'67 Firebird - Getting It Done

The menacing fiberglass raised-scoop hood was purchased from Spotts Performance. Dale then added a custom ram-air pan with integrated air cleaner beneath it.

Dale explains, "All the body seams and gaps were welded or ground to be as equal as possible. Countless hours were spent working and blocking the body to get it mirror-smooth before it was ready for paint. The Firebird was then shot with a PPG DP-48 epoxy primer sealer. The colors, by XOTIC, are a pigmented candy so they really explode in the sunlight. Multiple coats of Rasberee Pearlin' were applied to the upper body and the interior, while Bright White Silver Pearlin' was applied to the lower body. Three coats of clear followed, and wet-sanding with 800-grit was done before the car was sent to Greg Felix for the artwork."

Owner Paul Tavana poses with his Bird circa 2005. photo courtesy of the Tavana family

The top end of the 455 contains Holley's 1050 Dominator with No. 82/82 jets, which mixes air with fuel delivered by an Aeromotive pump and regulator and sends it to a port-matched Victor intake. A set of 310-cfm KRE-ported E-heads with 2.11/1.77 Ferrea valves, Comp springs and 1.6:1 Scorpion roller rockers are also featured. The 72cc chambers aid in producing an 11:1 compression ratio. A complete MSD ignition system provides the spark at 36 degress total all in by 2,000 rpm. Powerhouse Automotive, of Girard, Pennsylvania, installed the exhaust system featuring a set of Dawson headers, a 3-inch x-type pipe and twin mufflers to dispense with the combustion remains. If that doesn't make enough power, there's always the NOS Pro Fogger Nitrous system.

The only thing that can drown out the symphony of mechanical machinations under the hood is the Pioneer tuner, bolstered by an Alpine amp and these 6x9 Sony speakers.

Paul made the custom gauge panel that houses AutoMeter Phantom dials. A B&M Pro Stick shifter commands the Turbo 400, built by Mike Marczynksi of Dunkirk, New York, which features a full manual reverse pattern valvebody and a transbrake.

The center of the dash is the brain-center for other onboard systems.

Corbeau seats with Simpson 5-point harnesses keep the driver and passenger secure. Fabrication of the 12-point rollcage from 1-5/8-inch, 0.134-in wall DOM tubing, the tubs and the interior tinwork was done by Dale. Spray-on Lizard Skin ceramic sound deadener keeps the cockpit cozy and quiet.

The big blue bottle is mounted where the rear seat used to be.

Here are a few of Paul's closest friends and family members who helped get his '67 Firebird project completed. From left to right: Jeff Wood, Dave Lossie, Dale Gregg, Phil Langowski, Erik Esper, Jim Franz, Alex Tavana, Greg Felix, Ray Gloss, and Paul's wife, Dawn Tavana. photo courtesy of the tavana family

Here's artist Greg Felix's handiwork. According to Alex, "The skull is actually anatomically correct and the headdress medallion contains Pontiac emblems throughout."

Custom door panels feature carbon fiber inserts. Note how the armrest is angled down to follow the direction of the rollcage sidebars. Jim Franz, Phil Langowski, Eric Smith, and Jim Wolfram, of Specialty Auto Trim in Erie, Pennsylvania, undertook the extensive interior upholstery work.

Dale back-halved the Bird using 2x3 mild steel tubing. He then hung the narrowed Moser 9-inch Ford rear, stuffed with a Detroit Locker, 4.11:1 gears and 35-spline axles, using a lower-link-adjustable ladder bar suspension featuring a wishbone link, 1350 pinion back brace and QAL coilovers to control axle movements. The front subframe was reinstalled with solid 1-inch lowering bushings and the unit was tied to the new rear frame.