First Generation Firebird-L Mailing List Re: Wanting non-original seats by "Bob Cisneros" <Bob.Cisneros@EBay.Sun.COM> Re: Engine & Trans removal - thanks by "Bob Cisneros" <Bob.Cisneros@EBay.Sun.COM> Re: Brake proportioning valve by "Bob Cisneros" <Bob.Cisneros@EBay.Sun.COM> ADMN: Attention AOL 6.0 Subscribers by "Geoff Martin" <Geoff@firstgenfirebird.org> RE: Will a 455 fit by "Tim Marcinek" <marcts@ga.prestige.net> Need 68 Bird Pass side wheel well by <JGeigel@aol.com> For sale 68 bird frame rails by <JGeigel@aol.com> Re: Firebird 350 by <PStonebrak@aol.com> Re: 68 parking light gaskets? by "James" <gonz123@ibm.net>
(back) Subject: Re: Wanting non-original seats From: "Bob Cisneros" <Bob.Cisneros@EBay.Sun.COM> Date: Tue, 16 Jan 2001 18:05:34 -0800 (PST) Chuck writes: >I am very interested in getting some front seats for the bird that are >comfy, safe and highback or have headrests. Has anyone done this or have = a >brand or internet site that has seats that fit or can be made to fit? I have Flofit seats in my car, and they are much more supportive and comfortable than the stockers. I found them via an ad in a local paper. I had to fabricate my own brackets, using the supplied sliders since the seats were purchased for a Honda Civic. It turns out that NPD (National Parts Depot) sells these same seats with the correct brackets for first Gen cars.If I'd known, I could have saved myself a lot of effort. But I also feel kind of satisfied at having fabbed my own stuff. I don't know if I could have bought just the brackets. NPD sells Camaro stuff, which is why they aren't mentioned to often. I've purchased a few things from them and am happy with the items and pricing. I can get back to you with the cost if you're interested. I vaguely remember seeing these seats at OPG, and perhaps also at Classic Industries as well. But I could be mistaken. The seat brackets are the biggest challange to getting aftermarket seats in our cars. But I suspect that many of the seat makers may in fact supply them. The Seat Source sells Recaro, Corbeau, and Flofit. <http://www.seatsource.com> Recaro's home page... <http://www.recaro.com/> (click on the car icon) Corbeau's page... <http://www.corbeau.com/> >Also, can they be had with safety harnesses or do the belts need to be >mounted somewhere other than the seats? I am thinking maybe I would have = to >have a rollbar installed to get the necessary shoulder belts or a harness >mounted. Most seats are not strong enough to handle the stess that a safety harness mount requires. So they need to be mounted to the floor or a rollbar/cage. Ideally, you want a horizontal bar just behind the seatback at near shoulder level as the anchor point for the shoulder belts. The lap belts can be mounted to the floor, using the stock mounts if possible (I'm talking safety harnesses such as the Simpson and RCI type). A seat with a seperate headrest will usually allow the shoulder belts to slip between the headrest and seatback so that they are correctly positioned. Some seats, like some of the Corbeau models, don't have a seperate headrest, but instead have holes cut in the shell to allow the shoulder belts to come through at more or less the correct point. Floor mounting the shoulder harnesses will cause your spine to compress in the case of a crash. You don't want the safety gear to inflict worse injuries. Some safety harnesses also have an anti-submarine strap that goes between your legs and mounts to the floor. In the case of a crash, this keeps you from sliding under the lap belt. You want that to come up through a slot in the seat close to your crotch so you don't travel too far before being stopped by the belt (ouch). Many of the better seats allow for this strap with a slot or sectioned lower cushions. Keep in mind that these harnesses don't have a retractor system, so once you're belted in you can't just reach over and open the glovebox without unbelting first. These aren't great for a daily driver. I know some people who have both the stock belts and the safety harnesses in their cars. -Bob Cisneros San Jose, CA 1968 Convertible bob.cisneros@Ebay.Sun.COM
(back) Subject: Re: Engine & Trans removal - thanks From: "Bob Cisneros" <Bob.Cisneros@EBay.Sun.COM> Date: Tue, 16 Jan 2001 18:49:14 -0800 (PST) John Wern writes: >Yea! I did the same thing. Lots of blood in that firebird. Lots of = smut >up your nose Dirt, grime, crap in your finger nails. I'm with you. It = makes >me want to cry man. Because I wrote: >I spent days with a wirewheel, grinders, and hand sanding >that guy. Yeah, but mine would be tears of joy. It may be sick to say so, but I loved every grimy minute of it. The hours hunched over with grinder in hand, music blasting in the headphones to drown out the machine. Then days and nights under the car scraping, grinding, brushing. I'd go to bed tired and sore, but that was the best therapy ever. I still find working on my car to be very theraputic. -Bob Cisneros San Jose, CA 1968 Convertible bob.cisneros@Ebay.Sun.COM
(back) Subject: Re: Brake proportioning valve From: "Bob Cisneros" <Bob.Cisneros@EBay.Sun.COM> Date: Tue, 16 Jan 2001 18:54:07 -0800 (PST) Al Rojas writes: >An early welcome to CA Geoff! > >I don't know how a Ram Air car would be different from a stock '68 = Firebird >with disk brakes. > >Try Steve's Camaros. He's in San Bruno near the SF airport and about as = close >to SF you're going to get. 1197 San Mateo Ave. 650-873-1890 > >If you're going to be further south, you can call GM Sports Salvage in = San >Jose. 1964 Oakland Rd, San Jose. 408-432-8498. www.gmsportssalvage.com All excellent choices. Especially Steve's Camaros, who were great help with my car. Nothing like having a local source for restoration parts and advice. They were only a mile from the body shop where the car was painted. San Jose's Power Brake Exchange may also have the prop. valve. I'll check with them tomorrow. Is that for a drum or disk brake car? >We should try to meet up with you. Send us your schedule. I'll be there. Hopefully Hugo, and the others will be able to make it. We need another excuse to get together again. -Bob Cisneros San Jose, CA 1968 Convertible bob.cisneros@Ebay.Sun.COM
(back) Subject: ADMN: Attention AOL 6.0 Subscribers From: "Geoff Martin" <Geoff@firstgenfirebird.org> Date: Tue, 16 Jan 2001 23:23:46 -0500 I know this is not the best temporary solution but you can send the messages to me to forward to the list. Make sure to indicate in the message you want it forward to the list. I just forward Dee's message this way. Still working on a solution - Geoff <Geoff@firstgenfirebird.org>
(back) Subject: RE: Will a 455 fit From: "Tim Marcinek" <marcts@ga.prestige.net> Date: Tue, 16 Jan 2001 20:53:23 -0500 Good info Bob, but why do you say that a 455 is heavier than a 326? If = the block has the same external dimensions, the larger bore would actually = mean more iron removed from the block, making it lighter than a 326. The crank is larger, so i guess it is a little heaver. I have both block and have carried them around. My 400 block seemed heaver than the 455, but I did not weigh them. Both cranks seem about the same. tim
(back) Subject: Need 68 Bird Pass side wheel well From: <JGeigel@aol.com> Date: Wed, 17 Jan 2001 00:12:36 EST This is my quarterly appeal to find an excellent original GM passenger = side wheel well for my 68 bird. I'll be needing it within a month or so. If = you have one to sell, please let me know. Again, it has to be a Firebird and = an original GM. Used is just fine as long as it has no more than surface = rust and minor dings. Thanks Joe Geigel
(back) Subject: For sale 68 bird frame rails From: <JGeigel@aol.com> Date: Wed, 17 Jan 2001 00:17:19 EST Pair of original GMs cut off of a parts car. These are in excellent shape = and are complete from front to back. Also includes the support plate for = the rear seat area. YOU CANT BUY THESE WHOLE out of a repro catalog. If you live in the rustbelt, better check yours now. These don't come up often. = Email me off line if you are interested.... And of course I might trade = these for something of value for my 68 bird convert. Joe Geigel
(back) Subject: Re: Firebird 350 From: <PStonebrak@aol.com> Date: Wed, 17 Jan 2001 01:49:05 EST ROD, THE EASY WAY TO MAKE IT FAST IS FIND A 455. PUT YOUR HEADS AND A = LITTLE CAM IN IT. FORGET THE K&N FILTER, STALL CONVERTOR, FLOWMASTERS ETC. BY THE = TIME YOU SPEND YOUR BUDGET ON A LOT OF AFTERMARKET PARTS YOU COULD HAVE A 455. I'VE SEEN THEM GO FOR $450. BUILD IT STOCK AND BELIEVE ME LOW 15'S = ARE NOT A PROBLEM. OTHERWISE A WARMED UP 350 WITH A BUNCH OF AFTERMARKET PARTS = WILL JUST BE A NICE CONVERSATION PIECE. PETE
(back) Subject: Re: 68 parking light gaskets? From: "James" <gonz123@ibm.net> Date: Wed, 17 Jan 2001 03:09:53 -0500 Charles I got a few sets laying around. mint. if you cant find them anywhere else mail me off list and we'll work = something out. James 68/69 Charles Hazelton wrote: > First Generation Firebird-L Mailing List > = .......................................................................... > Anyone on here have a source for those gaskets? Checked Ames, Paddock & > Classic Industries catalogs-no have. TIA. > Chuck > 68 350 Conv > Back from the paint shop and it's soooo slick a bug can't land on it!!!! > Yeeee Haaaaa >