through them.

Welcome. We also voted here among the family to jettison the Verdoro Green paint, despite a rust free 400 coupe with all the original drivetrain with the exception of the rear axle. We are going with 2001 -2002 Corvette Magnetic Red II. The original 400 block is mounted on a stand and I stuffed in a 455 partly because my wife worked at one time for a volume engine remanufacturing company

I actually changed my subframe out with a nicer one from a local junkyard as there was some Duking in my cars past also. The subframe crossmember was all caved in.

I actually had my subframe power coated. It was relatively inexpensive.