Well guys I posted a thread about this car before but I can't seem to find it anywhere. Now I actually think I'm gonna be able to get my hands on it. I'm about an inch from ownership of this car...

Ok so I'm getting ready to sell my Camaro and buy my friends Firebird. Motor was rebuilt and it got a brand new racing clutch and exhaust 30xxx miles ago. It has 123xxx original miles. He want's $3700 for it. It's a 3.8 with a 5-speed, Flowmaster cat-back exhaust, stage 2 racing clutch, and has been bored .030 over. If I buy this car it will definitely need some modding to be done. What do you guys think? I know for sure I'm doing some appearance mods such as wheels, window tint, and blacked out lights. I was planning on headers. I'm not sure what else I could do without breaking down the motor. I had also planned on a Z-28 rear end with limited slip and 3.42 gears.

One question I have is how hard will it be to put LED lights in the gauge cluster and on the AC/Heat controls. Will it be "plug and play" or more in depth? I want the inside of this sucker to gleam at night.

Another question I have is what kind of appearance mods can be done to the front of the Firebird? I really don't like the way the front ends look on the 1993-1997 'birds. Ideas?

Thanks in advance!

Here are some pics.

 

I would def look into changing the front end. Early 4th gen birds and camaros have the ugliest fronts. Later birds are much prettier. I changed my HVAC set to all leds not long ago because they all burnt out. Even though I have a different year and model, the process should be about the same. Remove the bezel around it. Should be a couple screws holding the piece in. Remove screws, twist bulbs out of holder in HVAC piece, break them, pull rest of bulb out with pliers, and then replace with led. It took me literally 10 minutes to do if that. I'm not sure about the cluster since it's a bird and it's an early 4th gen. I think you just have to remove more trim pieces. Replacing cluster bulbs in a 98+ is so much easier. I did a detailed write up on how to do a 98+ not long ago. But I have no idea how different it is to do a 93-97 dash. I think someone did it before on here, try searching for it.

 

Get an aluminum driveshaft off a v8 fbody, Pacesetter midtubes, gut the cut or put a Magnaflow in.

Swap out those ugly rear tailights for some 98-02 honeycombs.
Could also get a 30th anniv. stripe package on it.

 

Paint the car black and get gold wheels. Oh, and dress up like a bat.

 

Not sure what you want me to tell you. The gauge cluster I'm not sure on, but the HVAC works the same for all of them.

If you wanna go really in depth, you can do a full front end swap from a 98+ bird if you want but you need EVERYTHING from the fenders and up. Bumper support included. Up to you but it's a good deal of work.

I also don't like the fact it's bored over .030.... These engines can't take a lot of boring and strength goes down dramatically when you go more than .020 over. But you won't have a problem with it at long as you don't go FI.

Mods to do would be a set of headers (Pacesetter), aluminum DS, 3.42 LSD (3 channel if you don't have TCS) from a V8 car, better suspension (LCAs, shocks, sway bars mainly), and a good CAI (Not a ****ter eBay intake... They suck I promise). If you don't believe me on the intake, ask Musicman.

I would ask him what all was included in the "rebuild." My definition of rebuild is MUCH different than some others.

Wait until you get the car and iron out everything and know more about it before you worry about your mod fever bro.

 

I can't find a CAI for the 3.8 ANYWHERE... Link please??

 

Thanks kal. This is what I'm plan on:

Z-28 Rear End (Limited Slip and 3.42's)
Aluminum Driveshaft
Headers (Pacesetter Mid-Length with Y-Pipe)
CAI (I can't find one anywhere!)
WS6 Sway Bars
Lowering Springs

Wheels
Window Tint
Blacked Out Lights
LED Interior Replacement

 

I'm sure K&N sells one, SLP as well. I would PM Musicman and ask him what he did to his intake to make it flow better honestly.

 

All I found by K&N was a factory style replacement filter.

 

do the early 3800s have the lid-style intake?