Archive: 1967 Pontiac Firebird

Doors off and a couple windows out.

Tagged: Body, Disassembly
7th April 2008
Took both doors off. Took rear window and one rear quarter window out. The rubber seal for the back window had almost completely disintegrated so the glass just lifted out. One quarter window was seperated from its tracks (a plastic roller has fallen off) so this was also simple – the other side is still connected to the guide tracks, so I’ll leave it for now. Don’t do this to…
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Not much done.

Tagged: Disassembly
6th April 2008
It decided to snow so not much done. Took trunk lid off and cleaned the trunk area out. Some pictures of the rust near the shock towers are below. Took tail lights out. Tried to take the bumper off but a mounting bolt in the trunk just spins, and I sheared the two mounting bolts for the towbar which connects to the bumper… too damned cold to sort it out…
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It’s slowly disappearing.

Tagged: Disassembly
5th April 2008
Took front left fender off, much easier than the other one. Will also need replacing; not only the rust but a cross section of the panel showed that the filler on it was at least 4 times that of the metal itself. Also took the wheelhouses off. Off as well came a lot of the front end; valance and a load of support panels and the doors.   Fender, valance…
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So begins the stripping down.

Tagged: 1967 Pontiac Firebird
4th April 2008
Front right fender taken off with difficulty, unsure of how it all fitted together and to help a few of the bolts were rusted to the nut or the body, so there was a lot of cutting to the sheet metal. This sides lower fender panel was also taken off. Found a fair amount of rust about the place, the fender and lower panel will need to be replaced. The…
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Intake manifold test.

Tagged: 1967 Pontiac Firebird
3rd April 2008
Engine started nicely again. Performed intake manifold vacuum test (just stick this gauge into one the vacuum hoses, then start the car and note the vacuum reading). Results are good, maybe a little high though. Results below (in inches of Mercury): Fully depress throttle, needle jumps between the two throttle blip indicators. At idle the needle flickers with a range of ~0.7 sits at about 22.5. As throttle is gradually…
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Compression test again.

Tagged: Engine, Ignition
2nd April 2008
Car started straight away today. Thought I’d do the cylinder compression test again before moving on to test the intake and fuel fump vacuum pressures. But, battery run out after the compression test, so intake vacuum will have to be tomorrow. The difference in results from yesterday, although minor, are probably due to the engine being hotter as the test was conducted quicker this time round. Curious why number 4…
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Compression test.

Tagged: Engine, Ignition
1st April 2008
Car would not start today. Ha. Gravity fed petrol into pump then reattached fuel lines and car runs. Unsure of problem. Performed compression tests on the cylinders of the engine – remove all spark plugs, then screw the gauge into each spark plug hole whilst turning the engine over.   An engine overhaul is intended (new gaskets, piston rings etc.) but this test should flag up any serious problems. Diagnosed…
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Cleaned ignition coil contacts.

Tagged: Engine, Ignition
27th March 2008
Tried spraying WD40 down carburetter barrels, nothing happens, could indicate faulty ignition electrics, could not. Pulled out ignition coil and tested resistances on primary and secondary windings, appears to be good, gives a large ratio of the in/out voltages. Cleaned case and contacts while it was out. Put back in, no difference to start up. Tested spark plugs, there are sparks at each plug.…
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Recharged battery back in.

Tagged: Engine, Ignition
26th March 2008
Recharged battery back in. Replaced the sheared and rusty battery clip bolts. Engine turns over at a greater rate and sounds somewhat healthy but doesn’t fire. Battery was part of the problem, must have lost it’s charge in transit. 10L of petrol put in, no change.   Problem must lie with either igniton electrics or fuel system. Quickly tested, there are sparks at all spark plug leads.…
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Starter motor back on car. Battery off to charge.

Tagged: 1967 Pontiac Firebird
25th March 2008
Starter motor back on car. Still doesn’t turn over, just a faint whir. Battery unhooked and left to charge – a big ‘duh’ if this solves it – don’t think it will however, just exhausting possibilities. …
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Cleaning and testing of starter motor.

Tagged: 1967 Pontiac Firebird
24th March 2008
Finished cleaning innards with wet and dry and petrol. Brushes and commutator were all in good condition, but now at least cleaner. Drive pinion turns smoothly. Shafts regreased and whole thing reassembled. Tested by hooking directly to known good battery – works fine.   Seems to have been a pointless excercise, other than making it shiny.   Tomorrow: put starter motor back in and test.   Picture would have been…
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