Vehicle Owner

Member ID: RedraifExtras

Location: Here, GA

Vehicle Info

1987 Pontiac Firebird

Bragging Rights

  • 1/4 Mile16.8 sec @ 80 mph
  • 0-600sec
  • Top Speed-1mph
  • HP143
  • Weight3755lbs

Major Upgrades

  • turbo
  • nitrous
  • bore increase
  • port and polish
  • supercharger
  • extrude honed
  • stroke increase
  • engine swap

Modifications

Performance Parts

Exterior Styling

Car Audio & Video

Ratings

    • Currently 2.5/5 Stars.
    • Currently 2.6/5 Stars.
    • Currently 2.6/5 Stars.
    • Currently 2.6/5 Stars.
    • Currently 2.6/5 Stars.
    • Currently 2.4/5 Stars.

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Last updated: Oct 10, 2006

Hits: 23,734

REDRAIF’s Pontiac Firebird
“RAIF'S HANDLING MODIFICATIONS”

  • Currently 2.5333333333333 /5 Stars.
13 guestbook comments

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RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac FirebirdAJE RACING: A-ARMS & FRONT COILOVER CONVERSION
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Along with the looks and the weight savings I got with the k-member, I wanted to get something to replace my busted tubular A-arms. The stock ones were an eye sore and were quite heavy! Now my big concern was going back to a design that had the possible weaknesses of my old PA racing a-arms. Granted their failure was due to a defect in the manufacturing, not a failure of the part's design, but I was still leary. Was a turbular design that retained the factory spring pocket design ever going to be really safe?

So I looked at was AJE Racing offered with the K-member I purchased. The had a solid a-arm that eliminated the spring pocket all together and a conversion kit to go to a coil over spring design. Neater & less stress on those critical suspension parts! Plus, installation should be easier compared to the stock style, so I could concievably go to a different spring rate for the drag strip and avoid some of the obvious suspension issues I'm having now!

So I went with the Stronger road race package deal from AJE offered at Super Chevy... a whole new front suspension...

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As I stated previously... I decided on AJE because...

After the PA Racing A-arm incident, I wanted to be sure of what I was buying this go around... First thing I did was find out what was even available and who made it! Then I wanted to get some opinions of those in the business... I had taken my PA a-arm to a a local world know Chassis shop for an inspection. Lance Carter of Carter chassis was just down the way from me. He is a very well known and well respected chassis builder known thru out the country. After I got my A-arm questions answered, we went on to discuss K-members� He has heard horror stories about them (PA) and most others... he said there was only one company he would consider a prefabbed unit from and that was AJE... He had seen their Mustang stuff and was impresed with what they offered. I never mentioned AJE to him at all. This was his unsolicited opinion! Funny thing...he offered to build me some a-arms...asking price $1800... but they would NEVER break! LOL!

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A-ARMS
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Here are the AJE Tubular A-arms...
RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac FirebirdRedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird
The black plates you see in these pics are part of the coilover conversion...

Intstalled

RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird


They are also extra braced for Road racing, so I hope they can hold up better then the PA version. You will notice there are no spring pockets in these. I opted to go with a coil over conversion since it would allow for easier height changes and spring swaps. Plus, the spring pocket stress is where my PA Version showed its weakness.

Here you can see the up & down travel in the arms...
RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac FirebirdRedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird
The only thing that gave us real issue was the fact that the lower bar of the k-member interfered with the travel of the a-arm. The a-arm was not able to drop as low as stock. Normally we would allow the a-arm to completely drop to remove/install the strut & spindle as an assembly; however, it would not allow enough drop to do this. So we installed things differently. Once its all put together, the arm travel is not a problem at all.

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COIL OVER CONVERSION
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RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird

Here they are getting painted...
Red Primer

RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird


Red Candy Base coat

RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird


Clear coat

RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird

The metal plates I mentioned earier pictured with the A-arms above... well they get mounted at the top.
RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac FirebirdRedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird
The circular cuff holds the spring in place. There is a Timkin (sp) bearing kit that also comes with the coilover conversion kit and is installed to allow the unit to travel smoothly as needed while driving, as well as, when adjusting the unit's height!

Here it is all assembled... looks good since we painted the blue Eibach springs Candy Apple red!

RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird


Brakes are added!

RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird

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WEIGHT COMPARISONS
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Here are the AJE weight comparisons to stock...

RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird


Its hard to read the writing, but it says...

Stock K-member with stock a-arms: 78lbs
Eibach Prokit Springs: 27lbs

AJE K-member: 21 lbs
AJE A-arms: 10 lbs
So combined the AJE K-member and A-rms are: 31lbs
Coilover conversion and springs: 13lbs

Total Stock w/ Eibach stock style Prokit springs: 105lbs
AJE Front w/ coilover conversion: 44Lbs

Total savings: 61lbs

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HOME PAGE

RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird

Follow this link to additional information on the car not found on this site!
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RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird


DIRECTORY FOR RAIF'S HANDLING SITE
01 Site Overview
02 Rims
03 Tires
04 Shocks & Struts
05 Lowering Springs
06 Panhard Rod & Lower Control Arms
07 Steering
08 Sway Bars & Wonderbar
09 Strut Tower Brace
10 Old PA Racing A-Arms: Failure
11 Old PA Racing A-Arms: Passenger side damage
12 Old PA Racing A-Arms: Driver side damage
13 Subframe Connectors
14 Underbody View
15 Brakes
16 AJE Racing: Tubular cross member
17 AJE Racing: Tubular A-arms and coilover conversion <<<

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Guestbook

Displaying entries 1-5 of 13

soldaustin  

Posted by: soldaustin

07/20/2006 05:05PM

Hey I found your car doing a search for bmr strut tower braces. I am thinking about getting the 3 point. I noticed you said you had a problem with Edelbrock and also a little with the BMR. My car is an '85 Trans am with a Tuned Port Injected 305. Do you think it would fit without damaging my hood? My car only has 14,700 miles on it and I don't even want to risk anything with it. Great car and cool mods! You can find me at www.austinthirdgen.org. My signon is soldaustin. Please let me know about the Brace. Also did you do one of the wonderbar ones in the front of the frame to strengthen the gearbox area?

RedraifExtras  

Posted by: RedraifExtras

07/07/2006 12:53PM

Your Point?

Hondoo  

Posted by: Hondoo

07/07/2006 08:31AM

You should paint it all the colors of the rainbow.

stunzeed2  

Posted by: stunzeed2

06/30/2006 01:03PM

hey...nice 3rd gen...must say I've never seen red tint but hey...looks nice!

tjnappy  

Posted by: tjnappy

06/30/2006 12:41PM

Very nice man. I love seeing the thrid Gen's in such great condition and worked. I still think to this day my 3rd Gen's were the best handling Birds ever. Not to mention, you could beat the hell out of them and they wouldn't brake!

Check out my F-Bod video sometime! Take care man.

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Vehicle Owner

Member ID: RedraifExtras

Location: Here, GA