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A Firebird GTA the way they should have bult it....
After 13 years on the concrete on my back in my garage, I built one the way they should have done it. I've owned firebirds since 77, and bought my first 3rd gen in the spring of 82. The results have been what I knew these cars are capable of. Still in the werks, the interior and a few mechanical details, but the car is insane fun.
Re: A Firebird GTA the way they should have bult it....
The rear end goes in inmodified, my inspiration was the GOAD boys back in the late 80's, Pontiac engineers built mules with IRS but it never made production, so I produced my own. It all started for me in the late 80's with a bit of road racing, it would have been nice to have the 89 back then....
Re: A Firebird GTA the way they should have bult it....
After this many years I have tons of pics, I will organize them into some sort of sequence and put them out periodically. This is the car back in 2003 when I first bought it, brought it home and put some brakes on it the same day....
Re: A Firebird GTA the way they should have bult it....
Originally Posted by 427seven
The gunmetal has always been one of my favorites, it highlights so well in the sun, this is factory recipe with extra metal to do just that!
Awesome looking car! More info on the headlight mods please. Are those switchback lights in the blinker location? I’ve been looking into doing something similar to what you did but was having a hard time finding a small enough LED assembly for the front of the headlight bucket.
Re: A Firebird GTA the way they should have bult it....
Nice, There is a company making direct fit IRS now for these cars but all said and done its 8-10k. What are the lights you have on the front edge of you headlight, I have thought about doing that for day light running lights, and then have them shut off when the headlights are on but never found any that fit well.
Re: A Firebird GTA the way they should have bult it....
Originally Posted by Aviator857
Nice, There is a company making direct fit IRS now for these cars but all said and done its 8-10k. What are the lights you have on the front edge of you headlight, I have thought about doing that for day light running lights, and then have them shut off when the headlights are on but never found any that fit well.
The Heidts IRS doesn't allow you to run exhaust to the rear of the car. You are stuck with dumps before the axle or rocker exits.
Re: A Firebird GTA the way they should have bult it....
WOW!!, just WOW!! Amazing car!!! I already nominate it to car of the month for March, right here. Attention to the details is right down to it, the headers, the led lighting, suspension, wheels/tires, engine, color, on and on.
Bring that weapon to the TA Nats this year, I'm quite sure you'll be answering questions all weekend.... on the way to a trophy.
Re: A Firebird GTA the way they should have bult it....
You can easily run the exhaust out the back of the car with the Heidts 3rd and 4th gen IRS kits. Awesome build on your car, looks like it'll be fun on the track!
Re: A Firebird GTA the way they should have bult it....
Originally Posted by heidts
You can easily run the exhaust out the back of the car with the Heidts 3rd and 4th gen IRS kits. Awesome build on your car, looks like it'll be fun on the track!
Hey Heidts, you make a very cool IRS - now just get the price down to something that's reasonable and I'm in !!
Re: A Firebird GTA the way they should have bult it....
Originally Posted by BizJetTech
Hey Heidts, you make a very cool IRS - now just get the price down to something that's reasonable and I'm in !!
What's the matter? Why you no like the 'hop' during high speed turns when you drive over bump? I can only think of a few times in 25 years that I've actually noticed the solid axle glitch.
You wouldn't think that with so many Corvette IRS(s's((esses)))? out there, that someone would offer a kit to adapt the Y-body setup to a thirdgen. I'm no engine-ear, but how hard can it be?
Re: A Firebird GTA the way they should have bult it....
"Hard" is one of those individual things, if you have lots of money or lots of knowledge, it gets easier..... I did my first IRS with the factory unit body frame rails in place, it didn't leave enough room for the 335X30's, so I built a subframe, a modified back half, and once you do that, it's clean sheet. The Y-body has advantages, weight being one of them, if you need some strength there is a Dana 44. Lots of room for exhaust while allowing some breathing room around the pumpkin. I used a full 3" mandrel dual all the way through the mufflers (super 40's).....
Re: A Firebird GTA the way they should have bult it....
I think it's awesome that HEIDTS can make parts like that rear end available, even when we can't buy, or choose not to buy, it stimulates dreamers......
Re: A Firebird GTA the way they should have bult it....
I got to drive my car twice before it went into the workshop, before I could second guess myself, I levelled, plumbed, braced and cut a big hole. I was sick about it for two days before I could get to work....
Re: A Firebird GTA the way they should have bult it....
Originally Posted by 427seven
I got to drive my car twice before it went into the workshop, before I could second guess myself, I levelled, plumbed, braced and cut a big hole. I was sick about it for two days before I could get to work....
I know what you mean, When I started my LS swap once i had the car stripped down (I literally went from a running driving car that I had owned for 17 years to a shell in one day) I stopped and looked and had to question myself ... are you going to have time to finish this or is this going to be a pile of parts still in 10 years... Managed to do it in 1.5 years. Looking at these pictures I'm not sure I could tackle that level of destruction...
So can you give us some details around the head light modifications?
Re: A Firebird GTA the way they should have bult it....
Originally Posted by Aviator857
I know what you mean, When I started my LS swap once i had the car stripped down (I literally went from a running driving car that I had owned for 17 years to a shell in one day) I stopped and looked and had to question myself ... are you going to have time to finish this or is this going to be a pile of parts still in 10 years... Managed to do it in 1.5 years. Looking at these pictures I'm not sure I could tackle that level of destruction...
So can you give us some details around the head light modifications?
I'll do the lights soon.... There isn't much available for lights, I had to fab boxes and fit lights into them. I'm working with a printer to design and print the boxes, have to finish drawing the plan for the printer.... Too many things to do, not enough time....
I had to set up the stance of the car before I hung the rear end, the Y body rear fits way up inside but still clears the stock fuel tank.....
Re: A Firebird GTA the way they should have bult it....
The cage is chrome moly, all tig welded, and fit in the car so it's difficult to see from outside the car - hidden behind the B pillar, car isn't very stealthy anyway....
02-03-2019, 11:26 AM
You have an amazing car! Gorgeous and powerful, it doesn't get better. More pics the better! 
