1967 Pontiac Firebird, Resto-Mod, Pro Touring, Art Morrison Chassis, LSX, Custom

In 2014 work started on a 1967 Pontiac Firebird. We initially wanted to do a factory

Restoration with a little bit of an upgrade to the engine. Eugene Braswell Motorsports

Located in Todd NC was found to take on such a build. Upon speaking with

The client about the build Eugene over at EBM spoke about his passions about

pro-touring and shared some recent technology and trends with the client; he loved the idea and

agreed to move away from the factory restoration and go with a pro-touring

project. Over 200K invested and have appraisal.

Six weeks was spent looking at all the options from engine, suspension, and wheels. There are

Many different options when building a completely custom car; each with its own

Benefits and drawbacks. The final goal was to have street-able car that looked and

Performed like a brand new car. Turn the key, hot or cold, and the engine starts right up. Plenty

of power and good MPG. The suspension has to be tight and nimble allowing the car to handle like a

modern day sports car.

Ben Hermance Designs was enlisted to render the perfect styling, color, and stance. When building

Frostbite this is what was planned for the 1967 project.

After 2 years of painstaking effort "Frostbite" came to life and what we have

Today is one of the best bad ass pro-touring Firebirds in the country. Even

after "Frostbite" was finished Bubba Nicholson from Dixie Automotive in Jackson MS took

the crate engine apart and made it even better thus resulting in a pavement

pounding, blistering tire shredding, pin your body back blizzard of a car.

This car hasn't been shown that much but has already picked up 2016 Best of Show F-Body Beach Bash, 2017 Best in Class F-Body Beach Bash, 2017 Charlotte Good GuysFinalist, 2017 Everham Best of Show Modified, Smokey Mountain Fest 2017 Best of Show, Rick Hendrix 2017 Best Modified, 2018 Trans Am/Firebird Nationals 2nd Best Modified, 2019 Pontiacs in Pidgeon Forge Best Engine and Place, 2017 Annual Veterans Show Best of Show to name a few. This car has also been featured on Shutterfuel and Caffeine & Octane.

Forgeline ZXR3 Wheels 325/30/ZR19 and 275/35/R18 Michelin Super Sports

1968 Firebird Quarters (adds the Pontiac running lights)

Ring Brothers Door Handles (CNC Aluminum Billet)

1968 Firebird Side Glass (Adds the one-piece driver and passenger windows)

Full Frame Chassis (Art and Morrison Max G Chassis and Corvette C5 Suspension)

Tremec T-56 6 Sp Transmission (RMP Transmissions T-56 Level IV)

Raised Gas Lid (Perfectly Centered)

Shaved Rear Bumper (Form Fitted to Body)

Fitted Dual Exhaust (Hand-made Kooks Headers 3" Exhaust, Borla XR-1 Mufflers)

Flush Rear Window (Form Fitted to Body)

Rick's Gas Tank (ZR-1 Pump)

Custom Rear Spoiler (Ducktail + Firebird Pedastal Hybrid Rear Spoiler)

Ben Hermance Designed (Full Renderings)

Wilwood Disc Brakes (14' and 15')

PPG Tri Stage Paint (Pearl White, Titanium, Gold Accents)

Push Button Start (RFID Keyless Entry, Power Locks, Auto Headlight)

Smart Rear View Mirror Home Link (Built in Garage Door Opener, Compass, Homelink)

Functional Brake Air Inlets (Rear Side Inlets Cool Brakes)

Alpine Sound & Navigation (INE-W940, (2) PDX-M12, PDX-4, Backup Camera)

Vintage Air (Vintage Air & Dakota Digital Controller)

Sparco Racing Seats (Sparco R700 and Scroth Racing Seat Belts)

1969 Trans Am Hood (Agressive Dual Air Intakes)

HID Headlights (Black Flame Customs)

1969 Camarao Front Valence (Fessler Billet LED Running Lights)

Kooks Headers (Hand Made 2" Headers and Collectors)

Electric Windows Front & Rear

Home-Link System with Back-up Camera

GMPP LSX 454 Engine (600HP and 600 Ft/Lbs Torque)

After engine mods currently rated at 700HP and 650 Ft/Lbs Torque.

Engine

LSX454 Tech Specs

• Part Number: 19355573
• Engine Type: LSX-Series Gen-IV Small-Block V-8
• Displacement (cu. in.): 454 (7.4L)
• Bore x Stroke (in.): 4.185 x 4.125 (106.3 x 104.8 mm)
• Block (P/N 19260099): LSX cast-iron with six-bolt, cross-bolted main caps
• Crankshaft (P/N 19244018): 4340 forged steel with eight-bolt flange
• Connecting Rods (P/N 19166964): 4340 forged steel
• Pistons (P/N 19166958): Forged aluminum
• Camshaft Type (P/N 19166972): Hydraulic roller
• Valve Lift (in.): 0.648 intake / 0.648 exhaust
• Camshaft Duration (@0.050 in.): 236° intake / 246° exhaust
• Cylinder Heads (P/N 19354239): Aluminum LSX-LS7 port; with "as cast" 70-cc chambers
• Valve Size (in.): 2.200 titanium intake / 1.610 hollow, sodium-filled exhaust
• Compression ratio: 11.0:1
• Rocker Arms (P/N 12579615 int): Investment-cast, roll trunnion
• Rocker Arms (P/N 12579617 exh): Investment-cast, roll trunnion
• Rocker Arm Ratio: 1.8:1
• Recommended Fuel: Premium pump
• Maximum Recommended rpm: 6500
• Reluctor Wheel: 58X
• Balanced: Internal

Headers

Handcrafted Kooks headers and collectors.

Exhaust

3" all the way back, integrated into the full frame. Borla XR-1 mufflers.

Transmission

RPM Transmissions Level 5 Tremec T-56 Magnum 6sp

Chassis

Art Morrison Full Frame Max-G chassis

Suspension

Triangulated 4-link rear suspension. Corvette C5 spindles.

Wheels

Forgeline ZXR3 19" and 18" wheels.

Tires

Michelin Super Sport 325/30R19 and 275/35R18

Brakes

Wilwood 13" 6 piston brakes front 4 piston rear with Hydra-boost with proportionate valve adjustment for pressure.

Radiator

AutoRad radiator with extra transmission and oil cooler

Battery

Optima Yellow Top in the trunk with billet battery holder.

Exterior

• 1968 Firebird quarter panels with LED side markers
• 1968 Firebird windows
• 1969 Camaro front valance with LED running lights
• 1969 Firebird RamAir hood
• Flush mounted front and rear glass
• Smoothed drip rails
• Ringbrothers mirrors, door handles, door jam vents, and door strikers
• Roadster Shop roll bar and trunk / engine bay braces. Removable roll bar supports.

Interior

Dash

Dakota Digital VHX system with automatic headlights. Painless push-button start. Dakota Digital A/C and heat controller. Detroit Speed variable speed windshield wipers.

Console

2015 Chevrolet Camaro center console. Includes USB, cup holders, and parking brake.

Seats

Sparco R700 and steering wheel

Carpet

German square weave

Audio System

Two Alpine PDXM12 mono blocks to power the 10" Alpine XD subs. Alpine PDX-F4 and Alpine 6x9" inside the car. Alpine rear view camera. All of this controlled by an Alpine INE-W940 head unit with built-in navigation and Bluetooth.

Cooling and HeatingVintage Air with Dakota Digital Controller.

Exterior

• 1968 Firebird quarter panels with LED side markers
• 1968 Firebird windows
• 1969 Camaro front valance with LED running lights
• 1969 Firebird RamAir hood
• Flush mounted front and rear glass
• Smoothed drip rails
• Ringbrothers mirrors, door handles, door jam vents, and door strikers
• Roadster Shop roll bar and trunk / engine bay braces. Removable door bars.