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Congrats Jim!!!!!
BlackBirdDaddy
Here's what Jim has to say about his 2000 Firebird:
This car started out as a "yard find" and I thought what a great tool to teach my "kids" a few things about car modifications. Well, I got carried away and this turned out to be more of project than what I first envisioned.
We removed the fried 3.8 and after a lot of cleaning and painting the entire vehicle, dropped in a used fresh 6.0 aluminum with a built trans and a newer rear end compliments of my buddy Brent. Not being a "cheap ass" or anything, but I showed the kids that you can buy "used" parts and make them work and look like new at times. The first build was completed over the winter of 2012 and ready for the summer where we put down 446rwhp.
Then, the next winter I had worked with Jonny on fitting an A/C Huron Speed turbo kit to the ride. Smooth sailing over the winter install, although during the tune, I was told that more fuel was needed. Well, the summer of 2013 saw some "spirited driving" after a night out on Woodward. That took care of the rest of the driving season for the Bird (piston was ugly) but my spirits were not down as now I am just completing the final phase of the third build for this car!
Here is a list of modifications made to the "black bird"
Engine
Swapped toasted 3.8 to a ' 06 Vette 6.0
LS6 intake w/ported throttle body
Multiple injectors (42lb, 60lb and now 80lb)
Livernois Stage II heads
Two cam swaps and springs
Stock bottom at first now forged dished pistons and rods
Transmission
460le rebuilt by GM Powertrain specialist
B&M cooler
Larger aluminum driveshaft
Rear End
Brent's stock 3.42 then moved to a stock 3.73 now back to 3.42
Suspension
QA1 adjustable up front and I forgot out back!
Poly bushings all around
UMI control arms front and rear
Adjustable panhard bar
Lowered as far as I dare!
Exhaust
Kooks headers with Dynomax axle dumps
Now - Kooks catbacks out to the back from turbo with electric cut-out
Appearance and Interior
Acquired used Trans Am parts - front and rear fascias, rocker mldgs. & hatch
Complete repaint piece-by-piece w/painted hood graphics
Hot Rod black on rockers and lower fascias
C6 fog lamps used as park turn/dlr's
Modded fog lamp cans with 1/4 glass lens to accept hid bulbs
Close-outs fabbed for: intercooler, old fuse box location, old battery location, pcm cover
Modeled and fabbed f/g covers for shock towers
Modified hood snorkel opening and created heat exit at rear cowl of the hood
Replaced targa f/g part with newer
Deleted key hole from center tail panel
Tinted rear lamps
Interior ambient lighting work
Reworked radio face plate to accept double din radio, installed new speakers
Installed McNord cluster graphics
Retrimmed steering wheel and shifter knob (C5)
Installed sound deadening mat and installed new carpet
Had headliner retrimmed
That's about it. This is a fun project and I can't wait to get it done for another season of fun!
