Help me get a firebird

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Apr 1, 2006 | 05:38 PM

I6power

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From: the beaches of florida

Help me get a firebird

My buddy got into a wreck with his firebird. The front end is kinda screwed, its slightly bent and is gonna have to go on the frame machine to get pulled. The front fenders, bumper, and hood are all screwed and need to be replaced. I found a good deal on all those parts at the junk yard and at school they have a frame machine. So i got what it takes to fix her but i need to get him to sell it. He dosnt really have the money to fix it, but he dosnt want to get rid of it cause the motor is under warranty. He wants to take out the motor and have it put into a Volvo. I havent looked into it but i assume the costs of having a 305 dropped into a volvo would exceed the cost of having the firebird fixed. So do any of you have a better guess of how much that would cost him to have that done? If i get him a price then im one step closer to getting that car. He said if its too much then ill be the first person hell go to too sell it. In case your wondering its a 1990 firebird (not the greatest year i know) 305 automatic w/ t-tops. It dosnt look like much now but i can make it look great.

Apr 1, 2006 | 08:28 PM

mightypan42

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From: Charleston, WV

If I was in that situation, I'd give him some cash for the Firebird, let him keep the 305 and tranny, and drop a LS1 and 6 speed into it. But that's just me. I have a friend who has a Caddy with the 305 in it and it's giving him trouble, so I'm kinda prejudiced against it

Good luck with it, whatever happens.

Apr 1, 2006 | 09:46 PM

jake00

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From: NW burbs of chicago

Quote:

305 dropped into a volvo would exceed the cost of having the firebird fixed

imo a 305 is a uselss motor but FWIW
http://www.jagsthatrun.com/Pages/Volvo_200_V-8.html

Apr 3, 2006 | 11:39 AM

parks911

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From: Georgia

Quote:

Originally Posted by I6power

My buddy got into a wreck with his firebird. The front end is kinda screwed, its slightly bent and is gonna have to go on the frame machine to get pulled.

How can you put a uni-body on a frame machine to straighten it?

Apr 3, 2006 | 12:16 PM

JD717

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From: Hudson Florida.

As far as I know, the firebird hasnt had a full frame since the 70's when it was still a solid metal car. I'm probably wrong on this though. IMO, you should save your money. I'm not too fond of GM vehicles from the 90's, now early 80's is a different story.

Apr 3, 2006 | 12:17 PM

I6power

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From: the beaches of florida

Quote:

Originally Posted by parks911

How can you put a uni-body on a frame machine to straighten it?

long story short,
clamp the car in place, hook the hooks from the hydraulic rams onto the front end, press the button

i see what your saying maybe i got the name of the machine wrong but ive seen the procedure done and i was told that it would work with the firebird

Apr 3, 2006 | 01:32 PM

Snake1979

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From: Riverview, MI

You can straigten out a unibody car on a frame rack. Helps to straighten things out.

I'm not sure how much your trying to buy this car for, but I would advise against it. Thats not the best year of a car, and a 1990 unibody car isn't worth straigtening out.

The 305 is a good motor, for a family car, not a firebird. Save your money, buy a late 70's, early 80's model camaro or Firechicken. Since this is a Ford site, I would be fonder of seeing you in a stang of some sort, but I'm biased.