Ground up 69 Camaro roller build

[85zeee]

Ok I will start this in paint and body work and it can be moved as needed.
I hope this thread will only take a year or so but may last 10 so we will see :)


Feel free to make comments about prices ..work or whatever its always good to see what the cost differences are around the country (plus I may or may not always get the best deal :( )


Last summer my wife decided she wanted a 1st gen camaro and who was I to disagree lol but after looking around (and not paying attention to what the prices had done in the last 10 yrs :shock: ) We figured out that a good builder was hard to find (found lots of high priced junk though) anyway we found a builder 69 with a California title that had no bad floor or trunk rust. It was at a body shop that had bought this car and anotherone from Texas, stole the sub frame off of this one and finished the other one then decided to sell this one as is instead of finishing it.

We made a deal with the body shop $4500 for the car and $3000 for them to do the body work ready to paint(including fixing the firewall).Then $2700 for paint (including the trunk and engine compartment)

The car came with:
New front fenders
New inner fenders
New doors (got the old doors...still saveable.... with all the hardware and glass also)
SS hood (trashed)
All new nose pieces (no grill)
Short back seat (no front seats)
Steering column
Bits and pieces of interior (most not usable)
Mono springs
10 bolt
4w drum brakes
No drive train or drive shaft
Old deck lid with new spoiler
What looks to be most of the wiring harness
New fuel tank with sump welded in
6 point cage (was welded poorly and we had them remove it)


Here is a picture of the other 69 they built to show the quality of paint finish we had agreed on (they still had this one in the shop so we got to see it first hand)

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/69camaro1.jpg

[85zeee]

Here are the pictures of ours as it was when we bought it:

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/DSC01729.jpg


http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/DSC01730.jpg


http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/DSC01731.jpg


http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/DSC01732.jpg

[85zeee]

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/DSC01733.jpg


http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/DSC01735.jpg


http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/DSC01736.jpg


http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/DSC01738.jpg

[85zeee]

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/DSC01739.jpg


http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/DSC01740.jpg


http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/DSC01741.jpg


http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/DSC01742.jpg

[85zeee]

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/DSC01743.jpg


http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/DSC01744.jpg


http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/DSC01746.jpg


http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/DSC01747.jpg

[85zeee]

Feel free to post any comments...... I will post the bodywork pictures shortly

[PNYKLR2]

Thats my dream! I would love to have a 69 camaro. Looks like a lot of work but it will be a beauty when its done.

[PNYKLR2]

Need any help let me know, I would be happy to stop by and take a look or help turn a wrench.

[85zeee]

Thanks for the offer I might need a hand

[85zeee]

Here are the stripped pics.......the problem areas turned out to be both sides of the roof above the doors, the right front lower cowl area and rework of prior rear panel patches

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/DSC01775.jpg


http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/DSC01777.jpg


http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/DSC01778.jpg


http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/DSC01779.jpg

[85zeee]

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/DSC01780.jpg


http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/DSC01781.jpg


http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/DSC01782.jpg

[85zeee]

At this point we bought a new repro cowl hood,deck lid and other small items like door handles lock set and marker lights from D & R Classic Automotive in Warrenville IL http://www.drclassic.com/index.html The have good prices plus it is within driving range for us and was well worth not paying the shipping cost on the hood to go get it ourself

[85zeee]

Here are the pics of the body work done (so I thought at the time I have found some stuff that they need finish still) we picked the car up at this point and brought it home to do the subframe,bottom and trunk ourselves

I have had the bottom rear wells and trunk media blasted ($185) there was a little rust in the trunk and wells but the bottom of the car was rust free

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/DSC02047.jpg


http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/DSC02048.jpg


http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/DSC02049.jpg


http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/DSC02050.jpg

[85zeee]

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/DSC02051.jpg


http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/DSC02052.jpg


http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/DSC02053.jpg


http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/DSC02054.jpg

[85zeee]

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/DSC02055.jpg


http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/DSC02056.jpg


http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/DSC02057.jpg


http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/DSC02058.jpg

[85zeee]

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/DSC02059.jpg


http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/DSC02060.jpg


http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/DSC02061.jpg

[Josh]

Looks nice man. What are the plans for under the hood?

[85zeee]

heh I got more pics to put up.... just figured I had posted enough for tonight

Got the motor, trans and some concept pics so stay tuned :snooze:

[PNYKLR2]

Lookin good, cars build a lot quicker on the internet thats for sure, especially when you don't have to do any of the work and just wait for update pics.

[badjuju342]

If you haven't heard of (I'm sure you have though) , look into some paint called POR-15 for your floor pans , trunk pans and undercarriage , this stuff is great for sealing any kind of rust and is more durable than epoxy paint. You can paint over it too.Even if a panel isn't rusted at all , it will outlast any conventional paint. The only drawback is direct sunlight discolors it over time.

[85zeee]

I have never used POR-15 but I see people have good results with it. I have some stuff we used in the military it is called Qurox (http://www.certifiedlabs.com/certified/productView_byName.asp?cat_id=11&countryName=United+States&country=USA&language=English&language_id=4&product_cat=name&product_cat_desc=Products+By+Name&pName=QUROX+20%2F20+WHITE) it is a one step process but is water based so it needs to have a top coat of paint on it. There are some transporter dollys that were totaly rusted I used it on in the mid 80's and they still had no rust show back up when I retired in 03 so I know it works good. I plan on using it on the subframe,floor,bottom and trunk.

[85zeee]

Here is the heart of the beast not much of a sight right now but it will clean up real nice.
It is a 69 327 all original never been opened. Now for the story he he.......the buddy I just finished building a motor for last summer had told me that he had pulled a small block out of his dads 69 Massey Fergusion combine before he scrapped it and had it sitting if I needed a engine. Well long story short it does not have many hours on it since it was only used once a year for the harvest plus it never had any problems so it is all original. When I got it home and took a good look at it I found that it has a forged crank, heavy rods and a 010/020 ( additional 2% nickel 1% tin) block the heads are small valve for good torque in the combine so they will have to be replaced.
The current plans are for 10.5:1 with nitrous unless I can convince her to put a blower on it before I start buying parts lol

When I start working on the engine I will post pictures of the whole process.

Check out the factory exhaust manifolds I would think they would be good for a turbo set up

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/Picture020.jpg


http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/Picture023.jpg


http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/Picture026.jpg


http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/Picture028.jpg

[PNYKLR2]

Sounds like a good block, valve covers got to go though man lol. j/k go with what you want.

[Glassman]

A 67 RS that a guy pulled out of his grove this fall sold on his farm sales for 14,500. It was believed to be all numbers matching, he bought it in 72. It was parked in 88. It had not been started in many many years, he dumped some gas in the carb to get it running, and it stayed running on its own. It is a 327 powerglide, the tranny had all the gears. I was hoping no one would show up to the auction, so I would have had a shot at being able to afford it.

[85zeee]

At this point we have around $8500 in it.... that counts the engine and a set of 68 front seats (need refinished) for free a th400 I picked up for $150, new bumpers and running lights, a full back seat and a heater box/fan so I dont think we are doing bad or good at this point.
The bad thing is the car had no trim tag when we bought it I hope that doesn't hurt us in the end but we are planning on more of a pro tour setup with a non traditional paint job so I think the trim tag is less important with that type of build

I have some concept shots and will list what we plan with the rest of the build soon

What do you guys think so far..... good/bad...to much money......open for comments or opinions .....fire away

[badjuju342]

It looks like you got a pretty solid car and that's half the battle. The '69 models are going for outrageous prices these day. IMO , I think you did OK.

[FogleMotorsports]

man thats my dream car. one day ill have one of those and a 72 C10. looking good.

[85zeee]

Here is our general direction that we want to take the car and some concept shots. As I do parts of the build like suspension, brakes, motor build .....etc I will try to take better pictures of the process and post them as we go.
I will also need some help/advice from you guys with stuff I have never done like the nitrous set up and what suspension stuff will work best
The planned setup:
327/Th400 (10.5:1 with nitrous)
Convert the manual 4 drum brakes to power front disc (will do rear disc at a later date)
All new suspension and body mounts
Convert mono spring to 3 leaf
Lower the car 3" front and rear
Dropped spindles/springs
Mostly stock black interior with Dakota gages
17" rims...maybe 17"/18" (style yet to be determined)

The color we are looking at right now is the 05 Mazda Strata Blue

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/Picture007.jpg


http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/Picture009.jpg


http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/Picture013.jpg


http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69%20Camaro/Picture014.jpg

[FogleMotorsports]

i would do silver stripes instead of yellow. thats just me though. i know its going to be badass when done.

[85zeee]

I will do one with silver stripes and post it thanks

[85zeee]

he he this is gonna be one long ass thread by the time the car is done :rrofl:

[Darth Quagmire]

see this is what ls13rd gen needs so we can go over there and build it. then he can sell it to the highest bidder.