Thread: Another Pontiac for the firebird
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10-02-2021 04:39 PM #1
Another Pontiac for the firebird
hey guys, I need a volunteer to post some pixels, or I'm a-gonna get told "pics or it didn't happen ".
I don't know why I do things. Maybe because I don't have anyone telling me not to.
So, I just burned some dino fuels in my newly acquired 49 pontiac silver streak. Well, it's titled as a 49 but the VIN tag position and front grill are correct for a 48.
So far, I've cleaned up the corroded battery tray in the trunk, and added jumper cables to the trunk after getting a jump on my maiden voyage. Afterwards, back to the hacienda to pull the alternator, take it to town for testing and a replacement.
Tomorrow it goes on the rack to look at grounds, as the volts Guage reads 1.5 V low. Also, I found out that my DMM reads voltage screwy when its battery is low.
The fuel guage doesn't read right (like half - scale)
Speedo and tach inop.
All exterior lights work, all electrical replaced. The add-on blinker unit works fine but reaching behind the steering wheel for the toggle switch is annoying.
It's got a HEID T front clip with rack and pinion which looks to have been installed well, along with a nice X brace through center. If I remember correctly, the ad said Ford nine inch rear, and the gears feel tall. The Olds 403 really gets it off the line. It has a holly double pumper and long tube headers and HEI. It's got an automatic three speed with a way cool floor shifter. However, I haven't found its dipstick yet. It shifts well.
Brakes are upgraded with a mini booster and master cylinder which are dead in the way for checking the oil. There's no proportioning valve between the two lines, but there is some doohicky on the rear line which splits the lines going out, I'll not mess with the knob on that. The front brakes are late seventies pontiac.
The next toy I buy off the net sight unseen, I would like to get in perfect condition. Ugh.
Anyway, I've got oil leaks from the fuel pump and sending unit, haven't noticed any from the trans, but it looks like the rack and pinion is adding to the mess.
The steering it twitchy, but rather easy to get used to. Some torque steer too.
It's got a modern radio in the glove box, which is supposed to work but doesn't.
I haven't figured out how to turn on the AC, and the heater valve is frozen in a non confirmed position.
The vacuum - operated wipers don't work. The front will operate if you flip the knob on and off, but the back doesn't at all.
Whoever built this had a dislike of interior cloth. The door panels and headliner are done in aluminum sheet with lots of pop rivets, very nicely done.
The whole thing needs a good detailing. The paint is nice, cream with brown fenders.
None of the locks work and it takes a screwdriver to open the hood..
Education is expensive. Keep that in mind, and you'll never be terribly upset when a project goes awry.
EG
Welcome to CHR. I think that you need to hook up your vacuum advance. At part throttle when cruising you have less air and fuel in each cylinder, and the air-fuel mixture is not as densely packed...
MSD 8360 distributor vacuum advance