[400HO F-BIRD]

I thought I would submit some pictures of my finally restored 68 400 HO Firebird as a way of saying thanks for the tips and support I've received on this forum.

This is a car privately imported new to Sweden so it has a KPH speedometer.
Other option include:
- Power disc brakes
- Power steering
- Power windows
- Tinted windows (all)
- AM/FM radio
- Limited slip rear axle (Safe-T-Track)
- Custom interior
- Custom sport steering wheel
- Rear window defogger
- Ride and handling package
- TH400

The car still has original motor, trans and rear axle.
New paint in base coat/clear coat, PPG water-based replacement for original Solar red.

Hope you will like the pictures!
/Johan

[Tim john]

She looks brandy new, well done Johan.

Tim john---

[silverbullet07]

Like okay good. Well done.

Now add it to the 400 HO registry http://www.firebird400ho.com/firebird_400_ho_registry/

[north]

well done! Must be a challenge to do a car properly in Sweden!

Btw, if you are looking I have a very nice unpitted set of 68 HO exhaust manifolds, bought them many years ago before realizing that they were not the same as 69.

[1969 Ram Air]

Looks very nice. Great job!

[anthony1]

Look great. You should be proud!

[AG]

Nice car.

[Doug Hopkins]

Very nice!

[OCMDGTO]

Very nice ride, congrats! It's hard enough to get them looking that good here in the States. Your dedication is amazing!

[400HO F-BIRD]

Thanks to everyone for the kind remarks!

Yes, it can have it's challenges to do a restoration of a car like this in Sweden.

It can be difficult to find other cars in original condition to look at for reference.
Fortunately this car had not been tampered with too much over the years, and I was also lucky enough to find the build sheet under the passenger seat during restoration.

The cost for parts from the US is another thing.
When transport, customs and VAT are paid the total cost is roughly double what you see in the catalogues...

I worked slowly on spare time and tried to do it right.
It took eight years, but now I get to enjoy driving it again.
Only the last adjustments left to do, but I guess that is to expect when everything has been apart.

[unruhjonny]

nice!

I have a question;
was the speedometer a standard unit with an adapter so that it read kph(?) - or was it a different speedometer?

[92GTA]

Fantastic job, looks GREAT!

I have 2 friends in Sweeden right now, they texted me last week saying they were surprised how huge the American car scene is there.

[north]

Originally Posted by unruhjonny

nice!

I have a question;
was the speedometer a standard unit with an adapter so that it read kph(?) - or was it a different speedometer?

I've seen them, they are the same mechanical unit with a different silkscreen that shows the KM's instead of Miles. The one I saw was for a 69 GTO and it read 0 to 200KM (69 GTO speedo went to 120MPH) so for example the needle would be straight up at 100km/h just like the normal gauge would be straight up at 60MPH.

I guess the Firebird version would go to 250km/h instead of 160MPH

[unruhjonny]

Oh that's cool!!!

I'd love to find an export kph speedo for a 70-71 Firebird!!

[400HO F-BIRD]

I can't tell you exactly what the internals of the speedo are, but there is a special option code for it on the build sheet (ZG if I remember correctly).
So it was available as a standard option.

It has KPH printed on it and it goes to 200 KPH.

Yes, the american car scene is pretty bit in Sweden.
It has been that way for a long time.
A lot of muscle cars were imported during the oil crises in the seventies for instance, when they were cheap.

To get an idea, you can visit the web-site of the largest American car meet in Sweden at http://bigmeet.com/eng/

I think it might be the largest American car meet outside of the U.S.
People come from all over the world to visit it.

[sleddog]

That is a nice car- well done!!!

[keith k]

Nicely done!

[400HO F-BIRD]

I forgot to ask earlier when North commented on the manifolds:
- Is there any clear info on what part numbers these should have?

Didn't they use two versions on the passenger side in 68?
The earlier ones had a spring loaded flapper and the late ones (after april 68?) did not have this?

I've seen different part numbers for the passenger side manifold:
- 9779493 (earlier with flapper?)
- 9779494 (earlier with flapper?)
- 9791607 (later without flapper?)

The driver side should be 9779495, right?

Btw, since I think most people on here are like me and like pictures I include one I had on my computer of my speedo

[north]

I'll look at what part numbers mine have (they were from a 68 Fbird and they had the flapper).

According to RA enterprises website:

all left side 60-69: 9779495

right side 60-67: 9779493
right side 68-69: 9791607

When was the heat riser valve added or was it there from the beginning?

Was it eliminated during the 68 run or at the beginning of the 69 run?

[silverbullet07]

I thought all OEM ones had the flapper and reproduction ones did not.