Author Topic: 73 Firebird Formula 400 - Ready for Spring! (Read 14036 times)

CBJoe · « **Reply #125 on:** November 02, 2020, 07:04:41 AM »

Thanks Gents....

Steve-o...we plan to drive it as much as weather permits. Our main goal is to not drive the firebird after salt is down...or at least until rain has washed it mostly away. To be honest we don't put many miles on vehicles since I started working from home years ago. Because of this we've taken a new mindset on the cars we have. I sold my newer VW Passat and now we just have the firebird and my old ford ranger...once the ranger dies (hopefully a while from now) I'm planning to replace it with a 70's Jeep Cherokee Chief. At least thats the plan for now.

Joe

MRieck · « **Reply #126 on:** November 08, 2020, 10:18:40 AM »

73 Firebird .....one of my favorite body styles. I had a 67 326 HO and a 76 Formula. John Wayne drove a 73 Trans Am in the movie McQ. Almost cried when it got smashed to bits between 2 semi's during the movie.

Don R · « **Reply #127 on:** November 08, 2020, 03:22:43 PM »

Quote from: MRieck on November 08, 2020, 10:18:40 AM

73 Firebird .....one of my favorite body styles. I had a 67 326 HO and a 76 Formula. John Wayne drove a 73 Trans Am in the movie McQ. Almost cried when it got smashed to bits between 2 semi's during the movie.

Two garbage trucks wasn't it? John Wayne was OK in the movie but did seem out of his element. I may have mentioned when I worked at Butler Mfg, a friend with a ram air 455 ho 4 speed trans am begging me to give him $3K for it. He couldn't afford the insurance and the gas we could get was awful at the time.

CBJoe · « **Reply #128 on:** November 11, 2020, 05:20:40 PM »

I feel like I checked off another old car merit badge.....Timing

I finally bought a timing light and checked initial and total timing. Oh Buddy....was it off. The timing at idle came in at a high 29deg. I had to check it a few times to be sure I was reading it correctly. Was surprising because it generally started and ran pretty well. But in hindsight....I was having some pinging at higher RPMs.

I got it set to 14deg initial timing and 35deg total timing (with Vacuum Advance capped off). And it is idling and cruising with much more response and smoother feel and sound. Zero Pinging/Knocking that I can detect. I cant say that there is a bunch more PUNCH when I floor it...but the off idle and midrange cruising response is much more crisp.

Car has a Pertronix Ignitor III Billet Distro...At some point I'll pull the cap off to very what springs and max advance stops are in it. But its good enough for now.

Joe

CBJoe · « **Reply #129 on:** February 27, 2021, 12:54:07 PM »

Ready for spring! Continuing updates and work on the Firebird.

Made a style change and got some slick year one Rally II rims with nitto 555 255-50R/17 shoes.

It really changed the stance. Wife loves it...which is good since it’s her car

It’s riding super low on the old coil and leafs. Have some new upgraded springs on order. Will probably raise the car up an inch in rear and 1.5 inches in front when it goes back to stock ride height. Will adjust from there.

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dave500 · « **Reply #130 on:** February 27, 2021, 01:11:22 PM »

Man its bloody great!!

Stev-o · « **Reply #131 on:** February 27, 2021, 01:57:14 PM »

Looks great, love those rims. Nitto are really good tires.

The stance looks about perfect, you want it higher?
[personally, I dont like a large gap between tire and body]

CBJoe · « **Reply #132 on:** February 27, 2021, 02:52:58 PM »

Quote from: Stev-o on February 27, 2021, 01:57:14 PM

Looks great, love those rims. Nitto are really good tires.

The stance looks about perfect, you want it higher?
[personally, I dont like a large gap between tire and body]

To be honest I'm not sure if we want it higher...for sure no lower. Now that I'm looking it may not be actually riding lower than stock. The leaf and coil spring kit I'm looking at is from a place called PTFB (pro-touring firebird). I chatted the owner up a bit and had settled on their standard height performance package. This was assuming an overall 27" diameter tire, which is stock.

Found this in factory service manual. If these rocker panel ground height measurements are right then car is actually sitting close to stock height now. I measure roughly 8” on mine to the lower rocker...

Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er · « **Reply #133 on:** February 28, 2021, 07:43:03 AM »

Joe, what about the "spacers" we used to twist into the coil springs with the tire iron? Use 2 on opposite sides. Simple, inexpensive way to see how it looks before replacing the springs.

CBJoe · « **Reply #134 on:** February 28, 2021, 08:40:45 AM »

Not sure if that will work in my case Jerry....Because these springs are so old and the new ones will have a much different spring rate than the original ones the only way to tell is to install...let them settle a bit and then tweak.

I chatted the suspension guy up about it and the Kit I'm getting he thinks will sit just about right when paired with 27" overall diameter tires. We'll see. I for sure cannot go lower than this....it's right at the edge of clearance in the front. Rear is 100% fine.

Joe

CBJoe · « **Reply #135 on:** March 22, 2021, 05:35:23 PM »

Progress....

- Control Arms rebuilt with new poly bushings and ball joints
- Hotchkis Springs
- Fresh Paint on the old bits
- Borgeson Steering box and new rag joint
- Complete new steering linkage

Just need to torque everything down and lube all the joints. Next is brake rotors/pads, wheel bearings, and then on to the rear. Lots of other little things going on as well. The drivers door lock is toast....got a completely new lock set for the whole car. Also got a front end hardware set to replace all the rusty and missing fender and cowl bolts/j-nuts etc....new battery tray and hardware, and other tidbits.

I need to pull the gas tank and replace the sending unit....I dont think the tank is super rusted inside, but its hard not to replace it with a brand new unit and straps just because. Haven't decided yet.

Really hoping the car is sitting well after the coil and leaf springs. Both should be about a 1" drop from "Stock"

Joe

Stev-o · « **Reply #136 on:** March 23, 2021, 06:56:14 AM »

Thats quite a list, all looks great!

CBJoe · « **Reply #137 on:** March 23, 2021, 01:17:36 PM »

Quote from: Stev-o on March 23, 2021, 06:56:14 AM

Thats quite a list, all looks great!

Thanks Stev-o....it is indeed a list...my own fault for digging so far. But I'll feel better once done. Before the car had some float in the steering that made cornering and twisties not so fun. I think it was a combination of all the things including a worn steering box.

Hopefully will have completely gone through it in the next few weeks and I'll back off on projects and just drive.

Stev-o · « **Reply #138 on:** March 23, 2021, 02:24:07 PM »

Quote from: CBJoe on March 23, 2021, 01:17:36 PM

Quote from: Stev-o on March 23, 2021, 06:56:14 AM
Thats quite a list, all looks great!

Thanks Stev-o....it is indeed a list...my own fault for digging so far. But I'll feel better once done. Before the car had some float in the steering that made cornering and twisties not so fun. I think it was a combination of all the things including a worn steering box.

It's very similar to rebuilding one of our SOHC engines, you start by thinking it may just need a head gasket and then it's a valve job, cylinder honing, new rings, bead blasting and then paint!

You want that car to have tight suspension in the twisties otherwise your confidence in it will be lowered.

CBJoe · « **Reply #139 on:** March 30, 2021, 04:52:43 PM »

Front end is done except for the sway bar and final control arm torque. It’s sitting around the same height but haven’t driven it to settle yet.

I’ve got one side of the rear leafs done...man it’s a pain pressing in the upper poly shackle bushings with the gas tank in.

Rain is hindering consistent work.

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Don R · « **Reply #140 on:** April 01, 2021, 01:15:33 PM »

This thread is as good as an episode of Hot Rod garage. Thanks for the updates. I bought one of those fender lip rollers off of marketplace, I may use it when the new tubs and quarter panels are in.

CBJoe · « **Reply #141 on:** April 01, 2021, 03:55:09 PM »

Quote from: Don R on April 01, 2021, 01:15:33 PM

This thread is as good as an episode of Hot Rod garage. Thanks for the updates. I bought one of those fender lip rollers off of marketplace, I may use it when the new tubs and quarter panels are in.

Thanks Don

I'm doing a lot of learning along the way here. I'm hoping to knock out most all of the long past due maintenance and upgrades soon. If weather holds I hope to get the other side leaf spring setup replaced and get it back on the ground.

One thing that is still lingering for me to finish tuning is the quadrajet. I'm going to double check the float height AGAIN to see if that is why the gasket seems to be getting wet with fuel and the exterior of carb is getting very dirty fast.

Some pics...

dave500 · « **Reply #142 on:** April 02, 2021, 01:41:56 AM »

that qjet!those two front hold down bolts to the manifold!only nip em down like the other top cover screws,they tend to get over tightened like wheel nuts because of the big hex?itll warp the top plate is a bear to square up,we have qjets here on our holden v8s and also we had chev v8s 307 (two barrell)327 and 350s factory fitted in select holdens with the qjet,i aint no stranger to them,i like em!

CBJoe · « **Reply #143 on:** April 02, 2021, 06:36:30 AM »

Thanks Dave....I thought about that. When I take apart to re-check the float height I'll verify with a straight edge.

dave500 · « **Reply #144 on:** April 02, 2021, 03:36:06 PM »

theres a myriad of passages linked by the top gasket,some pass fuel some pass air,thats where problems occur,the generic kits over here are crap and try to cover a few models,i stocked up on gaskets and vacuum cans from here.

https://quadrajetparts.com/index.php?osCsid=9f881cecc6bb296b1facfc647f75fc0c

dave500 · « **Reply #145 on:** April 02, 2021, 04:01:30 PM »

just out of interest mine is a 73 car pre pollution equipment except for pcv,side entry main body carb,these had a thermocoil on the manifold for the choke however with the edelbrock one i have its not provided for,its not needed where i live just a pump starts it,dont need a fast idle,i removed the choke plate and mechanism as it allows the top cover to come off so easy.

Stev-o · « **Reply #146 on:** April 03, 2021, 11:23:06 AM »

Quote from: dave500 on April 02, 2021, 03:36:06 PM

https://quadrajetparts.com/index.php?osCsid=9f881cecc6bb296b1facfc647f75fc0c

I've ordered from this company too, my buddy needed a dashpot for the Quadrajet on his '68 Firebird.

CBJoe · « **Reply #147 on:** April 04, 2021, 02:12:59 PM »

Dave...you were spot on. I think I was torquing the carb bolts down too much. I reinstalled the carb as is for the moment but only lightly torqued.

I had binding in the fast idle linkage that is now totally gone. I’ll run in for now and see how it goes. Next I have it apart I’ll verify the Airhorn isn’t warped and needs correction.

Car is getting there. It’s on the ground and everything looks to clear. The stance and height is fantastic without any clearance issues i can find.

I’ve got a list of things to button up over the next week. Then I’ll drive it for a week or so and let it settle then will take to get aligned.

Joe

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dave500 · « **Reply #148 on:** April 04, 2021, 02:30:43 PM »

I WANT ONE!!

CBJoe · « **Reply #149 on:** April 04, 2021, 02:38:21 PM »

New vs old sway bar. Original is solid 1”

New is solid 1.25”

Installing as I type

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Author Topic: 73 Firebird Formula 400 - Ready for Spring! (Read 14036 times)