He's not actually "hacking it up", but he is keeping the original parts. He's got a big block he wants to drop in it & change the color of the paint...basically the rest will stay. Nothing that can't be bolted back on. He paid $6000 for it, I've talked to some, but nobody is really interested in a firebird...non-400 anyway. I love the car, it drives like new. My brother & I both told him to leave it alone, whatever makes him happy - 2 heart attacks & quad bypass later, I guess let him do what he wants. Two-tone paint(white top, gold body), hub caps, column shifter don't make for a pretty original...