Bob's 1973 Firebird

By: Tommy Parry

This build began with only a couple go-fast parts: a stock 350 Pontiac with an RPM manifold and huge air cleaner, but Bob is a busybody. Within a few months, Bob had installed a Pontiac 400 under a Formula-style hood, Boss 338 18” wheels, Hotchkis front springs and shocks, and a PTFB front steering kit.

It only took about 50 miles of driving with that configuration before he recognized that he couldn’t live with something which felt that old. So he went online and ordered a set of Detroit Speed Engineering subframe connectors, then threw in a forged 455 and a GTO’s T56.

Then came a long list of suspension goodies:

C5 Front brake setup from Custom Works

C5 Rear setup with parking brake from L&H Kustoms

Hydratech setup

Upper tubular a-arms from PTFB

Reinforced lower arms with Global West Del-A-Lum bushings

WS6 front swaybar with PST bushings

Power brakes with Wilwood tandem master cylinder and proportioning valve

Rear Hotckis springs with Konis

QTP BOP bellhousing

ATS crossmember

Hurst Driveline Solutions hydraulic kit

30-spline Eaton differential

Moser axles

3.73 gears

SpeedHut gauges with GPS speedometer

‘71 Grand Prix door handles

Once the suspension was in place, he turned his attention to the interior. In went a custom Trans Am bezel wrapped in carbon vinyl and stamped with the Speedhut gauges. With a Legarra wheel and an old Alpine deck, the interior looked nearly modern.

Six years passed with minimal problems. The biggest problems over those years were that the fuel lines dumped fumes and anytime the ambient temperature passed 78°, it would overheat when he got stuck at a stop light. Part of the reason he didn’t struggle much was that he only drove it a total of 300 miles during that period, and much of that time the engine was out getting fitted with:

SD Performance KRE heads

SD Performance Stump Puller custom ground for EFI

Holley Terminator with distributor to electronically control timing

Tribal Tubes headers

Restomod tank with fifth gen module

All new fuel line and 6AN flex line.

Black CVF serpentine kit

Vintage Air

Harland Sharpe lightweight rockers

While it was out and getting modified, he had the footwork touched up. Up front, he added a powdercoated subframe with Speedtech Streetfighter setup, a DSE steering box, and 4-piston Wilwood brakes. In the rear, he fitted DSE mini tubs and a Speedtech Torque arm. The final handling modification: a set of Boze 19” wheels—wide enough for 325-section tires in the rear.

This seven-year build is nearing its end. To keep tabs on Bob’s final steps, keep an eye on his build thread here.

Car Images: