[7t4mula]

Cool look of the clean body tag, I thought about just coating that with clear. Decided to paint satin black though later.

Like the look and fit of the front spoiler and flares purchased through Ames!

[7t4mula]

This was the first time we’d seen the body after clearcoat, we’d just gotten back from our trip to Italy! I even found a hat over there that matched pretty incredibly with the new color!

Hours and hours of wet sanding down to 2000 grit! Wow! :0

[7t4mula]

I also had the experts install the glass and window trim, did not want to screw this up! He did an excellent job at installing new emblems as well!

Tag looks much better (and original) in satin black I’d say!

[VCho455]

Looking sharp! You're definitely going to stand out in the crowd. I do love the green vehicles!
Thanks for posting about the spoiler fitment.

[7t4mula]

Thanks, so many that have seen the car in person are amazed with this color!

I chose to go with some bronze to accent it. Painted grill surrounds to match the powder coated wheels I ordered from Billet Specialties!

It’s time to get crackin on these taillights as well!

[7t4mula]

Really was looking forward to getting that hood all buffed out and mounted up with a new Ring Brother hinges! Cool seeing the paint starting to shine in sunlight coming through the shop door also!

[7t4mula]

More sunlight shots and mounted hood!

[7t4mula]

Yes! Finally the day came to bring her home! Looks so amazing out in the sun!
Riding high with no weight on it, with new springs of course.

[7t4mula]

Arrived safe back at the ranch, only 20 mi. trip. Pretty amazing seeing it back in my garage. Now the fun of reassembling starts!
Thankful for a great friend and talented bodyman!

[VCho455]

Originally Posted by 7t4mula

Thankful for a great friend and talented bodyman!

We all should be so blessed.

[kingbuzzo]

looks amazing in the sun son

[7t4mula]

Thank you so much! I’m just so thankful I met Jeff, he showed up at my door just days before I was going to start the project with another shop! Divine intervention right there!
He wanted to buy some Rally II wheels I had on Craigslist and he spotted my Firebird in the garage! The rest is history!

[7t4mula]

So then comes some fun stuff! Getting to install all kinds of new parts! Trunk seal went down real nice. A little stiff, so had to adjust trunk latch until weather warmed up a little bit and softened the seal.

Inner fender wells were a bit of a challenge to install, a lot of towels and tape to prevent any scratching!

Grill panels, headlights, and running lights went together nice! Really cool seeing these new brakes being put back together with the body on it now!

[7t4mula]

Rear brake assembly look great, like the way that the Beilstein shocks add some additional good looks also.

Once again, my buddy Jeff came to the rescue with his wheel backspacing measuring tool! So cool to be able to measure different wheel, tire combinations, and see clearance issues…

These tires were just something I picked up at a local tire shop, discards… they were approximate diameter and width to what I was looking to run though. Certainly didn’t want or like the look of the big 19-20 in. rims they woulda used though!

[7t4mula]

A few more pictures showing fender well lip position and overall look. I cranked the steering box lock-lock to measure clearance there as well.

[7t4mula]

So with the correct rim sizes down, I ordered wheels and tires! While waiting for delivery, it was a good time to get crackin’ on sandblasting parts that need to be cleaned up for paint!

Also getting both new and original trim parts back in place. Some easier than others I’ll say! Yeah, that upper door frame trim SS trim was a bear! Cleaning all that old caulk and double stick foam tape, getting everything polished back up… what a job!

[7t4mula]

So nice seeing this bright shiny trim going back on! Looks great with the green, and really polished up quite well. I just did it all by hand down to 000 steel wool, chrome polish and elbow grease, as they say!

The grill panels look awesome with the trim back on also! Just started looking for a used Pontiac emblem to finish that off. Mine never had that, but really like the way that looks.

[7t4mula]

Rims are incredible! Billet Specialties makes some quality stuff! Fit and finish are super, really happy with the matte bronze powdercoating and polished hoops.

I went with 17 x 9.5 in back with 5” backspacing. Fronts are 17 x 8 with 4.5” BS.

The Wilwood brakes look great back there!

[7t4mula]

New Nitto tires arrived and just perfect! Had these tires on my Caddy CTS and Chevy HHR SS and was impressed with performance, ride and value.

Started by placing on wheel measuring tool with settings I used to check clearances. Inside looks good front and back. Closest was inside rears to leaf springs, about ¾-1” so should be fine.

[7t4mula]

Wanted to check all these clearances and fenderwell lip positions out before mounting on rims. No exchanges or returns once they’re mounted, so better safe than sorry!