1991 Firebird Steering Improvements (Centerlink, Brace, Adjustment) (Ep.14)

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Now that we have the car in a roadworthy state, we can start figuring out what work is left to be done to improve the driving experience and safety. First up is the worn out steering centerlink that we have a replacement for. Then, we'll install a steering brace (AKA a Wonderbar) to stiffen up the front end and adjust the steering box to remove some of the excess play in the steering wheel. It may not be a racecar by the end but we are certainly making progress!
Date of filming: April 16th, 2019 (Centerlink and Brace)
Song List (Order of First Appearance):
0:01 Casey Don't You Fret - Dan Lebowitz
5:35 The Clean Up Man - Dan Lebowitz
11:07 Daisy Dukes - Silent Partner
18:28 Harvest Time - Silent Partner
(All music provided by RU-vid's Audio Library royalty free.)
Thanks for watching, and joining us on this adventure! Please let us know what you think! Consider supporting us via Patreon as well! / fuzzydiceprojects
Follow our Instagram for more pictures and teasers: / fuzzydiceprojects
Check out our second channel for a variety of other content: / @fuzzydicepastimes

Опубликовано:

18 сен 2024

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Комментарии : 249

@Diavolo_VRSC 4 года назад

Psssttt, this is a 3rd gen fbody, not a 2nd gen.

@FuzzyDiceProjects 4 года назад

Oh, shoot, did I say that somewhere in the voiceover? I have been working with the 78 so much recently it must have slipped in without my noticing. My mistake.

@formula93 4 года назад

Came here to say this!

@jeffreygout 4 года назад

Fuzzy Dice Projects multiple times

@clevelandmaker386 4 года назад

@@FuzzyDiceProjects please tell me you put anti seize on that so it would be easier to do this next time!

@roguepilot1 4 года назад

Yep, a few times. I wasn't going to say anything :-)

@sakumisan 4 года назад

I love the TopDown Solutions WonderBar. Lon, the owner, has been a huge part of the 3rd gen community - so every time I see one of his pieces get used it makes me happy.

@sakumisan 4 года назад

@LUCKYDUCKY 62 WTF are you talking about

@LerrySanders 4 года назад

Love the series. Nice to see a normal car getting restored instead of another lambo. 10/10

@TheBrokenLife 4 года назад

What? You know there are thousands of us out there wrenching on things that aren't Lambos, right? I mean... If there was ever an inverse of a Lamborghini, it's the stuff I own.

@thelonewanderer420 4 года назад

Maxwelhse cough cough b is for build

@TheBrokenLife 4 года назад

@@thelonewanderer420 His stuff is pretty big money the last time I was over there. I wish him well all the same.

@thelonewanderer420 4 года назад

Lassi Kinnunen yep, and he’s dumb as a rock

@blinkachu5275 Год назад

@@thelonewanderer420 sadly B is for Build grew too big and moved on from fun small budget things and started doing large budget things Still fun to watch but did lose its appeal from where he started

@watermelons1285 4 года назад

This guy and his god damn steering lol

@sakumisan 4 года назад

If you drove a third gen, you'd understand. LOL

@watsisbuttndo829 4 года назад

I have a 65 pontiac and i fully understand. I had the opportunity to take some measurements during a body off resto and was appalled by what i found. Not with regard to wear but the original geometry was so bad. Had to virtually replace everything with aftermarket bits to get the wheels to stay pointing in the right direction during suspension movement.

@DrewLSsix 4 года назад

@@sakumisan I had a 90 T/A, for whatever reason the complaints that other 3ed gen owners had never seemed to be an issue for mine. It was a hard top, but still. It never seemed to have excess flex, the steering was very good etc. The only suspension issue was someone had put clamps on the springs front and rear. It rode pretty harshly and would lose control over certain surfaces because the suspension lacked travel.

@cowboylerma 4 года назад

I'm so happy you found self expression in those cotter pins ;)

@SirSwindled 4 года назад

Love the channel. Started watching a very long time ago. Caused me to get into cars, and now im a technician! With a few project cars going and a few behind him. Thankyou for the inspiration.

@cambo1200 4 года назад

I use side-cutters to remove cotter pins. It grips the pin really well and I use leverage to pull it out.

@miltstone2 4 года назад

cambo1200 agreed, I use side cuts myself. They work great.

@TheBrokenLife 4 года назад

I'll be the 3rd vote. If that fails, I cut them off and pound them out with a couple of nails. I've broken too many punches trying to get them out that way before.

@jasonconci562 4 года назад

Man, I just stumbled across your channel and have binged this entire firebird series today - thank you for this. I really appreciate your outlook on the work you're doing, and the little monologue from episode 12 or 13 has really stuck with me. I've been driving my POS 2000 Nissan Xterra with 220k miles for 5 years now, and even though I've got money and capability to get something new, I really don't want to. I love it, and even if I let go of it some day, it'll always be mine - even if that means changing a burst radiator hose with a flashlight in my mouth every once in a while. Cheers from California man.

@DrewEdwardBacklas 4 года назад

You can do a lot to improve the handling on these cars by replacing every rubber bushing with polyurethane. It was 10 years ago when I built my 82 z28 but the kit was only like $70 for the entire chassis. Sub frame ties and a strut tower brace do wonders. If you want to go further but stay cheap and have a welder you can fully box the stock stamped control arms and rear trailing arms by welding on some steel plate (a lot of lemons and chump teams do this to their third gens) a half decent set of shocks and good tires and a 3rd gen can handle pretty darn well.

@FuzzyDiceProjects 4 года назад

Good tip about boxing in the suspension parts! Will consider it. Have a set of poly bushings I bought for it a year ago but haven't got around to installing yet

@Carstuff111 4 года назад

It is still great to see my favorite of the 3rd generation Firebirds being restored. Actually makes me want to go out and find one to restore myself, because I love these final two years of that body style. And, that is a beautiful color all cleaned up :)

@mr.randomreviewguy5249 4 года назад

I would love for you to wire brush the underbody and repaint everything LOL

@wahngott4711 4 года назад

nah that's load-carrying rust you are talking about here, no way you should scrub that off (s)

@spottydog4477 4 года назад

I was just thinking that whist watching!!!!

@PhOeNiXpIoLe 4 года назад

Yeah i agree, I would’ve done that already or at least started cleaning everything up

@AdderoYuu 3 года назад

I wouldn't wish that upon my worst enemy. Did that to my 1996 Ranger and it turned into a several month repaired project.

@egardner5978 4 года назад

Every time I think about buying a 3rd gen Firebird, you drop a video. Must be a sign.

@V8AmericanMuscleCar 4 года назад

Go for it!!! 😀

@md4luckycharms 4 года назад

I bought a 4th gen thanks to this series. Or at least this series definitely helped seal the deal

@V8AmericanMuscleCar 4 года назад

I have my bird for 13 years. I'm stilll in love! 🙂

@md4luckycharms 4 года назад

@@V8AmericanMuscleCar Got her started for the first time yesterday and dropped the t tops on the only nice day this winter. She only drives in reverse currently, likely from the low transmission fluid. Not so bad for a 200$ car

@V8AmericanMuscleCar 4 года назад

$200???? Here where I am for $200 I can't get two old tires! LOL If it moves $200 is nothing! 🤣 Wish you luck with the Bird!

@alexcroft8947 4 года назад

Liking just for the cotter pins.

@MotorScotti 4 года назад

Installed the Wonderbar on mine too. It's a great improvement. Funny that you published this video now as I'm just editing all of the steering upgrades I did on mine this weekend. Keep it up!

@Ichiidino 4 года назад

Immediately yes please. I'm always amped to see the notifications for this series

@BeStrong-nf5nc 4 года назад

You are one of the best on youtube for mechanocs videos, really well explained videos, calm voice, and lots of learning, even us learning with you as you progress. Good job i have been watching since your jimmy videos, would be nice to see some off-roading type videos or builds

@danhale4926 4 года назад

Take a shot every time you hear the secret word or phrase "all things considered"

@captaincommunism6532 4 года назад

Or "______ part is actually in _______ shape"

@randyrichardson4364 4 года назад

When removing cotter pins, try using side cutters. Grab the top, squeeze and leverage the cotter pin out. Faster than anything you've shown on video so far.

@DoRC 4 года назад

Easiest way to remove cotter pins is with a pair of side cutters. They bite into the eye and give good purchase to lever them out. Works 99 percent of the time.

@briantambling3918 4 года назад

YESSSS!!! Been waiting for a new episode on this car. I love that firebird. I'm sooooo jealous

@stevensreejith3041 4 года назад

All the videos on this Firebird were awesome and good enough to educate someone on how to maintain a vehicle irrespective of brand, thanks a lot Indeed

@zanderxymox 4 года назад

Gotta love that good old Rusty & Crusty Maryland Air. I just did the rear brakes on my Volvo 850 wagon today. Anyone who has a Volvo 850 knows that the rear brakes are super easy to do...when not covered in rust. I spent all afternoon separating the pads from the pistons in the calipers because the rust had welded the pads on the pistons, as well as the pins that held the pads in. People in the west have no idea how lucky they are lol

@risingstar1309 4 года назад

Zander Xymox my 67 Plymouth doesn’t even have surface rust underneath it. Yup, I’m on the west coast

@scottb_02 4 года назад

I hear ya, Ohio

@CCM911 4 года назад

I just binge watched all 14 episodes. Very well done!! Nice job!!

@mainwilly6541 2 года назад

the way you explain for me makes it look easier.. congratulations

@lonsal 2 года назад

Thanks for showing installation of our TDS 105021 Steering Brace. Enjoy your Firebird! Lon Salgren Top-Down Solutions

@DerrickRG 4 года назад

The TDS bar is essential. Put one of those on mine and the improvement was immediately noticeable.

@rogerheller3909 4 года назад

just loved your play list of this 91 firebird hope you comeback soon with some more restoration videos , stay blessed and stay safe :0)

@gundamramjcr 4 года назад

I am loving this project! Its inspiration for others to work on cars from the past and hopefully have cars from the past for drivers of today!

@robram008 4 года назад

Honestly I thank you for making these videos. I'm a car enthusiast I love working on my cars I've been working as an on-the-road trucker for a year and haven't been able to work on my cars. Watching your videos is it kind of therapy.

@WorthlessWhips 4 года назад

I think you might have fixed my steering issue, thanks so much! You're doing the lords work!

@Shane-Singleton 4 года назад

Loving this series. I've owned at least one of every generation of F body (aside from first) and currently daily a 5th gen ZL1. Watching your videos here makes me really want an IROC-Z camaro. You got really lucky finding that firebird in as decent of shape as it was. When looking around here (Dallas Tx area) the IROC's I find are either really nice or really horrible. It's hard to find something that's a decent fixer upper. If I expanded my search to other trim levels i'd probably have more luck but i'd really like an IROC. I grew up in the 80's and it was THE car to have.

@robfassi3297 4 года назад

Shane Singleton the 5th gen isn’t part of the f body platform

@Strathern88 4 года назад

The new decade is starting off well! Good to see a new video uploaded, cant wait to watch!

@Zelaznogsiul-63 4 года назад

Love the cotter pin art.

@MrJoeboy24 4 года назад

Please more videos on this project. It’s awesome

@planes124 4 года назад

One of my fav American cars

@paulpateman3968 4 года назад

Brilliant video keep up the hard work love Pontiacs

@brenden4208 4 года назад

Great video this is one of my favorite build even though all your builds are the best

@wtfcheesenips2098 4 года назад

I’m getting a 91 here in a few weeks! Brand new motor in it but the fuel pump went out and they had it sitting ever since for over 6 years. My first project car and I cannot wait!

@Crazy_FNAF_LOVER Год назад

Love this series

@TheBrokenLife 4 года назад

It's disturbing how much the front end of that car looks exactly like every other GM RWD car from about 1965 to 2000. If I didn't know it was a Firebird, I'm not sure I would have been able to tell what it was. Also... Nice work on getting off that easy on getting ancient steering parts off. You're going to end up paying for that one the next 10 you do. ;)

@billyjid74 4 года назад

good series well done one day ill get my dodge charger but difficult living in england great effort look forward to watching another series

@declanm5088 4 года назад

YES, just what I needed to watch!!

@panzermk4953 3 года назад

that painting is definitely in his house FDP nice

@ManoelMalafaia 4 года назад

From Brazil: Another great video, congratulations!

@REDDRAGON666ful 4 года назад

I watched all of your videos!!! I really enjoyed them, this is one of my most favorite cars!!! Great job!!!!

@mikeconnelly7032 4 года назад

Again another great video!!! I clip one side of the cotter pin just past the nut and bend the other over the top of the nut. Much easier to pull the pin out.

@lateefcarrere1649 4 года назад

100th like. You're doing a really nice job on the Firebird - almost to the point that it's hard to believe it was just wasting away a little more than a year ago.

@jclafi 4 года назад

Such great car! In the hands of a great owner ! Excelent work ! Keep up !

@Wolfman-qb5cf 4 года назад

Your videos are very satisfying

@elcaminosunlimited 4 года назад

I always cut the cotter pin eyelet loop with a side cutters, then remove each half with a channelocks pliers.

@wtfcheesenips2098 4 года назад

Love to see another update! 😁

@Joshsotojustss 4 года назад

This Lamborghini is really nice good work 👍🏻

@fern3056 4 года назад

Always enjoy these videos.....

@danielwatkins688 4 года назад

For the cotter pins if you use a set of side cutters and make a rolling motion with them against the bolt that works well. We use alot of heavy cotter pins on flight controls for helicopters so we change alot of them

@brucenaylor2043 4 года назад

Great job love the car.

@tyates4398 4 года назад

I hate to be an armchair QB, but one lesson i've learned with suspensions is that fixing one piece at a time over time makes for bigger headaches down the road. Just do it all in one shot and youll thank yourself later.

@Dirty_Bird 4 года назад

ADD MORE TO THIS SERIES!!! I love my 3rd gen. (82 firebird that my dad put a pontiac 400 engine in back in his day!)

@0_O_0001 4 года назад

Love these videos.

@brennanambrose8151 4 года назад

I love this series

@jl8981 4 года назад

This was awesome. Great rebuild. I would do more to the engine... bumping up the HP but I can totally understand keeping this one real.

@christophermiller3381 4 года назад

Great video

@marinmarusic5937 4 года назад

I love these videos and i would love to see more of them. Keep it up

@allans8083 4 года назад

Love you vlog all the Away from Denmark .

@alexmcgowan2768 4 года назад

I am so glad this episode came out ive been waiting for it

@mylesl2890 4 года назад

looks like the parking lot at the WP ny mall but guess they all look alike, great video gotta try a wonderbar

@dave1135 4 года назад

Most times, taking a large hammer and wanging on the part the stud goes thru, 90% of the time it will pop apart. I avoid a pickle fork if I have to reuse the tie rod or ball joint as the pickle fork can tear the grease boot

@BlueFlyer21 4 года назад

Michel Night would be proud

@MrNobodysSanctuary 4 года назад

Hope you can get the radiator fan fixed that's the problem my bird has, great series!

@supercobra14560 4 года назад

Steering has been my hassle for years now. I have a fully built tubular suspension. But my steering sucks. Saving up for a turn 1 box.

@MyLonewolf25 4 года назад

supercobra14560 just convert to rack and pinion

@PeterGriffin-kb2hf 4 года назад

Yay, more firebird!

@noonakki 4 года назад

nice tap with good hammer to the side of the ball joint taper and you dont need any other tools

@greggkuzila7513 4 года назад

so that's a 1990s when I was Burying my blazers back in the day and the first thing you look at before you buy one is that the steering box is still attached to the frame lot of cracks so no big deal have a a good welder and have fun fixing it with extra Steel

@MrIgor1955 4 года назад

FYI: You Firebird is a 3rd Generation F body, not a 2nd generation. Second generation cars are 1970 to 1981. Good video though.

@ShainAndrews 4 года назад

I was thinking that as well, but I'm not well versed on these rides at all.

@gundude82 4 года назад

I think he got too used to working on his '78 Firebird lol

@mercury0214 4 года назад

Yeah he has a 2nd gen to probably mixes them up

@roadweary5252 4 года назад

He acknowledged this in the pinned comment

@ImTheJoker4u 4 года назад

A job well done👍

@ronnoc519 4 года назад

Yes a new episode! Woot

@mullinsjm1 4 года назад

Been waiting on another one of these. :)

@KnowoneKnowhere713 4 года назад

As an aircraft mechanic, you really should have put those cotter pins in the other way. Might as well have gravity working with you. If I was inspecting this I'd have made the mechanic change them around. Other than that nice work, this has been fun to watch you get back to a road worthy state.

@FuzzyDiceProjects 4 года назад

Fair point! I usually just go with whatever installation direction is easiest and when laying on the ground trying to line things up that happens to be where I can get my head to line up the cotter pin hole visually. The way I wrap the pins around they are under a bit of tension, too, so they shouldn't be rattling around. I do understand how it would be a "might as well" situation and will keep that in mind for the future!

@tomhakimov1715 4 года назад

Not sure if you are checking comment of your past videos but man, I want the episodes to never end!!! Btw how about Supra a70?

@jameshall4385 4 года назад

i put a wander bar on my firebird formula. it looks good but didn’t notice anything. it already has the ws6 suspension with thicker sway bars but it was good piece of mind and it only cost ten dollars from the junkyard

@jtelliso 4 года назад

I love this car but i cannot get over the mounting place for that license plate. There HAS to be something you can do for that.

@elcabezon5487 4 года назад

he needs to install a bracket in dead center of tne bumper

@Chris-nq6cm 4 года назад

Those are the strongest cotter pins Ive ever seen are those not paper clips?

@JRC99 4 года назад

subframe connectors would probably be a good investment even if it's just a daily. And maybe a 3.42 posi lol. Nice middle ground.

@guillermitodeir4900 4 года назад

This is better than watching Netflix...lol

@silverbackedgorilla5735 3 года назад

Love the videos just 2 things though. 82-92 is 3rd gen and I am in tears over the fact that you didn’t do new urethane bushings on sway bar lol

@texastyrannyresponseteam794 4 года назад

it's a 3rd Gen... not 2nd Gen as you kept saying in the beginning..

@clayon89 4 года назад

Caster angle is responsible for return to center after turn

@NO-background-music-in-videos. 4 года назад

A sharp smack on teh bar near the ball joint will pop it loose.. the vibration on the taper fit

@magcv92 4 года назад

You should try 1/8 of a turn adjustment at a time on the steering box, if you do more than 1 full turn your box will wear within a year. Tell me how I know 😁

@someone972s 4 года назад

I never have gotten my steering to how I'd like it on my Firebird. Installed the wonderbar, replaced all the steering components, even got one of the expensive rebuilt steering boxes from AGR and it still feels a bit sloppy. Maybe my standards are just too high for an almost 30 year old car :P. Glad to see you got your car sorted out though.

@thelaughingman79 3 года назад

these cars seem easier to work on than my 98 gmc serria where everything is neatly tucked up above a big support

@mej684 4 года назад

I would have scrapped that engine day 1 and found a used LQ4 from the junkyard. 170 hp is hilarious in a muscle car.

@prophaniti1 4 года назад

Might have been worth changing the sway bar rubbers as well did them on my Audi and I could tell the difference.

@paintballsikdude 4 года назад

Good job and from around my way That's hard to find around here.

@OldManFrank 4 года назад

*I plan on changing out my steering gear box early 2020 (1976 Camaro).*

@RabbitBleed 4 года назад

I like your videos. Just wanted to say it.

@neilbrown82 4 года назад

You need to find yourself a WS6 3rd gen steering box and also you can use the Hooker headers S10 steering shaft which has no rag joint all u joints it will fit on the 3rd gen

@michaelw6277 4 года назад

I love this car, but you’ve really gotta do something about that front plate.

@goclunker 4 года назад

Pro tip: lube the balljoint boots with dielectric grease (silicone) It will stop the rubber from cracking. Rubber likes silicone

@stoddern 4 года назад

A good old fashion pickle fork works on steering ball joints

@FuzzyDiceProjects 4 года назад

True, I usually go there as a last resort though since it is pretty tough on the other parts and it destroys the boots. Good for really stuck ball joints though

@TheBrokenLife 4 года назад

@@FuzzyDiceProjects That's why when I rebuild steering, I rebuild it all. The parts aren't usually that expensive and my time is worth more than the money, most days... I just know if I don't do it all, I'll be back there again moments later.