Project Ozone Eater

HotWings · Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 6:34 am Post subject: Project Ozone Eater

I'll keep updating this thread throughout the process of putting this car back on the race track. From what I've found thhis car was put together in the late 80's very early 90's. It is a 78 Monza from what I've been told.

It has fibreglass one piece front clip, hood, hatch and doors. All windows except the windshield are Lexan. The main frame is 2X3 square tubing, the front is 1 3/4" round tubing. The rear end is a shortened Ford 9" with 4.56 gears driving 32X14 slicks. The rims are all Weld Prostars. The rear suspension is a 4 link setup with coilover shocks. The front is a strut style suspension.

I got this car because somebody needed money..... gotta luv it when that happens! So here's the shots to bring you up to speed as to where I'm at now.

This is where I found her, stored inside an old shipping container. It's been there for a couple of years.

Out of the container and ready to load on the trailer!

June 4th Let's Go Home!!!!

Un-strapped and ready to roll into the garage.

Tuck away in her new home!

Stay Tuned! The work begins shortly!
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1978 Firebird
12.80@104.5mph

SirLDragon · Joined: 02 Mar 2008 Posts: 97 Location: Valley City ND

Nice! Really reminds me of my mom's. Looks good sitting next to the 'bird. Wink

If you ever get tired of it just let me know! Laughing

MotorCityThreads · Joined: 08 Mar 2008 Posts: 214 Location: Tulsa,OK

Man now you got two cars I want!!

HotWings · Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 10:04 pm Post subject:

I'll have more pics tomorrow. I've started replacing rivets, polishing the rims and removing the paint.
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1978 Firebird
12.80@104.5mph

Nate · Joined: 29 Feb 2008 Posts: 416 Location: Owensboro, KY

Looks like she's gonna be a fast one! Keep us updated on the progress, I like those old cars!
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1979 Pontiac Firebird Redbird

http://www.cardomain.com/id/oldblue1981

HotWings · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 11:00 am Post subject:

Here's some pics from the past couple of days. I've been replacing rivets were I need to, cleaning her up a bit, and removing some of the paint. I swear they used Latex house paint to paint her but I was assured it's just old enamel auto paint.

So here we go:

Interior shot.

The Prostars are still in good shape, just a little dull. I've got about 4 hours into this one front rim already and I'm not half way done yet.

The 1/4 window was Lexan and mounted from the inside of the car. In order to remove it I would have had to remove some of the trim, inside the car, they had put back in. I decided to just cut it out. I have enough room with the way the window is inset to mount it under the trim on the outside.

Dual fuel pump setup. I had a few rivets to replace here.

Firewall rivet repairs.

Here's the hood so far. It took less than an hour to strip this paint off. It came off in huge sheets as the 2nd pic will show you.

So there you go, now you're up to date.

Stay tuned! More to follow!

Pete
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1978 Firebird
12.80@104.5mph

MotorCityThreads · Joined: 08 Mar 2008 Posts: 214 Location: Tulsa,OK

I wish I lived near you I would love to help put that thing together. it is just too cool.

HotWings · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 6:29 am Post subject:

So do I, I could use the help sanding! Smile

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1978 Firebird
12.80@104.5mph

HotWings · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 12:04 pm Post subject:

Update:

On the weekend, at the dragstrip I met the guy that originally put this car together. Turns out it is a 1980 not a 78. The car has never been on the road other than to get home from the dealership. It was cutup and immediately turned into a race car upon delivery.

I was able to find out what the front brakes were from and it turns out to be a 79 Toyota pickup.

He also said he would like to have the car back but I turned him down. I'm not interested in selling it yet.

Pete
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1978 Firebird
12.80@104.5mph

HotWings · Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 2:47 pm Post subject:

Wow been awhile since I updated this. I've just been puttering away at the old girl. I've been using a torch to heat the 1/2"-3/4" thick bondo in the 1/4 panel. The previous owners sure didn't believe in trying to straighten the metal. We're going to try to get some of the major dings back out of it so we don't have to use so much bondo when we're done.

The fibreglass front clip is going to need some major work though. This car has been on it's roof and been up on her side. Once again the previous owners have crudely patched the f/glass on the inside and then slathered, yes slathered, the bondo on the top. So here's some pics of what's been going on in my garage.

The hood is almost finished!

The left rear quarter after removing some of the bondo

This is the extension peice they put in when they enlarged the wheel opening to accommadate the slicks.

The quarter after some basic cleanup and a few hammer taps.

The front clip:

This edge will have to be rebuilt.

So that's where I'm at now.

Pete
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1978 Firebird
12.80@104.5mph

hardtop77 · Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 6:25 pm Post subject: Nice work man!

Nice work man! I love seeing pics of people's work. It is good to get your hands dirty. It gives you a feeling of accomplishment.

You are doing a FINE job on this one! Keep us posted. I can't wait to see a video of it at the track.
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Hooper

1977 Trans-Am – Father and Son Project
1980 Firebird – Converting to 1977 S.E. Clone

sir english firebird · Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 5:27 am Post subject:

Sorry slow to catch on this one.

Nice find, good luck with it, cant wait to see it run in anger!
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The V8 made me do it officer!

HotWings · Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 6:26 am Post subject:

As long as I see a little less paint or bondo on it at the end of each day I know I'm going forward. Smile

I'm getting a lot of enjoyment out of this project and now that I'll have my business sold in October I'll have loads of free time to work on it. I'm still seriously thinking about doing a tribute/replica of Grumpy's Toy.

Down at the Greenfield track we have a pair of replica cars, Dandy Dick Landy's Charger and the Sox & Martin Roadrunner. Personally I think they look great and the addition of the "Father of Pro Stock"'s Monza would be a good addition to the show.
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1978 Firebird
12.80@104.5mph

HotWings · Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 7:22 am Post subject:

Here's some more pics of my progress on the Monza. These were taken up til Aug 22nd. I have to say, I'm having a blast pluggin' away on this car. I started to remove the floor and trans tunnel to do some repair to the floor panels. Nothing serious, just mainly rebending them and some small patches.

Here it is with the trans tunnel removed. I had started to clean up the left floor panel also.

Trans tunnel

The frame structure of the beast. I have recently found out that it is an Alston Chassis car.

Shortened Ford 9" with 4.56 gears.

The right side floor is now removed. It needs more work then the left did.

So there you have it. I've got some more pics on the camera of what I've been doing since the 22nd so I'll get them up soon.

Pete
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1978 Firebird
12.80@104.5mph