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Your bumper inserts on the bumpers look brand new! Where did you get those?
Mine are crumbling to pieces!!! ugh
Yes its not to be used for the seal around the windshield I should have used something else. Those are the originals. I cleaned them up and painted them. They came out like new. Before they were faded but still in great shape.
Very frustrating indeed. I will clean it up and repaint, etc. Then I am taking to a glass place and have it pulled and reset properly by the experts. I never have luck with windshields. HAHA
Ok so here is the big update! Basicall its all back together on the outside. Buffed out. There are still areas I have to sand down and repaint, just patches really. Its like a time travel for me, this is how it looked kinda when I bought it new. Tomorow early it goes for inspection. Being is over 25 years old. It only gets a visual one. So I will get it on the road and start updating the interior next. I got these replacement tail lights a few years ago. I sanded them with 1k, then 1500 then 3k. Then I polished them out along with the center piece. Came out ok still some wax on them, so not a great pic. I want it tol look the best they can, so a future project is on the list.
Lots to do, mount new rims, clean up and freshen up the interior. I put on the t-top seals today as well. Pretty easy to do just take your time. The t-tops are not the originals, which were lexmar. These are glass. I have the passenger side one still and its in decent shape. Years ago the drivers side bubbled up and then shattered by itself in storage. Anyway will continue to keep posting on this thread with updates. More to come very soon. Thanks for all the help from everyone. I have my Bird back!
Looks good. I’m curious about the paint issue, is this a urethane paint? Did you let it sit in the sun for a day or two to fully cure?
Well it was repainted and buffed out 2 weeks prior. Some sun hit it in that time frame as well. Its not that bad just some spots. I will clean it up and get the windshield set properly in a few weeks. It passed inspection so its officially on the road now. Thanks for the comments.
So its back on the the road! Finally! So odd driving a black Firebird. Hasnt been that color since 1994.Forgotten how dirty black gets, but it looks so awesome when cleaned. Now onto the interior Weather here in NY is rainy so today is a wash out for the most part. Going to clean up my door panels etc. Funny to see the looks it gets when I drove it to the inspection. I am sure, man I have seen one of those in a while! HAHA
Need advise:
1. Going to replace the carpet, should I get one that is standard or one with extra padding? I plan to lay down noise reduction matts on the floor boards and doors, etc.
2. have any of you put noise reduction pads around the sail panels roof, and back of the car?
Future plans:
1. update all the brakes, rotors, calipers, etc
2. get a better radio, I have an android one and is nice but it has a CD player and I dont need that anymore
3. Get the steering wheel wrapped a bit thicker
4. buff it all out again, once I get the sketchy areas cleaned up, repainted, etc.
5. Re wrap my speaker box that goes in the well
6. Clean the seat covers for now, someday replace the door panels
7 . Fix the center console, sides are separated, typical in these cars
Happy with:
1. Doors, new hinges made them close so nice now
2. Seeing it black again, its was a lot of work painting it, but in the end I am fairly happy with it
3. Having a board like this and all the great support, parts, etc. to be a part of.
Just saw the update, car looks great! Your hard work and determination paid off. Your build shows the amount of work it takes to paint a car right.
Thank you sir! This has been a tough year for myself, and I know many many more. Nice to finally get over this hump, and its nice to see my car back to almost its former glory.
Ok so starting to play with the interior, door panels to be specific. I was going to buy replacements, and some day I will more than likely. I found a video on YouTube on how to freshen these up for now. So new internal window sweeps, some silver tape, and elbow grease they came out pretty nice. Will do for now.
Here is the back of the passenger door panel. Look closely, you can see and assembly date, 7-16. that would be 1989. I go the car a week after that July. Pretty cool. Drivers door panel. I cleaned the the cloth on this passenger side panel. They cleaned up nice! Thanks to my trusty JEEP you see propping up the panel.
Next up, make my own vapor barriers
I just went over this thread, man its been a run for sure. It was SO nice to drive it to the inspection today. This entered my thoughts as I pulled out of my driveway..
Well I spent most of the day tidying it up. I had to adjust the drivers window a bit, great video on YouTube, very helpful. The passenger side didnt need any adjustment at all. Both doors are closing like it was new if not better. I could not be happier. I got the passenger door out handle sorted out too.
I had some rippling effect in the paint on the roof behind the driver side. I have been touching the car up as I do other things. I figured, why not wet sand and see what happens. Well I smoothed it down with 600. Next will be 1500 then 3K then buff out. The nice thing about this Eastwood 3 in 1 urethane paint, its very forgiving and easy to work with. So I should have this in decent shape by next Friday.
Took her out for a spin late this afternoon. Man its unreal driving this car all black again. Cant wait to get the new rims on and interior update, cleaned, etc.
Will get more pics soon.
Not much progress yesterday. But a really nice weekend weather wise is on tap. So I will get my rims on possibly today. I am going over the car paint checking every inch to make sure its has good coverage, etc. Hope to have a final polish done on it this week as well. Just ordered some fat mat for the doors, roof and sale panels. Will do the floor when I carpet it, more than likely next spring. Its finally coming along nice now. Just glad its on the road finally and in the home stretch. I will get more pics up ASAP.
Got side tracked, my minivan needed a new transmission solenoid. Part came in yesterday and I started getting into it and being it was much easier to install the new one I just finished it, but it started getting dark the the firebird had to wait until today.
Ok...FINALLY after all this time...the new rims are on!!
So these are the JNC026 black 18x8 all around They have a +32 offset. I put a 1.5" adapter/spacers in front and 1" in the back, came out PERFECT! Could not be happier! The center caps are custom with a Firefird logo The tire valve covers have a Pontiac logo on them.
Just made my moister barriers for the doors. My fat mat order is coming in today as well as the new door seals. I have the ones that dont have the plastic inserts, part of the kit I bought. But I order the factory spec ones made by Fairchild. Those 2 are coming in today. So the doors will get the final treatment later today. Next will be clean the interior and put up my new and unfortunately slightly damaged head liner from Hawks. More pics to come!
Working on the doors. I completed the install of the Fairchild door seals, really nice to work with. The doors close so solid now, especially with the sound mat in them. I just removed what was left of the rubber window stops. Replacements will go on tomorrow. .A little more clean up an the doors will be done inside and out.
I got a can of SEM 15413 and that DOES match my gray interior parts. So I will be cleaning up the cars plastic pieces as I go along. Finishing up the paint touch up, hope to have the car fully buffed out by tomorrow night or sunday morning the latest. Hope to post some nice pics this weekend.
So the back is done very happy with this look started on the interior. Still need a new headliner, update the carpet, fix the bowed out center console. and general clean up. I love this stance. hello!! and this stance! so happy I am driving this again...in BLACK! simply awesome...as the day I bought it. 31 years ago.
Started working on on the back interior. The SEM paint i bought matches up nice to the stock color gray. I also started putting fat mat in the back wheel wells. Was going to get the pull down motor going for the back window and I forgot I had to replace it, it crumbled in my hand, so that is on order now. spent most of the day cleaning it up and my blow up spray booth, thats going to be put away until next year.
Still finding some minor paint gremlins but over all I am happy with the paint itself. Not sure if I will clean them up this fall or wait until spring Right now I just want to get the interior cleaned up and back together and enjoy a nice fall with it.
Decided over the winter will start saving up for a big brake up date front and back for the spring, as well as some new carpet, new door panels, clean up the seats, etc. Will put up some more pics of course as I progress.
Just installed the new headliner from Hawks. Bought the whole kit from them. It went in fairly easy, bit a work with the overhead unit. The sun visors are spot on as well. Once I get some more SEM paint and finish up the plastic panels will get some pics up. Coming along nicely now.
So I had a slight over heating issue I resolved today. I replaced the temp sender in the front of the engine and burped the system. Now my fans are coming on as they are supposed to. Gonna take it on a 2-3 round trip tomorrow. Take it back to its old stomping grounds in Westchester county NY.
So I am slowly putting the interior back together. Took it for a ride and now I have a thumping noise coming form the drivers side front wheel, every time I turn left. I am wondering if a bearing might be failing. Not sure yet. Will get some pics up tomorrow.
Stained all the old interior parts with SEM 15413 and the came out AMAZING. I also get them a coat of SEM satin clear. Waiting on some replacement clips to come in from eBay and Hawks. Then I will post pics of it.
I have to say I really love Hawks sail panels, sun visors and head liner setup. They really improved my old interior. Some new carpet and cleaned seat should really make it look great.
Got a thumping noise coming form the left front tire area when I make left turns, wheel bearing(s) are the suspect. Having changed them in years. I want to do a brake upgrade but the budget is tight, have to wait until spring. So off come the hats, new repacked bearings on the todo list.
Got a thumping noise coming form the left front tire area when I make left turns, wheel bearing(s) are the suspect. Having changed them in years. I want to do a brake upgrade but the budget is tight, have to wait until spring. So off come the hats, new repacked bearings on the todo list.
Look close at the bearing races and make sure they are not loose in the hub.
So thanks to this awesome forum I confirmed my front hats are NOT 1LE. which I was sure they were not but when I bought the new bearings and races I was asked if its high performance, and I thought it was. Turns out no, oh well...shame on me. So I have to return the one I got and the one thats coming in tomorrow for the right one.
This weekend will finish up the interior for now and knock out the new wheel bearings. I have to work on my minivan and Grand Am as well. Much to do! Will get some pics up for sure.
So I cleaned up the inner fender wells and painted them, came out great! Here is the passenger side installed Just finished replacing the bearings on the rotor, both inner and outer. The passenger side was fine but I figured why not? Driver side was clunking whenever I made left turns. The rear seal failed and the inner bearing was the culprit. Upon pulling and painting the inner plastic fender wells I found RUST. I hate RUST. So I cleaned it up, treated it with POR15 metal prep then paint. Just want it protected for now until I can get in there and fix.
Took it out for a spin afterwards. Man this thing is fun to drive! Ive been depriving myself for TOO LONG! Bought me right back to spending the day waxing in and going out on a Saturday night cruise.
This forum is ESSENTIAL if you have a Thirdgen. Working on the pull down motor for the rear deck. Hope I get this sorted out tomorrow. Will get more pics up soon.
Got the rear pull down motor issue resolved. Now a new problem, I believe drive train related. Posted for help in that forum. 31 year old car is gonna have this stuff going on I guess.
Well I got the car up on ramps and did an initial inspection on the drive train, no leaks in the read differential or axles. The u-joints look solid but who knows, they are pretty old. So I will be replacing them first to confirm that is not the noise I am hearing. Talk to some friends and my brother and they say the description I give sounds like a u-joint. I will keep this updated as I figure this out.
I do not recall what symptom your chasing, but take a good look at the trans rear mount, they fail and cause a thump sound.
Yes I will. I understand it's not a big deal to change either. Basically it's started out quietly the rapidly got louder in about 5 miles. When I give the car gas, sound goes away completely. Let up and you hear it. Coming from the middle of the car back to the rear. Slows down when car slows down. Thanks!
So it is a rotational sound. U-Joints might be dry and tight.
PS> I don't know if your gonna use jackstands or a lift, but remember, when you UNBOLT the rear U_Joint, you lose the trans "Park" . (I have heard of a few close calls, and death, from that)
So it is a rotational sound. U-Joints might be dry and tight.
PS> I don't know if your gonna use jack stands or a lift, but remember, when you UNBOLT the rear U_Joint, you lose the trans "Park" . (I have heard of a few close calls, and death, from that)
Good luck!
When I did my fuel pump 2 years ago I had it up on 4 jack stands. I will do the same. You raise a great point about losing park when you disconnect the driveshaft.
I am also going to replace the rear transmission mount while I am in there. Thanks much for the suggestions and the help!
Got the drive shaft out easy. .Had to burn out the original plastic pressed pins for the u joints But now I cant get them out to install new ones ARRRRRGGHHH
Got the drive shaft out easy. .Had to burn out the original plastic pressed pins for the u joints But now I cant get them out to install new ones ARRRRRGGHHH
When you heat the end, that plastic should squirt out like you stepped on a tube of toothpaste.
When you heat the end, that plastic should squirt out like you stepped on a tube of toothpaste.
Yes mostly they did...kinda strange to watch. But these are 31 years old do it's gonna take some work to get them out. The tool I bought isn't going to cut it being I don't have a vise. So big sledge hammer time!
Last edited by Hawkeye1980; 09-26-2020 at 10:40 PM.
So I am looking at the plastic pin holes All of them shot out plastic when I torched them, some more than others It looks like a couple of them still have some left. I burned though 1.5 propane tanks. I hope I dont have to get another one.
08-28-2020, 09:48 PM
