Project "TQMNSTR"....69 Camaro
 

Finally got out to the storage location of the Camaro I picked up in November last fall. The car was originally fully restored in 1989 with a full sub-frame off, interior refresh and re-paint. Originally the car was a 350hp 396 SS. Engine is original heads and intake, but block was replaced with a punched out 454 for driving purposes and the original block is being stored. Z/28 stripes were added in the late 70's and were kept when it was repainted in 1989. Car only has 250 miles since 89. Everything looked really good except a small scrape on the driver rear quarter that happened when it was being moved several years ago. We pulled out the old fuel from the tank, and filled her up with new juice. All the plugs, points, and condenser were replaced because we weren't getting any spark. After that, the car started right up and we ran it for 20min and everything looked good, no leaks at all. All that is left is to go through the brakes, steering, and safety equipment and make sure she is road ready. It's a little dirty from sitting under a cover and has not been washed in the last 20years. It's only been around the block a few times since 89 to blow off the dust. Once I get it home, the Willwood brakes, Prodigy Bar 4-link, sway bars, Hotchkis parts, and Fikse wheels will go on the car. Here are a few pics from yesterday.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ectPics001.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ectPics002.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ectPics008.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ectPics006.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ectPics007.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ectPics003.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ectPics009.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ectPics004.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ectPics005.jpg

Did you ever belong to g35driver?

Wow, 250 miles in 20 years... that's crazy.

Love the color. :thumbsup:

Yep...still have on 07 G35

Thanks very much. :) Car was basically driven a few times after it was completed and then saw some runs around the block every couple summers to circulate the fluids. Car was stored in a heated garage on jack stands.

what's the story with the 442 and the impala? projects to follow on after the camaro?

Nice...can't wait to see more.:yes:

WOW!!
Awesome. Please post pics when done with the upgrades.:thumbsup:

Impala was ordered and bought new by his mother in 1964. It's a 64 Impala SS327 comvertible. 60,000 miles and 100% original except for some regular maintenance items. That car was driven until the mid 70's and then parked in their heated attached garage until about 5 years ago when she passed on. She was 97 years old. The car needs a full teardown because it was never started in over 20 years. It would probably fire but the brake system, fuel system and everything would need to be pulled apart and thoroughly cleaned.

Oldsmobile is a 72 442 W-30 coupe, 39000 miles, original owner from a local dealer in town. That car is fully loaded with every option but A/C. Light yellow color with black stripes and a black interior.

I might be able to aquire them from him eventually, as he is now in his mid 60's, but that is a little ways away. The Impala would need the most work since it hasn't been started in over 20 years. The olds would just need a clean up and a few maintenance items addressed, rebuild the carb, flush the tank, etc.

how much the want for the 64'? :D

The handle on that floor jack is very close to the pass side door....

Well, went to take the car for a spin last night and had no real fuel delivery past 2000 rpm's so I figured the carb might be a little gummed up after sitting for so long. We pulled the carb off and took it apart for a good cleaning. Got that back together tonight, re-installed and it fired right up. Everything seems really good now and it runs really nice. Ran into a couple isues with burned out signal bulbs and the alternator regulator seems to be not working correctly. The voltage gauge seems to spike quite high with increased rpm's so that needs to be addressed. Other than that the prep seems to be coming along. Unfortunatley it looks like rain until Monday so it may have to wait for the maiden voyage until then. :(

Got the last of the parts in today. Fat body master for my Willwoods, proportioning valve, braided lines, Bilstein shocks, Hotchkis sway bar, and Hotchkis 2" lowering springs for big block application.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ctPics2004.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ctPics2002.jpg

Prodigy 4-link and the Fikse's mounted up and ready to go. :) Just waiting on the coil-overs and everything should be good to go.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...nd4link002.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...nd4link001.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...nd4link003.jpg

Fikse's test fit today. Looks like the 2" drop all around will put the top of the tire flush to the chrome wheel moulding.....perfect. :)

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...testfit007.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...testfit006.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...testfit005.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...testfit004.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...testfit003.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...testfit002.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...testfit001.jpg

Nice!

Very cool......Christmas in May.

Thanks guys. Some people were asking for pics of a 10" rear rim. This is it. I have about 1/2" on the shock body as it sits with stock rear suspension.

What an awesome score. I really like all three with the 69 first, 442 second and the 64 vert third. Nice score.

Got the Speedtech upper and lower control arms in, Hotchkis 2" drop springs, and Willwood 6 piston kit on. Just have to figure out some brake line issues and should be good to go.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...eedtech004.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...eedtech001.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...eedtech002.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...eedtech003.jpg

Got some more updates from the last couple weeks

Prodigy Bar cradle in place
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...digyBar001.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...digyBar002.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...digyBar006.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...digyBar005.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...digyBar007.jpg

Wilwood rear brakes installed with longer 1 3/4" studs
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...digyBar008.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...digyBar004.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...digyBar003.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...digyBar010.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...digyBar009.jpg

Very nice.
Should handle & brake A LOT better!! Enjoy.:cheers:

Got the Magnaflow system installed yesterday. Dual exhaust with a true-X pipe and 2.5" stainless pipes. I just have to add the turn down dumps and it will be all done.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...t-QA-1s001.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...t-QA-1s002.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...t-QA-1s003.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...t-QA-1s004.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...t-QA-1s005.jpg

Checked my rear clearances today.......boy was I glad I spent a bunch of time centering the differential perfectly.

3/8" clearance on each side. Rims are 18x10, 2" lowering, tire is a 275/35/18

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...arances004.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...arances006.jpg

Finally got the car back on the ground today after getting brakes bled, rough alignment done, and all the bolts checked. I had to set the coilovers at the top to get the equal ride height with the 2" front drop Hotchkis springs. Pretty happy with everything. Lot's of delays waiting for bushings and getting custom braided brake lines done but at least it is finished.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...y122009011.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...y122009012.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...y122009013.jpg

Congrats. Turned out great :thumbsup: :cheers:

you might try a small spacer on the rear wheels. im not postive but i would think that you might encounter some rub issues when your rear articulates i just went through this.. other wise it looks killer!:thumbsup:

Looks awesome man!
Enjoy that bad boy.:thumbsup: :cheers:

Thanks for the input. Once I got the coilovers on and the height set, I look to have gained a little. I probably have about 1/2" clearance on each side on the inside now and I don't think I could even do a 1/4" spacer to bring the rim out without cutting the lips back a little.

Looks great man....if it rubs you can add an 1/8 to 1/4 spacer. You won't know until you get into some real agressive cornering. Make sure and play with the shock settings because they make a ton of difference.

Got the car into the alignment shop today. Everything was pretty close on the laser machine. I was out about a 1/4" on the rear with the alignment and about the same on the front. It needed a good amount of shimming to get the cars camber/castor sorted out but it drives pretty nice now. The prodigy bar seems to be pretty good riding compared to the stock leafs. Much stiffer and more planted ride than before. My stock seats I think are going to be an issue with hard cornering. I already feel myself bracing against the door panel and console. :thumbsup:

Went for a drive the other day and broke a rocker. Luckily I got the car shut off before it did any damage or came apart.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...Failure004.jpg
Pulled everything apart and found a bent pushrod and an oiling problem from another.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2.../Valves003.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2.../Valves001.jpg

So I picked up a set of Comp Magnum Roller Rockers, new 3/8" pushrods and guide plates.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...Rockers001.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...Rockers002.jpg
With the taller rockers, I then had to change to a taller valve cover,and went to a fabricated aluminum unit.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...Rockers005.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...Rockers004.jpg
They don't seem to take power brake boosters into account with these, so a little cut and re-welding and everything clears OK.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...Rockers003.jpg

I picked up a set of Lemons Big block headers off a forum with 250 miles on them for a pretty good deal. I had blown a hole in my #4 cylinder header pipe and needed to get new headers anyway so the timing was good. They are a 2 1/4" pipe header with individual pipes and a 4" collector. They were ceramic coated and had O2 bungs for FI or fuel injection when it comes time for that. They fit super tight and some of the clearances are within 1/8". I had to trim my motor mounts for clearance on both sides and remove 1 grease fitting off my suspension to get full lock to lock without contact. No biggy but they are that tight.



http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...Install001.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...Install003.jpg

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http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...Install006.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...Install007.jpg

They look good in there. Very nice.

Big difference in headers there. LEMONS makes some rally nice headers.
That should help the exhaust move quicker. They do look a little tight in there, but as lonk as they fit.:thumbsup: :cheers:

The quality is great but they leave almost no room for any variation between cars. Some of the steering parts moving lock to lock come within 1mm (1/32nd) of contact, it's that tight. I have a couple wear spots on the headers where there was rubbing from the previous owner and hea was running the same year car with a BBC. Anything bigger than 2 1/4" piping I don't see how they would ever fit.

I finally got the new air cleaner and new plug wires in to work with the Lemons headers. Still not sure if I want to paint the valve covers and air cleaner or leave them in natural aluminum finish.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...headers001.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...headers006.jpg

Looks awesome.
The air cleaner and valve covers would look good in black!!:thumbsup:

great project - thank you for sharing.

Thanks guys. If I do paint them it would probably be a gunmetal to match the wheels. Plans are to go to an aluminum Weiand dual plane stealth intake this winter.