I grew up in Brownsburg. Graduated in 1983. Lived there till 2018, when we moved to Avon. I’m surprised I never saw your 69 Firebird out and about. I had a Martinique Blue 400, 4 speed 78 Trans Am for years….
My black 1969 bird got parked in 2004 and finally started putting my cars back together 5 years ago. The white trans am clone has been on the road for the last 3 years. Hope to have the great pumpkin done within the year then back to my 1969 black coupe. I have probably seen your car out and about that blue stands out and I do love blue birds.
Great video!! I purchased the center console for my Bird back in 93 salvaged from a car in Arizona. Perfect condition. As my car is original column shift. Now im torn between installing the console as my car has the original CLOCK on the floor and it would have to be deleted due to not fitting with the console. GO Great Pumpkin. Shes looking good.
Another fantastic episode in what has become the go-to series in rebuilding these old ‘Birds, and to which I have already referred before working in areas of my 67. Would have loved to see that swarf to have been cleaned up earlier though! 😊
Another great video Jon! One of my favorite pieces in the interior is the console, love that fake wood look. I paid $50 bucks for mine in a junk yard in 1983 and it was in great shape. Just repainted the black and cleared it. Mine has a B&M star shifter to make it go gooder!
Thanks, you said gooder again! $50 bucks was a steal. I would have loved to have found a first gen bird in a scrapyard to get goodies out of or even better bought the whole car.
Great tips again! I’ve got an automatic console that I’m going to try to modify to my 4 speed. Got the floor cut out but seems that the shifter sets a little to far to the drivers side for the consol so I’ll have to address that soon.
@@VinylVillageGarage Yea I have a auto console that’s not in the best shape so I thought I would try to modify it to try to save some money. I know you can buy them fairly reasonable so if I mess it up I’m not out much.
You should be able to use a manual transmission center console and make it work with overdrive transmission too. Plus you can sell the automatic console even, check the comments a guy is looking for one. 68 & 69 used the same consoles.
Thanks so much for this made it easy to understand. Is there a way to put new thread seats in current holes? Mine are just spinning. Thanks for all the detail you give in your videos ❤️❤️
Here is an idea.. Since the Great Pumpkin will retain the Autum bronze color...I'm thinking the Camaro orange houndstooth seat upholstery would look great in that car. Your thoughts?
Thanks for sharing, but id really appreciate when you get to the front clip you show how to align it. I have a 68 that had bad bushings and now that they are all replaced nothings aligned any longer. Doesn't help that the guy we got it from used ace hardware bolts everywhere. We now have all the bushings replaced and have all new hardware for the correct installation but really clear on aligning all the front clip panels. So when you do get to that part id really appreciate any tips and tricks you may have. Thanks in advance.
Heck yeah. I will definitely cover that part for sure. I really think clean lines and tight gaps make a car look super clean. You have discovered why I put the car all together before welding panels on and doing body work. New bushings change the angles and how the car fits together. Which in turn will could effect a modified panel and snowball into a huge panel fitment issue.
Is the hole in the floor the same for a standard transmission? If anyone has center console that they won’t be useing for a 68 Standard transmission let me know.
The automatic console is not really a problem to install. HOWEVER, I have broke out TWO factory 4 speed consoles powershifting to 3ed no matter HOW you install it as there just is not enough stroke in that stupid 4 speed shifter hole in the console with a Hurst competition plus II shifter. You can get away with the factory 4 speed console with the wet noodle factory shifter, but that shifter is a total JOKE if you really get on it hard. My car came with a console and the factory hole in the floor, so we know everything was correct from the factory. But when you install the Corvette Hurst Comp plus II shifter it now shifts great, but throw the console out as it will NEVER take a balls to the wall 3ed gear full on power shift without braking out the front of that plastic console. Needless to say, my factory 4 speed console is OUT, and I just used a plain GTO 4 speed factory rubber boot & chrome top plate with no console. And with the price there getting for the 4 speed consoles ( 4 speed first gen Birds are pretty rare with a factory console) you can use the sale of the console to buy a complete synchro, small parts & all bearings for the 4 speed & a tank of Avgas as well ! lol. Yep, I repaired & sold off both on mine. Just say NO to a console with a 4 speed in a 67 to 69 Bird, they look cool, but just don't fit with a heavy duty shifter. Trust me, I am a really good journeymen machinist, over the 45 years I owned my bird I tried EVERYTHING !!!! to make the original 4 speed console work, never going to work (correctly) with a Hurst Shifter.
@@VinylVillageGarage cut the shift arm on the trans in half and shorten it 1/4'' that will fix the problem and shorten the thro of 3/4 shifts. works great
I grew up in Brownsburg. Graduated in 1983. Lived there till 2018, when we moved to Avon. I’m surprised I never saw your 69 Firebird out and about. I had a Martinique Blue 400, 4 speed 78 Trans Am for years….
My black 1969 bird got parked in 2004 and finally started putting my cars back together 5 years ago. The white trans am clone has been on the road for the last 3 years. Hope to have the great pumpkin done within the year then back to my 1969 black coupe. I have probably seen your car out and about that blue stands out and I do love blue birds.
Thanks for the video, great common sense approach, well done
Keep it simple is my favorite way
You make awesome videos, I’m glad I found you on UA-cam.
Thanks and glad you found us too. Love building cars and now sharing their stories.
Great video!! I purchased the center console for my Bird back in 93 salvaged from a car in Arizona. Perfect condition. As my car is original column shift. Now im torn between installing the console as my car has the original CLOCK on the floor and it would have to be deleted due to not fitting with the console. GO Great Pumpkin. Shes looking good.
Console clock was also an option, just sayin. 😁 Thanks!
great info Jon. Thank you for sharing. Love that installation tool for the barrel nuts. Sweet.
That tool was worth it, I have used it on I think 6 cars now.
Great informative video, Jon.👍👍👍
Thanks!
Another fantastic episode in what has become the go-to series in rebuilding these old ‘Birds, and to which I have already referred before working in areas of my 67.
Would have loved to see that swarf to have been cleaned up earlier though! 😊
Glad to help appreciate you joining us on this project
Great video bringing me back a couple of months ago when you was over my house mounting my 68 firebird console great job buddy
Yeah good times for sure. I still forgot to show how to cut the hole in the floor pan with a cut off the wheel.
@@VinylVillageGarage that's right and boy did it come out great
I had to use BIG washers to keep my console down. Looking forward to your video on "console restoration ".
Right on! I use washers as part of the repair, I will be getting to it soon.
Another great video Jon! One of my favorite pieces in the interior is the console, love that fake wood look. I paid $50 bucks for mine in a junk yard in 1983 and it was in great shape. Just repainted the black and cleared it. Mine has a B&M star shifter to make it go gooder!
Thanks, you said gooder again! $50 bucks was a steal. I would have loved to have found a first gen bird in a scrapyard to get goodies out of or even better bought the whole car.
Great tips again! I’ve got an automatic console that I’m going to try to modify to my 4 speed. Got the floor cut out but seems that the shifter sets a little to far to the drivers side for the consol so I’ll have to address that soon.
The factory 4spd console hole is off center to the left and automatic are centered. Are you thinking of modifying the auto console?
@@VinylVillageGarage Yea I have a auto console that’s not in the best shape so I thought I would try to modify it to try to save some money. I know you can buy them fairly reasonable so if I mess it up I’m not out much.
Sounds like a solid plan. Good luck
Awesome video. You make this look too easy. I wonder if there is a way to use my console, since i swapped it over to manual. Keep up the great work.
You should be able to use a manual transmission center console and make it work with overdrive transmission too. Plus you can sell the automatic console even, check the comments a guy is looking for one. 68 & 69 used the same consoles.
@@VinylVillageGarage It would be cool to use my OG console. I havent seen it in about 15 years lol. I would have to do some serious digging.
I go on a treasure hunt sometimes and I seem to find way more then i bargained forn
Thanks so much for this made it easy to understand. Is there a way to put new thread seats in current holes? Mine are just spinning. Thanks for all the detail you give in your videos ❤️❤️
right on glad to help.
Nice video and instruction of the console alignment. What is the material you used on the floor pan? It looks really nice.
That is lizard skin, I did the sound control and thermal insulation
Here is an idea.. Since the Great Pumpkin will retain the Autum bronze color...I'm thinking the Camaro orange houndstooth seat upholstery would look great in that car. Your thoughts?
That would look good. The owner wants to retain the parchment seats. I do see what you are saying.
Thanks for sharing, but id really appreciate when you get to the front clip you show how to align it. I have a 68 that had bad bushings and now that they are all replaced nothings aligned any longer. Doesn't help that the guy we got it from used ace hardware bolts everywhere. We now have all the bushings replaced and have all new hardware for the correct installation but really clear on aligning all the front clip panels. So when you do get to that part id really appreciate any tips and tricks you may have.
Thanks in advance.
Heck yeah. I will definitely cover that part for sure. I really think clean lines and tight gaps make a car look super clean. You have discovered why I put the car all together before welding panels on and doing body work. New bushings change the angles and how the car fits together. Which in turn will could effect a modified panel and snowball into a huge panel fitment issue.
@@VinylVillageGarage Appreciate that. Mines a mess right now but at least bolted together. Looking forward to it. Im sure I'll have questions.
The best part is you have a bird!
Lol. Never saw it
Like that bird giving the bird. Been there a few times. But anyway glad to help and hope to keep the videos coming
👍
Thanks!
Are manual and automatic first gen had the same shifter hole location???
I believe 67 in the same but 68/69 are a little different the manual shifter hole is larger
Where in Hendricks County do you live? I live in Avon….
I am a south sider now. Grew up and went Avon schools. Lived in Avon for 30 years.
Jon, Can you please tell me the brand and number of the Threaded insert tool kit?
Smittybuilt brand part 2834
They are about $50 for the kit.
@@VinylVillageGarage FYI Vintage Air uses those threaded inserts..LOL
Speaking of Vintage air, I hope an upcoming video of the install comes soon..With the new price increase, back orders shouldn't be a problem..
You might be onto something there, price goes up demand might go down.
Is the hole in the floor the same for a standard transmission? If anyone has center console that they won’t be useing for a 68 Standard transmission let me know.
No the holes are not the same unfortunately, the consoles do mount up the same between auto and Manual trans
The automatic console is not really a problem to install. HOWEVER, I have broke out TWO factory 4 speed consoles powershifting to 3ed no matter HOW you install it as there just is not enough stroke in that stupid 4 speed shifter hole in the console with a Hurst competition plus II shifter. You can get away with the factory 4 speed console with the wet noodle factory shifter, but that shifter is a total JOKE if you really get on it hard. My car came with a console and the factory hole in the floor, so we know everything was correct from the factory. But when you install the Corvette Hurst Comp plus II shifter it now shifts great, but throw the console out as it will NEVER take a balls to the wall 3ed gear full on power shift without braking out the front of that plastic console. Needless to say, my factory 4 speed console is OUT, and I just used a plain GTO 4 speed factory rubber boot & chrome top plate with no console. And with the price there getting for the 4 speed consoles ( 4 speed first gen Birds are pretty rare with a factory console) you can use the sale of the console to buy a complete synchro, small parts & all bearings for the 4 speed & a tank of Avgas as well ! lol. Yep, I repaired & sold off both on mine. Just say NO to a console with a 4 speed in a 67 to 69 Bird, they look cool, but just don't fit with a heavy duty shifter. Trust me, I am a really good journeymen machinist, over the 45 years I owned my bird I tried EVERYTHING !!!! to make the original 4 speed console work, never going to work (correctly) with a Hurst Shifter.
Man i bet I will be busting my console in my bird when I get it together.
@@VinylVillageGarage cut the shift arm on the trans in half and shorten it 1/4'' that will fix the problem and shorten the thro of 3/4 shifts. works great