Project "ItDoRun" - Phase Two
 

Well, after a couple of requests, I decided to start a thread on the second round of my 68 Camaro build. Here's a little bit of history on the car.

I found this car while riding the school bus when I was in the fifth grade (1988 time frame). My dad bought it for $2500 and drove it home. He started with the engine compartment and got burnt out pretty quick with the restoration. When I turned 13, he told me that I could have the car if I put the rest of the money and work into it. I worked for him at his business saving every penny, literally, that I earned. I paid $1000 to get the body work done, and he helped me out with the paint job for my 15th birthday. So after 15 years, I decided to give it the PT form, fit, and function.

I've been working on it for about a year and a half now, so it will take me a couple of weeks to get this thread up to speed with where the car currently is in the build.

To start, here's a couple of pictures of what the car looked like before I decided to start tearing into it.

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_i...0006_large.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_i...0003_large.jpg

And here's my rendering that Carter just finished. The color will be the same as before.

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_i...0159_large.jpg

This car was supposed to be pretty solid, and it really was (to most people), but I wanted to really focus in on the details while going through it. Honestly, it wasn't supposed to snowball into what it has, but that's what has made this whole build fun and educational since I'm doing most all the work myself.

The project was supposed to be focused mainly on budget suspension upgrades, wheels, brakes, clean undercarriage, and slight interior mods...YEAH, RIGHT! Then I found the Lateral-g site, and the snowball began. There were two cars that really inspired my build. It started with Greg Banks (BeCool68) and his 68 Camaro along with Anthony Rose's Camaro. I didn't want anything too flashy, just a killer stance with killer wheels.

Anyway, let's dive into the build/restoration. Here's a few pictures of the disassembly from night #1. I found a few surprises on the floor that I didn't expect.

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_i...0012_large.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_i...0011_large.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_i...0010_large.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_i...0013_large.jpg

After seeing this, I ordered a patch panels for the floors and center trunk section. I sent the car off to body work to have the driver side quarter, roof skin, rear deck filler panel, and DSE tubs installed. When replacing these pieces, I found some rust on the passenger side sail panel area from an old vinyl top. Here's where my learning curve started.

I had heard nightmares about the passenger side quarter panel fitment on the 68 quarters, so I decided to just patch the sail panel area. The problem is that I had to buy a full quarter panel for this task.

Here's a few pictures of the first phase of bodywork.

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_i...0017_large.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_i...0019_large.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_i...0021_large.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member...64_33_full.jpg

Metal replacement.

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member...64_25_full.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member...64_28_full.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member...64_29_full.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_i...0036_large.jpg

Here's where the fun begins...

I dropped the car off on July 9, 2007 and was told I would have the car back in roughly 6 weeks. Finally, in December 2007, I told the body man that I was coming to pick it up the first weekend in January 2008. He never got to the tubs. I get the car home and find additional rust in the trunk area that the patch panel I bought wouldn't cover, so I opted to buy a full trunk pan. Since I wasn't patching the trunk, I decided not to patch the floors, so I bought a full one piece floor pan.

You can start to see a pattern here, huh?

I also found where bodywork had been done on the passenger side quarter, and since I was installing the full trunk pan, I decided to buy yet ANOTHER passenger side quarter. Here's a few pictures of the quarter.

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member...64_48_full.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member...64_47_full.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member...64_46_full.jpg

Cool build and cool render :thumbsup: , theres always something lurking under the skin hey
but uve done it right the first time
what panels did you use?

I'll skip a few steps and jump right into the trunk pan replacement. I removed the exisitng trunk pan and media blasted everything, then sealed all exposed areas with epoxy primer.

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member...64_71_full.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member...64_74_full.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member...64_79_full.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member...64_80_full.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member...64_82_full.jpg

Thanks. I bought the roof skin from NPD and all other metal from CPU Muscle Car Parts. The quarters are made by Golden Legion, and I think the trunk and floor are made by Dynacorn.

Alright, here come the DSE tubs. I was extremely nervous about this portion since I'm a novice at all this stuff, but I figure there's only one way to learn, huh? Plus, there's not any well known resto shops in South Louisiana that I've found.

Passenger side:

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member...64_89_full.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_i...0093_large.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member...64_88_full.jpg

Driver Side:

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_i...0096_large.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_i...0104_large.jpg

Tubs Clamped In:

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_i...0109_large.jpg

Okay, now I want to open up the floor for discussion. I've been fighting the fitment of the driver side tub. It appears to be leaning in towards the wheel well. I notched the trunk 2-3/4" like DSE said and was very careful when cutting. Does this look abnormal, or is it just me?

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_i...0165_large.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_i...0162_large.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_i...0160_large.jpg

It's close, but it does have a slight lean from what I can tell. Any suggestions?

VERY NICE BUILD!!!!
Very detailed pictures. I love the rendering. Your car should come out AWESOME!:thumbsup: :cheers:
Keep us posted.

The inner wheel houses are supposed to cant inward a little. Can't say they look right from just a pic. My guy that did minitubs on my 67' pointed out to me that he made sure they were "still tilted in like stock"
Pro body guys will use alot of X braces & support rods to stabilize the body while its all chopped up. I hope you have been doing all that to keep it measuring square. I very much admire your bravery to take on such a task!
My car got NOS quarters & tail panel & I was not up to try it.

Peter

This build thread is well over due! Looks great Chris!! :thumbsup:

Nice work, I really like your rendering :thumbsup:

Great job on tackling this yourself !! You'll learn alot doing it. Have you called DSE about the wheel tubs? They should have some insight as to how the fit is. Otherwise, keep up the Good Work and post more pics as you can.

Paul

I used X-bracing over the back seat area and welded bracing from my rockers to my body cart. I was really nervous about the floor removal, but I measured everything good before I cut it out, and again after it was fully removed and nothing moved. I also welded bracing at the front of the rear frame rails and attached them to the cart along with bracing at the rear of the frame rails. We'll see when she's all put back together, but as of now, it looks good.

I did call DSE and they said it looked okay and to weld it, but I knew it wasn't right, so I didn't.

I actually found my problem today. The front closeout panel (where the shock tower was) was too far in. I removed it and trimmed about 3/16" back and rewelded it. She's dead on now!

Tulip Panel Removal:

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_i...0114_large.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_i...0120_large.jpg

I didn't plan on replacing the driver side tulip panel, but during media blasting of the front of the car, rust holes opened up, so I removed it. Since it took me about 2 hours to get the sand out of the car, I decided not to roll it back out to blast this one area, so I used Rust Fix (Dupli-Color product) over the rusted areas. I sanded the best I could and sprayed it in there. It turns that black color you see in the picture. Then, I epoxy primed everything that had been blasted. The upper cowl has rust holes under the windshield washer opening, so I'll be replacing it as well.

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_i...0121_large.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_i...0118_large.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_i...0124_large.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_i...0127_large.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_i...0126_large.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_i...0125_large.jpg

Toe Board Replacement:

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_i...0133_large.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_i...0136_large.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_i...0138_large.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_i...0134_large.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_i...0137_large.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_i...0139_large.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_i...0146_large.jpg

It looks good it cleaned up nice and went in well.

Looks great! :thumbsup: The rendering looks killer too

Floor Pan Removal and Prep:

I removed the floor and decided to reuse the existing torque boxes since they still had the original galvanized coating on them. I ended up sanding everything and epoxy sealing before the new pan went in. Before removal, I added some "L" brackets to locate the rear subframe mounts in the floor pan. These not only locate the holes, but it also helps set the height of the pan to the original.

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_i...0141_large.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_i...0143_large.jpg

After Primer:

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_i...0147_large.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_i...0148_large.jpg

Floor Pan Installed:

What a nice piece. After installing this thing, I just kicked back and stared at it for a while. I decided to sand and prime the top side before I installed it. The bottom side will be done when the car gets put on the rotisserie. I refuse to lay on my back and work the underside! It was bad enough welding under there.

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_i...0158_large.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_i...0157_large.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_i...0156_large.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_i...0155_large.jpg

It's been several weeks since I made any progress on the car, so after a pep talk with wife earlier this week, she got me motivated to get back out in the shop and get moving again. So after trial fitting the passenger side quarter, outer wheel house, and tail panel about 10 times, I decided to go ahead and weld the tub and outer wheelhouse in the car. I also modified the trunk hinge support brackets and got them fitted and ready to weld. Today, I epoxy primed the entire trunk area and the outer wheel house. Here's a few pictures. Quarter panel and tail panel installation is on the agenda next.

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_i...0171_large.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_i...0172_large.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_i...0174_large.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_i...0173_large.jpg

Nice work Chris!! You are doing a great job for learning as you go!!
Nice and tight seams at the mini-tubs...that right there shows you care and took your time! :cheers:

Thanks, Anthony.

looking good Chris Ill be coming home to TX this summer for a month or so I might have to take a trip south to check this thing out:cheers:

Come on by. You should have my phone number. If not, let me know when you'll be down and I'll make sure I'm around. I still owe you that Mini Tub DVD. I haven't forgot about you.

Great looking job :thumbsup: :cheers:

wow you definitely have some big balls to do all that cutting

Looks great, nice progress! Makes me want to get back out in the garage and finish the back half of my 69. I left off fighting a stubborn passenger quarter!

Ron

Wow....are you going to change your handle to ItdidRun?:rofl:

Trust me. I was nervous about doing it, but after I started, I found that it's not as bad as it seems. It's really not that difficult, just time consuming. Oh, and it WILL test your patience. :yes:

If it weren't for this site and Camaros.net, I would have never attempted this build. Lots of support and knowledge floating around these boards!

I'm having so much fun, I'm already looking for a project for my son and I for down the road when he gets older.

That's funny, Todd! I was waiting on someone to mention that about the build. I wanted to come up with a new name for it and I will one day, but right now I'm focused on getting this monster sitting on those Fikse wheels I've been wanting for about 3 years now.

Sounds good to me...love the Fikse wheels:thumbsup:

yeah no worries its still going to be a couple of months until i dig into it.but i will definitely let you know when i head down there.

Keep up the great work!!:thumbsup:

Bodywork
 

Car looks good Chris. Hurry up and finish and come to California to show me how to do the quarters. I could use the help. I just picked up a set of quarters last weekend at the Goodguys show in Pleasanton.

Guy

You'd fire me because I take too long! :lol:

So far, the passenger side looks like it fits pretty good. I did have to weld a small piece of metal where the rocker and wheel house opening meet, but other than that it's pretty decent. The wheel lip sucks, but since I'll be trimming the lips for 335's, I didn't worry about it. The lip varies from 5/8" - 1-1/8" wide. Oh, and the trunk gutter area needs to be completely rebuilt b/c the stamping in that area was pathetic. I've followed a lot of quarter installations, and everything I've heard about the passenger side quarter, I've seen first hand with mine.

I'll post a few pictures of the problem areas as I go through the installation. Maybe it will help other "Do It Yourselfers" like me.

Nice work, the car looks like its really coming along.