Firebird Formula First Start in Years!
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- Опубликовано: 9 май 2019
- Today I introduce to you the 1973 Firebird Formula 350! This car has been one of my dream cars for the last 5 years, and I finally own one! Unfortunately this one is pretty rusty and needs basically one of everything!
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Great video! The king of first starts strikes again. I really like the paint scheme on that ol`girl!
hi
Derek when r u going to do a firebird? Correct me if you have already
Its factree
yes
Well, I'll be dipped! A feller didn't think he'd find you here! lol
The story of this old bird getting brought back to life and then having a happy rip through the snow was better than anything Hollywood has made in the last ten years.
nice car should clean up good
One of the best looking car fronts ever.
I don't have anything against the venerable 350. I have installed, worked on them, re-built them, etc.,etc., but what that car needs is a HO 455 and you will have a screamer. In 1975 I had a 71 with a 455 in it and 4-speed. One time I was cruising at 60 mph in 4th gear and all I did was punch the car and it started smoking both rear tires as it shot up in speed over 100 mph in just seconds. It was absolutely the most powerful feeling car I ever had. I wish I would have been able to keep it, but youth and youthful ideas are most of the time done without much real deep thought about what you are doing. It mostly was about what you wanted at the time. I miss that car a lot.
Hey Mr. Digs. Just wanted to let you know your vids really help me feel better. Mom had to go the the hospital for the 3rd time this month today, and these videos really take my mind off of it. Thank you brother.
Edit** it's been a week, and momma is still in the hospital. I graduate on Friday, and she's been there for every single first day and last. She won't get to make it to the one thing she's been fighting with me for. 12 years of agony and long nights, and she isn't gonna be there guys. I'm really discouraged, and don't really know if I want to graduate anymore.
Do me a big favor, Hug your mom really tight and tell her you love her.
My mom passed away on March 31st. Three days before her 53rd birthday. I took her to the hospital on a Friday and by Sunday she passed away due to a widespread infection throughout her body.
It's never easy, my mom was in and out after her first and second heart bypasses. She's okay now and still driving a stick at 72 so be positive and I hope your mom gets better and comes home soon!!! Keep your chin up.
DragonBrownies I am so sorry to hear that brother. I definitely will. Today is Mother's Day and she's still in ICU so I went and cleaned the house from top to bottom. Maybe when she gets home she will notice
Matthew Fogarty I'm so glad to hear that brother. I hope Momma gets better soon. I pray she does
I hope your Mom gets better soon
I know this is a month or two late but I personally share a love for these cars as well. I think this ole gal needs a full resto and I think you should document it on your RUclips channel as you go along. That’s a series I would def watch start to finish. I’m binge watching the Satellite vids now on both channels. Amazing y’all. Absolutely amazing.
I am 57 don’t have money or time to do that kind of stuff anymore.But getting to watch you guys and the other ones is the next best thing.But I am getting to slowly rebuild my 1997 bmw convertible which is fun
American Muscle will live forever ! People these videos are therapeutic to me, I absolutely love it to watch when a classic car gets salvaged and brought back to live, and is eventually restored to its full glory. Especially if it is American Muscle, luxury coupes land yachts, or even older vehicles from the very early ages of the brass era automotive era.
I salute you guys and all the fines folks that do the likes of it.
Take your time with this one. Stabilize the body, work on the chassis, electrical and interior as time and money allow. But budget for a Pontiac 455 when you find one! Man, she'll be a keeper!
that fire bird is a prime candidate for a full restore !!!
He's definitely got his hands full with that one dam it's rough and rotten but anything can be done with money and determination and the money has to come before anything lol
Who’s here watching 3 years later?! I’m scanning my way through the library for any I might have missed! Thank you JYD!
One of my wife's car as a teen. I grew up with big block buddies and had a few of my own. What I learned is they create crap loads of carbon build up on everything exposed to combustion. A regular long cruise while adding top end cleaner every time you shut the hot engine off does wonders. Choke it out with the cleaner, have some lunch and do it over again until the valves shine. Then keep a crap load of fuel additive in the tank for a while. After that it's up to you on things. Gasoline these days really doesn't have a lot of umph, you can get creative on a cleaner burn. Cheers! great video and congrats on your dream car. You manifested it, Been there done that. No other feeling like having a dream car or cars....YAY!
Nice Bird, dude. I just picked up a '73 Amx Javelin, around the same condition as your bird. Got it running the other day, the 360 ran smooth and the 4 speed works. Love doing this stuff.
Max Jax Lucky you buddy!
The first video of yours that I saw was the F250 revival with Lucas, which I have watched probably a dozen times over. This is the channel for true gearheads. Really great videos and the editing is spot on. It makes these videos so much fun to watch and has me dreaming every time I see an abandoned ride in a field. Thanks for the great videos and lofty dreams! :D
My 1st car was a "74 Pontiac Firebird. Paid $400. for it in 1975. Great little car.
Mine was a 1982 chevy c10 custom with a 350 small block from February 2003 to 2008 I was a kid but it was a grandad of mine that died from cancer and it was given to me...... I miss it to this day
Congrats on the owning one of the best years of Firebirds made!
Well done! You lost all that footage but you recovered nicely. Great idea to take the time and explain the loss. It worked flawlessly. Be safe and thanks for sharing.
**Awesooooome!** Sounds like it has just rolled off the assembly-line!
That beauuuuutiful rumble of the V8! Cheers from New Zealand!
This video is much better than the car shows that you see on TV. Instead of everything being a high stress time crunch it's just 2 guys that know what theyre doing but still make mistakes and laugh them off. Just doing what they love
If you were closer to me, I'd give you a PONTIAC 350 to put in that bird. That SBC belongs in a Camaro, NOT a Formula. I used to have a 73 Formula 400, it was my favorite car ever. Glad you are keeping the dream alive, tho!
Yeah, you got that right....get that Chev out..I would imagine some previous owner took out the bottom end in the 400 Pontiac (probably a rod bearing) and was too lazy to re-do it right.....that is, re-do the Pontiac mill. Pull the Chev and save the Chev for??
Good luck saving her....hope you carry on with it.
" my old man is a television repairman,he's got the ultimate set of tools. I can fix it" - Jeff spicoli
i thought it was my brother is a plumber
Huhhhh?
Dewayne Kaczmarek fast times at ridgemont high movie
"
Firebird 400 is one of the coolest cars ever!
I’ve been watching your videos for quite awhile so I don’t know how I missed this one. Wow do you look different without the beard! I’m probably older than most your fans but its awesome watching you work on these old junkers. You’ve got a lot of knowledge and you use it. That’s something you don’t see a lot of these days in young or old people.
The first car I bought myself was a 1971 Pontiac Firebird Espre? Red with black bucket seats and a 3 speed on the floor. It had a 350 2bbl no power steering , had disc brakes. I bought the car for a graduation present to myself in 1975. Like I said I’m older.. I put dual glass pacs on the car Fenton racing wheels, and speed rated raiding tires and air shocks. I ran the crap out of that car, redline was5500 rpms . It would get rubber in all three gears! I never changed anything else .my girlfriend and I would go to our local McDonald’s on Friday and Saturday nights hang out and pickup racing my favorite was stop light to stop light. It’s wasn’t the fastest car in the group but it did pretty darn good. I kept that car for 2 years then did something stupid. I got married and traded my bird for more of a family car. I’ve missed that car since the day I traded it off and seeing you with that 73 I hope you fix it and keep it.
Thank you for sharing your videos and your life. May God bless you in all you do..
as someone who's first muscle car they saw was a firebird it has had a special place in my part and im so glad to see you restore one i'd love to see the end product.
Yesss, finally a new video! Aaand about a Pontiac! Greetings from Hungary
Tolnai János végre valaki ismeri ezt a csatornát itthon is 😍
@@peterbalint311 Vagyunk néhányan azért ;)
@@Gookrak Bizony
Can you find one of those in hungary
This car is beautiful. One of my favourite cars ever
New dream car unlocked!! Love that front grill with the aligning hood scoops and those body lines. What a car!!!
My first car was a then 6 year old 1970 Firebird 350 I bought with a three speed Saginaw and 68,000 miles on it for $1000. It was hands down my favorite car ever. Your video made me nostalgic for my old bird - Bad!
Got home from work, made dinner, packed a bong, and saw Junkyard Digs has a new video out. How perfect is that
Out of all the years of the Pontiac versions of these cars 73 74 was my favorite. They used to come in an orange color that was just loud but cool. I really hope you make this guy the road tool she should be! However it's gonna take a lot of work! Great stuff guys! Thank you!
Hey I got a 1976 classic van for sell its got a big block in it and it runs for sell you can call me 9107407927 my name is ricky and I stay in Lumberton nc
Love to see vintage birds saved! Car looks fairly complete with a lot of desirable parts👍 great find👏✌️
The last few days I've gotten so hooked on watching car "revival" videos. It's interesting and I wish I knew more about cars. And hopefully I'll learn something from all the videos I watch. And hopefully sometime in the future I'll be able to buy myself my dream car and fix it up!
Videos like this are a great way to gain some fundamental understanding of how engines work and how everything works together. Couple that with diving headfirst into a project and you'll pick it up in no time. This is a great hobby to be involved in, and I love every second of rebuilding my old Chevelle and LeMans convertible.
I see a multi-coloured Firebird & I want to paint it blaaaack....and drop in a 455.
Not 455 but SD 455. Fixed that.
@@jeffmason103 Mmmmm...Sooooper dooooty. And a shaker. And a Muncie.
@@jeffmason103 and my 01 Passat is faster in every way. 235hp at 6000 and 230lb/ft at 3000 , red line of 7500rpm, 3400lb curb, better brakes, better geometry and its a 4 door family car. . classic cars are cool but the shit engines are horrible. Dont get me wrong, i love me some loppy V8 but there is no point. I Feed my V8 addiction with a 97 grand marquis with bolts ons, heads, cams, all the suspension goodies and a bit of N2o.. 460hp on pump gas (500HP on N2o) for the last 150k miles.
@@zuestoots5176 Well..uuuh..10 points for you, I guess. I doubt we'll be seeing people rescuing your Passat in 50 years and giving it a loving restoration. Or your Grand Marquis, either.
@@XBullitt16X I hear ya. The catch: it's all older stuff. I think we can all agree that older stuff is / was loads better than the stuff of today. Sad .... but true.
I love that year, make and model! I cant wait to see how it turns out
I was taught to adjust Chevy valves by running the engine, loosen the rocker nut until you hear "clacking", tighten until it goes away and add 1/4 to a 1/2 turn. Always worked out great for me, but it does make a bit of a mess. CorvetteBen made some valve covers to use when doing this. He cut the top, center out of a pair of old covers and it really does a good job of reducing the oil splash.
WOW, my first car! 1973 Firebird Formula 400 w/350 Turbo trans. Passed it on to my brother when I bought a new one and he outran the the local police a bunch of times before losing his license. He sold it after it sat a while, but it was still in great shape - just really drank gas. Mine had the same hood scoops - non-functioning because they not been knocked out. It could have been made functional, but never got around to it. Yours has seen better days.
Think you make it the way you want your dream car to be, love those old Pontiacs
Awsome video guys.... Keep them coming.....you guys are seriously living the dream for me.... classic American cars..🤘 🇺🇸🇬🇧
That Firebird just came back to life before our very eyes. Nice donuts - congrats on the new toy! I look forward to seeing what you do with it.
My brother had a beautiful 72 Firebird Formula that he bought in 1982. It was an awesome machine.
I love those cars. Specially a 4 speed car. Restaure the thing. She earned it!
I know the feeling, I got my dream car which is a 69 dodge charger with a 440 in it. I found when I was a junior in high school. I'm 35 now and still working on it. But I love that car.
Good luck with the charger. I really want one. Check out a channel called junkerup on RUclips. He is all about chargers.
Brings old memories back, love every bit of it. Thank you for taking the time to video from Steve N.B Canada
From watching these videos and thunderhead289 videos I've learned Luke is a smart man, very entertaining!!! Thanks Keven and mook!!!
My buddy has a 71 formula 400 that we are currently rebuilding the 400 and th350 trans. Theyre awesome cars. If anyone near pa has a dash we could sure use one. Lol
I think you should fully restore it
awwwwwwwww, spray do a qwik sand with a scotch brite and hit it with some satin clear and change the dubs for 15 Pontiac
mags
I'd be happy if they'd just get it back on the road. I don't know if it would be worth it to do a complete restoration. If it were mine I would, but I'd slowly do it and try to keep driving it and enjoying it for as long as I could before I put it on a rotisserie for a full paint job.
Restore it completely
@@WS-kk2iz back to original factory specs. No mods.
No just wrap it 🤓
Hard to believe how fast 4 years goes by thinking it's about time this old girl gets some love 😅
Seeing a video this old and how you look here vs current is crazy!!
Nice car! It’s got the Dylan McCool Charger paint scheme. Love it! 😎👍
I don't like my vintage cars w/ a beat up body. That would make me look bad.
Love these junkyard rescues….
That was totally Chief! Those were the best Formulas! I had a yellow with black vinyl top 73 Le Mans during the 80s! It was a nice paint and well kept car!
Super job on restoring that Firebird
My favorite car of all time is the Plymouth Roadrunner. I hope one day y'all can find that in a junkyard and restore it.
Do a collaboration with vice grip garage!!!!!!!
My favorite bet flavor is Burnt Offering.
I had a 1973 Firebird Formula with a Pontiac 400. balanced and blueprinted, headers, Crower Cam, Muncie w/Hurst shifter 4 speed, Holley 4 barrel. It was a numbers matching car when I bought it but, it did have a 75 nose on it presumably for the better headlight setup. I like the original front end much better. Your front end looks to be in pretty good shape. One thing that you will want to add as you go along is sub frame connectors as the rear frame from the factory is uni-body and, a definite weak spot in it's construction. I had to get rid of mine back in 95 I think it was and, I have missed the car ever since. If your looking for body and or suspension parts - you might try Bethels Goat Farm if they are still in business. They carried a large number of hard to find Pontiac parts. I kook forward to seeing more of your build as you go along and, sincerely wish you the best of luck with it. They were a beautiful design and I wish there were more of them still around! Garrett Doyle
Awesome project .I look forward to this journey .
I have one myself .In Cali .I have a 73 firebird espirt .350 4b carb .
At the moment working on suspension.
Good luck brother
And be safe.
Favorite belt flavor is them sour rainbow ones. Who knew candy stores sold car parts!
"you got rust on your teeth" would be a great Junkyard Digs Tshirt
You guys have a lot of fun working on old cars together. Great video.
glad to see you guys reviving the old school rides.
FINALLY SOME FIREBIRD LOVE. Sorry, got excited.
HELLO, FELLOW OPPO!
That Chevy crap does need to go though lol IT SUX!!!!!
Love the video I've got a 79 formula and just picked up a 76 factory 455 speed trans am project
That 455 is probably worth more than the rest of the car put together.
David Traver Adolphus the old man I got it from said he thinks it had a cracked block when he got it but it drove into his yard he bought it from an auction and parked it but the block maybe able to be sleeved but who knows I bought the car fully expecting for no motor and trans so I'm happy either way
you nailed it on the head man. seeing revivals is incredibly cool.
I don't care how beat up a Firebird can get, I love em all. That is a sweet car.
Welcome to the Fbody gang! :D
Nice Formula saved from the crusher👍
Congrats on getting the car man. i had a 1979 Formula. And I sure miss it everday. Plan to get another not too far from now. Good luck on getting it fixed up, like to see what you can achieve!
Good memories!!! I had the '74 Formula model in a bit of better condition back in the day. I updated the suspension to WS6 and warmed the motor up a bit. Lots of fun for sure!!
Favorite belt flavor is cherry. Where do you think Twizzlers came from 😂
Weird that I am eating Twizzlers when reading this comment.
@@devianb Holy cow, me too! #TrueStory
ahhhh, your killing whats left of those valves with that starting fluid.!
starting fluid doesn't hurt engines, straight ether does but canned starting fluid has barely any ether in it, in fact a guy ran an engine on straight Aerostart and the engine was perfectly fine afterwards with no change in wear
I was told it combusts more fiercely than petrol and because of this displaces the oil
Luke working his Carb magic all up in there!!!! Love you guys. Great Videos. Thanks
Keep it...restore it...it’s a beautiful car , I remember when that particular style came out ( giving my age away here) but not many around anymore
Do not spin the push rod when setting your preload. Use up and down movement only, then 1/2 turn down. I use the EOIC method and it's accurate.
Swap out that 350 for a Poncho 400!
Had a '73 Esprit back in the day, I loved that car. Hopefully I can find one and enjoy it.
I love Firebirds dude, my third car with a 71 with a 455, I got it it had 44,000 miles with the four-speed Muncie and a 12-bolt posi with 4 10 s, a month after I got it I got hit head on by a motorcycle completely totaled it 😭 bring that baby back to life dude 👍☮️
Me and Junkyard Digs have at least one thing in common...no gloves 😜 maybe not the smartest thing, but oh well💯💯💪💪
Classic Ride Society same😂
@@waterzonegt9179 😄💯👍
gloves are for gardening.
Gotta get a backup system going brother.
Awesome man I love those early second gens! Can’t wait to see more of this project.
Cool ride. I'm a F-body lover for many years. I've got a ton of parts for 70 - 81 Firebirds.
I have a 70 Formula project in my yard too. I think the front end of these cars are so awesome.
Good luck with her.
My favorite belt flavor is sour tuna. Thank you.😂😂😂
My favorite belt flavor is blueberry. I like to put em in my muffins sometimes😂
Totally Sick! Great persistence and commitment and love it. Thank you! Keep these up. It’s motivating me to finish my 65 Mustang :)
I owned a 1979 z28 camaro with a 350 with the 350 turbo trans, I blew the engine at 335k miles and put in a 383 stroker loved that car
Never seen a victor jr intake with a quadra jet on it before
More mook this summer too
I just happened to "stumble upon" this video I never saw...
That must be "Baby Kevin"!
Please confirm that you still own this beautiful Fire Chicken!
Owned a '72 Esprit (same look minus the hood scoops) 350 with a 2 speed slushbox. Upgraded to a 350TBH with a shift kit and a B&M Quickclick shifter. New paint, wheels and tires. Most enjoyable car I ever owned.
I think you should do this one justice and rebuild it to factory spec (if there is enough of it left to work with!)
Thanks for bringing back the memories.
Looks like sparks are leaking out the top of the dizzy!!!
This thing is way too beautiful to be real! My dream car!
Sad story - I'll never own one ... :-/
Greetings from Germany
You are lucky it is warm in Iowa. Here in CT it is down to 37 at night right now. Not that warm - glad to see someone is benefiting from Spring.
Very cool getting that 350 running, and i really like wathching the donuts in the show!!!! I am looking forward to the build of that Firebird!!!
So much better looking than a split bumper camaro!
As a dedicated Ford man I will admit that this is my favorite body style of the Firebird, much nicer than the Smokey and the Bandit era cars. Also I would put a Pontiac engine back in it, preferably a 455. Nice find, I liked that dent side Ford in the beginning.
agreed. needs at least a pontiac 400.
Had a 72 formula in high school. Great memories
A mate of mine here in South Australia, in the last century had a '73 firebird had been converted to RHD very crudely. Had a 454 chev with headers fitted to it was a total pain, but it went hard when you you nailed it even 4 up.
The engine was playing 'flight of the bumblebee', when you were attempting to start it at first.
There is a junk yard on hwy 163 south near pella,ia that has a car very simular to what your looking for
Ah yes. Dougs four wheelers. I was actually there two weeks ago and asked about prices for the parts I needed. They were very very high 😥
I'm envious, I use to own (among others) a 70 that I made to look like a Trans Am. Very fun, fast car. I'm 65
I owned and restored a 1975 Pontiac Formula 400 with a 4 speed & 3:43 rear, back in June 1982 and had some real fun with that car, (miss it). Drove that car until May 1989 and after joining the Army back in May 1989 and leaving it at my uncles home in Landsdale, PA the winter weather took it's toll on the body & frame. So I upgraded to a 1975 Pontiac Trans-am with a 400, 4 speed & 3:73 rear back in Oct 2001 and she was a project car for someone else and they lost interest on finishing this car but the engine was overhauled and run's great and I also plan on restoring the whole car either this summer or during this year, money provided? Married life with kids always takes a front seat to everything, like the saying goes "Happy Wife, Happy Life". Great video but rebuilding these cars are really more fun and a lot can be done to them so enjoy it while it last. (Restore is the way to go and a Formula is more desirable)!!!!