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06-24-2024, 10:12 PM | #1 |
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Re: '73 Firebird - Knocking off the ugly
For the voltmeter I ran an orange wire for the 12v and a black for ground. Not rocket surgery...
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06-27-2024, 10:43 AM | #2 |
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Re: '73 Firebird - Knocking off the ugly
Next on to the cluster connector. The 70-71 cars have 12 pin connectors and the 72 up have 16 pin connectors. One of the best resources I found for Firebird wiring was American Autowire's website. They have tons of information for almost every car or truck.
In particular I downloaded their gauge kit installation instructions doc#510079. this has great info for all of the second gen Firebirds. Using the information in the instructions I repinned the connector to look like this Pin 1 - Gray - Dash lights Pin 2 - Black - Seat belt light ground Pin 3 - Yellow - Seat belt light (not shown in pic) Pin 4 - Tan - Brake warning light Pin 5 - Pink - 12 volt keyed Pin 6 - Dark Blue - Right turn signal Pin 7 - Green - Hi Beam indicator Pin 8 - Dark Blue - Oil pressure gauge
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06-27-2024, 10:54 AM | #3 |
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Re: '73 Firebird - Knocking off the ugly
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
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06-27-2024, 10:57 AM | #4 |
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Re: '73 Firebird - Knocking off the ugly
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.
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06-28-2024, 09:43 PM | #5 |
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Re: '73 Firebird - Knocking off the ugly
So I finally got the cluster and dash bezel back in. Randy Combs did a great job restoring an original 1973 dash bezel.
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06-28-2024, 09:52 PM | #6 |
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Re: '73 Firebird - Knocking off the ugly
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.
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06-29-2024, 12:01 PM | #7 |
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Re: '73 Firebird - Knocking off the ugly
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!
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Thanks to Bob and Jeanie and everyone else at Superior Performance for all their great help. RIP Bob Parks. 1967 Burban (the WMB),1988 S10 Blazer (the Stink10 II),1969 GTO (the Goat), 1970 Javelin, 1952 F2 Ford OHC six 4X4, 29 Model A, 72 Firebird (the DBP Bird). 85 Alfa Romeo If it breaks I didn't want it in the first place The WMB repair thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=698377 |
06-29-2024, 12:35 PM | #8 | |
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Re: '73 Firebird - Knocking off the ugly
Quote:
Good luck with the 72. I'm assuming it is a 455?
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06-29-2024, 12:58 PM | #9 |
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Re: '73 Firebird - Knocking off the ugly
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.
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Thanks to Bob and Jeanie and everyone else at Superior Performance for all their great help. RIP Bob Parks. 1967 Burban (the WMB),1988 S10 Blazer (the Stink10 II),1969 GTO (the Goat), 1970 Javelin, 1952 F2 Ford OHC six 4X4, 29 Model A, 72 Firebird (the DBP Bird). 85 Alfa Romeo If it breaks I didn't want it in the first place The WMB repair thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=698377 |
06-29-2024, 09:10 PM | #10 |
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Re: '73 Firebird - Knocking off the ugly
A real Pontiac 303? Kinda rare ain't it? I kinda like the freedom to change things that a base bird gives you.
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06-30-2024, 08:06 AM | #11 |
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Re: '73 Firebird - Knocking off the ugly
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.
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Thanks to Bob and Jeanie and everyone else at Superior Performance for all their great help. RIP Bob Parks. 1967 Burban (the WMB),1988 S10 Blazer (the Stink10 II),1969 GTO (the Goat), 1970 Javelin, 1952 F2 Ford OHC six 4X4, 29 Model A, 72 Firebird (the DBP Bird). 85 Alfa Romeo If it breaks I didn't want it in the first place The WMB repair thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=698377 |
06-29-2024, 08:38 PM | #12 |
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Re: '73 Firebird - Knocking off the ugly
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. |
06-29-2024, 09:11 PM | #13 |
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Re: '73 Firebird - Knocking off the ugly
I may have seen it after it was sold. It's a great looking car.
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09-13-2024, 07:13 PM | #14 |
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Re: '73 Firebird - Knocking off the ugly
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.
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09-13-2024, 07:30 PM | #15 |
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Re: '73 Firebird - Knocking off the ugly
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).
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09-13-2024, 07:32 PM | #16 |
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Re: '73 Firebird - Knocking off the ugly
Unfortunately, the front seats were a bit worn.
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09-13-2024, 07:40 PM | #17 |
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Re: '73 Firebird - Knocking off the ugly
So I ripped all the old crap off and started rebuilding.
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09-13-2024, 07:45 PM | #18 |
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Re: '73 Firebird - Knocking off the ugly
I'm cheap, so I used a steamer to revitalize the seat cushions (good word, huh?). It plumped them up pretty good.
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09-13-2024, 07:47 PM | #19 |
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Re: '73 Firebird - Knocking off the ugly
But, because I'm a fan of fat-bottomed girls, I added some padding. You know you like it!
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09-13-2024, 07:58 PM | #20 |
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Re: '73 Firebird - Knocking off the ugly
Now one thing I did that people tend not to do anymore if they are using new foam is to add some carpet on the bottom of the seats to prevent the wire springs from cutting into the bottom foam.
They (who is they?) say the new foam will not cut like the old foam. Yeah, right. When has new stuff ever been as good as the old stuff??? Never! so if you are going through the trouble to do this add the carpet at the bottom. The old foam lasted for 40 years, the new foam will last ????.
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09-13-2024, 08:02 PM | #21 |
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Re: '73 Firebird - Knocking off the ugly
I forgot to take any pics of the top stripped down ( I was kinda excited) but it came out okay. Hopefully some of the wrinkles will work out once the sun comes back out.
Now all I gotta do is the same thing on the drivers seat.
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09-13-2024, 08:26 PM | #22 |
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Re: '73 Firebird - Knocking off the ugly
Nice Job
that looks great I like the way you work (and think) keep it going
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09-13-2024, 08:37 PM | #23 |
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Re: '73 Firebird - Knocking off the ugly
Thanks buddy, I will try to keep posting
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09-14-2024, 12:11 PM | #24 |
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Re: '73 Firebird - Knocking off the ugly
Nice work! Way better than any velour seat. Yuck!
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Thanks to Bob and Jeanie and everyone else at Superior Performance for all their great help. RIP Bob Parks. 1967 Burban (the WMB),1988 S10 Blazer (the Stink10 II),1969 GTO (the Goat), 1970 Javelin, 1952 F2 Ford OHC six 4X4, 29 Model A, 72 Firebird (the DBP Bird). 85 Alfa Romeo If it breaks I didn't want it in the first place The WMB repair thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=698377 |
09-14-2024, 04:33 PM | #25 |
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Re: '73 Firebird - Knocking off the ugly
Thanks, I agree!
I've been struggling today. This car is a 73 and has seat bolt spacing from side to side of about 13.5". all of the custom seats I robbed from the junkyard were from 74-75 firebirds and the spacings are 11.5"!!! So I spent most of the day cutting and welding just to get the seat in. It happens. Now I just need to get the drivers seat recovered and installed.
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