Living with The Bird

71bird · Post by **71bird** » Mon Sep 01, 2014 10:56 am

Just an update, and living experience with a Hemi Bird. The trip to Bristol really let me know how this car would be on the highway. The big 528 inch aluminum motor just loafs along. But the trick thing is the Passon overdrive. I bought his 4 speed unit which uses a stock case. With 354 gears and in 4th, at 2500 rpm I can cruise along at around 73 mph, also that is just on one carb, and I think I might be getting between 10, and 15 mpg, but can't really ck it cause with the vapor can in the wheel well, you can't really get a good reading on when the tank is full. I have Polyglas tires, which is the limiting factor on cruising speed, cause they are so hard to get in balance. So, with this set up I can run with any traffic out there without getting in the way of everybody, and causing a dangerous situation. One thing I think I should pass along, I had the Air Grabber open, and got to thinking, that is a lot of wind stress on the hood bulge, and it only held on by the studs that are in the fiberglass, and this is the rub. That glass is over 40 years old, and brittle, and not as strong as it once was, I have pulled a couple of studs out by tightening the nut a little to much, so I would suggest that anybody else with an Air Grabber that drives at a higher speed might think about keeping the scoop closed.

paladin2511 · Post by **paladin2511** » Thu Sep 04, 2014 10:37 am

Please add pictures of this beauty. Always love to see how other have cooked their birds....

71bird · Post by **71bird** » Thu Sep 04, 2014 3:29 pm

I have had other pictures up of the car before, but these are the first ones of it, and it being able to be driven. Except for the chin spoilers, and 15" wheels, the out side is as it was ordered I added front buckets, and a console, and 4 speed, it was a 3 speed car. That license plate was on it when the car was new.

dangina · Post by **dangina** » Fri Sep 05, 2014 7:55 am

beautiful car!!!!

paladin2511 · Post by **paladin2511** » Sat Sep 06, 2014 10:46 am

You got one very rare bird there, very nice.

road chicken · Post by **road chicken** » Fri Sep 19, 2014 11:25 pm

No worries on the Air Grabber. I've had mine open running 120 to140 ( I had to slow a little for the turns) for 5-6 miles with no problems.

71Satellite98661 · Post by **71Satellite98661** » Sat Sep 20, 2014 3:14 pm

Is that an original Pioneer Super Tuner? Classic

paladin2511 · Post by **paladin2511** » Thu Mar 26, 2015 10:08 am

Hey, one really nice bird, looking to drop a crate hemi into my 72. first any words of wisdom, 2nd any pictures under the hood?

moparite · Post by **moparite** » Fri Mar 27, 2015 10:01 am

Let's see that HEMI!

Diriccatiticka · Post by **Diriccatiticka** » Sat Mar 28, 2015 10:05 am

Very nice car! The louvers are a nice touch, too.

71bird · Post by **71bird** » Sun Mar 29, 2015 1:13 pm

Thanks you all. Yes that is a Pioneer Super Tuner, which I bought while in the Philippines in 77, and put in the car when I got back, so I thought it needed to be back in there. I put it where a factory cassette would have been, and run a Walkman CD player through it.
The question about installing a Hemi in a 72? By a 71 K frame from Mega parts, and do it the correct way, it's easer. If I had it to do over, I might have put manifolds on, headers are a pain in the rear, and the really heat the car up when sitting at a light ect. Here are some more pictures.

71bird · Post by **71bird** » Sun Mar 29, 2015 1:16 pm

71bird · Post by **71bird** » Sun Mar 29, 2015 1:17 pm

Bristol

71bird · Post by **71bird** » Sun Mar 29, 2015 1:20 pm

On the road.

71bird · Post by **71bird** » Sun Mar 29, 2015 1:21 pm

Road Runner Nest

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