November 2018 COTM **Winner**
Thread Starter
COTM Editor (Retired)
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,884
Likes: 83
From: Washington
Car: 89 Formula 350, TTA
November 2018 COTM **Winner**
Congratulations, Cehbra! Your 1991 Firebird is our Thirdgen.org Car of the Month.
I quite enjoyed reading your presentation and other threads. You do really outstanding work, the result of which is this better-than-new-looking ride with several unique enhancements, and it all comes together very nicely. I strongly recommend that everyone check out Cehbra's build threads [linked below]. I cannot do it justice. Its a painstaking labor of love, turning old parts into new and base trim into highly optioned.
The car was originally owned by a friend of mine who ordered it directly in the USA and imported it to Switzerland himself - not through the official dealers. That's why the car has some options that export thirdgens usually didn't have back then - like the US exterior mirrors or the "old school" rear spoiler, both were unavailable in the EU at the time. He kept the car extremely well and when I bought it from him in 2013 it was still bone stock and had just over 14500 miles. The car to date still has the original bright red paint. I'm keeping his tradition and try to preserve the car as carefully as he did.
One thing I had my heart set to do was (and still is) an engine upgrade as the car is a 305 TBI. Unfortunately there are extremely strict laws concerning engine modification here in Switzerland. E.g. that Magnaflow cat back isn't exactly legal and I have to swap it for the original exhaust every time I go to inspection...
So I decided to make the best of the situation and go for detailing and cautious modernizing modifications while trying to maintain an OEM look as much as possible - not easy when you're as picky about details as I am. Here is my build thread, if anyone is interested:
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/memb...-memories.html
The first big task was a cowl induction hood. The one I eventually got originates from a 1984 Trans Am and I also made it functional in the process.
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/hist...-trans-am.html
There have been some other smaller modifications - like adding the overhead console, a Momo steering wheel, the 1991/92 Trans Am rear lights, an 82 shift ****, OEM diamond spoke wheels and PMD seats. By the way: the PMD seats, the cowl induction hood and the Trans Am logo are a reverence to my first car - a red 1982 LG4 Trans Am, which I sadly had to leave behind when I left the US after a year as an exchange student.
The latest big mod was a complete interior overhaul with auto dimming mirror, keyless entry and a double din radio with GPS. Mainly I wanted to have the OEM 87/88 digital dash in my 91 Firebird, a task that required a lot of preparation including reverse engineering the digital dash odometer. In the end it paid off - and now I enjoy riding the only 1991 Firebird with a digital dash that I know of.
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/inte...dash-swap.html
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/elec...o-86-88-a.html
One thing I had my heart set to do was (and still is) an engine upgrade as the car is a 305 TBI. Unfortunately there are extremely strict laws concerning engine modification here in Switzerland. E.g. that Magnaflow cat back isn't exactly legal and I have to swap it for the original exhaust every time I go to inspection...
So I decided to make the best of the situation and go for detailing and cautious modernizing modifications while trying to maintain an OEM look as much as possible - not easy when you're as picky about details as I am. Here is my build thread, if anyone is interested:
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/memb...-memories.html
The first big task was a cowl induction hood. The one I eventually got originates from a 1984 Trans Am and I also made it functional in the process.
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/hist...-trans-am.html
There have been some other smaller modifications - like adding the overhead console, a Momo steering wheel, the 1991/92 Trans Am rear lights, an 82 shift ****, OEM diamond spoke wheels and PMD seats. By the way: the PMD seats, the cowl induction hood and the Trans Am logo are a reverence to my first car - a red 1982 LG4 Trans Am, which I sadly had to leave behind when I left the US after a year as an exchange student.
The latest big mod was a complete interior overhaul with auto dimming mirror, keyless entry and a double din radio with GPS. Mainly I wanted to have the OEM 87/88 digital dash in my 91 Firebird, a task that required a lot of preparation including reverse engineering the digital dash odometer. In the end it paid off - and now I enjoy riding the only 1991 Firebird with a digital dash that I know of.
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/inte...dash-swap.html
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/elec...o-86-88-a.html
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 12,221
Likes: 1,141
From: Il
Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
Engine: 4++,350 & 305 CIs
Transmission: 700R4 4800 vig 18th700R4 t56 ZF6 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
Re: November 2018 COTM **Winner**
Wow, insanely clean, nice work, congrats!
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,678
Likes: 1,267
From: In the paint booth!
Car: 1986 Camaro Drag Car
Engine: 383 on Ethanol
Transmission: Automatic
Axle/Gears: 4.86 Currie 9 inch
Re: November 2018 COTM **Winner**
Awesome car man! Congratulations!!!!
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 2,406
Likes: 193
From: New England
Car: 1988 IROC Z Convertible
Engine: 305 TPI (LB9)
Transmission: 700 R4
Axle/Gears: G80 GU2
Re: November 2018 COTM **Winner**
The car is beautiful and a great presentation.. congrats!
I will check out the build threads mentioned, sounds awesome!
I will check out the build threads mentioned, sounds awesome!
Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 443
Likes: 26
From: Switzerland
Car: Red 1991 Firebird with digital dash
Engine: L03 V8 TBI
Transmission: 700 R4
Axle/Gears: 2.73
Re: November 2018 COTM **Winner**
Thank you very much, guys!
I also want to say thank you to maks10 for the nomination.
And a big thanks to Dave for his efforts each month with the Car of the month threads! It's awesome to get to know about brilliant cars regularly that we would likely have never seen if they weren't showcased on those polls.
Again, I can only say I'm so grateful my simple Firebird made it to the top of this months COTM.
*Chris
I also want to say thank you to maks10 for the nomination.
And a big thanks to Dave for his efforts each month with the Car of the month threads! It's awesome to get to know about brilliant cars regularly that we would likely have never seen if they weren't showcased on those polls.
Again, I can only say I'm so grateful my simple Firebird made it to the top of this months COTM.
*Chris
Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 231
Likes: 15
From: Crawfordville Ga
Car: 88 Sport Coupe
Engine: LT1
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 4.56
Re: November 2018 COTM **Winner**
Congrats,you have a beautiful car.
I really enjoyed your build threads and the stories with it.You have done some great work and have inspired many.
I really enjoyed your build threads and the stories with it.You have done some great work and have inspired many.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 523
Likes: 103
From: Morgantown, WV
Car: 1990 Trans Am
Engine: 5.7 350 HSR afr195 xfi268
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.08 posi
Re: November 2018 COTM **Winner**
No problem! Car deserves the recognition! As well as your threads.
Supreme Member
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,629
Likes: 17
From: Somewhere
Car: 88 IROC
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt 3.73
Re: November 2018 COTM **Winner**
The forum main page still shows the Sept car of the month. Are we seriously back to not posting this to the main page. Again how hard is it to upload a photo.
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