First Generation Firebird-L Mailing List Head case! by "Brett Luikkonen" <brett@cisdirect.com> Re: Thanks to all. It was a very good Night... by "GTOken" <GTOken@ipa.net> Re: Thanks to the Bay Area Firebird Guys .... by "AL ROJAS" <amr@appsig.com> Re: Thanks to all. It was a very good Night... by "Chuck Hazelton" <chuckhazelton@surfree.com> Re : Thanks to all. It was a very good Night... by "Dale J. Barkla" <systech@tig.com.au> Re: Thanks to all. It was a very good Night... by "ROY D LUMSDEN" <rlumsden@tampabay.rr.com> Re: HEI wiring by "ROY D LUMSDEN" <rlumsden@tampabay.rr.com> Re: HEI Battery Supply by "Bob Cisneros" <Bob.Cisneros@ebay.sun.com> Classic Insurance by "Joe Brown" <jb.pb@gte.net> Re: Thanks to the Bay Area Firebird Guys .... by "Bob Cisneros" <Bob.Cisneros@ebay.sun.com> Re: SF First Gen Get Together by <David_S_Smith@amat.com> Re: Bushing Replacement Question by "James" <gonz123@ibm.net> Re: Thanks to all. It was a very good Night... by "Bob Trimpe" <trimpe@fuse.net> RE: Bushing Replacement Question by "Slobird" <marcts@ga.prestige.net> Re: Thanks to all. It was a very good Night... by <hugoba@apcom.com> Re: Bushing Replacement Question by <hugoba@apcom.com> Rebuilding Gauges by <SteveBrady1@aol.com>
(back) Subject: Head case! From: "Brett Luikkonen" <brett@cisdirect.com> Date: Mon, 5 Feb 2001 14:28:18 -0600 Just trying to get some advice... I'm picking up a 67, well the heads have bent valves. To be able to make it a driver until I can find a 400/421/428/455 to replace it with, I'd like to find some complete heads = to put on it for now. I'm in the Seattle area and either would like to find a set to slap on or = if anyone on the list knows of a good machine shop in this area to have the existing one reworked? What my main question to you guy's is: What heads will work well with the 67 326, new mild rebuild, mild cam, 4bbl intake = 600 edelbrock, hotter ignition? Should I look for #16's #48's etc. with larger valves, will the compression work ok with 350/400 heads; Or should I stick with the smaller chamber 326 heads? Any thoughts or advice would be great. I know if I increase the chamber the compression will drop... but what = would be a good trade off? Thanks, Brett in Seattle!
(back) Subject: Re: Thanks to all. It was a very good Night... From: "GTOken" <GTOken@ipa.net> Date: Mon, 05 Feb 2001 17:37:04 -0600 Engine rebuild.... $2500 Flame-job decals, to make you go faster..... $200 Kitty litter, because you forgot the drain plug...... $1.98 First sound of long awaited new killer motor with open headers..... Freaking priceless!! I speak from experience. Congratulations John. Ken F. John Wern wrote: > > First Generation Firebird-L Mailing List > = ......................................................................... > You guys, Last night was a very historical night. I tuned the key on = a > sleeping beast. It's been sleeping for 25 years. Since 1976. One year = six > months in my garage. I finished hooking everything up about 9pm At = first I > couldnt get any response from the 400. I had not a clue as to why. It = took > me a minute then I thought about the neutral safety switch. Could that = be > the reason? I reached down under the console and pulled out the = unattached > harness. I completed the circuit of the two purple wires and then = turned > the key. Look out. She turned over & She started up. After buring all = of > the paint off of the headers and the smoke dissapating just a bit. I = could > see that she was running very good. No leaks. No fires. Nothing but a > loud ass motor (and I mena loud ass motor - headers only) waking up = after > that extensive rebuild. Not to mention my neighbors BUT MY POINT IS = -- > I could not have even thought about restoring this car without you guys. > Thanks So much fellas. I mean that from my heart. John.
(back) Subject: Re: Thanks to the Bay Area Firebird Guys .... From: "AL ROJAS" <amr@appsig.com> Date: Mon, 05 Feb 2001 15:44:37 -0800 I have to say - it was quite the afternoon (Geoff - it was actually 74 = degrees - but who's keeping track). Special thanks to Hugo who hosted us at his = business. Hugo is in the UNIX consulting business. His place of business is a 6 = stall garage, one with a floor hoist (those SUN workstation must get pretty big heavy). There's enough storage to start his own Pontiac dealership (I've = seen Pontiac dealerships with smaller work areas). Dave had the excitement of = driving Hugos '67 coupe and having the secondaries get stuck open. Rowan showed = us his "anti-theft" system (i.e. a flat blade cold chisel shorting the starter = solenoid to turn the engine). As 7 great cars lined up at the hamburger stand, I noticed a Camero, a = Mustang and few other cars passing by wishing they could be part of something like = this. I had my youngest son with me, he loved every minute (I have a feeling = I'll be restoring another bird again in a few years) What a great hobby to share = with a son! Brady had two babies there - his beautiful 7 month old daughter and a = convertible with an incredible red paint job. Bob's emerald green convertible was = another conversation piece. It was really cool looking at the varoius stages of = the projects, some near done, some just begining. Nobody critizing or = judging, just learning and enjoying. I must have picked up a dozen tips on how to make = my next round of improvements. Geoff Martin was praised for not only developing the list, but recognized = as being the catalyst for the event. Geoff, when Hugo launches the Bay Area Firebird web site, we'll have to fly you out to cut the ribbon. Thanks for the great turn out guys. I think the other clubs know we're in = town! Later Al
(back) Subject: Re: Thanks to all. It was a very good Night... From: "Chuck Hazelton" <chuckhazelton@surfree.com> Date: Mon, 5 Feb 2001 16:00:24 -0800 Congratulations, and I know that feeling well. The few moments of sheer terror that you hooked something up wrong or left a bolt loose in the = engine & the thing is going to self destruct...but it just smooths out and = RUNS!!! Oh the joy of it all !!!! Now it will seem like forever till you complete the assembly and can get it out on the road. Happy cruising, John. Chuck Hazelton 68 350 Conv (soon as I get the stinkin' turn signals fixed we'll be cruising) ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Wern" <jwern@gw.total-web.net> To: "First Generation Firebird-L" <Firebird-L@oakmediacreations.com> Sent: Monday, February 05, 2001 10:16 AM Subject: Thanks to all. It was a very good Night... > First Generation Firebird-L Mailing List > = ......................................................................... > You guys, Last night was a very historical night. I tuned the key on = a > sleeping beast. It's been sleeping for 25 years. Since 1976. One year six > months in my garage. I finished hooking everything up about 9pm At = first I > couldnt get any response from the 400. I had not a clue as to why. It took <snip>
(back) Subject: Re : Thanks to all. It was a very good Night... From: "Dale J. Barkla" <systech@tig.com.au> Date: Tue, 6 Feb 2001 11:18:15 +1100 Congratulations John!! Must have been such a sweet sound (primordial = roar) after all that hard work........cheers, Dale '68 Conv.
(back) Subject: Re: Thanks to all. It was a very good Night... From: "ROY D LUMSDEN" <rlumsden@tampabay.rr.com> Date: Mon, 5 Feb 2001 19:30:04 -0500 John, There is hardly a better feeling than firing up a new (or newly rebuilt) motor. I've done it several times and it still gets my pulse racing each = and every time. Congratulations, Roy ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Wern" <jwern@gw.total-web.net> To: "First Generation Firebird-L" <Firebird-L@oakmediacreations.com> Sent: Monday, February 05, 2001 1:16 PM Subject: Thanks to all. It was a very good Night... > First Generation Firebird-L Mailing List > = ......................................................................... > You guys, Last night was a very historical night. I tuned the key on = a > sleeping beast. It's been sleeping for 25 years. Since 1976. One year six > months in my garage. I finished hooking everything up about 9pm At = first I > couldnt get any response from the 400. I had not a clue as to why. It took > me a minute then I thought about the neutral safety switch. Could that = be > the reason? I reached down under the console and pulled out the unattached > harness. I completed the circuit of the two purple wires and then = turned > the key. Look out. She turned over & She started up. After buring all of > the paint off of the headers and the smoke dissapating just a bit. I could > see that she was running very good. No leaks. No fires. Nothing but a > loud ass motor (and I mena loud ass motor - headers only) waking up = after > that extensive rebuild. Not to mention my neighbors BUT MY POINT S -- > I could not have even thought about restoring this car without you guys. > Thanks So much fellas. I mean that from my heart. John. > > >
(back) Subject: Re: HEI wiring From: "ROY D LUMSDEN" <rlumsden@tampabay.rr.com> Date: Mon, 5 Feb 2001 19:38:36 -0500 Chris, By stock you don't mean the cloth insulated wire, do you? That is a = resistor wire and will not supply the voltage needed for HEI. Not because of it's size but because of the type of metal wire. What I did was trace that wire back to the firewall terminal block and soldered a 18 gauge wire as close = to the terminal as I could get. I strung the wire along the original harness = to the factory location. It makes for a nice clean installation. As long as your voltage is maintained at 12 volts, your coil is drawing = all the current it needs. When the voltage starts to drop, that's when you've exceeded the wire's capabilities. But, by all means, if you'd like to use = a larger wire it won't hurt. Good Luck, Roy ----- Original Message ----- From: "Chris Porter" <fxstsb@pop.sttl.uswest.net> To: "First Generation Firebird-L" <Firebird-L@oakmediacreations.com> Sent: Monday, February 05, 2001 3:23 PM Subject: HEI wiring > First Generation Firebird-L Mailing List > = ......................................................................... > I'm concerned the stock wire will not supply enough current > to the HEI. > Is there another source to get high "switch" current for the > HEI. Do I > need to be concerned? > > In the past when I added HEI, I used the stock wire to > activate a nice heavy duty relay. Ran a 12/14 guage fused > wire right from the battery to the relay. I wanted to make > sure it had all the voltage/amps it wanted. I think the > stock wire will work, just not sure how many amps the HEI > likes. You may get 12+ volt's on the meter, but amp draw is > a different ball game. Good luck, hope this help's. > > > Chris > `68 350 H.O. Drop-top > > > >
(back) Subject: Re: HEI Battery Supply From: "Bob Cisneros" <Bob.Cisneros@ebay.sun.com> Date: Mon, 5 Feb 2001 17:13:08 -0800 (PST) > I just installed my new HEI. I noticed the HEI factory battery >connector has a significantly larger wire size than the stock points >voltage wire. I spliced the points battery wire anyway and didn't see >any problems. I measured 12VDC at the HEI cap input, and 13VDC when I >reved up the engine. > >I'm concerned the stock wire will not supply enough current to the HEI. >Is there another source to get high "switch" current for the HEI. Do I >need to be concerned? While some folks think that 14 guage is fine, I like to see a 12 guage wire for the HEI power source, so I'd consider replacing the smaller wire as far as you can get to in the harness. Another alternative is to find a switched terminal on your fuseblock and source your HEI power from that. -Bob 1968 Convertible bob.cisneros@Sun.COM
(back) Subject: Classic Insurance From: "Joe Brown" <jb.pb@gte.net> Date: Mon, 5 Feb 2001 20:25:28 -0800 Hey : I had written down and thought I save some web site for classic insurance site , but I can't find them, plus I deleted all 2700 E-mails a week ago . So I would appreciate if you guy's and ladies would post some = for me . The one site I looked up the yearly rate was $265.00 , for all = matching #'s it was less . Joe
(back) Subject: Re: Thanks to the Bay Area Firebird Guys .... From: "Bob Cisneros" <Bob.Cisneros@ebay.sun.com> Date: Mon, 5 Feb 2001 17:22:32 -0800 (PST) Geoff Swavley writes: >Just a quick note to thank all of the guys: Hugo, Al, Bob, Andy, >Brady, Dave (visiting!), Rowan, Mike for a great Californian Sunday >afternoon ..... perfect winter sun (71 degrees!), top down cruising, >and drinks and burgers at a 50-60's style diner ...... you guys sure >know how to turn on that "American" hospitality!! Thanks heaps from >an Aussie that now feels like he knows you guys even better! > >You have some nice cars and it doesn't matter if some of them are >"works in project" ..... at least they are being saved from what appears >to be the ever encroaching laws to get them crushed! > >Thanks again for a great afternoon ... and thanks Al for sourcing >that brake proportioning valve for me ... you saved me alot of >angst! > >See you guys on the list ..... oh .... I'll be back in another >year for another wedding ..... if I don't see you sooner I'll >make sure to catch up again then! > >thanks guys - it was great. It certainly was a great time! We had what I think was 7 cars driving across town, 4 of which were convertibles. Plenty of heads turning to see the parade. Hugo was a terrific host, both he and Al Rojas doing the organizing for this meeting. I had a great time meeting the others, seeing the cars, and being a part of it all. Al brought his son Daniel along, and he's becoming quite a Firebird expert himself. It does a heart good to see the legacy being passed on. I think more of the list members should visit the San Francisco Bay Area so that we locals have an excuse to get together again. -Bob San Jose, CA 1968 Convertible bob.cisneros@Sun.COM
(back) Subject: Re: SF First Gen Get Together From: <David_S_Smith@amat.com> Date: Mon, 5 Feb 2001 20:37:06 -0600 Thanks to everyone in the Bay Area for the great time yesterday. I really enjoyed meeting everyone and finally putting some faces with the = names. I am definitely impressed with the quality of everyone's cars. It seems = like the California cars have some great owners and beautiful paint jobs. You guys have an open invitation if you make it to Austin, TX. Dave BTW, if Hugo throws you the keys to one of those cars in his stable, I = recommend that you ask him 'Nice, but does the throttle stick?' 8-O
(back) Subject: Re: Bushing Replacement Question From: "James" <gonz123@ibm.net> Date: Mon, 05 Feb 2001 21:43:23 -0500 I'd go with the concenseous (?) and take em to a machine shop. I came close to getting them out with a gear puller but no cigar. One other option is I think harbor freight tools has an arbor press for = about 50 bucks. Thats about what youd pay to have it done at a machine shop. Might be able to do it yourself with the press and have it on hand for = future jobs. I was thinking about going that route but I was a little 'pressed' for = time so I didn't. James Mace wrote: > First Generation Firebird-L Mailing List > = .......................................................................... > Lee, > > Yeah a better idea is to take them to your local automotive shop = and > let them do it with a press...I had mine done with poly for 10.00. It is > easier than taking a chance destroying something > Mace > 69 350 Drop-Top > > Hey Folks > > I am replacing a bunch of front end components, and I > decided to replace the old bushings in my upper and > lower control arms with PolyGraphite ones. > I know I had read a thread here before about others > doing this with a vise or something, but now that I am > doing this, I dont see how it could be done. Unless > you are talking about the lower control arms? > I am working on the upper control arms now, and man > the shaft is difficult to get out. I have put a cap > bolt into the end of the shaft, and I am bracing the > edge of the contol arm. Then I hit the shaft with my > hand sledge, and I am able to get the bushing to move > 1/4". When I do this though, I notice that the shaft > is not only pushing out the bushing it is also making > the bushing guide (part of the control arm) distort. > I don't think Hank done it this way :) > > Does anyone have a more pleasant way to R/R these > bushings?? I double checked the FAQ, and the web has > some information on this, but its the bushing > manufacture giving the info. They just say "remove > the old one, and put in the new one". Like its a > watch battery!!! > > Thanks much in advance > > Lee > > __________________________________________________ > >
(back) Subject: Re: Thanks to all. It was a very good Night... From: "Bob Trimpe" <trimpe@fuse.net> Date: Mon, 05 Feb 2001 22:06:14 -0500 John, I know you have been working your fingers to the bone for as long as = I have been on this list. Congratulations -- let the fun begin. I salute you! Bob Trimpe John Wern wrote: > First Generation Firebird-L Mailing List > = ......................................................................... > You guys, Last night was a very historical night. I tuned the key on = a > sleeping beast. It's been sleeping for 25 years. Since 1976. One year = six > months in my garage. I finished hooking everything up about 9pm At = first I > couldnt get any response from the 400. I had not a clue as to why. It = took > me a minute then I thought about the neutral safety switch. Could that = be > the reason? I reached down under the console and pulled out the = unattached > harness. I completed the circuit of the two purple wires and then = turned > the key. Look out. She turned over & She started up. After buring all = of > the paint off of the headers and the smoke dissapating just a bit. I = could > see that she was running very good. No leaks. No fires. Nothing but a > loud ass motor (and I mena loud ass motor - headers only) waking up = after > that extensive rebuild. Not to mention my neighbors BUT MY POINT IS = -- > I could not have even thought about restoring this car without you guys. > Thanks So much fellas. I mean that from my heart. John. >
(back) Subject: RE: Bushing Replacement Question From: "Slobird" <marcts@ga.prestige.net> Date: Mon, 5 Feb 2001 22:48:41 -0500 Yes, take it to the machine shop. my 455 is almost ready to pop in and blow the tires off. check it out at the link http://members.prestige.net/marcts/currentstatus.jpg tim
(back) Subject: Re: Thanks to all. It was a very good Night... From: <hugoba@apcom.com> Date: Mon, 5 Feb 2001 20:02:59 -0800 (PST) Woohoo! Yeah, that first sound of a sleeping engine is great. My friend Daniel and I got the engine on our project (rust bucket) 55 = Packard started after a 30 year hiatus. When it first coughed a bit we knew that = she was going to start. Then, a few more cranks and on she went! Smoke and crap = flew out of the tail pipe and all of the rusted holes on the exhaust system and = even on Daniels face, who was laying under the car hot wireing the starter. Now the darn thing starts better than ANY of my birds! Enjoy! Hugo > From Firebird-L@oakmediacreations.com Mon Feb 5 12:08:24 2001 > From: "John Wern" <jwern@gw.total-web.net> > To: "First Generation Firebird-L" <Firebird-L@oakmediacreations.com> > Subject: Thanks to all. It was a very good Night... > Date: Mon, 5 Feb 2001 13:16:20 -0500 > MIME-Version: 1.0 > Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > X-Priority: 3 > X-MSMail-Priority: Normal > X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V4.71.1712.3 > > First Generation Firebird-L Mailing List > = ......................................................................... > You guys, Last night was a very historical night. I tuned the key on = a > sleeping beast. It's been sleeping for 25 years. Since 1976. One year = six > months in my garage. I finished hooking everything up about 9pm At = first I > couldnt get any response from the 400. I had not a clue as to why. It = took > me a minute then I thought about the neutral safety switch. Could that = be > the reason? I reached down under the console and pulled out the = unattached > harness. I completed the circuit of the two purple wires and then = turned > the key. Look out. She turned over & She started up. After buring all = of > the paint off of the headers and the smoke dissapating just a bit. I = could > see that she was running very good. No leaks. No fires. Nothing but a > loud ass motor (and I mena loud ass motor - headers only) waking up = after > that extensive rebuild. Not to mention my neighbors BUT MY POINT IS = -- > I could not have even thought about restoring this car without you guys. > Thanks So much fellas. I mean that from my heart. John. > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
(back) Subject: Re: Bushing Replacement Question From: <hugoba@apcom.com> Date: Mon, 5 Feb 2001 20:05:48 -0800 (PST) Drive to your nearest machine shop and save yourself a lot of grief. They don't charge much to press out the old and press in the new. Hugo > From Firebird-L@oakmediacreations.com Mon Feb 5 12:12:16 2001 > Date: Mon, 5 Feb 2001 11:07:12 -0800 (PST) > From: Lee <pyre400@yahoo.com> > Subject: Bushing Replacement Question > To: First Generation Firebird-L <Firebird-L@oakmediacreations.com> > MIME-Version: 1.0 > > First Generation Firebird-L Mailing List > = ......................................................................... > Hey Folks > > I am replacing a bunch of front end components, and I > decided to replace the old bushings in my upper and > lower control arms with PolyGraphite ones. > I know I had read a thread here before about others > doing this with a vise or something, but now that I am > doing this, I dont see how it could be done. Unless > you are talking about the lower control arms? > I am working on the upper control arms now, and man > the shaft is difficult to get out. I have put a cap > bolt into the end of the shaft, and I am bracing the > edge of the contol arm. Then I hit the shaft with my > hand sledge, and I am able to get the bushing to move > 1/4". When I do this though, I notice that the shaft > is not only pushing out the bushing it is also making > the bushing guide (part of the control arm) distort. > I don't think Hank done it this way :) > > Does anyone have a more pleasant way to R/R these > bushings?? I double checked the FAQ, and the web has > some information on this, but its the bushing > manufacture giving the info. They just say "remove > the old one, and put in the new one". Like its a > watch battery!!! > > Thanks much in advance > > Lee > > > __________________________________________________ > Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail - only $35 > a year! http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/ > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
(back) Subject: Rebuilding Gauges From: <SteveBrady1@aol.com> Date: Mon, 5 Feb 2001 23:26:06 EST I'm about to repaint my Speedometer/Fuel Gauges, and I was wondering if anyone has any tips on rebuilding the gauges, I'm wondering a little about = wiring and circuts. Any suggestions before I start? Thanks, Steve Brady 68 400 Convertible SteveBrady1@aol.com My Firebird Site: http://members.nbci.com/srb/