[JUDGE3]

Me and my better half cruised 71.3 miles today! first drive with restoration complete. everything performed flawlessly and drove great! this was my first restoration, all my other cars were "rolling fix ups" not restorations at all.

I hope this thread helped someone along the way, especially the folks like myself that do it yourself the best they can, self learning as you go and are not after fanfare but simply a car they always wanted and built to just smile everytime there in it.

wish everyone the best.

Eric Blankenship

[grd777]

Originally Posted by JUDGE3

Me and my better half cruised 71.3 miles today! first drive with restoration complete. everything performed flawlessly and drove great! this was my first restoration, all my other cars were "rolling fix ups" not restorations at all.

I hope this thread helped someone along the way, especially the folks like myself that do it yourself the best they can, self learning as you go and are not after fanfare but simply a car they always wanted and built to just smile everytime there in it.

wish everyone the best.

Eric Blankenship

great to see .can't wait for my turn ,well done

[HWYSTR455]

Car turned out fantastic! Enjoy!


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[AG]

That has the perfect stance.

[stealthgoat]

Originally Posted by JUDGE3

now these are white letters. 2023 date codes. old brown letters were 2018. no comparison to the 2018's. I cleaned them with everything under the sun and still turned brown.

so pleased that BFG worked this out and made it right. especially after such a long time my having them. discount tire was the bfg/michelin dealer that took them back.

they will actually return them to the manufacturer. even received a follow up e mail today from bfg asking if the issue was resolved to my satisfaction.

I asked discount tire about the guarantee not to turn brown. he stated he has not been informed by bfg of such a guarantee but should I have the same problem they will do the same process for me again. impressed all the way around.

so i'll be watching these white letters like awaiting a flower to bloom. lol

I am hoping that the new tires stay white!
I am one of the many guys who had the brown letters, finally mounted 'letters in' on steel wheels... I have some fresh Rally IIs that would look fantastic with old school white letter T/As.

[Tempest]

Well Done, the car looks fantastic, you should be very proud.

from replacing torque boxes to final paint and interior, looks amazing,

Thank you for sharing your journey.


also, glad you were able to get some satisfaction from BFG

[cnc]

Originally Posted by JUDGE3

mercy am I ready to drive it till the wheels fall off.

Beware originals, a bully has just been born.

Nice work on the stripes…what mix did u use to apply them or did u purchase a solution??? Car looks awesome great Job

[JUDGE3]

Originally Posted by cnc

Nice work on the stripes…what mix did u use to apply them or did u purchase a solution??? Car looks awesome great Job

my phoenix graphics stripes (really like em) came with a couple different gels/solutions but I did not use them just because I had installed some clear paint protection film before and knew a typical soap/water mix is fine. I didn't even pay any mind to how much soap in the spray bottle just squirted some in.

may as well throw on a as purchased pic still on the trailer october 2015, and the end game in my shop october 2023. and my fav pics of the engine. Think i'll throw this USA 1 tag on. it fits my blue stripe, blue spinners & lug nuts scheme and I do love flying the USA for sure any chance I get.

lookin around for another Pontiac already. the car bug happily never gos away!

**********************************The End?********************************************** ***

[cnc]

Yes I heard soap and water too think dawn dish soap ( preferred ) ..just using squirt bottle……..love it…

[JUDGE3]

found this to interesting to not attach to my build thread. dallas craigslist.

https://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/ct...682693977.html

to share the history mine is actually a 1973. it was originally ascot silver and would have looked near exactly like this one. adding to it, the asking price is $26,500 and my total investment including purchase price in my completed clone is $29,483 just thought the price comparison was also a what-r-the-odds thing as well.

the long story and not short: didn't care if I found a 70-71-72 or 73 firebird to clone but I did feel the 1972 honeycomb front grill is the best looking of them all. I watched mine on craigslist for 6 months as it started at $6,000 back in 2015. when it got down to $3,000 I bought it. I sold the drivetrain & various parts for $1,500 so I began my clone with just $1,500 in it.

the fella I bought it from in omaha neb, was the 2nd owner. just spoke to him again a week ago. the car was the dealership owners gift to his daughter. at some point it was in a collision and required a complete front clip and it all came from a red 1972 firebird as I uncovered the red paint. the front frame was apparently ok because the frame number matches the build sheet timeline and is 1973. so thats why it has the 1972 front and the fun thing is I was wanting to clone a 1972. had the car been a 1973 completely I would have cloned it as a 73 with the hood bird and matching decals so that worked out great got what I wanted.

at the time of the collision the daughter wanted it painted blue and the rear spoiler and light blue side stripes were added.

by the time I came along it did not have the original rear differential and springs in it either. needed a lot of work and was the perfect clone candidate.

the car was new in omaha neb, and stayed there the entire time until I bought it. and it had the rust to prove it. the car had sat since 1988 and had a sanyo 8 track in it college decal on the rear windshield and a styx rock band decal on the rear bumper.

attached my phs build sheet and pics of the craigslist car. I think hes asking a fair price looks to be a very nice car.

[JUDGE3]

ascot silver black stripe craigslist car near exact as my car new.

lucern blue light blue stripe as I bought it. spoiler was added also.

cameo white blue stripe clone complete. hmm I like all 3!

[Singleton]

In the process of replacing the frame rails/torque box/trunk floor in my 70 Formula. It's a crying shame that all the pictures in this thread are gone.

[HWYSTR455]

Yeah I hate when that happens...

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[VCho455]

Originally Posted by Singleton

In the process of replacing the frame rails/torque box/trunk floor in my 70 Formula. It's a crying shame that all the pictures in this thread are gone.

I share your disappointment too. I pulled the thread out of my bookmarks last month in preparation for starting on my 72.