Announcing the first annual Michigan Thirdgen Modfest!

I'm having a modfest at my garage on Saturday, June 8th. The location is in Haslett, Michigan near East Lansing. There's two, possibly three bays for doing mods, with shop air, plenty of lighting, and perhaps even a MIG welder for doing subframe connectors.

There's going to be slot car races in the top floor of the garage along with music, barbecue, and plenty of bench racing.

If you have a thirdgen that needs some mods, let us know! We just ask that you keep it to mods that can be reasonable accomplished in four to six hours. Things like subframe connectors, 5-point racing harness, 1LE brake conversions, springs, torque converter swaps, header installations, are all things that can be done in four to six hours (not all at once though! )

We'll be indexing a cam, and maybe even doing some MIG welding or powdercoating.

This event is approximately two weeks before the f-body.org Memphis event. Are you coming? Meet some of your fellow Thirdgen.org members!

We will need some volunteers to make this event work. I'll post job descriptions and driving directions in about a week once we know the scope of interest.

 

Tentatively speaking, I am planning on coming, but I may be sleeping in my car It's a 5 hour drive one way for me.

I'm waiting to hear on a new job, so that determines on whether or not I'll be able to attend. If I get the new job, I doubt I'd be able to attend (June is a major month for lawn equipment repairs and sales)

If it does stretch out over a two-day period over to a Sunday, I'd come up late Saturday night, and help with whatever I can, or bench race.

 

You wont have to sleep in a car: I have a tent or two kicking around here--

 

LOL, I should fix mine. Measures 18x13, will divide into 4 rooms to sleep 9-10 people

Anyone know if nylon can be sewn or otherwise repaired?

 

Hey dan, I wil be there to lend a hand, just let me know what you need help with!

nick

After g-teching my car today, it looks like I will be in serious need of some tuning help also. As I have a serious hesitation to deal with at the top of second.

 

Hmm.. so far there's only been 4 votes. Is that really how few we're gonna be? I thought there were a few others interested in SFC installs. Maybe we better nix the idea of bringing over an experienced welder for hire! (I'll still bring my MIG welder, and will muddle by with my mediocre welding skills)

 

i would love to do some mods to my car, more like repairs actually but I cannot afford the parts I need (damn college and the racecar). I need to replace or rebuild my T5 and replace my ring and pinion and posi. To do this right adds up to about 2 grand, too bad I guees, anyone know of a cheap and well working T5? It'd be great to have the maro running for the summer months, I'm sick of my damn lumina!

 

Tom, I know where there's a cheap and well-working T5 transmission. Its just that the owner is in Florida right now so I cant get into his garage to pick it up for you!

Bring the welder and we'll make it work! As for the welding dude, let me see what I can do. Perhaps we can 'barter' with him...

As for only four votes, well,,, Four is plenty for a party! Perhaps if we finish early we can go to the range and try out this 'other' project of mine: A 7.62mm x 51 semi-automatic NATO battle rifle. I'm trying to build it up right now. I need to pick up a few more parts before it's fireable but it ought to be done (and ATF legal) by June.

--drb

 

As long as I'm not selected as the target, it sounds like a plan to me

 

is that gun legal? you may not want to advertise that you have it!! i'd love to watch it in action though.

 

Yes, the gun will legal. Technically it's not really a gun yet, as it is disassembled and missing some critical components. The only "gun" part is the registered receiver that I bought at the gun shop. I went through the whole FFL paperwork maze. Before I can assemble the rifle I still need to purchase a few more (six) domestic components and then disable the threaded portion of the barrel by brazing on a simulated muzzle brake. Once I've done these things, the rifle will be a 49 state legal, semiautomatic-only domestic manufactured rifle.

Since I'm a registered member of the Capitol City rifle club, I will then be able to legally transport it to the range, thanks to the newly passed VEAR transportation bill.

If I want to use it for deer hunting (which I will probably do), I need to create a magazine capable of holding only three(I think thats the number) cartriges, then affix it to the rifle. Hey, I am way off topic here!

If you want to know more, check out http://www.falfiles.com/cgi-bin/forums/ultimatebb.cgi

 

Hey I am game i really don't have too many mods that need to be doen but hey I would love to come. Ialso can drive tom84l69 there if his car still doesn't work....Tom fix it.....anyways I would love to come and hang out. I might do subframes

 

OOPs sorry also I might do a radiator.

 

Hmm sounds pretty cool but not sure if i can wait that long for the sfc and lca's my car is twisting pretty bad and i would hate to mess up my frame. But i will come anyway im sure i can think of something else to add to my car. LOL Wow i guess there are a few 3rd gen guys in MI

 

I got it how about some new springs and edelbrock shocks. Would that be cool with you guys? It would throw something different in so we weren't doing all subframe connectors.

 

Hmm, just noticed something on my car, I need to weld in a plate where the driver's side rear passenger's feet would go. There only seems to be carpet and air between their feet and the ground . I could probly still back out of the deal, any thoughts?

 

I think that you'll need to tear out the carpet and loosen those seat bolts beforehand. If you do that, and trim out the rusty stuff first, and make sure that your replacement panel is cut and fitted, that it wouldnt be too hard to stitch it in. However, you'll have some prep work ahead of you first.

I dont have the tools to efficiently cut out the rust. If you dont, you'll probably be able to do it inefficiently (but successfully) with a hacksaw, drill, and hand file. I have a sandblaster that you could use outside on the grass. That could get the area ready for welding. The welding part shouldnt take a whole lot of time. It's just that you need to get it prepped first.

 

i had the same holes on both sides of my car. i did it the slow and painful way, but my dad welded some patches in and i sprayed the whole underbody with por15. now it's all good!

 

ok guys, I guess i could fix it then. I'll need help though, I have next to no experience with metal work, and I don't have any "efficient" tools if hack saws are inefficient.

I hate to leave it until june, but is this something that could be done at the modfest? Unless of course anyone is willing to meet me and do some work before hand.

 

Wow i didnt know that there were this many third gen guys in MI. The mod fest sounds like a really cool idea and i live pretty close but thing is I am really new to this stuff and dont know that much but i would love to come and learn. There are tons of things that i would like to do to my car as it is a totally stock 1991 lo3 RS. So if it is cool with you guys i would like to go.

 

If you live in Holt, then you probably dont have an excuse NOT to come!

Actually, it looks like we'll be doing a fuel pump change on Andrew Gunnesch's Firebird, and at least two subframe connector installations.

 

Sounds Cool. I will plan on being there then. As long as i can get work off. I would like to put a new exhaust system on my car if it can be done in the time frame that has been specified.

 

Hey sober I have another realy good mod for a tbi and its real cheap. Ill help ya install it while were there. It's just an open element air filter and belive it or not it will make all the difference on that TBI. Most parts stores carry them. Edelbrock is my Fav and its only $30 for the 14" x 3". I installed one on my brothers car. Only thing is it makes a sucking noise so if you like your cars quiet dont do this. But I think it sounds sweet

 

Sounds good 383GTABoy. This is going to be really cool i think that i will learn alot. I guess i will see you there.

 

One more thing. What kinds of mods do you guys think i should do to my car? It is a totally stock 1991 RS with an lo3. I have about $1000 that i can spend on stuff. What do you all recomend i have done?

 

Dan, what is the likelihood of the modfest spilling over into Sunday? I get off at 5 on Saturdays, and I'm facing a 5 hour drive one way

If it does spill over to Sunday, I can swing up late Saturday night, and help out/bench race on Sunday.

Lemme know.

BTW, the new job is great!

 

That depends on you sober. What do you want more power N/A or possibly a nitrous kit or maybe you want to just turn on a dime. If your just starting out I wouldn't recomend the nitrous though. I just let my brother get it because im always around to supervise. Also do you care about emissions?

 

Hold on I may need to back out of my subframe conectors bid....I might have to sell mine...I will be getting another one I just don't know what will have to be done to it yet......sorry to take one job out of the works guys.

 

Id love to be there cuz my formula is all stock and in need of mods but i dont turn 16 till about a week and a half after the get together...oh well, maybe next year.

Have fun!!

 

I should be able to attend the Modfest, my bosses are cool with days off as long as they have enough notice. LOL, anyone think 2 month's notice is enough?

 

No problem, just bring your dad! He's probably my age anyway--- (Egad! Never thought I'd type THAT )

 

Hey guys If i can get a set of SFCs from spohn in time I'd like to try to get them installed. I take it theres going to be someone there who is a proficent welder? I dont want to end up with a bunch of burn holes in the body

BTW I'd be coming from flint where i go to school.

 

Which school? I go to Kettering, though i don't think I'll be going back, that place sux

 

Yea i go to kettering. Sorry to hear youre thinking about dropping out. Are you a or b section?

 

A- section, I'm an ME

I've been involved in the Firebirds car club a lot here, I'm not sure how well the b-section side is doing but we tend to have events every weekend, either autocross or rally and a car show in the summer. though we don't get any classics, b/c kettering scheduled parents day (when the carshow is held) on the same day as the Woodward Dream Cruise .

 

I'm in the firebirds b-section but we've been getting shafted on funding. Apply for $900 to rent a track out and they give us $250, that kind of stuff. We end up having an about an event per month usually. We're going to try to do more autocrosses this weekend because they're pretty cheap. I'm B section, CE major.

 

I want to come and lend a hand, but I'll see how the schedule works out. (Need to show odff the LT1 intake)

 

Looks like I'll be getting something slightly different than planned. The POS 85 IROC is back with the owner (I was holding it b/c he had no storage space), and it looks like I'll be getting AGRESSIVE RACER's 89 GTA. Though it seems to be in good runnig order, I'd love to just come over and help out. Who knows, maybe my bugdget will allow for some SFCs

 

Well Steve, you could always do something cheap, such as:
1) box your LCA's with some strips of steel and the MIG
2) Port your MAF sensor
3) Install speedbleeders on all four corners and change brake fluid
4) Detail the engine compartment
5) "De-rattle" the dash

etcetera, etcetera...

-----------------

BTW< Rob, we need to find out what kind of AC plug your welder requires so that I can have it ready.

 

Ok now, I realize I haven't posted in a couple weeks, but have i been replaced as the welder provider?

 

Um, not that I know of, I am just really bad with names, I guess!

 

Hey, I am still working feverishly on getting me car actually running reliably. I have done everything under the sun that has to do with the engine rebuild and fuel pump replacement, header install, TQ install.... I did it all to this car. I would probably be up for a good modfest if I can attend, I'll help out cause my car doesn't need much more. Email me because I don't really cruise this board hardly at all and I'll probably forget about this thread in a few days.

 

What would I have to bring to do the LCAs?

 

unfortunately, i'm not sure if i can make it to the modfest. depends on whether or not i have the engine built, and how well it's running.

 

If you are coming to the modfest please email me with your plans. I have a guy that will MIG weld in subframe connectors, as long as we supply the MIG welder and prep the cars. I have wire wheels, cutoff wheels, sawzalls and die grinders so prep work shouldnt be a problem.

That said, here's some contact information:

Daniel Burk : 749-1236 is my phone number in the 517 area code.

1180 Haslett Road
Haslett MI 48840

The house is exactly 0.9 miles EAST of the Marsh Road and Haslett road intersection, on the corner of Haslett road and Academic way.
Mapquest map of the area. Just zoom in. Take exit 94 south from I69, or exit 110 north from I96.

Just look for the three-story colonial revival farm house with matching two-story garage behind it. It's the only one like it for miles!

 

The modfest sounds like alot of fun, i'm about 2 hours away so i should be there. my car only has a K&N and flowmaster cat-back system on it. i'm pretty inexperienced at this stuff so just hanging out will be helpful. any good mod ideas with an approx $500-700 budget?? lookin for a bit more power and maybe noise too

 

I sent you an email on suggested mods.

 

I would love to have some headers put on. But how far is it from over here in Grand Have to Lansing. Also I think I have to work saturday.
I think it would be Cool to meet some of you guys.

 

I have something going on the 8th, I didn't connect the two dates in my head. I was really looking forward to meeting up with you guys and doing some work on my car with some people who know a lot more about these cars than myself. If any more events are planned, I'll definatly be interested.

 

Hey Dan, I sent you an e-mail but I forgot to ask , what time is this party going to start?


thanks
nick


And if anyone is going up there from around S.E. michigan, or ohio, let me know. Maybe we can have a parade of thirdgens heading that way.