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Here are some projects that are in the works. If you would like to see your project posted here, e-mail
us your photos and details.
Find it, Fix it, and tell us about it here!
This is Dan Wolf's 1979 Pontiac Firebird. This was an E-bay purchase for $1295.
This is an amature project being carried out with limited knowledge, limited skills, basic tools, and almost no money to work
with! We are posting this project to show what can be done with hard work and imagination.
This was originally a 6 cylinder car that has been converted to a 400cid V8 with a Turbo 400 transmission
and Posi-traction rear.
The body was extreamly rough. It had been paint removed and repainted with a thin coat of paint from
spray cans. Over time, surface rust moved in under the paint. There was plenty of heavy Bondo in many areas.
Under the carpets, the floors were in very bad shape.
The previous owner had purchased the car for the engine and drive train, but was unable to proceed with
his project. so he offered the car for sale as a parts car.
| Dan Wolf's 1979 Pontiac FireBird. |
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| This car was a real mess when Dan drug it home to start his LOW BUDGET backyard restoration. |
| After the interior was stripped |
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| This is just some of the old carpet and sound deadening material that was removed. |
| The car had been sitting for some time. |
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| There was extensive rust in the floor pans. This is the passenger's side floor |
| Passanger's side floor |
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| The floor is being prepared to have the passenger's side floor pan replaced. |
| One things for certain... |
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| A project of this magnitude may drive you to crack! Maybe he's just working on the plumbing. |
A new passenger's side floor pan was purchsed. With shipping costs, this came to $110
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| The new floor has been tacked in place |
| Another shot of he new floor pan in place |
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| Ready for seam sealer. |
A tube of seam sealer was purchased. $20
| After the new pans are welded in |
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| The seams are cleaned and sealed with seam sealer. |
One quart of Rustoleum Rusty Metal Primer - $8
| After being welded and seam sealed |
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| The new floor pan and patch panels are painted with Rustoleum Rusty metal primer. |
One quart of Rustoleum Light Gray - $7
| After the Rusty Metal Primer had a chance to cure |
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| The floors were painted with Rustoleum Grey. |
One of the biggest challanges was the hood. In addition to heavy surface rust, old holes for hood pins had been
covered over with Bondo. The plastic hood scoop had been screwed to the hood with wood screws. The hood skin was
loose from the hood frame in several places. 1979 is a very difficult year to find replacement body panels for.
| The exterior needs lots of help too. |
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| The outside of the car was just as rough as the inside, maybe worse. |
| Dan welds a patch panel onto the bottom of |
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| one of the doors |
| The Left Rear wheel house was badly rusted |
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| behind the wheel opening flare |
| The old rusty metal is cut out |
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| a new patch panel is fabricated |
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| and tacked into place |
| new patch panel in place |
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| ready for grinding and a skim coat of Bondo |
| The bottom of the Right front fender. |
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| This area was also rusted out. |
| the rusted area is cut out and |
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| prepared for a patch panel |
| A patch panel is fitted |
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| shaped and tacked into place. |
| After the first skim coat of Bondo |
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| As the interior goes back together |
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| The rear seat area was closed in and turned into a speaker box and storage area |
At this point in the project, Dan decided to clean things up under the hood. An engine dress up kit was purchased
and a big proplem was discovered when the old valve covers were taken off.
Several of the oil shields on valve springs had fractured and there were pieces of metal in the oil. The engine
had to come out. This was not something we had intended to do when purchasing this project.
The engine was removed and disassembled. Then it was taken to Dave Coleman at Performance Engineering in Summit
Point, West Virginia. The block was honed, the cam was replaced and the cylinder heads and valve train received some
attention.
At this point, the engine is back in the car and running. More photos will follow shortly.
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