Building A 1976 Pontiac Firebird Into A Pro-touring Monster

A gentleman in Sweden is combining his engineering mind with his auto enthusiast heart to transform a 1974 Pontiac Firebird into a race car that he can still drive to get ice cream. The project started in 2009 and is planned to be finished in 2016. He plans to follow a simple formula, keep it as light as possible, upgraded the handling and build it all on a rigid chassis.

The engine will be a Pontiac 400 ci block with ported Kauffman Racing heads, custom ground cam, titanium valves and retainers, forged Carillo rods and pistons. The owner is estimating the engine will output around 500 horsepower which should be plenty for a planned weight of 2,645 lb (1,200 kg). The lubrication system will be a four-stage dry sump with a large Peterson tank inside the right fender. The rest of the drivetrain will be a T-56 six-speed transmission and a Ford 8.8 rear end.

The front and rear suspensions have been designed in CAD. The front will feature custom double A-arms, shortened rack and pinion from a Ford Sierra, fully adjustable, and electronic power steering. The rear suspension will have a De Dion tube, three control arms, fully adjustable, halfshafts from a Lincoln Mark VIII, and be fully adjustable as well.

Source: ProPontiac.com and ProPontiac Facebook page

Original: Engine Swap Depot