swede70 Posted March 28, 2019 Author Share Posted March 28, 2019 Hello Harry, For being in the Detroit-area and frequenting a popular automobilia store, I've met him and have a signed copy. It's my understanding that someone has purchased film rights, although this of course doesn't guarantee anything will strictly come of it. The book is a bit odd for not strictly naming people and organizations, this likely reflecting a worry not to offend and traceable I suppose to his legal background. I don't know if I really warmed to the format of his telling of the tale, although all the factual information I might glean from reading such is of course appreciated. Thanks for the reference and heads up... Mike K./Swede70 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HQuackenboss Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 Mike K, I was particularly thinking of Dr. Larry who wasn't familiar with the Firebird. I have a deep appreciation for how hard it is to tell that kind of a story, with a lot of technical engineering jargon which he felt was important to the tale, but was overwhelming when first finished. All the names of the team principals are i there, although how I was introduced wasn't the way it happened. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoctorLarry Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 Is it available on Amazon? I will have to get a copy. Mike, I am already plotting my next Adams tribute. Glue bomb Firebird I bought off EBAY awhile back and four resin Motor Wheel Spyders I found on EBAY: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoctorLarry Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 Found it on Amazon and am ordering a copy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swede70 Posted March 28, 2019 Author Share Posted March 28, 2019 Excellent score Dr. Larry - hoping things develop apace there... I thought I'd plug in a pair of websites consistent with helping out. The first is a Firebird in the SCCA Trans-Am thread from CRG, or rather the Camaro Research Group, the second being a recently created history of the B.F. Goodrich 'Tirebird' effort with significant input from those part of the team. For years I've collected material consistent with informing my scale builds, and one will note maybe 15% of the period stuff reproduced and seen on CRG was scanned and sent by me. On another thread I'll try to add links to vintage race car dealer and auction houses that either have the surviving cars in inventory, or who have had such pass through their hands. I apologize for being a bit scattered in my focus, although all projects in this thread do relate to that rare subspecies: Pontiac Road Race Americanus. Thanks... This would be the CRG/Firebird thread: http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=7815.0;all ...while this would be the 'Tirebird' thread: https://bfgtirebird.com/ Mike K./Swede70 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoctorLarry Posted March 29, 2019 Share Posted March 29, 2019 I get a 403 "forbidden" page from the camaros.org page-must be behind a firewall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HQuackenboss Posted March 29, 2019 Share Posted March 29, 2019 DoctorLarry, Did you register for the camaros.org forum? I have no trouble accessing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swede70 Posted April 2, 2019 Author Share Posted April 2, 2019 (edited) Greetings, For using a product called Klean Strip, the original paint was removed from the shell of the '70 Titus Firebird. Strong stuff this, whereas given I wore only thin Latex gloves, soon I discovered that it also makes quick work of skin, sinew and bone. Three passes and three scrubs beneath running water pretty much eliminated everything I wanted removed, hence good this. A lot of tedious work certain to be invisible, I also 'removed' the cast-in aerodynamic spats situated before the rear wheel arch openings. Body shop metal work pliers to bend them in, CA glue with Microballoons to build up the loss edge/corner structure, as well as the discreet use of spot putty plus copious sanding stick shaping made it possible. Other work, mostly light includes efforts to cut off the fender-to-radiator support braces, as well as an effort to trim short the inner fender lips which appear like this in select period photos. The '70 Firebird racer was rather heavy, and hence all efforts were mounted to literally trim weight as the season progressed. On with the photos then... ...most of the supplies required, less MicroBalloon filler and sanding sticks. ...the problem; i.e. abbreviated rocker panels and hollow aerodynamic 'spats' forward of the wheel arches. ...getting a grip with actual auto body shop pliers. ...looking pretty decent then. Note how the cast-in 'spat' detail had to be filed out well up the arch opening. ...time two then. The hood pins seen on the deck lid are new items recently cast in resin. ...still needing work, but mostly filled in and straight on each side. ...and now sans the aforementioned underhood braces. Note too how the inner fender structure has been cut back. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70 Edited April 2, 2019 by swede70 Mild revisions, nothing key. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swede70 Posted April 5, 2019 Author Share Posted April 5, 2019 (edited) Hello again... For reviewing new releases and sales attached to such, I came across a Replicarz mark down of the '69 Daytona 24HR class-winning Titus/Ward Firebird based on the old Lane tool. Retailers have asked $129.95 and up for the model elsewhere, whereas Replicarz seems intent on clearing inventory on something that isn't strictly selling in volume given they want $79.95 by way of contrast. The ACME model is far from accurate, but as a plus the original Lane tool such is based upon wasn't at all terrible. ACME race releases as of late reflect light revisions of select older stock tools, and as such feature very good paint even if the chassis and interior aren't 100% reflective of what was run in period. Certainly the model has a nice 400 c.i.d. Pontiac V8 that can be transferred to my '70 Titus car after performing appropriate mods. Given the '69 Daytona 24HR entry ran what was likely an Al Bartz-built small block Chevrolet, no muss - no fuss then. I don't strictly want to add on yet another project to my slate of scale ambitions, although the need for a better-tooled engine on the '70 Titus model is real enough. Some select decal work plus a wheel/tire swap will help the '69 Firebird, although if no room exists within the wheel housings to accommodate such, I may just part the model out and write off the exercise as an experiment gone awry. To contemplate a sale of the 1:18th ACME/Lane tool-based '69 Jerry Titus/Jon Ward Daytona 24 Hour class winner, see then: https://www.replicarz.com/1968-Pontiac-Trans-Am-Firebird-JerryTitus/productinfo/AC1805210/ Thanks... Mike K./Swede70 Edited April 5, 2019 by swede70 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wmobie Posted April 10, 2019 Share Posted April 10, 2019 Wonderful thread. In 1973 I ordered a Trans Am SD455 four speed in Brewster Green with a saddle interior, every heavy duty option I could find and the honey-comb wheels. Pontiac built several hundred 310 hp rated cars then sat on them as the EPA held back the cars. They eventually released them with the 310 engine after people stopped waiting and started complaining. Afraid of losing a sale (mine cost $3900 and some change) the dealers demanded the already built cars be released, just months before the first oil embargo. Aside from the distributor gear getting destroyed (plastic gear) dash noises and bad paint, it was a joy. 10 mpg sitting still or at 139 mph (observed). Sold it to a Air Force pilot soon after the gas crunch began. Still miss it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swede70 Posted April 15, 2019 Author Share Posted April 15, 2019 (edited) Thanks for the kind notice and relation of your tale of ownership... Some modest stuff to report, mostly in the form of the delivery of new parts to help each scale Pontiac road racing build. Seen below will be the ACME/Lane-tool Pontiac 400 engine and transmission sourced from the '69 Daytona 24 HR class-winning Titus/Ward release, which will substantially improve upon what ERTL provided in their now aged '70 1/2 Firebird Trans Am tool. The scratch built intake and finned aluminum valve cover projects from before were initially mastered to match was is seen here, hence all materials should meld effortlessly with the fresh engine. Also seen are a pair of laboriously fabricated plugs to fill out the front wheel arch liners. Rather than optimistically slathering in putty and hoping for the best for sculpting the same, I thought it best to carefully introduce material which will lessen the need to apply so very much filler. Cutting out the under hood braces left two very obvious channels, hence something had to be done. Modest stuff here, but seen just below the fire bottle installation is a ramp structure that grows off of the floor. Such effectively provides clearance for a differential oil cooler mounted beneath it, while I'm mulling if I want to cut the actual chassis casting to make everything honest. And this would be the aforementioned Titus/Ward Firebird less engine, although revised in subtle ways to improve and carry it to completion beyond its as-delivered state and spec. Notice the ARE Torque Thrust wheels painted red but for the decorative center cap machined surface, the addition of turned aluminum rings to reproduce the outer lips of the rims, while also seen are old GMP '67 Penske Trans-Am Camaro tires with Firestone markings. Small work abounds - most of which constitutes day projects of limited scope and import. The grille surrounds are now black, the yellow tape detail on the headlamps has been removed, while the photo etched 'Firebird' markings have been removed from the fenders. An effort was made to disguise the size and extent of the front spoiler mounts for discreet paint application, while the standard Lane wheel arch trim has been cut free of the rocker trim front and rear. An Al Bartz-built small block Chevrolet is being prepared for this model, with much effort required to file aspects of the transmission, etc. to ensure the old GMP Trans-Am drive train will coexist happily enough with the Lane tool. Although not strictly worthy of a further photo, since the above image was captured the hood scoops have been plugged and painted red, the hood pins have been overlaid with resin examples, the dash forward of the pad painted gray, while the dock lock knobs atop the interior door cards were snapped off and painted out. Thanks for reviewing this most recent update. Mike K./Swede70 Edited April 15, 2019 by swede70 My usual clumsy draft wrangling... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swede70 Posted April 15, 2019 Author Share Posted April 15, 2019 (edited) A further brief update this... For a series of messages exchanged and revisions introduced into the work, decals are being made up to support the '70 T/G Firebird effort seen above. Witness below some preliminary art, and notice too the care taken to fog the blue center stripes to black around the edges of the same. The refinements and tweaking are courtesy of K. Terry who has been especially receptive to requests made and concerns voiced consistent with coming up with something good. Size of the stripes may have to be adjusted for using a pair of sheets and growing'and/or shrinking the graphics as necessary (especially around the shaker hood opening), but this effort shouldn't prove prohibitive in terms of labor or skill given no compound curves are involved. Kind thanks again... Mike K./Swede70 P.S. Oh - and the replacement 1:18th Gray Ghost doors I gathered up responded poorly to a chemical paint strip, hence each will have to be media blasted in order to proceed further! Edited April 16, 2019 by swede70 Mangled draft revision - again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swede70 Posted May 6, 2019 Author Share Posted May 6, 2019 Greetings... This would be the revised '69 Daytona 24 HR class-winning Titus/Ward Firebird chassis taking shape, with a scratch built roll cage as well as a ACME/GMP-tool small block Chevrolet dressed as something Al Bartz would have prepared. Not complete this, but pushed far along nevertheless and hence something to share. Thanks for reviewing this thread update. Mike K./Swede70 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted May 7, 2019 Share Posted May 7, 2019 Enjoying this thread immensely... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swede70 Posted May 12, 2019 Author Share Posted May 12, 2019 (edited) Greetings, Seen - or perhaps not - would be my efforts to discreetly plug and fill in the floor pan to erase the presence of detail in the form of cast-in floor mats, upraised pegs to locate the stock front seats, as well as see to various perforations along the transmission/driveshaft tunnel of the Titus/Ward '69 Daytona class-winning '68 Firebird. A clunky clone of a Dremel which I have in my tool inventory with a thoroughly useless speed control nevertheless is quite good at burning plastic, hence it was used to roughly remove the mats which were more precisely cleaned up with metal files, sanding stick work, and much application. The shifter tower hole was plugged with material from an identical Lane interior floor to save a bit of work and time. Plastic rod stock helped seal most everything else, although the outboard seat belt mounting points still require filling and blending. No putty or fill work is witnessed - yet! Kind thanks for your skimming this update... Mike K./Swede70 Edited May 13, 2019 by swede70 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swede70 Posted May 19, 2019 Author Share Posted May 19, 2019 (edited) Hello... Not much to be seen here (I know), but some roll cage tubes/members now sprout from the trunk area to tie in to the main hoop looking forward. I was confident that the bars coming off the back of the aforementioned main hoop were appropriately spaced, accepted that they splayed out somewhat heading rearward, although the fuel cell dimensions didn't strictly allow everything to match heading further downward. Sort of a subtle cheat then for fit and alignment, but not looking horrible. Given only a sliver of the contents of the trunk might be seen for opening the panel, most irregularities noticed here will blend and be forgiven! Moving along, a repair has been made to the rear axle end to allowing fitting of the relatively good wheel/tire assemblies on all four corners. I intend to add further brake detail to each hub, while separate lug detail likewise stands to be added. Thanks for skimming this update... Mike K./Swede70 Edited May 19, 2019 by swede70 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swede70 Posted May 19, 2019 Author Share Posted May 19, 2019 (edited) Greetings, For well-reasoned and well-informed feedback received (thanks Harry Q.!), I opted to pull the bars back of the main roll cage hoop and redid such consistent with ensuring they appear as two uninterrupted tubes cutting through clear to the trunk floor. I worried that I'd tear chunks out of the main hoop for removing the elements glued to it, but happily they came off without issue and were in part recycled to see what is on view here. That the cage comes out as one piece and isn't (yet) glued to the chassis certainly helps matters. The elements in the trunk were pulled and revised a bit for length and for the angle each was set, hence these are a touch better too. When stuff is scratch built and errors are made, corrections aren't typically life-threatening as long as supplies hold out! Like the usual 1:25th plastic kit fare seen elsewhere across this message board, the floors are rendered quite thick and factor against everything looking spot-on below the beltline of this modified 1:18th scale diecast. Also uploaded is small series of images relating how a pair of bars on bottom of the cage terminating towards the rear of each respective front footwell are slightly upturned and tucked in. I couldn't do this will my usual hollow plastic tubing with brass wire fed within, but rather performed the bend twice over with solid rod stock heated over an open flame. More work to come then. Thanks for reviewing this project update... Mike K./Swede70 Edited May 19, 2019 by swede70 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swede70 Posted September 4, 2019 Author Share Posted September 4, 2019 (edited) Greetings, A short '70 T/G Racing Jerry Titus Trans-Am Trans Am Firebird update this - albeit nothing dramatic. Some notes outlining what is seen may be found beneath each image uploaded. Thanks... ...given the removal of the honeycomb-shaped trim center cap on the stock steering wheel couldn't be achieved cleanly sans use of a lathe, I decided to employ a pair of wheels so that I could sand off the center of one example, drill the spokes, and then mate a second padded rim to what remained. It will work! ...seen above is the old '70 chassis with the new '69 ACME Firebird Pontiac 400 (nee 303 c.i.d. then) engine installed plus mods. Surely an improvement given how primitive the old ERTL tool is in this regard. ...noticed are the cleaned up and revised refueling sites drilled through the shell and plugged and depressed slightly for use of plastic rod situated in plastic tube. The fuel cap employed here is a resin clone of a Hwy. 61 '70 340 Dodge Dart piece. Only seen obliquely, a fabricated radiator support holds in position a 1:18th GMP '70 GMP radiator as well as other items. ...while here I decided to pull off the fill panels made for the headlamp buckets as well as the front indicators. Each was puttied and reshaped before being duplicated for the creation of a urethane mold. A bit cleaner then... ...and finally, the front flares integrated into the filed out front fenders. For heating the flares in hot water I was able to subtly reshape each consistent with coming up with a more balanced profile, and hence matters are better. The rear flares need further mass and shape refinement, but aren't wildly off for purposes of being a starting point. Thanks for reviewing this update... Mike K./Swede70 Edited September 4, 2019 by swede70 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swede70 Posted May 9, 2020 Author Share Posted May 9, 2020 (edited) Greetings, Long put off, for mulling matters I've opted to approach the task of rear flare fabrication on my '70 T/G Firebird Trans-Am in a different manner. Instead of adding successive layers of material to what I'd worked up before, seen are a pair of massive additions made up of of chunks of casting resin that had been poured directly onto each respective side of a spare shell before being removed and roughed out. Hardly aesthetic at present, in truth they'll not appear the height of taste even when complete! Everything looks a bit heavy at this point, although understand that my aim at this point is to have sufficient material to sculpt to shape across the intended area if nothing more. Certainly I'd much rather remove material to creep up to a final shape versus engage in the tedious practice of adding material to something evidencing inadequate bulk if my meaning is understood. Thanks for your review of this project update... Mike K./Swede70 Edited May 9, 2020 by swede70 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swede70 Posted May 9, 2020 Author Share Posted May 9, 2020 (edited) After many successive waves of filing and sanding. It just takes a bit of time for things to appear correct. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70 Edited May 11, 2020 by swede70 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swede70 Posted July 4, 2020 Author Share Posted July 4, 2020 (edited) Greetings, Not much to see perhaps, but further shaping and mass reduction of the '70 T/G Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Trans-Am (!) rear flares consistent with wrapping them up. Maybe some material will be added forward of the wheel arch opening along the bottom, but in the main I'm pleased. Filing out the now too-narrow wheel arch opening (see towards front behind the body of the flare) won't be great fun given the delicacy and weakness of the rocker panels beneath. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70 Edited July 4, 2020 by swede70 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cholmes1 Posted October 27, 2020 Share Posted October 27, 2020 The shape of the 1970 car is really coming together well Swede. Your attention to detail at this point is extremely impressive. One note on your 1969 Titus build, do you plan to install the door/cabin louver vents below the A-pillar? Also, is this the car you started with for your 1970 Trans-Am build? American Muscle Mint - 1970-1972 Pontiac Trans-Am Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DustyMojave Posted December 21, 2020 Share Posted December 21, 2020 I'm not aware of any "vents" below the A Pillars. I DO see sheet aluminum fairings over the pair of license plate lamps used to light the number for night racing so the pit crew and the Timers and Scorers can keep track of who is in what place in the race. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HQuackenboss Posted December 21, 2020 Share Posted December 21, 2020 (edited) The picture of the 26 car is a 1968, not a 1969. In 1968 Pontiac did not make a Trans Am model. The first Trans Am model was in 1969, and a google search will show pictures of the rearward facing pair of scoops. You can also probably find pictures of the Titus 1969 Trans-Am racers Note I am being precise. The SCCA racing series, the Trans-American Sedan Championship, or "Trans-Am" is always with a hyphen, but the car model that Pontiac sold does not have a hyphen. Edited December 21, 2020 by HQuackenboss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DustyMojave Posted December 22, 2020 Share Posted December 22, 2020 14 hours ago, HQuackenboss said: The picture of the 26 car is a 1968, not a 1969. In 1968 Pontiac did not make a Trans Am model. The first Trans Am model was in 1969, and a google search will show pictures of the rearward facing pair of scoops. You can also probably find pictures of the Titus 1969 Trans-Am racers Note I am being precise. The SCCA racing series, the Trans-American Sedan Championship, or "Trans-Am" is always with a hyphen, but the car model that Pontiac sold does not have a hyphen. I'm a little confused what you're saying Harry. These are the Firebirds raced by TG racing in 1969. 1st at Wolverine, then at Riverside: I see none of what you refer to here: " a google search will show pictures of the rearward facing pair of scoops". But the Jon Ward built 68 Camaro/Firebird raced at Daytona in early 69 did have rearward facing "scoops" that were fairings over the lights for the side numbers. Yes, you have the terminology correct as to "Trans Am" and "Trans-Am". I am WELL aware that there was NO "Pontiac Trans Am" model in the 1968 model year. The 1st Firebird Trans Am I ever saw was at Riverside Raceway and was driven by Jerry Titus. It was NOT a race car, but I believed at the time that it was a pre-production prototype for marketing purposes. I knew Jerry in those days, having grown up involved in Cal Club sports car racing, and knowing a number of other staff members of Sports Car Graphic magazine, such as Jean Calvin, Denise McCluggage and ... oh what's his name with the mustache... Jerry lived not far away in the San Fernando Valley then. Jerry's son Rick was a co-crew member with me on Ron Dykes' Tiger that was garaged in my home for the '68 season. Rick Titus, Spike Krick, me and the crew chief, my dad, Jack Parcells were the crew for that. Jerry was a driving teacher in Shelby's driving school, and also taught in the Cal Club/SCCA driving school sessions where I worked as an official as well. He was a guy I encountered many times a year in those days. Maybe you can post a picture with the scoops you are referring to circled? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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