'73 Firebird - Knocking off the ugly

[raggedjim]

Pin 9 - Black - Cluster ground
Pin 10 - blank
Pin 11 - blank
Pin 12 - blank
Pin 13 - Dark Green - Coolant sensor
Pin 14 - Light Blue - Left turn signal
Pin 15 - Orange w/black - clock
Pin 16 - blank

[raggedjim]

The temperature gauge and the oil pressure gauge required new sensors as the car I had was using aftermarket gauges. I'll post the part numbers for those later, boxes are in the garage.

[1970cstblazer]

Originally Posted by raggedjim

Nice! was it Admiralty blue?

Yes it was.

[raggedjim]

Originally Posted by 1970cstblazer

Yes it was.

One of my favorite colors, very close to Nocturne blue on the later cars. The Formulas always had a broad base of colors to choose from but the early TA's were limited. If I had my choice I'd have my car painted Admirality blue with the blue hood bird.

I know where a 73 blue Formula is with a 400 auto but the guy isn't ready to sell. It's a low mileage car and numbers matching so I keep an eye on it.

[raggedjim]

So I finally got the cluster and dash bezel back in. Randy Combs did a great job restoring an original 1973 dash bezel.

[raggedjim]

One thing I forgot to do was cut the green wire going back to the ignition switch from the cluster plug. This keeps the temp gauge from pegging out when you start the car. So I climbed back under the dash and cut that green wire.

It was originally on the idiot light cars to light up the temp light when the car was started to let you know the bulb was good. I don't need that now.

[HO455]

Great timing for your thread as I am starting to bring a 72 back from the dead myself. Looking forward to more of your information packed posts!

[raggedjim]

Originally Posted by HO455

Great timing for your thread as I am starting to bring a 72 back from the dead myself. Looking forward to more of your information packed posts!

Nice. Keep in mind the 72 has a different cluster plug. If you have any questions on anything feel free to ask. I don't know much, but what I do know is how to find information!

Good luck with the 72. I'm assuming it is a 455?

[HO455]

It's a base model Firebird. I bought it with a 350 which had a PB4 and a Holley double pumper on it and possibly a cam as it ran pretty hard. Especially after I replaced the intake with a factory 4 barrel and a Qjet. Later on the engine was pulled and installed in a 68 Lemans I had bought with cracked block.

I've got a newly machined short block and the heads are at the machine shop now. It's kinda a long story but I'm building a 303 and throwing a lot of PTFB parts at the suspension hoping to make a nice little toy.

[LS short box]

In regards to my 73 it was featured in Car Craft Dec 2000. Sold it 2002. I think it stayed around the MPLS area.
The only Fbody web site I frequent is NastyZ28.com.
Hard to believe it was almost 24 years ago.

[raggedjim]

Originally Posted by HO455

I've got a newly machined short block and the heads are at the machine shop now. It's kinda a long story but I'm building a 303 and throwing a lot of PTFB parts at the suspension hoping to make a nice little toy.

A real Pontiac 303? Kinda rare ain't it? I kinda like the freedom to change things that a base bird gives you.

[raggedjim]

Originally Posted by LS short box

In regards to my 73 it was featured in Car Craft Dec 2000. Sold it 2002. I think it stayed around the MPLS area.
The only Fbody web site I frequent is NastyZ28.com.
Hard to believe it was almost 24 years ago.

I may have seen it after it was sold. It's a great looking car.

[HO455]

Originally Posted by raggedjim

A real Pontiac 303? Kinda rare ain't it? I kinda like the freedom to change things that a base bird gives you.

Oh no, not a real 303! Its a 70 350 block bored .030 with a custom crank and KRE's. Kind of like the car the engine isn't something that anyone will give me a hard time about modifying.

[raggedjim]

Originally Posted by HO455

Oh no, not a real 303! Its a 70 350 block bored .030 with a custom crank and KRE's. Kind of like the car the engine isn't something that anyone will give me a hard time about modifying.

Sounds cool though! You need to start a build thread on it!

[HO455]

You right. I have discovered with my WMB thread that posting things keeps my memory honest as well motivating me.

Since the PY board doesn't have build section (Which is really odd) doing it here makes sense.

[raggedjim]

Originally Posted by HO455

You right. I have discovered with my WMB thread that posting things keeps my memory honest as well motivating me.

Since the PY board doesn't have build section (Which is really odd) doing it here makes sense.

Most people on PY post their builds in the 70-73 year specific tech. But some of those guys can be a bit critical, I prefer to post it here.

[HO455]

Originally Posted by raggedjim

But some of those guys can be a bit critical, I prefer to post it here.

Yeah I know what you mean.

[Tempest67]

Originally Posted by HO455

Yeah I know what you mean.

Ha I will agree to that as well, I thought it was me being "too sensitive"

I am enjoying this build, and looking forward to yours HO455

[raggedjim]

Originally Posted by Tempest67

Ha I will agree to that as well, I thought it was me being "too sensitive"

I am enjoying this build, and looking forward to yours HO455

Not knocking PY, I like to browse through the site. But I don't have the $ or inclination to get caught up in what is "right" or numbers matching stuff. If I like it and other people seem to then it's fine by me!

[Tempest67]

Originally Posted by raggedjim

Not knocking PY, I like to browse through the site. But I don't have the $ or inclination to get caught up in what is "right" or numbers matching stuff. If I like it and other people seem to then it's fine by me!

I agree 100%

My 58 wagon will be the same.

keep up the great work

[raggedjim]

One thing I always hated (who am I kidding? There's tons of things I didn't like about this firebird) was the weird seats. I think they may be 3rd gen seats but I really don't care, they got to go.

[raggedjim]

I had bought some seats from a junkyard to try to do something different. The rear seats were halfway decent (I did redye from white to black).

[raggedjim]

Unfortunately, the front seats were a bit worn.

[raggedjim]

So I ripped all the old crap off and started rebuilding.

[raggedjim]

I'm cheap, so I used a steamer to revitalize the seat cushions (good word, huh?). It plumped them up pretty good.