Firebird Formula First Start in Years!

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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[ViceGripGarage]

Great video! The king of first starts strikes again. I really like the paint scheme on that ol`girl!

[OsoBlanco]

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.

[zihn]

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.

[TBullCajunbreadmaker]

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.

[Bruningable]

One of the best looking car fronts ever.

[CHUUMPASS]

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.

[oldmancrow]

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 YouTube 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.

[donnamorse]

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

[armedinbama]

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!

[johnbutterworth]

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!

[maxjax]

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.

[dhag]

Who’s here watching 3 years later?! I’m scanning my way through the library for any I might have missed! Thank you JYD!

[spudsmckenzie]

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

[garyduquette]

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..

[GasserNorm]

Congrats on the owning one of the best years of Firebirds made!

[waltermartin]

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

[friguy]

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!

[Sniper]

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.

[sirdukeusa]

My 1st car was a "74 Pontiac Firebird. Paid $400. for it in 1975. Great little car.

[wylieecoyote]

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.