1969 Pontiac Firebird - From Year(S) To "Eternity"

A FAST XFI system handles the induction chores. Fuel is moved forward from the Rock Valley stainless steel tank, by way of a Walbro 255-lph EFI in-tank fuel pump, to an Aeromotive regulator and 60-lb/hr Precision Turbo injectors. Pressurized air is delivered from a D1SC ProCharger ,with a 3.25-inch pulley at 10 psi, through Prodigy-bent 3-inch stainless steel tubing, to an Accufab 90mm throttle body with a custom elbow.

An ACCEL dual-sync distributor, MSD coil, Taylor wires, and NGK No. 8 plugs light the fire, and Hedman Hustler 1.75-inch primary Hedders dispense the fumes through a 3-inch exhaust system with an X-type pipe and Spintech mufflers. Hartline Performance of West Melbourne, Florida, tuned the combination.

Drivetrain
To stand up to the power put out by the supercharged 462 and to keep revs low on the highway, an '06 GM 4L80E automatic overdrive transmission was installed with a GM 3,500-rpm stall converter. At the opposite end of the custom 4-inch-diameter aluminum driveshaft is a Chris Alston FAB9 with a modular Strange Engineering center section, 3.31 gears, Moser 35-spline axles, and a Trutrac posi.

Chassis
To make Kevin's corner-carving dream a reality, a Wayne Due subframe, which features rails narrowed 3 inches to accommodate wider tires, was bolted in with solid-aluminum body mounts. From it was hung a '94 Mustang power rack-and-pinion; C4 Corvette uprights and upper and lower control arms with urethane bushings; a QA1 coilover setup; and a 1-inch sway bar.

In the rear, the DSE mini-tub kit, offset shackle and leaf spring kit, rear shock/frame crossmember connector, and shock-mount relocation kit made way for the large tires. A 2-inch-drop leafspring set from DSE, QA1 shocks, and urethane bushings finish off the suspension, and a set of DSE subframe connectors tie it all together.

All the work required to fit large tires paid off, as Michelin 255/40ZR17s and 335/35ZR18s now reside within the wheelwells. A set of Budnik GTX wheels, measuring 17x9.5 and 18x12 front and rear with 6-inch backspacing on all of them, help to make it possible.

How does Kevin stop his Pro Tourer? With a Baer Claw Track System featuring two-piston aluminum calipers and 13-inch cross-drilled and slotted rotors, aided by a Hydratech Hydroboost system.

Interior
Prodigy Customs and One Off Rides of Kissimmee teamed up to create the interior, and the result is a combination of beauty, functionality, and comfort-all within the parameters of blending modern and retro styles. Two-tone leather, in Mocha and Cream, and custom wood accents provide the style and beauty. Creature comforts were attended to with a power-window conversion kit from Electric Life, a DSE Selecta-Speed wiper conversion, Vintage Air A/C, and a serious stereo system. Functionality with style was achieved through the addition of four custom-upholstered C5 Corvette Sport seats, a paddle shifter, an IDIDIT tilt column, and Morris Classic Concepts three-point retractable seatbelts.

Behind The Wheel
After a year at Prodigy Customs, "Eternity" debuted at the '06 SEMA Show and was then ready for the road. Ironically, it went to the track. Kevin says, "My first experience driving the car after its long hiatus was on the road course at Road Atlanta during the '07 YearOne Experience. I was amazed at how much better the car felt and handled since my last driving experience with it.

"As recently as 2005, I was driving a '70 LS6 Chevelle on the streets of Miami and found myself cringing at the mere thought of smashing it and myself to pieces because it handled so poorly. The Firebird feels far more surefooted and agile than the Chevelle, and with the disc brakes at all four corners, I think it's substantially more competent to handle whatever I, the streets, or the track can muster!" Modern technology applied to a 40-year-old Pontiac can certainly reap rewards for the driver.

Conclusion
Through two decades of false starts, delays, and outright failures with other shops, Kevin remained determined. It paid off when he found Prodigy Customs. "My Firebird has been built to a level beyond my dreams" he says. "It's been a long hard road to 'Eternity,' but things couldn't look better for the future of this Pontiac!" It appears that the pavement ahead is finally smooth for this sleek F-body.