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Post by mrmike on Jan 30, 2019 8:53:45 GMT -7
I found this long forgotten Firebird GTA that is in dire need of a rebuild...or I just needed another distraction. LOL This I believe was the High Performance Series kit since the Buick V-6 engine is wired and plumbed and I didn't do that unless the necessary parts were in the kit. Anyway, this Firebird GTA will be blown apart, rechromed, repainted, and rebuilt. This is probably another one of those models that I originally built in a weekend. Once I take the model apart, everything will be washed, inventoried, and refinished. The wheel rims will need to be rechromed. I never painted the model, but I did clearcoat it with enamel clearcoat which has yellowed over time. I always thought the Firebird GTA looked great in white, but I may paint it another color.    More to come... |
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Post by mustang1989 on Jan 30, 2019 10:01:00 GMT -7
This outta be fun to watch. Just how long ago did you build that bad boy?
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Post by mrmike on Jan 30, 2019 13:52:45 GMT -7
To tell you the truth Joe, I don't remember. If I had to guess, it was about twenty years ago. The date on the chassis says 1982, but the kit was the High Performance Series kit with the Turbo Buick V-6, ignition wires and heater hoses.
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Post by stitchdup on Jan 30, 2019 13:57:24 GMT -7
Not a kit I'm familiar with, but it looks kinda neat and having a v6 will make it stand out in a sea of v8 clones
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Post by mrmike on Jan 31, 2019 9:17:35 GMT -7
Yes, this kit is unique by virtue of the V-6 in the kit. Plus it has an automatic trans and a T-handle automatic shifter, but the shifter is on top of the manual shifter boot and there is a clutch pedal hanging from behind the dash. I will be making some corrections.
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Post by vcv8273 on Jan 31, 2019 18:09:14 GMT -7
Cool Mike, like seeing rebuilds of what was before and then the finished rebuild
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Post by mrmike on Jan 31, 2019 19:48:25 GMT -7
Thanks Steve! I get a certain satisfaction whenever I complete a re-build. Much of that comes from improving on what I have done before with my current skill-set.
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Post by mrmike on Feb 1, 2019 11:09:48 GMT -7
I washed the parts of my '89 Firebird GTA this morning. As you can see, the enamel clearcoat has yellowed over time. Don Yost says that enamel clearcoat won't yellow so what is his method of adding enamel clearcoat? When this is dry, I'll paint the body parts with primer and then with white paint. I'll have to dig through my paints and pick out a white paint for the GTA.    More to come... |
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Post by mmthrax on Feb 5, 2019 9:34:17 GMT -7
Very interesting.
I have never seen a rebuild before. Anxious to see how it goes. I have no doubt that you will make it a much better car this time around.
Question: How do you get it apart? Does the glue get old and weak, where you can just yank it apart?, or do you use some other means? (Chemical?)
I really want to watch this.
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Post by mrmike on Feb 25, 2019 12:56:22 GMT -7
I had forgotten about this rebuild until now! Sorry! Mark, to answer your question, I just carefully pulled everything off with some effort. When I was building this kit, I was trying to use less glue and I probably didn't use a lot of pressure putting this kit together. No chemicals were used, just some old fashioned grunt and pull! Now it's to rebuild everything! I was finally able to get some Easy-Off Oven Cleaner since the can I had was still half full, but didn't want to spray anymore. This is a second coat of the Oven Cleaner and then I'll wash it all in a few days.    More to come... |
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Post by mustang1989 on Feb 25, 2019 13:03:16 GMT -7
I do love re-builds. Looking forward to seeing more Mike.
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Post by kpnuts on Feb 25, 2019 23:30:52 GMT -7
I will enjoy watching this rebuilt.
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Post by DeeCee on Feb 26, 2019 1:43:13 GMT -7
I like to see old builds salvaged and rebuilt, i do quite a lot,
mainly because our kits are just so expensive, to do a new one every build. Popcorn%20and%20drink%20emoticon_zpsnbkzs8ys
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Post by mrmike on Mar 6, 2019 14:41:30 GMT -7
I got the Firebird out of the Easy-Off Oven Cleaner the other day and washed it off with Dawn dish detergent and a scrub brush. I set them aside to dry and forgot about them until a short while ago. I grabbed a can of Model Master Classic White Lacquer and sprayed the body and hood. They appear to have turned out very nicely.  I always start by painting the bottom of the hood first. When that is dry, I'll flip it over and spray the top.  As usual, I forgot to put something in the Oven Cleaner. Something being the front nose and the side mirrors.  More to come... |
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Post by leon on Mar 6, 2019 16:26:28 GMT -7
Body and hood look good Mike!
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Post by mrmike on Mar 6, 2019 19:45:19 GMT -7
Thanks leon! There is a little trash in the roof so I will be giving this a good wetsanding.
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Post by vcv8273 on Mar 6, 2019 20:51:34 GMT -7
Looking sweet Mike and nice job on the paint
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Post by mmthrax on Mar 6, 2019 22:18:59 GMT -7
Good progress. Can't wait for this one. I'm sure it is going to look brand new.
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Post by mrmike on Mar 7, 2019 7:08:15 GMT -7
Thanks Steve and Mark! Everything is in a holding pattern while I wait for the front nose and the side mirrors to catch up!
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Post by mrmike on Mar 9, 2019 8:11:07 GMT -7
What you see here is a hole cut into the console for an automatic shifter. The kit is set up for a manual shifter and the engine has a automatic transmission attached to it. I cut out a rectangle piece of styrene for the shifter plate.  The shifter plate is nearly complete and it just needs to painted, decaled and installed.  Here's the completed shifter plate installed in the center console.  More to come... |
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Post by mmthrax on Mar 9, 2019 13:38:04 GMT -7
I like that. That is very cool. Nice work.
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Post by vcv8273 on Mar 9, 2019 19:08:41 GMT -7
Nice work on the shifter Mike
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Post by mrmike on Mar 9, 2019 19:42:53 GMT -7
Thank you Mark and Steve! Just another one of those little things that should have been corrected a long time ago. It certainly looks better than a auto trans shifter on top of a tall rubber boot!
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Post by mustang1989 on Mar 10, 2019 19:50:56 GMT -7
Great job graphing that in Mike.
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Post by mrmike on Mar 11, 2019 13:02:33 GMT -7
Thank you Joe! When I first looked at the console, something seemed out of place. The raised shifter and the shifter boot didn't look right.
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Post by mrmike on Mar 11, 2019 18:55:48 GMT -7
I just got the last of the parts out of the Easy-Off Oven Cleaner and gave them a good washing with a scrub brush and Dawn Dish Detergent. The nose.  The rear view mirrors.  The transmission pan which was chrome plated.  When this is dry, I'll give a squirt of primer and then a good dosing of Model Master Classic White Lacquer and the transmission pan a good coating of Model Master Aluminium Metalizer. More to come... |
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Post by mrmike on Mar 14, 2019 12:41:44 GMT -7
Yesyerday, I spent some time on the Firebird GTA by reassembling the chassis.  The interior is done with the revised center console. and repainted interior.  The body has been repainted and reassembled.  More to come... |
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Post by kpnuts on Mar 15, 2019 14:27:00 GMT -7
Looking good
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Post by mrmike on Mar 15, 2019 18:38:13 GMT -7
Thanks kpnuts! I started reassembling the Firebird today.    More to come... |
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Post by vcv8273 on Mar 15, 2019 23:02:54 GMT -7
Coming along real nice Mike
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