How to bring back a bird in 365 easy steps.

[Akodo]

So I'm kicking off my restoration project, FINALLY. I've purchased a ton of parts, three cars, new tools, and a partridge in a pear tree.

I'm going with an 86 frame, a reallt solid body with a bit of engine compartment damage. The doors were sold, and the rear end, though it hasnt been picked up yet. Sucks too, because the rear end is disc brakes. Wish I had another one to give the guy so he would leave this one in it.

The 1/4's are VERY solid, theres a small spot of rust on the drivers side rear, on the lip. The hood is thrashed because the fire department had to pry it up. The car has the 140 speedo in it, T-tops, had AC, cruise, power, etc.

I'll throw up some pics of the donor car tomorrow, they didnt come out for some reason, and the car is like a foot under snow right now. Nice weather for a monday, eh?

[Lucky SOB]

cool man. should be another fun build to watch

[MP81]

Can't wait to see how this pans out!

[Darren]

I love those seats in the interior!

[Akodo]

I love those seats in the interior!

Make me an offer! I bought a set of black/midnight blue seats from an 86 Camaro before I bought this one, so I don't plan on using this set.

[92conv]

Make me an offer! I bought a set of black/midnight blue seats from an 86 Camaro before I bought this one, so I don't plan on using this set.

Are they in good shape???

[TSTONE]

im looking forward to the progress

[Phantom409]

Looks like fun

[bigjon88]

cant wait always love to see another 3rd gen

[Akodo]

Are they in good shape???

Yeah, I'd say theyre probably at least an A-. They have one small wear spot and 1 popped seam about 1/2 inch long on the drivers side, other three are immaculate. I'll throw some pics up here. LMK if anyone is interested, if not, I'll throiw them up in the for sale section in a couple of days.

[phoenix_rising]

Great to hear about someone taking the time and money to save a bird. We can never get enough of those...

[K-Slice]

Those seats are great lookin, too bad they wouldn't match the rest of my tan interior.. Must be custom dyed? I've never seen any others that look like that!

[Akodo]

Those seats are great lookin, too bad they wouldn't match the rest of my tan interior.. Must be custom dyed? I've never seen any others that look like that!

No idea, I'm not even sure if they are stock, to be honest. Though the back ones would make me assume they are. Maybe I should keep them, and sell the other set I bought instead....

[TB2]

Nice project. Always nice to see another 3rd gen Bird on here. Do you have any mods planned for the car?

[Akodo]

Nice project. Always nice to see another 3rd gen Bird on here. Do you have any mods planned for the car?

Oh, yeah.

I'm not much of a performance guy, so the engine and drivetrain will remain pretty stock, other than I'm switching the manual over from my 87. If I can save the chrome valve covers from the burned car, I'll use them, and I have a bunch of braided steel hoses I might use for it.

I'm an electronics tech by trade, so i'm doing more on the interior. I'm switching the interior lights all over to RGB LEDs, and adding footwell lights, front and rear, door pull lights, and better hatch lighting. All of the interior lights, including the dash, will be able to cycle all of the colors of the rainbow, basically. They will be programmed for a default lime green, to match my Pioneer, but with the control knobs, tou can either adjust them all to a color manually, or allow them to cycle, and just stop the cycle where you want it. The control pod will be in the dash, taking up the extra radio space.

I'm considering running light pipes around the T-tops as well, but that will depend on clearance issues, and how well I can illuminate a pipe that long.

Also, I'm a sucker for wood. So the dash panel and radio panel are being replaced with custom wood panels. Its nice to have a neighbor whos a carpenter.

I'm planning on doing a custom gauge overlay for the cluster, once I get it apart and see what I can do.

Exterior wise, I've narrowed the body color down to two options: Slate gray, or midnight blue. Probably with the silver ground effects off of my 87.

For the hood, I have a very demonic looking skeletal creature called a Darkenbeast from an old card game I used to play I want to have painted in place of the oirgional bird. I'll try to throw a scan up of it later. It looks SWEET. Its positioned in the classic bird stance, wings up, looking over to the right.

Finally, the rims will be replaced, just not sure with WHAT. yet. Havent seen anything that jumps at me yet. Still lookin, though....