New here, and super excited!
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Northern New Jersey
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1987 Pontiac Firebird Standard
Engine: 2.8L V6
Transmission: Automatic
New here, and super excited!
Hello everybody! My name is Kevin and I am from Northern New Jersey. Now, I must admit that I have never really been a "car guy". But that has slowly been changing over the past year or so and I became 100%, truly into cars since March. Long story short, but I was the campaign/sponsorship manager for a completely fan organized and crowd-funded NASCAR sponsorship, the first of it's kind in the history of the sport (You may have heard of the "Dogecoin" car). Since then I have been soaking up as much info as I can and trying to teach myself the basics of car maintenance and building.
The past couple of weeks, I have seen a beautiful, bright-red Firebird sitting in a driveway. Everytime I passed, I couldn't take my eyes off of it. Then, last week, I drove by again and noticed for the first time that it had a for sale sign. After work, I went to check it out, instantly fell in love, waited on the curb for 4 hours until the owner got home, and drove it away that same night.
And here she is:
She is a 1987 Firebird Base, 2.8L V6 w/ auto transmission (I have yet to learn how to drive manual haha). She is completely factory original with only 93,000 miles on the engine. Radio was updated to CD, but I have the original to put back in. Garage kept and owned by one family for 27 years. I was blown away by just how clean every part of the car was.
I am however, having a moral dilemma in regards to how I will approach the restoring it. I am not sure if I should keep it stock and factory-spec, or if I should just end up doing custom everything (paint, interior, and upgraded engine after the V6 gives up someday way in the future). I really am leaning towards going the custom route. I would rather have a Firebird that is all mine and exactly how I can imagine it in my head, then worry about keeping it stock.
Any advice, tips, or suggestions that you guys have would be greatly appreciated! Like I said, I am still just learning about cars more and getting into the whole culture. I definitely plan on becoming an active member of this community and look forward to talking with you guys more!
The past couple of weeks, I have seen a beautiful, bright-red Firebird sitting in a driveway. Everytime I passed, I couldn't take my eyes off of it. Then, last week, I drove by again and noticed for the first time that it had a for sale sign. After work, I went to check it out, instantly fell in love, waited on the curb for 4 hours until the owner got home, and drove it away that same night.
And here she is:
She is a 1987 Firebird Base, 2.8L V6 w/ auto transmission (I have yet to learn how to drive manual haha). She is completely factory original with only 93,000 miles on the engine. Radio was updated to CD, but I have the original to put back in. Garage kept and owned by one family for 27 years. I was blown away by just how clean every part of the car was.
I am however, having a moral dilemma in regards to how I will approach the restoring it. I am not sure if I should keep it stock and factory-spec, or if I should just end up doing custom everything (paint, interior, and upgraded engine after the V6 gives up someday way in the future). I really am leaning towards going the custom route. I would rather have a Firebird that is all mine and exactly how I can imagine it in my head, then worry about keeping it stock.
Any advice, tips, or suggestions that you guys have would be greatly appreciated! Like I said, I am still just learning about cars more and getting into the whole culture. I definitely plan on becoming an active member of this community and look forward to talking with you guys more!
Last edited by Dusenberry; 06-23-2014 at 10:52 AM. Reason: Formatting
#2
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Utah
Posts: 10,401
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Car: 89 RS 89 iroc 87 firebird
Engine: 3.1 Turbo/ 355 twin turbo
Transmission: a4 w/ 4500 stall/ a4 / t5
Axle/Gears: strange s60 /w 3:42's
Re: New here, and super excited!
that is a really clean car , its your car so i say do what u want with it, build it how u want not how others tell u it should be done .( as long as it doesnt include putting it on 20 inch wheels lol )
#3
Supreme Member
Re: New here, and super excited!
Have fun with it, learn all the basic stuff like brake jobs, struts ect. After the car is mechanically solid then think about what you want. Looks, performance? Save money, do it right and leave the 20s in the shop.
#4
Supreme Member
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Newburg, MD
Posts: 1,091
Likes: 0
Received 18 Likes
on
18 Posts
Car: '89 RS, '89 Iroc
Engine: L03, LB9
Transmission: 700r4, T5
Axle/Gears: 2.73, 3.08
Re: New here, and super excited!
listen to what the guys above said, learn anything you can from this car maintenance wise
my advice after that, IF you decide to go the custom route, don't bother with upgrading anything engine wise, do full suspension, get the car as rock solid as you can, that way when the day comes to drop a bigger motor in the bay, the car is ready for it
Beautiful car BTW
my advice after that, IF you decide to go the custom route, don't bother with upgrading anything engine wise, do full suspension, get the car as rock solid as you can, that way when the day comes to drop a bigger motor in the bay, the car is ready for it
Beautiful car BTW
#5
Supreme Member
Re: New here, and super excited!
I almost forgot the most important thing.
1. Buy a shop manual
2. Place shop manual on back of toilet
3. Put the phone down and read like us old fellas use to
4. Profit
1. Buy a shop manual
2. Place shop manual on back of toilet
3. Put the phone down and read like us old fellas use to
4. Profit
#7
Member
iTrader: (18)
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: NJ
Posts: 412
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 90 formula, 89 formula 350 vert
Engine: 305, 355
Transmission: T5, t56
Axle/Gears: 3:45 9 bolt, 8.8 3:73
Re: New here, and super excited!
Very nice car especially being from nj. I would recommend adding bigger sway bars and upgraded shocks, struts along with poly end links and drive the wheels off the car. These upgrades are very easy to do and will make the car alot more fin to drive. if it cant be fast you may as well have it handle well. Then do a big build.
Trending Topics
#8
Member
Re: New here, and super excited!
Seeing that it isn't the most rare like almost all v6 cars, you should do performance stuff to it.
#9
Supreme Member
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Northwest Ohio
Posts: 6,274
Likes: 0
Received 25 Likes
on
19 Posts
Car: 1991 Camaro RS
Engine: BBC 509 Merlin ii 9.6:1 pump gas
Transmission: ATI pro th350 sfi case. TSI 5500 st
Axle/Gears: Strange S60 4:10s
Re: New here, and super excited!
Welcome!! Very nice clean car!
#10
TGO Supporter
iTrader: (7)
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 3,462
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes
on
2 Posts
Car: 83 bird
Engine: 305/383
Transmission: WC T5
Axle/Gears: 3:42
Re: New here, and super excited!
Cool car! My first car was an 87 2.8 5-speed too, but a Camaro
Build the car how you want, don't worry about colletiblility or anything like that as it's a pretty standard model.
Are you going to keep and modify the V6 or swap in a V8?
Also, looks like I see strut tower rot on the front & back of the driver's side tower? That's bad. Need to cut that out and have it welded up properly so you don't end up shooting your strut through the hood on a big bump lol
Build the car how you want, don't worry about colletiblility or anything like that as it's a pretty standard model.
Are you going to keep and modify the V6 or swap in a V8?
Also, looks like I see strut tower rot on the front & back of the driver's side tower? That's bad. Need to cut that out and have it welded up properly so you don't end up shooting your strut through the hood on a big bump lol
#11
Junior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Northern New Jersey
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1987 Pontiac Firebird Standard
Engine: 2.8L V6
Transmission: Automatic
Re: New here, and super excited!
Thanks for the replies and well wishes everybody! I have totally decided that I am going to take the custom route when working on it, both with looks and mechanics. I mainly am looking to make it more of a "looks" car than a performance car. I'd rather the exterior and interior look awesome then worry about dropping in or building the best engine I can.
Going to start with exterior body work and new paint (looking at coming up with my own concoction via HOK paints). From there I will move on to the interior.
Thanks for pointing that out Aaron. That is one of only two noticeable rust spots on the car and will be taken car of immediately with body work. I'm going to have the body repaired and painted professionally and then do the interior myself.
Going to start with exterior body work and new paint (looking at coming up with my own concoction via HOK paints). From there I will move on to the interior.
Thanks for pointing that out Aaron. That is one of only two noticeable rust spots on the car and will be taken car of immediately with body work. I'm going to have the body repaired and painted professionally and then do the interior myself.
#12
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Utah
Posts: 10,401
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Car: 89 RS 89 iroc 87 firebird
Engine: 3.1 Turbo/ 355 twin turbo
Transmission: a4 w/ 4500 stall/ a4 / t5
Axle/Gears: strange s60 /w 3:42's
Re: New here, and super excited!
Thanks for the replies and well wishes everybody! I have totally decided that I am going to take the custom route when working on it, both with looks and mechanics. I mainly am looking to make it more of a "looks" car than a performance car. I'd rather the exterior and interior look awesome then worry about dropping in or building the best engine I can.
Going to start with exterior body work and new paint (looking at coming up with my own concoction via HOK paints). From there I will move on to the interior.
Thanks for pointing that out Aaron. That is one of only two noticeable rust spots on the car and will be taken car of immediately with body work. I'm going to have the body repaired and painted professionally and then do the interior myself.
Going to start with exterior body work and new paint (looking at coming up with my own concoction via HOK paints). From there I will move on to the interior.
Thanks for pointing that out Aaron. That is one of only two noticeable rust spots on the car and will be taken car of immediately with body work. I'm going to have the body repaired and painted professionally and then do the interior myself.
#13
Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 251
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1992 Firebird
Engine: 3.1L
Transmission: Manual T5
Axle/Gears: Stock
Re: New here, and super excited!
Nice car. Let me second what others have advised, that beefing up the suspension is a good first mod. I installed a wonder bar (AKA steering brace) which prevents the steering box from tearing off the chassis. Most members recommend 36 mm front and 24mm rear sway bars. No other suspension mod I've done has made a much improvement in handling & stability than the thicker sway bars. You can probably find a 36mm front from a Camaro or Bird at your local junk yard (take your caliper with you). Here's my experience with upgraded wonder & sway bars: https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/susp...-handling.html
Also, if you're not very mechanically experienced, start with the easy stuff 1st. That was my situation & I quickly decided my dreams of a 3.4L engine swap were not realistic. But, I spent and continue to spend hours researching on this web site learning to diagnose & repair.
Our V6 engines are a pile of fun to drive. Love all that torque. Also, because the V6 sets lower and further back than a V8, it will out handle (not go faster) than a V8 with the same suspension, wheels, & tires.
Finally, if you want a little more power, installing a cold air intake (CAI) will give it a nice little boost. Of course, if needed, do a tune up first (plugs, wires, distributor cap, & rotor, timing). A tuned engine is faster than an untuned one.
Hope you have as much fun driving your bird as I have mine.
Also, if you're not very mechanically experienced, start with the easy stuff 1st. That was my situation & I quickly decided my dreams of a 3.4L engine swap were not realistic. But, I spent and continue to spend hours researching on this web site learning to diagnose & repair.
Our V6 engines are a pile of fun to drive. Love all that torque. Also, because the V6 sets lower and further back than a V8, it will out handle (not go faster) than a V8 with the same suspension, wheels, & tires.
Finally, if you want a little more power, installing a cold air intake (CAI) will give it a nice little boost. Of course, if needed, do a tune up first (plugs, wires, distributor cap, & rotor, timing). A tuned engine is faster than an untuned one.
Hope you have as much fun driving your bird as I have mine.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
no green
Engine/Drivetrain/Suspension Parts for Sale
11
01-09-2016 09:22 PM
the_hamturdler
Engine/Drivetrain/Suspension Parts for Sale
0
09-30-2015 12:50 PM
Damon
Tech / General Engine
8
09-26-2015 04:29 PM
Dragonsys
Engine/Drivetrain/Suspension Parts for Sale
2
09-25-2015 03:51 PM