Rich Knapp
68 Firebird

 

Customer Ride 053

 



I seen a 68 car and stopped to ask if he needed help. He replied "No just tuneing."
"I told my son to never race the light blue 68 bird it will kick your a**." He has a custom 81 Bird.

I had bought a 68 Bird to restore (a couple months later) it was a pretty bad, "behind the barn car". It was delivered and I almost cried, it was BAD. As I worked on it I thought I should get a hold of the guy I seen tuneing his car about were he got his parts. No one knew who or were the car was from. I seen the car in passing on my way to work. I couldn't stop.

A couple months later there was a car show down town on the avenue and only the first 200 cars could get in. I had my sons 81 Bird there. I went into the closest store to use the rest room. I came out and there it was getting turned away, he was too late to get in. I began to run, yes run, down the ave to catch him. I was to slow :-( . I missed him again.

Again a couple months later my neighbor gave me a ad for a car for sale. It was a good car but too much for now and I had one. 4 weeks later a co-worker gives me the same ad. I read it but no way to cheap. But I called. I couldn't believe my ears it sounded like the car. I yelled to my boy "get your coat we are going for a ride."

We get to a house 1/8 mile from ours and D says he has gone there all summer. It was the house next door to his friend's aunt's house. We go in and the wife leads us to the garage. WOW It was the car. D had never seen it there before. I look it over to make it look good and reply "I have to go to the bank in the morning but i will take it."

The next day I got a second job, set things up with the bank. The day after that it was in my garage.

I have recieved calls telling me they wanted the car but I got the money together faster and I bought it for less than was stuck in the engine. I guess it was my turn to get a deal. Over 7G's in the engine alone and I payed less than 6 for the hole car.

The pics of the engine has the old stacks on it. I am now running the 360 stacks (to elimanate the reverse vacume at high speeds) as in the pics in the garage show.

This winter I am installing the frame connectors, poly body mounts and redoing the interior. Next winter the body will be restored with new sheetmetal.

Here are the specs on the car.

Quarter mile = 12's (best not yet seen)
Show class = MOD1
ENGINE = Chevy 350 4 bolt main - 30 over = Dis. 355
short block build by "Automotive Specialties" Neenah WI.
( Pontiac 400 on floor as back up)
bhp = 400
Fuel = Turbo Blue 115+ ( at the track only of course ). Puddle jumping it drinks 93 pump.
Compression = 10:01
Heads = 462624.....75-86...350......76cc chamber 1.94/1.5 valves
Intake = Weiand Tunnel Ram
Carbs = 2 x Holly 450's
cam = Clevite # 229-1993 at full 480 lift 230 duration symmetrical lobe
Rockers = BRG 1.5 Rollers
Ignition = Mallory Promaster Coil
Timing = Gear Driven Quiet Drive
Clutch = Center Force Duel Friction
Trany = M-22 "Rock Crusher"
Rear End = 10 Bolt Posi. 4:11 gears
Exhaust = 3" Flow Tec.
Cooling = 6 Blade Mechanical with Electric back up.

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