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: 23,611

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

  • Currently 2.5333333333333 /5 Stars.
13 guestbook comments

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RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac FirebirdSTEERING
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The most important thing we did was to add all new Energy Suspension polyurathane bushings!
Of course, I got them in red.

My car still had its stock bushings. Surprisingly, they were not in too bad a shape!

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STEERING
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First we removed the old steering system:
Tierods,
Steering arm
Steering box
Spindles

I stayed with stock tierods, but got a new set. Joe had an idea to simply take off the old ones and make the new ones the exact same length.

RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird

The new tie rods ends got a fresh coat of Spies Hecker single stage Automotive paint that matched the cars body color. Then the new red hexagonal ES bushing went on instead of the ones that came with the tierod ends.
RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac FirebirdRedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird
The stock steering arm remained, but received a fresh coat of paint too.

RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird

Spindles were painted the same red and received their own set of Energy Suspension bushings.
RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird

RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird

Here are some pics. of the steering all installed:
RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac FirebirdRedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird

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STEERING BOX
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Joe felt the old steering box was inadequate since it was made with steering stops designed for a car with stock 15 inch rims and tires. So on a trip to the junkyard; we happened upon a 1986 Z28. Its steering box came home with me.

Before install it received candy apple red paint. Since it was rough textured the candy really popped off its surface. The aluminum side adjustment plate was polished.

RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird

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Over time we saw just how much wear and tear this unit recieves. The paint got chipped and was impossible to match, so with the next make over the unit went body color red to match the rest of the suspension.

Here it is during its transformation...
You can see how bad it was looking...
RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac FirebirdRedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird
The best fix was to strip the old paint off and start over. So here it is all sand blasted

RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird


Red primer baby!

RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird


Now the red base coat
RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac FirebirdRedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird
Clear coat

RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird


Installed

RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird


Here you can see its nice polished aluminum plate

RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird


Also you may hae noticed the nice AN fittings in the Feed and return line holes. Yep I'm doing away with the factory system. I'm going to a power steering cooler mounted up by the radiator and all stainless lines!

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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