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#1
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69 Firebird Front Lower Air Baffle
Does anyone have experience with the quality/fit of this repro by Parts Place?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1969-69-Fir...frcectupt=true
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Will Rivera '69 Firebird 400/461, 290+ E D-Ports, HR 230/236, 4l80E, 8.5 Rear, 3.55 gears '64 LeMans 400/461, #16 Heads, HR 230/236, TKO600, 9inch Rear, 3.89 gears '69 LeMans Vert, 350, #47 heads: Non-running project |
#2
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airdam
bought a used one off Ebay for 40 bucks 10 years ago. had to adj some holes for it to line up with original valance and fender extensions. Hoping that Ames will offer a metal version one day. I will gladly be one of the first inline for it. I will say my fiberglass one does aid in cooling. FWIW Gerry
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1968 Firebird 400, 068 cam, TH400 & 13" Continental Converter, Auburn posi with 3:08 factory gears, Cliff's Q-jet resting on a 68 factory iron intake, DUI HEI and Ram Air pans and RARE Long Branch Manifolds Last edited by 68 Firebird; 04-06-2019 at 07:30 AM. Reason: i cant spell |
#3
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I have heard that they aren't a direct fit. That said, it's a plastic repop part so drilling holes where needed shouldn't be an issue.
That said, I'm glad I still have my factory piece.
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-Jason 1969 Pontiac Firebird |
#4
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I have an extra factory original (metal) 69 Firebird front lower air baffle. Glass beaded raw and then epoxy primered. PM me if interested.
Tim john--- |
#5
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Quote:
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Will Rivera '69 Firebird 400/461, 290+ E D-Ports, HR 230/236, 4l80E, 8.5 Rear, 3.55 gears '64 LeMans 400/461, #16 Heads, HR 230/236, TKO600, 9inch Rear, 3.89 gears '69 LeMans Vert, 350, #47 heads: Non-running project |
#6
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Yes that piece faces down. That’s the air damn. Creates a low pressure area behind it and in the engine bay. Air in front of it and the car will be high pressure and want to travel through the radiator as a result.
Also helps reduce lift to an extent...a very small extent.
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-Jason 1969 Pontiac Firebird |
#7
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Thanks Jason
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Will Rivera '69 Firebird 400/461, 290+ E D-Ports, HR 230/236, 4l80E, 8.5 Rear, 3.55 gears '64 LeMans 400/461, #16 Heads, HR 230/236, TKO600, 9inch Rear, 3.89 gears '69 LeMans Vert, 350, #47 heads: Non-running project |
#8
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Anyone have a picture of this installed? I'm having trouble picturing it in my mind...
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1969 Pontiac Firebird |
#9
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Here you go. Tough to take a close up of such a large piece. If you need a specific area photo let me know and I will try to provide. I hope the attached help explain how this lower air baffle should be installed.
Tim john--- |
#10
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Thanks a lot!
Looks like my 69 is missing that too. I need all the cooling help I can get out here in the CA desert, I'll be ordering one. I'm glad it's plastic personally so I can make it play nice with my SpoliersbyRandy front air dam. I wonder if having that flappy air dam attached from the Trans Am like in the pics helps with cooling and aero in addition to a front spoiler?
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1969 Pontiac Firebird |
#11
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If you buy one get a metal one;
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1969-firebi...cAAOSw5y9dSMSj |
#12
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So I bought the plastic one from Parts Place. All the holes and contours line up well and it seems it will install as intended based on dry fit. The only issue I see are the end holes that match up with the bottom front edge of the fenders. The inner fender has a piece that blocks the hole at the outer fender edge, so if I try to attach the baffle at ends it seems I have to drill holes in inner fender.
Tim, can you get a close up pic of that area?
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Will Rivera '69 Firebird 400/461, 290+ E D-Ports, HR 230/236, 4l80E, 8.5 Rear, 3.55 gears '64 LeMans 400/461, #16 Heads, HR 230/236, TKO600, 9inch Rear, 3.89 gears '69 LeMans Vert, 350, #47 heads: Non-running project |
#13
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No, that shouldn't be the case. At least it was not the case on my bird. The fender skins should wrap down around the structure and be bolted together at the same corner where the baffle should bolt up. This would also be the same location you would use for the support rod if you are running a camaro style front splitter.
What I found on my car however is that the fender and the inner structure weren't bolted together at all and the fenders didn't really line up real well with that structure. What I had to do was mount the baffle from the front leading edge and get it positioned in the general area where everything is supposed to come together. I then used a punch to push, pry and prod the three pieces together until I could get a bolt through it. Then, it's just a matter of securing the bolt with a nut and washer. I found on my car that I had one side that was looking to be a better fit than the other. I started with the side that was further out first and found that it actually moved the other side a little closer. The only caveat here is that my car was a 350HO with air and had that lower pan as a factory option. It's possible cars that didn't get that pan from the factory may not have a mounting provision. Considering it's where the fender should be attached though, I wouldn't think that would be the case.
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-Jason 1969 Pontiac Firebird |
#14
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I'll take a picture of mine tomorrow. The lower edge of fender wraps around and has the corresponding bolt hole but there is metal behind it from what I think is the inner fender - I could be wrong. I am sure I'm missing parts - and it doesn't have an air dam/spoiler.
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Will Rivera '69 Firebird 400/461, 290+ E D-Ports, HR 230/236, 4l80E, 8.5 Rear, 3.55 gears '64 LeMans 400/461, #16 Heads, HR 230/236, TKO600, 9inch Rear, 3.89 gears '69 LeMans Vert, 350, #47 heads: Non-running project |
#15
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I'll take a picture of mine tomorrow. The lower edge of fender wraps around and has the corresponding bolt hole but there is metal behind it from what I think is the inner fender - I could be wrong. I am sure I'm missing parts - and it doesn't have an air dam/spoiler.
Mine is an original 400 car with factory AC (long gone)
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Will Rivera '69 Firebird 400/461, 290+ E D-Ports, HR 230/236, 4l80E, 8.5 Rear, 3.55 gears '64 LeMans 400/461, #16 Heads, HR 230/236, TKO600, 9inch Rear, 3.89 gears '69 LeMans Vert, 350, #47 heads: Non-running project |
#16
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Quote:
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Will Rivera '69 Firebird 400/461, 290+ E D-Ports, HR 230/236, 4l80E, 8.5 Rear, 3.55 gears '64 LeMans 400/461, #16 Heads, HR 230/236, TKO600, 9inch Rear, 3.89 gears '69 LeMans Vert, 350, #47 heads: Non-running project |
#17
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I would lay odds there are holes there already, but they just aren't lined up with the fenders. That said, that area is pretty robust and it's hard to move. If the fenders are fitting well already, I'd consider drilling holes. There's nothing behind there that you're going to hit with a drill bit. It's just empty space. I don't remember exactly how, but you can get your arm and hand in there to get a wrench on the bolt head you'll need to use.
Or you can try using a clip nut as well.
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-Jason 1969 Pontiac Firebird |
#18
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Gotcha, thanks. The fenders do line up well and the repro air baffle lines up well with all the holes.
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Will Rivera '69 Firebird 400/461, 290+ E D-Ports, HR 230/236, 4l80E, 8.5 Rear, 3.55 gears '64 LeMans 400/461, #16 Heads, HR 230/236, TKO600, 9inch Rear, 3.89 gears '69 LeMans Vert, 350, #47 heads: Non-running project |
#19
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Yeah if that's the case, don't fuss with it, just drill new holes.
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-Jason 1969 Pontiac Firebird |
#20
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Can anyone confirm if this actually helps with cooling or aero if I have a front lower air dam like the Camaro D80 installed? Just want to be sure before I pull the trigger to buy one.
Thanks!
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1969 Pontiac Firebird Last edited by 92GTA; 09-09-2019 at 07:48 PM. |
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