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Auto Detailing and AppearanceShare tips and tricks on how to make your Third Gen shine! Get opinions on products or how something tasteful looks on your Chevrolet Camaro or Pontiac Firebird.
Just wanted to bring you up to date on what I have done to my 87 firebird since I got it a couple of months ago.
When I got the car in April it had 13071 miles, I have only put 50 miles on it since then. To quote another person on this site, "I spend all my waking hours with my head under the hood". And I have the bumps and bruises to show for it. Car too low, me too long.
The car was in storage for over 25 years and storage takes its toll. I had to replace the water pump (with a CBC aluminum one), the alternator, the power steering pump, all belts and hoses.
I removed the air pump and all its associated junk. New MSD wires and cap. I built a twin snorkel air cleaner from two mint cleaners I found in the bone yard. I really wanted a dual snorkel, first of all it looks good and it does make the engine breath easier. I have yet to put on the duct work and the scoops. I have been looking for a passengers side scoop and have not had any luck. For now I will try to figure out how to do it with two driver side scoops.
In order to have the twin snorkels, I had to remove the radiator overflow tank and the windshield washer tank. That I will never use. I used a new 2006 Mercedes overflow tank and relocated it to the drivers side. I put on a good transmission cooler under the front pan, when I had it out for repaint.
Removed the vacuum tee from the top of the thermostat housing and instead installed a 200 degree on and 180 degree off fan switch. It works great. Replaced the thermostat with a 170 degree.
Also removed the charcoal canister and replaced the gas cap with a vented one.
Repainted most of the engine compartment. When these cars were painted, clear coat was only applied the outside of the car and not the engine compartment. It looks flat, so I cleaned it up.
Since it sat idle for so long, the Freon 12, for the air conditioning had long since disappeared. I replaced the accumulator and re-charged the system with Red Tek 12a.
I did not want to have to flush the system to convert to R-134, Red Tek is compatible with the oil that was for the Freon 12. It worked really nice and I can get 43 degree cold air in 90 degree weather.
Its been a labor of love. I think I will drive it a bit.
Thanks, Louis
Last edited by siuol; 06-28-2016 at 07:36 PM.
Reason: move photo
Nice? So if you run a vented gas cap then you can get rid of the vent line and charcoal canister with no issues? If so I am going to definitely shed mine.
Those engine bay mods were done in such a discreet, tasteful way that it actually looks factory! Well done.
Also, what did you use (and do) to get the engine bay (and the paint) looking so good?
Hi Kmk,
I took out anything that was not welded . Removed air pump and associated garbage, took off alternator, water pump, power steering pump, air conditioning pump (good time to change O rings) . Cleaned all exposed metal with alcohol and then used the new 3M sponge wet sandpaper pads to roughen the old paint. I have a local paint shop that will mix the original paint in a rattle can, works great. About 3 coats of base paint and then the trick is to use the new Urethane clear that has to be mixed in the rattle can. You have about 6 hours to work with it. I am told that on this year car, the original base paint was acrylic and the clear was urethane. Its a real hard finish.
Nice? So if you run a vented gas cap then you can get rid of the vent line and charcoal canister with no issues? If so I am going to definitely shed mine.
Hi Dmccain,
You can remove the charcoal canister, cap off the line that goes to the gas tank and install a vented cap. The problem is that you cannot really find a vented cap. So what you do is to drill a small hole in the inside of the cap, off to the side but do not go all the way through the cap. There is a double layer in the cap and you want to only make a hole in the bottom part. The hole can be as small as 1/16 inch.
06-28-2016, 07:32 PM
. Removed air pump and associated garbage, took off alternator, water pump, power steering pump, air conditioning pump (good time to change O rings) . Cleaned all exposed metal with alcohol and then used the new 3M sponge wet sandpaper pads to roughen the old paint. I have a local paint shop that will mix the original paint in a rattle can, works great. About 3 coats of base paint and then the trick is to use the new Urethane clear that has to be mixed in the rattle can. You have about 6 hours to work with it. I am told that on this year car, the original base paint was acrylic and the clear was urethane. Its a real hard finish.