Me and my third project 72 Camaro....
 

Hi All,
My name is Ralph and this is my third project. Actually my fourth as my very first car was a 69 Camaro that i street raced back in 1989 and totaled while street racing it.Long story but that nite I almost died and to this day i still have the face scares to remind me. My second car again was a 69 Camaro that i kept from 1990-2007. I sold it to a Gentlemen back east. That car was my learning car. From boddy shop to paint to interior and everything else. I turned that car into a rally-sport over the years also. At first it was a mild street car and near the end it had a 406sb that ran consistent 11.80s all day. The reason i sold that car was because like most i bite off more than i could shew with my first new house. I sold it to try and help me save it but i still failed. With the little money i had saved i bougth my second car. A 65 Chevelle....That car sat in my garage and with the expiriece i had in body work and paint i took to it and after a yr and a half i just did a frame off resto. Painted the underneath without a rotissery. and then sold it without motor and tranny installed to buy this house im in now. Im a car guy and i allways need something to play with so.....
I found this car on e-bay that was near me. never made an offer because i thougth he was asking to much for what the car was worth.[2900.00]. It had a dented ruff. Dented floor pan. No interior. no motor no trans. and both quarters had bondo on them that someone did a terrible job on. One fander had a big dent that was never fixed and they just put Bondo over it. It was bad. I put the car on my watch list and when the bidding was done noone bid on it. So i called him and he said he let the car go for 1000.00 and i bougth it.

This is what it looked like when i got it Home. I took it apart and stripped the paint in this picture but you can get the idea...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...7357[/url]

I bougth the lower valance and both front fenders and complettly took the paint off the car. Down to bare metal. The passenger quarter is pretty bad along with the rear panel. The real panel also has rust that went all the way through.All the floors are in good condition except for the dent on the rear passanger floor. After removing all the glass i added self etching primer and then urathane primer to start some of the body work.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...7690[/url]

Just want to clarify im not a professional at paint and body. I went to college back in 91 and took some classes and so what i have learned has stayed with me and helped me out to do what i can. I dont know how to weld so the heavy work like replacing quarters i have to farm out. But everything else is pretty easy to me. Thats the beauty part becasue i can paint and do what i want at home in my garage...

I been here watching most post and i must say you all have some very good talent. I check out Later-G everyday and trust me i cant say enough about how you guys inspire me:hail: Thank god for this web-site!!!

This is my 69 Camaro i sold in 2007. I painted this car in College back in 1991. It wears acrylic laquer and becasue it was garaged that paint lasted till i sold it. I miss that car..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...amaro046-1.jpg

This is my chevelle when i had it all taken apart and just finishe painting the underneath.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...Picture045.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...Picture107.jpg

This is her at the end..
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/E-bay012.jpg

Very nice!!

Welcome aboard, Ralph. :cheers:

Thanks guys. Ill try and post more pictures as i go. Yesterday i finally recieved my 4-inch hood. I also bougth my rear panel and some patch panels. I need to farm that work out.
I live in south-cali in Fontana rigth down the street from the speedway. So i want a car that will be able to do it all. Tubalur arms, big sway bar, big breaks, and maybe some track time out at the drag strip once in a while. I also want to be able to go to a car show with my family. I also just have one little helper....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ars/car029.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ars/car003.jpg

Welcome. So let me get this straight. You painted the underside of the Chevelle while laying on your back and it came out looking like that? That's impressive. Love the color too. Keep up the good work.

Yeah i bougth this kit that lifts the car off from the frame and i had all kinds of room. Enough to clean and primer and paint. I even detailed the frame this way.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...cture027-1.jpg

Nice project going there. I am also doing a second gen, glad to see another one getting the "treatment".:thumbsup:

thanks im watching your project also:thumbsup:

Lookin great - I'll be watchin yours! :cheers:

Thanks! But there is not too much to watch at this point. Pics soon. In the mean time watching yours is giving me motivation to squeeze out some garage time.:thumbsup:

I have a small update on my project. I bougth some lizard skin from eastwood and shot it this weekend. I migth say im pretty impressed with the results. 1-gallon was enough for the interior and doors. I also painted the underneath this past weekend. I picked Hugger Orange for my project. let me know what you guys think. comments are welcomed:thumbsup:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...jpg?t=12535522

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...g?t=1253552357

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...g?t=1253552410

I love it! I'm just not bold enough to go with orange. :thumbsup:

Ralph ---- Would you PLEASE BUY A ROTISSERIE this time!! LOL -- Man!! I can't believe you rolled around on a creeper and painted that car like that -- you are my new hero!

Had to comment - so I am "subscribed" to this thread...

Nice work on your previous cars... and will be fun to see this new project go together.
:thumbsup:

Yeah it was fun!:willy: I do want a rotisseri really bad but for the cost and to use it 1-time well it outweighs the benefits. Does anyone rent one?....All i know is that keeping the gun at a certain angle as to not run dry or hit the car somehow really takes its toll.Wish they made a gun were you dont run dry untill your done because getting down and standing up really let me know im getting old:wow: .......next is putting in the front frame so i can line everything up and just touch up the little things so i can paint the car. So the real fun is coming....i will post more as i go. Remember im a normal guy just like many of you. Im building this car on a little budget of 150.00 every 2 weeks so i do what i can. Thanks for the compliments!:thumbsup:

From one So-Cal guy to another, welcome! Project looks great--hope to see you at the California Speedway, with the car soon!

Doug

Ralph --- I was kidding of course on the rotisserie -- but I still can't even imagine the amount of work you've done laying on your back. You are da man!

I agree with the "single use" of the rotisseries -- and many guys buy one - use it and then sell it for close to the cost (they don't wear out!) == so the actual cost is pretty low - and the amount of work you can get done "comfortably" is well worth the small cost ($100 maybe? when all said and done). Just my "idea".

You've done some killer stuff buddy -- keep us posted!! And welcome aboard - this is the best car website period! Lots of really really good folks here!
:hail:

Man you are an inspiration. Your paint jobs on the 69 and 65 look very good. You inspire me to possibly paint my own project. Keep up the good work.

Nice job on both the Camaro and the Chevelle. You've already done alot on the new project. Nice work.

Thanks Doug, will you be at the "Crusing for a cure" show this coming up weekend? I go every yr maybe ill see you there?...:cheers:

I used to think that painting belonged to the gods but you can do it. Its time consuming and it takes patiens. Thats how i learned though. Trial and error and i read up on books and made friends and some even showed me how to do things. I did one fender and then a door and so on. If you can paint with a can you can learn with a gun. again practices on something that can be re-done if you mess up.When i would primer my projects i was simulating i was painting my car.:unibrow:

lookin good
 

If you dont mind do you remember where it was that you got that kit to raise the body off the frame? All three of you builds are friggin nice by the way. Tha chevelle would look sick on air ride, just a little high for my taste. The camaro is looking good.

I bougth the kit on ebay. Look up rotisserie and it should come up.I agree with you on the chevelle it was a little to high. The car was just a roller without interior so it really didnt weigh anything. I wanted to add all those little goodies and then adjust the ride higth but i sold the car before i got to that point.

Looking good. Keep us posted.:thumbsup: