Project Resurrection
is an outreach ministry at First Baptist Church at the Mall in Lakeland Florida. The 1968 Firebird was donated to the Church. The goal of Project R is simply to share the love and salvation of Jesus Christ with others, to grow in fellowship with one another, and ultimately share it just as Jesus freely shares his love and salvation to us.
When Project R hits the streets again, it will be sporting a finely tuned Pontiac V8, over-drive transmission, huge on large brakes, finely tuned suspension, one-off interior, and jaw dropping style. It will be new again from top to bottom. The old rusty, worn, faded, abused, neglected and tarnished machine we started with will become a new street pounder fresh inside and out and ready for another 40 years or more to go. The difference is, this car is being saved from total and absolute destruction. It can't do it on its own. It requires the dedicated and diligent help and sacrifice of others to save it. More on that later...
For now, the project has begun. The Victory Lane automotive ministry came together through our Sunday School class and launched the tear down on 4/26/08. As a reminder and visual sign of my commitment to the project, I shaved my head bald upon wrapping up the tear down. I won't cut my hair again until we have reached a substantial mile post along this rebuild journey.
This car will be given away FREE as part of our outreach ministry! Stay tuned for details. If you are interested in supportng Project R, please contact me via e-mail link. We are in need of many restoration and repair parts to complete this project.
The next phase of the project included a massive repair to the sub-frame. At one point in time this car had a substantial collision between the cross member and something heavy. It crushed and rolled it under. Bobby Hough is our key fabricator and in no time made it better than new. He had the frame blasted, then performed the repair by cutting the section out and rebuilding it with fresh metal. He also welded the main seams solid and welded over un-needed holes in the assembly. He was careful to weld in small sections at a time to avoid warpage. The final product is amazing.
We gathered together again on June 7 to tackle the floor replacement and get suspension and steering parts ready to assemble on the beautifully restored sub-frame.
SPONSORS
National Parts Depot
Vette Brakes & Products
Competition Coatings
811 W Derby Ave
Auburndale, FL 33823
(863) 968-0700
Mike Knowles' Vintage Motion
Carter Hickman Designs
Touring Classics
Precision Collision
Albert Marko - Amsoil
almarko@dreamoil.net
DONORS:
Justin Wright Wayne Marsheti
Ken Kaminga Bob Johnston
Brett Price
**many others**
Following the initial tear down and sub-frame prep, we moved forward and assembled the sub-frame using the new suspension components from National Parts Depot, freshly powder coated A-arms and spindles from Competition Coatings...and killer sway bar from Vette Brakes & Products. This suspension will soon be outfitted with 5th Generation Brakes from Touring Classics. Next...we began the heavy sheet metal tear down of the rear body. This part includes cutting the entire rear of the car out and replacing the trunk floor, rear body, inner/outer wheel houses, and outer quarter panels. Folks...this is where you really say a quick prayer before pulling out the torch and ripping into the structure. Follow along as we replace virtually the entire rear body of this car.
On August 16, the build crew not only started into the rear body demolition...but also broke the Pontiac 350 block down and started removing 40+ years of crud from the rear axle housing. This rear axle will eventually be retrofitted with disc brakes and will connect to the body through a pair of ultra light and strong VBP fiberglass rear springs.
Youtube Tear Down Video
9/13/08.......After a little Web research and a handy body demension chart...we realized we needed to build a body dolly to mount the car to correctly remove the rear panels. Using some scrap steel, a tape measure, level, string, square...and plenty of hands on the deck...we built the dolly. With the dolly built we mounted the body in place and proceeded to cut away all the rot in the rear. We realized our passenger frame rail was too rusty to save, so we removed it as well and have to order a new one before we can proceed.
September 27, 2008.... We prepped the inner body structure and shot it with zinc rich weld through primer. Once that was dry we started the assembly process. It took us about 6 hours, but we were able to finally get all the rear sheet metal in place. We have some excellent welders in the group that will take it from here. We performed basic welding to get everything attached. Still have to replace the toe boards and do some cut and repair to the rockers and window openings...THEN....NO MORE RUST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you Dr. Andy Hall for donating Project R to our Church...and making this possible. Your generosity and support will touch many lives...and bring many closer to Christ!
Project R hits the road! Thanks to Doug's cell phone camera...we have never seen before spy shots of Project R rolling for the very first time since this started. Okay...so not so exciting, but we are moving into Phase II. The car is moving to a new location to get ready to put it back on its wheels....and get another step closer to being finished. Oh...my hair? It is getting long.
11/7/08 - after several long days of last minute thrashing - Project R is resting on four wheels again for the first time! Project R will make a debut outdoor appearance on 11/8/08 for the First Baptist Church at the Mall annual Car Show....More pictures to follow. Oh....the huge on large 13" Corvette front brake adpaters came in the mail this week thanks to http://www.touring-classics.com/.
After a late night...long week, and much anticipation...Project R arrived at the annual church car show 11/8/08. People enjoyed seeing the car for the first time, while the build team was bombarded with questions and offers from others to help see it to completion. Next phase...... a little more rust repair around the front and rear window - blasting of the lower front sheet metal....and into the paint/body phase!
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
the old has gone, the new has come!
Check out the engine! The 350 was beyond saving. Mike and Rob picked up a 400 and as set of 6x heads. Rob also scored a great deal on a aluminum four barrel intake and Holley carb. Competition Products has been awesome in supplying the hard core engine internals. The engine is being assembled with high quality parts including a killer roller cam! If you are in GA and need some custom body or engine work , look up our friend Mike Knowles' Vintage Motion vintagemotion.tripod.com
**Update - 2/2/09** Folks...it is with great excitement and expectation that I welcome Larry Lupold to the leadership table to help guide Project R to completion. I have been blessed with a job promotion that will take me to Bloomington, Illinois. While I will still be directly involved in the entire process...Larry will be taking over the day to day "boots on the ground - hands and feet" of this project to take it to the finish line. I am both sad and happy about this new opportunity, and know that Larry will bring a dynamic to this project that will take it to the next level. Please welcome Larry!
While I shaved my head to watch it grow and be a daily reminder of the progress...Larry has decided to go on a diet. He will be weekly tracking his weight loss as he makes a personal commitment to better his health, and allow his discipline for same to help guide him through this task. He welcomes others to join...and I support him 100%. My hair you ask? Well....in a ceremony of the changing of the guards, I had Alyssa give me a new style as I turn over the Florida operations to Larry. Man...I feel like 8 less pounds on my head!
2/21/09....a MILE MARKER...day in the life of Project R. The warmed up Poncho 400 arrived just in time to dunk it in the freshly painted engine bay!
