it's time I actually start documenting this one a bit... For a while, I've had an 87 Firebird sitting in the back yard, a while being a year plus. over that time, I've been casually eyeing it up, and trying to come up with a plan, but placing no priority on it whatsoever.
this is the, as purchased car.
it doesn't look like much, and it's really not, the only fun option is the V8, and it's the lamer V8 option, a carbureted LG4 305, but apparently, that's the best LG4 to get, as it had the best heads a non-vortec 305 got, and a roller cam.
I paid 1700 for it, with extra wheels, and a few new parts, and in reality, aside from a couple of dents here and there, and a misaligned decklid(almost all of them are) it's very straight and complete, but unfortunately, didn't run or drive, and the previous owner removed the fuel tank...
The other day, I decided it would be nice if it at least ran, that way, if I decided to sell it, it would be at least easier to get on a trailer or something. when I bought it, I tried starting it by dumping a little gas down the carb, it wouldn't' even cough, and I didn't try anything else, it just say there for a year or so. knowing that, the other day I threw a distributor in it, dumped fuel again, and it coughed to life for the first time in at least a couple years. since the previous owner bought a fuel tank, and had removed the old one, today I installed the new tank, and put a sending unit and pump in it.
The biggest issue on the body of the car, is this dent, that's right at the top of the B pillar, where it transitions over the roof, it had been driving me crazy since I bought the car, because it was otherwise very straight. my first thought, was to pull the headliner, and try and push the dent out from inside, unfortunately, the seatbelt brackets block the dent, along with some of the internal roof structure, so I used it as an excuse to pick up a new tool, a stud gun from horrible freight.
The primer really hides the issues with the bodywork, it's far from perfect, but the stud gun allowed me to get the B piller straight, and most of the roof to within a range that's reasonable for body filler. as far as body work goes, I'm not real set on making this car perfect, or even a 20 ft car at the moment. I'll put some paint on the roof where I've worked on it, and call it good for the time being.
at this point, I need to wrap up the tank install, by connecting the fuel lines, unfortunately, the new sender has a fitting that I don't have, so it will have to wait until summit can get me the right one on monday, when that happens, I'll wrap up the tank install, and hopefully be able to test drive it and see what i'm working with.
plans? well, we'll see, if I keep it, I have an aluminum Gen III 5.3, and a T5 in the garage, I might put them in, make for a fun beater, I also have some parts that aren't exactly not for it, I have a trailblazer front diff, and I've seriously considered trying to make an AWD 3rd gen, but for the time being, it will mostly be yard art.
