Power Wheels Magazine A Notch Above
After several months of anxious anticipation, the 1970 Pontiac Firebird Formula 350 is finally finished. Readers will recall that its front end was heavily damaged during an engine fire in July 2022, after which, its owner, Ferdi Raquelsantos, had the car delivered to JSK Custom Paint and Auto Works in Marulas, Valenzuela City for the necessary repairs. The damage repair work turned into a restoration and modification after assessing the fire-damaged portion of the Firebird.
Fire caused by a cracked fuel hose damaged the Firebird’s engine bay in July 2022.
The body work technicians and artisans at JSK Custom repaired the burned or warped portions as well as the rusted sections of the sporty coupe. After working on meticulously restoring the hood, Ferdi decided to install a bug catcher-style hood scoop, which would necessitate cutting a hole in the newly-massaged metal. Ferdi also decided on a vibrant color of Plum Crazy Purple, which was a popular paint choice on Mopar muscle cars (Dodge, Plymouth) of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s but not on Pontiacs or any car brand under General Motors (GM).
The fire damaged part of the firewall and burned the paint but did not warp the metal.
The restored and painted engine bay no longer shows any sign of fire damage.
While the body was being painted, the JSK mechanics overhauled the 5.7-liter Pontiac 350 V8, replaced the burned-out or damaged components, and installed a new high-rise Edelbrock intake manifold, Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor, and high-energy ignition (HEI) distributor. The rebuilt engine, which is estimated to produce more than the stock 255 horsepower will be mated to the newly-overhauled Turbo Hydra-Matic 350 3-speed automatic transmission, and connected to the radiator that has been rebuilt by Roberts AIPMC to like-new condition.
The finished engine bay with the rebuilt Pontiac 350 V8, Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor and high-rise intake manifold, and bug catcher hood scoop looks like its ready to tear up the highways.
During its restoration work, JSK Custom proprietor Johnson Tan assured Ferdi that like the proverbial Phoenix, the giant bird that was burned to ashes only to resurrect and fly again, the Firebird will be reborn better than it was before. Ferdi’s Firebird, which we now jokingly call as the “Ferdibird” is now finally done!
BEFORE: The burned Firebird after the engine fire was extinguished in July 2022.
AFTER: The glossy Plum Crazy Purple paint finish really sets this Pontiac sports coupe apart from the rest.
BEFORE: The 1970 Pontiac Firebird Formula 350 was a dark menacing muscle car.
AFTER: The fire turned the Firebird into this stunning Plum Crazy Purple Phoenix.
Owner Ferdi Raquelsantos is visibly proud of how his “Ferdibird” turned out after all the work and expenses poured into it.