My 1970 Formula Rebuild Project
- Thread starter 70formula
- Start date
A lot has happened on the Firebird lately, as my father-in-law is extremely busy and wants to get his hands dirty.
He has the front of the motor torn back apart, and we are redoing some brackets.
This motor that's in it is a 68 GTO, and the 7Firebirdrd had different brackets.
What was on there was a hodge podge of bracketry for both setups, which caused the alternator and PS pump to be out of alignment.
So that's been one of his missions, and we have figured it out now.
He got the old, worn starter replaced and redid all the wiring to the starter.
The fuel pump is being replaced, and he's working on figuring out the headlights and associated wiring.
I spent a little time getting the steering column all repainted, rebuilt, and back in.
I needed a new 10-pin harness with the turn signal switch and a new middle housing, and the steering wheel got a good scrub down.
I plan to change the wheel to a formula style, but it was pretty nasty and dirty, so I put some elbow grease in.
The very rusted auto shifter was also removed and replaced.
It was so rusted that it wouldn't click into gear properly, and I think this was likely causing part of a hesitation issue.
We hope to fix significant bugs before our hometown's June 1st car cruise.
I want to enter the "rustiest runner" and "project rods" categories.
I got new front tires waiting to be changed over as well.
I am unsure if it will be ready to drive the 4-10 loops around our main town in three weeks, but we shall see!
I'm still in class the rest of the month and will have finals week that week, so I have much to do in life and the car, but here's hoping.
He has the front of the motor torn back apart, and we are redoing some brackets.
This motor that's in it is a 68 GTO, and the 7Firebirdrd had different brackets.
What was on there was a hodge podge of bracketry for both setups, which caused the alternator and PS pump to be out of alignment.
So that's been one of his missions, and we have figured it out now.
He got the old, worn starter replaced and redid all the wiring to the starter.
The fuel pump is being replaced, and he's working on figuring out the headlights and associated wiring.
I spent a little time getting the steering column all repainted, rebuilt, and back in.
I needed a new 10-pin harness with the turn signal switch and a new middle housing, and the steering wheel got a good scrub down.
I plan to change the wheel to a formula style, but it was pretty nasty and dirty, so I put some elbow grease in.
The very rusted auto shifter was also removed and replaced.
It was so rusted that it wouldn't click into gear properly, and I think this was likely causing part of a hesitation issue.
We hope to fix significant bugs before our hometown's June 1st car cruise.
I want to enter the "rustiest runner" and "project rods" categories.
I got new front tires waiting to be changed over as well.
I am unsure if it will be ready to drive the 4-10 loops around our main town in three weeks, but we shall see!
I'm still in class the rest of the month and will have finals week that week, so I have much to do in life and the car, but here's hoping.
Great work! 
If I pay for his ticket to England, do you think he’ll come & do all my cars?
If I pay for his ticket to England, do you think he’ll come & do all my cars?
I'm unsure if that video will work, but a significant milestone drove her around a bit!
The engine bay looks less like a hot mess. It's still a mess, but it's looking better.
I figured out the power steering and alt brackets.
The ones on there were correct for a 70 motor, but this, being a 68 motor, wasn't drilled for those brackets.
So, I replaced them with GTO-style brackets, and it solved all the issues.
The wiring is starting to get cleaned up a bit more, although, to be honest, I want to rip it all out and start from scratch.
I may still do that after the June 1st cruise.
For now, it's at least not a pile of nonsense.
The heater core lines are following to get figured out.
I had gotten an aftermarket block of adapter that I thought would allow me to hook up the heater core and blower, but it doesn't fit even slightly onto the section it bolts to through the firewall.
So, it may just be welding in a plate to close the firewall and removing the heater core and lines altogether.
I don't want to put the monstrously heavy huge factory ac **** back on, but I wanted to be able to keep defrost.
I'm not sure what that solution is yet.
The fan shroud is next up to get in, and then headlights!
I figured out the power steering and alt brackets.
The ones on there were correct for a 70 motor, but this, being a 68 motor, wasn't drilled for those brackets.
So, I replaced them with GTO-style brackets, and it solved all the issues.
The wiring is starting to get cleaned up a bit more, although, to be honest, I want to rip it all out and start from scratch.
I may still do that after the June 1st cruise.
For now, it's at least not a pile of nonsense.
The heater core lines are following to get figured out.
I had gotten an aftermarket block of adapter that I thought would allow me to hook up the heater core and blower, but it doesn't fit even slightly onto the section it bolts to through the firewall.
So, it may just be welding in a plate to close the firewall and removing the heater core and lines altogether.
I don't want to put the monstrously heavy huge factory ac **** back on, but I wanted to be able to keep defrost.
I'm not sure what that solution is yet.
The fan shroud is next up to get in, and then headlights!
Great work!
If I pay for his ticket to England, do you think he’ll come & do all my cars?
Lol throw in some cold beer, and he would.
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The video played perfectly! 
That engine bay looks pretty tidy for a rolling project; don’t be too critical of it.
You’re doing a fantastic job.
That engine bay looks pretty tidy for a rolling project; don’t be too critical of it.
You’re doing a fantastic job.
got some more forward progress done...today we got the radiator and fan shroud cleaned up, and reinstalled. Took the fan apart and cleaned and painted it as well, and got it reinstalled. I also got a set of aftermarket gauges to temporarily run while I get funds together to buy a new dash (not cheap!) I just didnt want to do the cruise with no clue what oil pressure or temps I was at, so wanted something now! After running new sensors and wiring, was finally able to see where the motors at. Temps are running right at 180, and oil pressure is staying within the 10 PSI per 1k RPM guidelines. all in all, starting to get excited thinking I maybe able to get her at least able to do the cruise around town. Now that the new fuel pump is all in and got her running with proper fuel, we could actually get her really tuned up. We adjusting timing to 12-14, and after that, got the carb dialed in. now she's running so nicely esp considering how long she sat in a field. with the new starter in, she also fires right up now, just turn the key and she starts. I been working on making a new wiring harness for the front headlights and turn signals, and next priority is completing the wiring, and getting the headlights and blinkers all working proper.
Knightrider189
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That looks fantastic! Really making some ground ain’t ya? Fingers crossed you get to blast it around town
One the headlamp wiring, look on the internet for diagrams that utilise relays, this will give more voltage to the lamps & stop your dash switch from burning up
One the headlamp wiring, look on the internet for diagrams that utilise relays, this will give more voltage to the lamps & stop your dash switch from burning up
Today I pulled the upper deck insert that covers the tension setup to raise and open deck lid...found that this is even more fubar then expected and the glass was riding directly on metal. So went ahead and pulled the glass out and got it safely store...and then went to town!
Got the lower deck filler panel cut out, and going to have to fabricate up a section of rear package tray where it meets the quarter panel, and also get the inner shoulders of the package tray cut out and replaced. The shoulders I have replacements from AMD to use at least.
Knightrider189
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Wow!
She’s ate up badly!
Thats a lot of dicing and splicing. lol
I can’t wait to see the end results!
1989 Pontiac Formula Firebird, 5.7, all OEM
She’s ate up badly!
Thats a lot of dicing and splicing. lol
I can’t wait to see the end results!
1989 Pontiac Formula Firebird, 5.7, all OEM
Wow!
She’s ate up badly!
Thats a lot of dicing and splicing. lol
I can’t wait to see the end results!
1989 Pontiac Formula Firebird, 5.7, all OEM
Yea she definitely has some intense rust issues.
I really should have done her on a rotisserie.
This is a fantastic project; you threw yourself into the trenches, ready for a fight, eh?
Impressive progress; I'm looking forward to the cruise video!
Impressive progress; I'm looking forward to the cruise video!
Starting to get the plan of attack together and getting things that need to be cut out.
Got a few different pieces I will have to fab to make the puzzle go back together.
It would have been easier to get a new package tray panel, but I want to start learning how to do metal fab, so I will take a stab at recreating the rusted-out sections.
Worst case scenario, if I **** it up, I can always order a new package tray, lol.
Got a few different pieces I will have to fab to make the puzzle go back together.
It would have been easier to get a new package tray panel, but I want to start learning how to do metal fab, so I will take a stab at recreating the rusted-out sections.
Worst case scenario, if I **** it up, I can always order a new package tray, lol.
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Starting tearing into the back end a bit, got the tail lights and tail insert panel out, and got the bumper off.
I am going to weld in some braces to hold the trunk shape and then get to cutting out the trunk and tail panel shortly
I am going to weld in some braces to hold the trunk shape and then get to cutting out the trunk and tail panel shortly
I spent Memorial Day weekend at my brother-in-law's making a puzzle piece for my Firebird, and then we tinkered with his new project, a 31 5-window Chevy.
Crazy how this is double the age and half as rotten with rust as my 70 lol.
Crazy how this is double the age and half as rotten with rust as my 70 lol.
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Fantastic progress on the Bird, I’m in total agreement on the patch panel fabrication……. I always try to save factory sheetmetal wherever possible
That 31 Chevy is awesome!!! Looks pretty sound too!
That 31 Chevy is awesome!!! Looks pretty sound too!