I spent about 3 hours today putting the Firebird back together. I think I spent about 12-13 hours in total to re & re the intake manifold which is about what I expected it would take.

The hardest and most tedious part was clearing the 12 year old gaskets off the heads and manifold. I numbered the ignition wires and marked the distributor positions plus numbered the injector harness as well. Made it really easy to put it back together. Took the occasion to replace the cap 'n rotor as well, they were pretty rough as it turns out.

The car started up on the first try -- had to crank for about 1 minute but it finally caught. No misfires, runs perfectly smooth. I called my insurance agent yesterday to put the car on the road tomorrow. Looks like April 30th will be the first day on the road this year for the Firebird.

Adious,
RP.

 

Mine started on the first try as well...........then it broke most of the pushrods and bent all the intake valves

 

Congrats man! It's a good feeling ain't it. Mine took a couple tries but then started strong.

Hope the weather is good for ya for opening day.

 

How did that happen ?!?!?!?

For laughs...
I remember one time changing out the heads on a buddies '69 RS. He had a 327 that was getting the Dart head treatment. Thing is somehow one of the s o c k e t s found it's way into the number 7 piston when it was at bottom center and we sealed it up with the head. That was the end of that motor.

Another time I put a set of heads back on a '69 Mustang (that was rusting out on me of course -- Fords do that you know) and I got the ignition harness caught under the head and torqued it down. Ford wiring harnesses are pretty expensive as it turns out...

Hard lessons to learn.

RP.

 

I had the wrong date ... not April 30th, MARCH 30th as in TODAY !!!

Had her out this morning already. Runs like a charm. Did a WOT on the on ramp to the freeway and shut it down somewhere around 210kms.

And YES thx, it is a good feeling !

RP.

 

haha! I figured that...

 

well i had did some work on my Trans Am today and then it was time to fire it up. i gave it a couple shots of gas and then turned the key. it started cranking and i gave it some gas and she fired right up, right away on the first try. i was impressed. not to shabby for a carbbed 305 with 252 000 kms on it that has been sleeping since november. i let her idle for awhile and then away i went. man was it great to drive a real car again. i laid down some rubber on the highway and went for a drive. great fun.
after driving it today i have decided for sure to put dual exhaust on it. i want it louder and some more performance. i am heading to the ancaster swap meet tomorrow. hopefully i can score some cheap parts (3.73s, aluminum water pump, maybe some mufflers, etc). i dont know how i am going pay for this stuff...maybe my dad can lend me some cash....i sure hope so..i would hate to miss out on some good deals because i am short on the cash.