FYI there's another FireBird just came into the Fort Shafter salvage yard, it has the following:

Good body, not smashed front or rear; 5-speed stick, 140 mph speedo, nice tach, instrument cluster and center consol; Power windows, power mirrors, perfect steering wheel, dash pad is trashed, excellent "velvet" black seats front and rear no rips or holes; BW 9-bolt disk brake rear [iron caliper and dunno the ratio]. It had a TPI, but I snatched the complete setup and intake, so all that's left on top the engine is a great view of the lifter valley.

Sorry I didn't have my digital camera with me, I was actually looking for other parts and stumbled on this FB.

 

so how would i ****** those seats?

 

See Ed, I knew Keola would want some kind of interior from that car lol!

 

You could meet me at Fort Shafter Saturday a.m. and I'll sponsor you to access the area.

 

Ack ... dbl post

 

Yah, that's what you said when I called you from the yard, heh.

Well, they are nice seats...

I'm waiting to see who puts their hand up for the TPI 'cause they wanna ditch carbs and get 20+ mph with the AC on... Those TPI's are hard to find, sigh.

 

Did it have any wheels on it? Interlaced maybe?

Scott

 

Hey Scott, you sure you don't wanna run just 2 lol!

 

ok, sat mornings eh?

Those seats match anthony's rears? or should i just nab the whole thing? Bring cash right?

thx guys!

 

hmm i'd like to steal the hatch struts just because i dont want to buy new ones as well. lol.

 

I NEED BELLHOUSING!!!!! AAAHH#@$@

 

Oops, forgot ... yep, has four interlaced wheel, all intact since the car wasn't wrecked

[I think it overheated and quit 'cause there's rust stains in the engine compartment and when I removed the intake manifold only water came out of the hoses. Heh, too cheap for coolant]. The car was probably parked, waiting to be fixed when the soldier was deployed for a year. So it's considered abandoned and towed. If not picked up, it's disposed of.

 

If you want to steal something, don't choose property of the feds, ain't worth it. BTW, the hood gas struts are in excellent condition, held the hood up fine while I raped the fuel injection system.

 

lol i didnt mean literally steal.. more like buy. Yep, dont wanna mess with the feds... hehe. sorry for that misunderstanding.

 

Darn, I forgot the fuel inject wiring harness on the FB, so have to go back Saturday 9 a.m., good chance for you guys to grab the wheels, seats, gas hood/trunk struts, headlight motors, relays, etc, if you show up with your tools.

 

would ya guys help me take the seats?? i have no idea... lol im lame.. I can always learn though!

 

I dont think theyll fit in my camaro, so im prob gunna have to bring something bigger right?

 

You could probably just swap the seats in the parking lot (under 20 mins) and toss your old set in a dumpster somewhere. Its a really fast swap. 4 bolts for each front and one for each rear.

Hey Duck, how do you plan to pull that harness? I've pulled one and it was a real PITA (and this was with the engine out and dash out). Cant really think of any easy way to pull it.

Did you happen to mess with the T5? I need the bellhousing and clutchfork but hey if the trans is good too then I might go for it.

 

I agree. I've done the same with the motor out. The real PITA part is where the harness wraps around the side by the passenger fender and into the passenger compartment.


Hey Shawn, sorry I never pulled that bellhousing for you from Schofield the day I got the trans. I was pressed for time & I ran out of it lol! Just on a side note though, if you do get the trans it's $125. Pretty sure the price is the same there. I can't remember how much the bellhousing is though. I think it might be like $25-$35. And I don't know how much the clutch fork is along with all the hydraulics & master cylinder for the clutch.

 

20 mins eh, what tools should I bring? how much for the seats?

 

Dont know the sizes off the top of my head, I'll check tomorrow when I have some free time.

No worries Anthony I know how that goes. Thanks for giving me the heads up on the parts. I'm gonna try to grab the trans, the bellhousing, clutch fork, and clutch. If I can wake up in time ... hahahaha

 

Yeah, you're right! I don't need the FI wiring. After all, Painless Wiring makes one for new installations. I'm still trying to decide if I'll sell the TPI or keep to polish and modify for more RPM... Right now I'm more inclined to go for the cash. Didn't do anything with the trans other than move the lever around and make "vroom-vroom" noises for a couple minutes and admire the cherry steering wheel and instruments. You might also be interested in the rear third member ... might be a series 3 carrier with 3.45, also the axles are guaranteed 28-spline.

 

Hey, this would be a great opportunity for a Firebird-guy to take apart the stuff for our friend in Okinawa and pick up a couple of those rare, expensive and hard-to-find headlight assemblies. Being a Camaro-guy I never disassembled a FB front, and would certainly botch it.

APB. i need firebird nuts/bolts/nutplates.... irocnroll89

 

Hmm I don't want to read all that again. So... where and when now?

Saturday morning? I'm game.

Keola, you probably wouldn't even need to bring tools for the seats. I'm sure you can borrow the couple of sockets, a ratchet and a philips screwdriver. It really does only take like 15-20 minutes to swap 'em. The rear seats don't even need the <i>one</i> bolt to stay in. I think my fronts have 6-7 between 'em both.

Scott

 

I have a painless harness retrofit kit for the MAF TPI (165 ECM) setup if you'd like to take a look at the instructions or anything. I got it in a combo when I bought a L98 motor a while ago. I'm saving it for a TPI/SBC into Chevy S10 retrofit I want to do sometime in the future. In all honesty if I was faced with having to choose between pulling the harness in the yard and spending $300+/- on that kit and still having to re-wire, I would bite the bullet and pull the harness in the yard. Its just a real PITA unless you cut it up and re-crimp (which I dont like to do). The dash definately needs to be pulled. I'm gonna be going to the yard to check that car out sometime this week before Saturday. Along with the trans stuff, I'm also interested in the heads. Just need to verify if its a LB9 or not. If it is a LB9 and I pull the heads, I'll also pull all the sensors and stuff out of the block and get the engine bay part of the harness ready to be pulled (in case you want to go for it). As long as I'm running the VIN and RPO's I'll get more info on that rearend.

 

Fort Shafter Auto Salvage is on "Shafter Flats," it's across from the Goodyear tire and fixit shop on the downhill side of Fort Shafter opposite the main entrance to Fort Shafter. Usually there are no guards onn the "flats" side, so turn left at the "Y" then immediate right, then left and the auto craft shop will be right there. Drive around the building to the back where the salvage cars are. I plan to be there at 9, might be a couple minutes after if I pickup Rainman from K-Bay. Easy. Ed

 

Well, the major reason why I pulled the TPI is because it was there, I wanted the experience of how to take one apart so I don't screwup the ones on my cars when it's time to do it. The thought also crossed my mind that I'd port-match, siamese the runners, polish, install new injectors and swap it into my '87 TPI [this dream actually lasted a couple days before fading into the reality that my car runs perfectly and I'm loath to pile on more guilt for promising myself to do a job I won't ever do.

So, bottom line is it was lust and I don't actually need the TPI. But it appears that since you have the wiring harness for an S-10 upgrade you might be able to use it? If so, let me know ... otherwise I'll most likely eBay the parts to someone for modding. BTW, the runners are absolutely mint-condition, no nicks or dents [unlike the ones on my IROC which are dented, probably from a lift chain sometime in my cars' unknown past].

 

hahaha ok I see. Well dont give up on that dream man!! Its really nice to have an extra TPI on the side that you're modding up. Doing those mods will help it breate better in the upper RPM's, maybe give you 300-500rpm more usable portion of the powerband (so it'll die around 5300rpm instead of 4800). I actually plan to do the same thing after I install the HSR on my 91. I say go for it and then ebay the stock one from your 87 after you've swapped it. Just the polishing alone will make the entire engine bay look different. It looks sick when its polished!!

 

Yeah, sigh... I agree. So you gonna show up on Saturday?

 

There have always been guards at the front before. Will they let me through?

Scott

 

The guards are not on the "flats" side at this time and have not been for weeks. However, to gain access past guards, simply show your license and insurance papers and explain where you're going. Beside, you have my cellphone, right?

 

To bad you are in Hawaii I have all those parts (bellhousing, clutch fork, 5-speed, TPI) lying around my garage here in indiana, but the shipping would be as much as the parts themselves

 

PM me with your price list, I'm sure you have stuff I'm interested in...

 

Hmm insurance, you say? Maybe I had better take my firebird then.... Naw, probably won't be any guards on a saturday.

I don't have your cell anymore. My phone crashed a few weeks ago and I can't find it in any pm's.

I'll definately be there to pick through some things. I sure hope my paycheck arrives tomorrow.

Scott

 

Hey Keola, are you planning to go on saturday morning? Since we live near each other we could meet up first. Who else is goin'? We'll have like 3 or 4 f-bodies there raping a poor firebird!

Scott

 

sure scott, sounds good. Ill definately be going this time! hehe....

 

I sent you a pm. Actually I think I sent you a bunch.

You have my cell, give me a call anytime. Let me know if you change your mind, but either way I plan to make it over there. I'll be in my maxima, since it has a/c and all my tools already in there.

See you guys tomorrow.

Scott

 

So what happened? I never ended up making it, couldnt wake up in time any day of the week (long hours at work). sucks. so anywa, whats left from that car?

 

We wuz wondering about you... Keola and Scott showed and had a great time! The wheels were already gone, someone got them on Friday, so we could clearly see the iron calipers on the 9-bolt disk rear [Scott thinks it might be a 3.45 ratio, but no tags, sigh]. Scott helped me get the engine bay harness out, it was pretty easy, especially since limber and agile Scott took pity on my fragile lower back and slithered under the dash, popping the computer and inside portion of the harness loose. So I came away with the mostly complete harness and all sensors and relays [well, not the knock sensor, too hard to reach] like you said it was way cheaper than the Painess harness.

Keola got the front and black seats [$44] to replace his gray ones, and I must say the FB seats look good in his Camaro, btw, after seeing the car I think it is excellent for the price he paid and will be a really nice ride after painting and renovation.

Scott took the opportunity to use all those shiny new tools all over the 'bird, scrounging an incredible amount of small stuff the previous [probably demented] owner installed in failed attempt to "pimp" the FB. This is the second time I've watched Scott in attack-mode on these spread-open objects of mechanical desire ... and I am impressed! The WWII landing at Normandy is no comparison -- "how does this work? how is that thing put together, what is is made of..." Scott is the T-Rex of Salvage and has my complete admiration, sigh. Anyway, he scored the mint steering wheel, a bunch of bird emblems, proportioning valve, 140 mph and tach instrument cluster, some console parts, UV lights, fittings, screws, thingamajigs and gizmos, all for $39.

The car still has the complete 5-speed [with bellhousing $125] and 9-bolt disk rear.

Next Thursday I'll check the Schofield yard, a couple of new thirdgens there I'm tracking, one with cupholders!

 

LOL, go Scott!! Thanks for the update!! Sorry for the no-show AGAIN. I'm batting 0 and 2 now ... *sigh*

 

Yeah, pretty good scores for everyone. Someone still needs to nab that t-5!

Because of the t-5/tpi/BW-9 rear, I think it has the better gears but I didn't check.

I think it had the 16" interlaced too, but that's okay. Next time.

The guy who owned that car sure gets an "A" for effort with the interior. Everything looks "custom" made at home. And his wiring job was pure ghetto-rigged. But, I did get a few neon lights that I won't ever be using in my car.

If someone is going to grab the transmission on a weekend, let me know. I'd love to come out to help. Good learnin' experience, ya' know?

Scott

 

Dropping the trans is fun You don't even need a jack to get the trans out either. Just gotta have the ***** to get right under it & cradle it down on you. That's how I do it & how I took out the trans at Schofield. I'll try & see if I can get a babysitter next weekend maybe so I can help.......I too, love taking things apart

 

yes, that car's interior sure deserves an "A" for effort as scott said hehe... kinda spooky if you ask me.. sort of lowrider-pimpwannabe-ish slash butt ugly. But yeah, the seats are fine.. however, on the way home from the yard, my car started overheating major, on the freeway, so, as I finally got to pull over after an onramp, my hood is belching smoke... does not smell good at all... So, I pop the hood, after much difficulty.. Ed knows what I'm talking about.. goddamn hood cables, and I find my coolant tank boiling over.. seriously boiling and smoke everywhere... so, I let it sit for a couple hours, drove it to my grandmas house and let it sit there...(still overheating, good thing my gmas was two blocks away) Now, i know not what to do... I have no clue when it comes to cooling systems, but im willing to learn. Some dude at checkers told me that i prob have an airpocket in my thermostat and i should replace it...

Anyone want to offer some much needed advice?

 

If you have open highways, just drive faster. But there was pretty bad traffic so I can see why ya' had to pull over.

A quick temporary solution is to take out your thermostat. My truck doesn't have one and runs fine (not currently, but that's not heat-related). Don't know how that'd affect sensors/ecm, so that might not be the best advice. If it drives fine after that just put in a low temp stat.

There are articles on makin' your e-fans manually switchable. (Turning on your a/c will do the same thing, I believe.)

The goal is to find out what the cause is. Maybe you could ad this problem to your other thread or a new one to make it easier.

Scott

 

I'm gonna grab that trans!! AAAH!!!! hehehe. As for the cooling problem, did it overheat while moving 35mph+ or did it happen while sitting in traffic? Also, what temp does the car maintain while driving 50-60 on the freeway?

 

1st -- Buy a Haynes repair manual for Camaro, it has good trouble-shooting system diagrams. Also, since I've got most fixit instructions in digital format, PM me with your email address and I'll send instructions to you.

2nd -- Adjust and lube the hood latch mechanism and cable so it opens on command, don't forget to also grease the metal loop on the hood that goes into the mechanism and stretch the spring a bit longer so it exerts more force. All cars do this once in a while.

3rd -- Overheating ... replace the thermostat with a 180-degree version, easy just follow the directions, you'll also need a gasket if one isn't in the box. Is the air deflector under the car? If not you'll need one. Are the fans workiing? If not could be a fuse, relay or fan motor. Is there coolant in the radiator? Is a plastic bag stuck to the radiator? Is there a coolant leak when the car is at normal operating tempurature, like from a hose, radiator or water pump?

If it's any consolation, IMHO the problems you're having with the used car are normal. At least for me, every used car I've bought needed new battery, starter, radiator, tires, brakes, oil and trans fluid change, water pump. Remember, we're dealing with 100,000-mile or more things that need replacement.

The good news is that after those things are done, your car will be better than new [well, at least those things].

 

More than likely it is usually one of three things.

1. Bad thermostat

2. fans aren't working

3. no air deflector under the car

Good luck

 

Ouch. Overheating sucks. I was going through that right ater I stuck the Edelbrock cat-back on the car, I don't think it was related, it just happened to what to run a bit hot after that. I had a lot of air space in my radiator and the overflow tank was bone dry. Fixed that problem, runs normal now. Running the heater full-blast helps a bit, unless your heater core is shot. It's just another radiator, basically. See if the fans work, if they do, is the deflector still there? Mine is a bit loose, I should tighten it down before I drive through a puddle at 55 and rip it clean off... Like I almost did Sunday... I have a new-ish pump and a 180 t-stat, runs much nicer then it did when I first had the car. Hey wait, do Camaro's even HAVE deflectors? I thought thye had a clear shot from the grille in the front clip...

Running no t-stat will make the car take a lot longer to warm up, so you can kiss whatever economy you enjoy out the window. My wife's car is like that, she's overjoyed if she gets 24+ on a 3.1 V6. Not bad, and it tends to go up the longer she drives it at one time - more time to get the engine warm I figure.

My hood sticks, I got a sweet spot I punch (driver's side hinge area) after I unlatch it and it pops open real good. That or slamming the door real good. Looks ghetto, but I figure I won't be able to dent the hood anytime soon with my small weight. I tried oiling the mechanism to no avail, maybe I'll go give the spring some more tension by yanking on it some!

 

Ian, do you have a pic of your engine bay or airbox? I have a mint condition k&n filter (and factory airbox) for a tpi pontiac. Or, do you already have one?

Let me know, because if you don't want this I'll toss it up on ebay or something. Or, if Randy wants it... you know who to pm.

Scott

 

Less than perfect gas struts and a weak hood pop-up spring equal no-go for most 100-lb hoods. Emery-cloth polish the "U" on the hood, remove any rough spots where the latch contact the "U" then slop them with grease. Silicone force-feed the cable 'till it drips out at the handle end. If necessary, adjust the cable/latch assembly so most of the slack is removed. Stretch the hood spring, consider adding another spring inside to increase the thrust.

Most people don't consider the hood unlatch mechanism a big deal. I do -- ever since I watched a nice car burn to death from an engine compartment fire and the guy couldn't open the hood to use his fire extinguisher. Ohhhh, don't have a fire extinguisher in the car either? Shucks, that's ok, there's lots of gas stations around that'll be more than willing to help put out your fire if you pull in hehe. Dang ... hood still won't open ... oh well, there goes the station and the car!

C'mon guys, the F-body you save might be your own...fix those easy things and pack an extinguisher. Easy stuff.