A set of `95 Prelude Si seats...
A set of `95 Prelude Si seats was wrapped in leather and now features Firebird lettering embroidered into the headrests and velour inserts. The custom-built, wraparound rear seats sport an integral center armrest, while dual 1.5-inch-diameter steel tubes were welded together and covered to create a styling bar, replete with neon lights, tweeters, and inlayed Firebird emblems from a Second-Gen.
Engine And Drivetrain
Under the hood, Victor knew he needed something visual to make the public take notice. A polished Paxton SN2000 centrifugal supercharger pumping out 8 psi of boost, mounted on custom brackets and surrounded by plenty of brightwork, would fill that need. Pure Pontiac power was important as well, so the foundation became a '68 400 block.
Dave's Performance in Fresno, California, was tapped to bore the block 0.030 over, complete the machine work, and assemble the short-block. Victor would build the top end. The stock crank and rods were machined, and ARP main studs and rod bolts were added. JE dished, forged pistons dropped the compression ratio to a boost-friendly 8:1 when using the 72cc chambered '70 #13 heads.
Said heads were entrusted to Bill Fleming of Fleming's Air Flow Technologies in Oakhurst, California, who ported them to flow 278/210 cfm. Ferrea stainless 2.11/1.77-inch valves are actuated by Comp Cams valvesprings and pushrods, and Butler 1.50:1-ratio roller rockers. They are directed by a 224/231-degree duration at 0.050 custom-grind, flat-tappet, hydraulic cam with 0.469-/0.480-inch lift and a 112-degree LSA.
An Edelbrock Performer intake was gasket-matched to the heads and a Barry Grant blow-through 750 Mighty Demon carb gets the pressurized atmosphere from the Paxton by way of a Spectre Performance carb hat with custom-built air-inlet tubing and a K&N cone air cleaner.
An Aeromotive street/strip fuel pump pushes the go juice to the Aeromotive A1000 bypass-adjustable regulator; then to the car through Earl's Pro-Lite 350 fuel hose and AN fittings.
Lighting off the beast is left mostly to MSD products, including a Pro-Billet distributor, a 6AL box, a boost-timing master box, and a Blaster II coil. ACCEL 300+ Spiral race wires and ACDelco plugs complete the electrical path to the combustion chambers. Ceramic-coated long-branch Ram Air exhaust manifolds and 2.5-inch side-exiting exhaust with Summit mufflers dispense the combustion remains.
To efficiently get the power to the pavement, Victor installed a Borg Warner T-10 close-ratio four-speed with a Hurst Shifter, a Lakewood bellhousing, a Hays flywheel, and a Zoom Teflon 11-inch clutch. At the far end of the Inland Empire aluminum driveshaft is a Chip Fricker-built (Chip's Hot Rods & Harleys in Oakhurst, California) Pontiac 10-bolt, fitted with an Auburn posi, 3.08 gears, Yukon 31-spline axles, and a TA aluminum rear cover with adjustable support bolts for the carrier bearings.
Body
The Bird's body has come a long way from the mess that Victor started with thanks to paint and bodywork done by Dustan Snider of Fresno, California. Both rear quarters, the trunk pan, and the floorpans were replaced, and the door handles and emblems were shaved. Dustan applied Dupont primer and blocksanded the first coat with 180 to 320-grit paper and the second with 400 and 500-grit wet. Following a coat of Dupont Chroma Premier Sealer were three coats each of Chroma Base Phantom Gray Effect and Chroma Base Dark Spiral Gray Effect.
For the graphics, two coats of Chroma Base White were sprayed; then three coats of Chroma Base Tangelo Orange. Finally, three coats of Chroma Premier Clear were applied. Wet-sanding with 1,000 to 3,000-grit papers and polishing with 3M Perfect-it 2 and 3M Glazing Compound brought out the shine. The front fender Firebird emblem was moved to the grille to replace the Pontiac emblem, and a '69 Trans Am rear spoiler was installed.
 Rick Struck and Joe Dame of...  Rick Struck and Joe Dame of Struck Upholstery in Ahwahnee took on the monumental task of the interior modifications, following Victor's design. The dashpad was leather wrapped, the floor was smoothed and padded, and a tight-weave, black-tweed carpet was installed. Auto Meter boost, oil, water, and charging gauges were all mounted in the dash panel, and a Vintage Air universal air-conditioning unit was added. |  A Barry Grant blow-through...  A Barry Grant blow-through 750 Mighty Demon carb was fitted with a Spectre Performance carb hat to receive the charge from the blower. |  This '69 has won 1st place...  This '69 has won 1st place in Custom Cars at the POCI Convention in 2008; 2nd place in Modified at the POCI Western Regional in 2008 at Bass Lake, California; 2nd place at The Tiger Run in Bend, Oregon, 2008; 1st place in Custom at Toy's For Tots in Fresno in 2007; 1st place in Musclecar at Coarsegold Car Show in 2007; 2nd place in Owner-built at Run For The Gold 2007 in Oakhurst, and numerous other awards. |