1973 Firebrid
Purchased by me in 1975
Taken out of daily use and garaged since 1978
Raced from about 1981 through 1994
The concept in 1978 for this early “Pro Street”, “Resto-Comp” or “Pro Touring” build was to combine the best year Second-Gen body, the 1973, with the best period Pontiac engine, the 455HO, and and the best Second-Gen factory and after-market parts including the 1973 Trans-Am engine turned dash with calibrated instruments with 8,000 RPM tachometer and 160 MPH speedometer, 1978 Trans-AM SW6 15x8” Snowflake wheels and Trans-AM WS6 quick-ratio steering box and the very rare Cars & Concepts T-Tops installed by Cars & Concepts, no T-Tops were available from the factory till 1976
HIGHLIGHTS
1973 Firebird body
Authentic period-correct 1971 Pontiac 455 HO engine, very rare and highly sought after
Custom pro-installed Cars & Concepts T-Tops with chrome trimmed panels (most were black)
Lightweight fiberglass L88-style hood with functional fresh air intake
Correct hood hinge springs for lightweight hood
Ultralight fiberglass nose
Authentic 1978 Trans-AM WS6 15x8” Argent Snowflake alloy wheels, hand polished
New correct center caps & lug nuts
New Cooper Cobra 245-60-15 and 255-60-15 tires, road-force balanced
DRIVETRAIN
Richmond Gear 5-speed transmission
Hurst Competition Plus shifter
Weber billet flywheel
Lakewood blowshield
New LUK clutch
Custom shortened and balanced driveshaft
Drive shaft safety loop
2.73 Posi-Traction differential
ENGINE
1971 Pontiac 455 HO 4-bolt main block bored .030 over, race prepped, balanced & blueprinted
1971 Pontiac 455 HO/Ram Air IV heads, ported & polished
ARP head studs
Trans-AM SD forged rods
ARP rod bolts
TRW forged 10.5 racing pistons
Pontiac Ram Air IV cast headers with collectors bored to 2 1/2”
Ultradyne 3/4 race cam, valve springs and Titanium retianers
Edelbrock Performer RPM high-rise alloy intake
Edelbrock alloy valve covers
High torque gear reduction light weight starter with external solenoid
Canton 8 quart baffled road-race oil pan
Blueprinted oil pump
Holley 4150 850 CFM mechanical dual-feed double-pumper with 50cc accelerator pump
Holley “Blue” trunk mounted high pressure “pusher” fuel pump
Front mounted Holley “Blue” fuel pressure regulator and gage
K&N 12x4” air filter
K&N carburetor stubstack
Mallory electronic distributor with vacuum advance
Malloy ignition coil
New oversize 4-core radiator with correct shroud
455 HO 7-blade flex fan
New Viton rear main seal, engine mounts, all hoses and belts, etc
INTERIOR
Custom interior, black
Two seat conversion, carpeted rear seat area
New ProCar seats, sliders and mounts
New Ames mass backing fitted carpet
New Racequip 3” 4-point racing harnesses
Herb Adams VSE 3” Roll bar
Custom black leather headliner
73 Trans-Am steering wheel
Tilt steering column
Lock Technology Medeco keyed ignition lock
73 Trans-Am engine-turned dash
73 Trans-Am calibrated instrumentation
65 GTO interior light with dual map lights
Period correct Alpine analog dial tuning stereo with cassette and Tri-Axial speakers
Custom dash switch panel with LED indicators for, fuel pump, stereo, back-up lights, etc
CHASSIS
Full length weld-in subframe connectors
Herb Adams VSE trunk mounted battery with poly battery box
Trunk mounted high-pressure fuel pump
Trunk mounted inertia fuel pump cut-off safety switch
Herb Adams VSE front subframe braces
Custom firewall brace
Herb Adams VSE 1” body lowering kit with solid alloy mounts
Custom 2 1/2” mandrel bent dual exhaust system with cross-flow muffler delete
Twin 2 1/2” SuperTrapp mufflers
FRONT SUSPENSION
1978 Trans-Am WS6 quick ratio steering box
New Viking 3-way adjustable coil-overs
New upper and lower ball joints
New complete steering linkage and centerlink
New Moog bump stops
New Global West offset upper control arms shafts
Delrin upper and lower greaseable control arm bushings
Reinforced lower control arms
Herb Adams VSE 1.25” anti-roll bar
Herb Adams VSE solid heim joint anti-roll bar connecting links
New poly subframe anti-roll bar mounts
REAR SUSPENSION
Herb Adams VSE 1” rear anti-roll bar
Herb Adams VSE rear spring lowering mounts
Fabricated rear anti-roll bar links with new poly mounts and brackets
Koni Sport “Red” adjustable dampers
Energy Suspension leaf spring bushings
