1967 PONTIAC FIREBIRD

Typical onset: varies—age and neglect matter more than odometer

Symptoms: Transmission slipping or delayed engagement when hot, Burnt ATF smell or dark, varnished fluid, Leaking transmission cooler lines or radiator-mounted cooler, Hard shifting after highway driving

Fix: Replace transmission oil cooler (often integrated into radiator on '67s), flush system, replace lines if corroded. If cooler failed internally and contaminated fluid with coolant, transmission rebuild is typically required. Cooler replacement alone: 3-4 hours; with transmission rebuild: 12-16 hours.

Estimated cost: $400-800 for cooler/lines; $2,200-3,800 if trans rebuild needed

Typical onset: 80,000-140,000 mi on original internals, sooner if overheated or oil-starved

Symptoms: Heavy blue smoke on startup or acceleration, Knocking or rod noise from crankcase, Low oil pressure at idle when warm, Excessive blowby or oil consumption beyond 1 qt per 500 miles

Fix: Full engine rebuild: remove engine, machine block and heads, replace pistons, rings, bearings, timing components, gaskets, seals. Figure 20-30 shop hours plus machine work. Short block swaps are faster (12-18 hours) but limit control over quality. On 326 V8s, overheating history accelerates wear.

Estimated cost: $3,500-6,500 depending on machine work extent and parts quality

Typical onset: any—rubber deteriorates with age regardless of miles

Symptoms: Clunking when shifting into drive or reverse, Excessive drivetrain vibration at idle, Visible sagging or cracked rubber in mount, Transmission tail housing sitting low or contacting crossmember

Fix: Replace transmission mount and inspect engine mounts simultaneously—they fail together on these cars. Transmission mount replacement: 1.5-2 hours. Often done during other trans work to save duplicate labor.

Estimated cost: $150-300 for trans mount; add $200-350 if doing engine mounts too

Symptoms: Hard starting or long cranking, especially when cold, Rough idle, stalling at stop signs, Fuel leaks at carburetor base gasket or inlet fittings, Poor throttle response or flat spots under acceleration

Fix: Clean or rebuild carburetor (Rochester 2-barrel typical on I6, Quadrajet or Carter on V8s), replace fuel filter and inspect lines for cracking. Carb rebuild: 3-4 hours; add fuel system service (tank cleaning, line replacement if rusty): 5-8 hours total.

Estimated cost: $350-700 for carb rebuild and fuel filter; $800-1,500 if full fuel system refresh needed

Typical onset: 100,000+ mi or after coolant/fuel contamination events

Symptoms: Deep knocking from lower engine block at all RPMs, Catastrophic loss of oil pressure, Metal shavings in oil pan or filter, Engine seizure if continued operation attempted

Fix: Full teardown, crankshaft removal, inspect journals for scoring, machine or replace crank, install new main and rod bearings, reassemble. Often discovered during rebuild after initial bearing noise ignored. Crankshaft R&R adds 4-6 hours to standard rebuild time; total job: 24-32 hours.

Estimated cost: $4,500-7,500 including crank machining or replacement

Symptoms: Temperature gauge climbing in stop-and-go traffic, Boil-over after shutdown (heat soak), Weak heater output despite hot engine, Collapsed or deteriorated radiator hoses

Fix: Original single-row radiators often marginal for modern driving. Re-core radiator or upgrade to 3-row, replace hoses/clamps, verify water pump and thermostat function, check fan shroud presence. Many '67s left factory without shrouds—add aftermarket. Labor: 4-6 hours for radiator swap and system flush.

Estimated cost: $500-1,200 depending on radiator choice and auxiliary work