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Mr. Brownstone - 69 PT Camaro
My story starts like so many others and follows a similar path encountering many of the same obstacles that many of you have along the journey to building our cars. As with most, my passion for muscle cars started back in high school where I owned a couple of hot rodded bowties and an awesome 66 Galaxie 500 convertible which took me through college. God I loved that car… so many good times were had in all of them; cruising, street racing, auto shop class and the weekly grudge match races out at Sears Point.
Then real life happened after graduation and hot rods became compact cars, luxury sedans and SUV’s. Once the career was established, I found the right woman, was done having kids and settled down it was time to reignite the fire that had been smoldering for many years while I was getting my sh*t together. Well about 4 years ago now I was able to pull the trigger and picked up a really nice 69 Camaro badged as a Z/28. She was a beautiful black with white rally’s, had deluxe houndstooth interior with a good start on the suspension including 4 wheel disc brakes and Hotchkis drop spring. The 350 was solid but with the TH350 and a 3.42 12 bolt it was slow out of the hole and around town. http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...oolcars-40.jpg http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...rointerior.jpg The car came with records and receipts dating back about 15 years so I had an idea of how it got to its current state. The paint was a great 5 footer… had some checking in the lacquer paint and some rust over both rear wheel wells. Soon the itch and inability to leave well enough alone took over and I started checking in to what it would cost to fix the rust and checking. After doing some poking around at a few shops around the Bay Area and Sacramento I landed at West Coast Auto Craft. I hit it off with Chris & Jared who, at any given time, had 15 – 20 muscle cars in various stages of builds. They were mainly a metal and body shop but could handle all the other aspects as well so I was confident they could give me what I wanted. What started as a 3 month simple repaint project back in November 2009 turned into a 6 month job, then 12 months, now 2 years this week… and hoping for completion before Autorama in Sacramento this February. So, on my 2 year anniversary of sending my baby off for some TLC I finally got around to getting the build chronicled to share with you all and to provide some much needed therapy for me. After blasting the car it was recommended to replace both quarters, the trunk pan and tail panel. While we were in there might as well minitub it and replace the damaged frame rails too. So it’s not entirely their fault that it has taken this long as the project has evolved along the way as so many do… although they have not been overly “diligent” either... So... since I am starting a build thread I guess there needs to be a project name. But what’s in a name? Does a car or project really have to have a name? If you post a build thread it seems you have to come up with some clever or not so clever but catchy name, right? I don’t know but I think I read that thread on here too. :lol: All the real cool cars seem to have one... So the other day I was driving home from work, thinking about my car, of course, and Guns N Roses came on… and wouldn’t you know it, there it was, Mr. Brownstone. And then it hit me, my car & this PT thing is my Mr. Brownstone… “it keeps knocking and just won’t leave me alone”. Cant ya hear Axle singing it now? “Because you just gotta have a little and the little wouldn't do it so the little got more and more… just keep trying to get a little better than before”. Well, I can’t tell you how many countless hours I have spent on these forums, on vendor websites and ebay researching and reading. I haven’t missed a GG show in years and drool all over myself at all the autocross events. I am so jealous reading about the road trips and great times you guys are having at all these events. God I can’t wait to get my car back!!!!! I am totally addicted to this PT stuff! Addicted, is that the right word? I don't know... Do you feel the same way? As defined by Mr. Webster… Addicted -To become compulsively and physiologically dependent on a habit-forming substance or activity. Addict - a person who is addicted to an activity, habit, or substance. Synonyms 1. devotee; fanatic; junkie Seems to me that there are a few of us on these forums that fit this description. So now that you know the back story lets see some pictures. Started with this - love the belt drive BTW http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...oolcars-02.jpg Ended with this - a little 383 stroker http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...hio1/motor.jpg http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...1/PICT0011.jpg At break in it dynoed 470HP and 515TQ ... a definite improvement http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...001resized.jpg That was about all that I did the first 2 years I had her... besides a new fuel tank and lines (the old one must of been original and was pretty beat up) I also swapped out the de-arched leafs for Hotchkis drop leafs and rebuilt a couple dead QA1 shocks. I also added CPP tubular control arms which raised the front 3/8 of an inch.???? I drove her all I could and won a couple awards at some local shows. But then, as I mentioned above, and thanks to many of you who inspired me, I couldnt leave well enough alone and decided to kill the rust and fix the paint problems. Tare down http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...f/IMG_1479.jpg http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...f/IMG_1480.jpg http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...f/IMG_1481.jpg Back from the blaster http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...IMG_0374-2.jpg While replacing the tank and leafs I noticed one of the framerails had a lot of undercoating on it. After scrapping it off it was evident that it had been straightened and the damage had been hidden nicely by the undercoating. Bastards! there was even a crack all the way around it that was filled with the undercoating. When I bought the car it wasnt visible as it was right behind the shock and well disguised. This picture shows where she was hit. With that and the rust over the fender wells it was decided to replace both quaters since the truck was pretty much toast. I knew something was repaired since one quater lip was a 1/4" higher than the other when measuring ground to fender lip. The frame rail and body damage explained it and I'm sure it lead to the trunk not sealing properly causing the rust. http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...rch2009062.jpg http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...rch2009061.jpg So the start of the "evolving" project... since we were going to basically have the back half of the car off we might as well minitub it right? So new quarters, trunk, valance, tail panel and frame rails went in along with a set of DSE minitubs. http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...1/DSC01614.jpg Unfortunetly all of the good pictures of the panel replacements were lost by the builders. (Camera issues) Above you can see the driver side wheel well out and the new quater on the passenger side. http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...C01613-1-1.jpg All the new sheet metal back on. It only took about 4 months to get to this point. |
Mock up with the wheels for rear end measurements
http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...1/progress.jpg http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a.../progress1.jpg As you can see the Rated X's will fit Nicely. Once we had the rearend out I did some research on the numbers. Come to find out it was out of a Chevelle and the upper control arm brackets had been cut off and ground down. Another nice little surprise. So that led to the next decision... suspension. I have always loved the the look of a slammed 69 so I decided to swap out the suspension and go with AirRide. Since I was going to have to shorten the rearend to accommodate the back space I wanted on the wheels I decided to just get a Moser setup from Frank at Prodigy with all the bracketry already in place. http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...1/DSC_0598.jpg Nice set up and I found a guy who wanted the date code rearend I had for his Chevelle and was willing to weld on the missing brakets who paid me more than half of what this one cost. (This has been a constant theme through my project. I have been able to sell the parts I am replacing, in most cases, for at least half of what the replacents cost). I ordered the Moser from Frank... having to deal with some of his "delays" that you have likely read about... and finally got it about 6 weeks later. I got the AirRide setup through Matts Classic Bowties out here in the Bay Area. These guys are awesome!!!!! I know some of you think Frank walks on water and I know he has helped a lot of you out, shoot he's helped me with advice too which I appreciate... but the "shipping issues" where too concerning for me being 3000 miles away. So, for us left coasters, I've found the team at Matt's is just as resourceful, competitively priced and they stock most of the parts they sell which is way more convenient. More updates and pics tomorrow night... |
About time Jeff! Keep going Sir....:thumbsup:
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I Love the white Houndstooth Interior:thumbsup:
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Awesome build, thanks for posting.
So what are the plans for the build? Front suspension, engine, trans or are you keeping the 383 and stock subframe? At any rate it looks good. :thumbsup: Thanks for insight on Matt's Classic Bowties. :yes: |
nothing like pissing gasoline on a fire
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Great Story and Build :cheers:
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Great project and name, I do believe you picked the perfect name because you just gotta have a little and the little wouldn't do it so the little got more and more just keep trying to get a little better. Yes the great axle rose
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Very Cool.:thumbsup: :thumbsup: Scott M.
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Thanks for the comments guys.
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http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...aro0909012.jpg I even upgraded to the TMI Sport buns & covers which are a great upgrade for someone wanting to keep it looking kinda stock. http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...1/IMG_0975.jpg Quote:
As for Matt's - Long time sponsors on the forums - MCB is their logo. With being in sales myself I know just how important customer service is pre and post sale. Nothing worse then not getting a call back after you pay for something, right? My personal experience with them has been great. When I am treated well I make sure to let people know. They are a retail supplier not a builder so they stock much of what they sell or always have orders coming in which means you get the items faster. Only down side is having to pay sales tax. Quote:
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Back to the story...
So as I left off... got the car back from the blaster. Hung all the sheet metal and ready for gap alignment, panel fitment and body work. Fortunetly all the metal from the doors forward is original and in great shape.
http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...1/IMG_0580.jpg Mounted all the suspension and rearend. Have stock spindles on there now but have Heidts 1.5" drop spindles ready and waiting if stance isnt just right. http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...1/IMG_0578.jpg Sprayed first coat of poly. First of what has been many coats of poly... as you will soon see. After reading Renners posts I made sure to use some of that killer "Gap Spray". Worked out great :thumbsup: http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...f/photo412.jpg Fast forward a few months... after more delays... The blocking is under way and we finally got to see her with the new shoes on, all aired out. I am going with the Marquez front valance. I also got one of their first production front bumpers. You'll see that in a bit http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...maro0101-1.jpg http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...amaro004-1.jpg |
So I went up to WCAC to check in and see how things have been coming along and bring my rear seat to measure for cuts to fit with the mini tubs.
Wouldnt you know it, my damn builder has been painting some other guys car instead of working on mine. Just kidding John (John510 with the Bloodline project) His 68 just got shot in black and looks awesome. I am happy to see another one in color and now that John's shot it means mine is next :unibrow: So as most projects go changes happen along the way. As mentioned before I had the white houndstooth interior which was in great shape. Well in staying with the theme of changing my mind I went from these http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...1/IMG_0978.jpg to these. http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...rtseat-265.png My initial build plan was to shoot it in black with the white rally's again and keep it as a Z/28 clone but that changed too so now the white wont work. After having the seats stripped and the new TMI buns and covers installed, which looked awesome by the way, I had the covers removed and went with the black. Kim @ Matt's came to my rescue again and found another builder from Oregon who buys all his stuff from them to take the white set off my hands. Ended up only being a $180 set back. Thanks to "redz" for posting this awesome thread on how to narrow a 69 back seat to fit with DSE tubs... https://lateral-g.net/forums/showthread.php4?t=28606 These pics and overview were perfect. I just needed to double check before we cover them. So as the project has morphed we have decided on a few subtle and not so subtle body mods. The subtle included: Weld the lower fenders Fill the side markers, door locks, antenna Remove fender trim, rocker trim and gills (basically all chrome) Marquez valence RS grille conversion with DSE motors tuck rear bumper razor sharp body lines Then there are the not so subtle: one off rear spoiler front bumper and grille Since I was going with the the Marques valence I decided I needed one of their new endura bumpers. While at a GG show I talked with Judas about the one on their car and he mentioned they were going to be producing them. I think I got the first or second one. There were no brackets or mounting points which made it a little more challenging but I just had to have it since the lines are so sharp and fit perfectly with the rest of the cars lines. I wanted it tucked real tight. Here are a few picks before and after the mods to it. http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...1/IMG_0971.jpg Below you can see the fit. Pretty good but stuck out too far for me and wasnt flush on the sides like I wanted... but again, nice sharp lines. The fit to the lower grille and fenders. Not bad but I wanted mine tight and to flow together like a modern car does now. http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...1/IMG_0970.jpg I'm sure you also noticed the additional stock welded all around the nose. Chris welded a 3/8" piece of stock to achieve a couple things... bring the edge out and in to make the bumper fit better and to help hide the grille shroud that always seems to fit so crappy and looks all wavy. So a little slicing, dicing and glassing was needed to get all the lines to line up and tuck tight. http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...io1/photo2.jpg http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...io1/photo3.jpg http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...io1/photo5.jpg And we are just about there... http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...o1/photo-1.jpg I will tell you, Chris has at least 40 hrs in the bumper with cutting, glassing and fabrication mounting brackets. Here are a couple of it finished. I love how sharp it is. http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...marodec016.jpg http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...marodec015.jpg Then there is the rear spoiler. I wanted to do something a little different and keep it subtle. I really like the flush mount look so Chris went to work removing the base to get it flush and rework it entirely. Now it is about the size of a second gen (about 1/2 as tall as stock). It looks great. http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...erflushfit.jpg http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...io1/tail-1.jpg Next time we get into what Chris is doing with the grille... |
Hey Jeff....car looks great! Love the clean execution and all the body mods. :thumbsup: :hail: I also thought about killing the side markrer lights, but living in Cali felt that was a conversation w Johnnie Law waiting to happen.
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I had originally purchased the Anvil Phantom side markers and was going to paint them body color to hide them but when I decided to not paint it black again I bagged that plan and just filled them in. So someone who has already filled them in and gotten a fix it ticket needs to come up with (or share) a creative temporary fix before I have my conversation with Mr. Po Po. Ideas are welcomed... |
I almost threw up when I read that you switched from white houndstooth to black:(
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The car will look sick either way:thumbsup:
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Grille
Here are some pics of the RS custom grille conversion. I have always loved the RS front ends so I was adamant about having that as part of my build. I ordered the complete kit with the DSE motors almost 2 years ago. Well as the project progressed Chris kept planting seeds about modifying it... a little. Well after wearing me down I gave in allowing him free reign to let the creative thoughts flow.
He kept telling me about how he had always wanted to sink the grille back a couple more inches to give it greater depth. Me being a very visual person just couldn't see it the way he did so it led us to Keith Kaucher to have him do a rendering for us about a year ago. Once I saw it I was "all in" and the further it comes along the more I am liking it. Chris just finished the Pullmax tooling this week so the metal will be formed in the next week or two. So here is a picture of how it looked with the stock grille as a reference http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...io1/photo2.jpg The start of the fiberglassing of the outer shroud http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a.../grillefab.jpg With the RS buckets and doors recessed back he had to cut the core support and build boxes for them to sit into. Here is the back side where the battery would be http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...rodec020-1.jpg Front with the box visable to the right of the door where is will rest when open. http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...rodec021-1.jpg With the the doors open in the box http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...9140658C-1.jpg Here you can see how much the shroud has been deepened. He needs to fabricate the grille before determining where it will sit. http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...D75366C4-1.jpg Playing around with a some cardboard. Just wait, It's going to look awesome. http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...EE49410B-1.jpg |
As I mentioned earlier, I inteded to paint the car black again but along the way Chris, once again, planted seeds but this time of other colors. We discussed the new Chevy Cyber Grey, bright red and a variation of the LeMans blue... all of which would have looked great with the white houndstooth but we decided to go with a brilliant silver. I have always loved the Cortez silver 69's so it had always been in the back of my mind and was easy to get excited about... especially after owning a black car... If you know what I mean.
After being presented with the idea I did some poking around as I knew I had seen some killer silver 69s and came across this one that Kenny Davis did. Coincidentally it has the Rated X's too. Plus the silver will really accentuate the level of detail Chris and Jared went to with the body lines. I really think these guys have OCD. I have never seen lines so sharp as they are on my car. More about that later... http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...1left_side.jpg I love these wheels... but of course, the ones I have wont stay looking like this because that would be too easy :willy: Chris will put his touch on those too in keeping with the build theme. http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...edxbrushed.jpg Here is a blown up view of the front end. I show this because I just noticed, coincidentally, another builder came up with the same front spoiler. Great creative minds think alike. It is amazing how close they apprear. I want to get it out there that mine isnt a copy. Below is a rough scetch Chris sent me about a year ago. Keith did a great job capturing it in the rendering and adding the crease in the center. No wonder they came up with the same concept, it looks killer and they build some increadible cars :thumbsup: http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a.../zxcvxcvxc.jpg http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...ics8-11017.jpg |
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Great write up on your build. :thumbsup: Keep it coming. Let us know how that Moser works out for you. |
Thanks Bryan. Love your build!
Sure would be cheaper to if we all just stuck to the plan...:lol: |
Been working on the dash.
http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...fCamaro019.jpg http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...1/b96bccd0.jpg http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...amaro004-1.jpg http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...amaro005-1.jpg http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a.../Camaro009.jpg Dash will be painted satin black http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...o1/Pics029.jpg |
Great looking dash. Those gauges will look killer with the satin black finish.
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Love the entire setup. Course I'm a little biased. :lol: |
update
Well its been a couple months so its time for an update... in this case, more of a lack there of, an update. Builder hasnt spent much time on my car. Family health issues and he says he blew up the bit on his Pullmax forming my grille.
Very frustrating as we all know! I'm going to do a drop by visit on Monday to see whats up and encourage him to get back on it. So in the mean time I have been working on my rear seat making the necessary modifications for the minitubs. Followed these instructions from Redz which worked out perfectly. https://lateral-g.net/forums/showthread.php4?t=28606 Ready to take it in to be covered |
How did i miss this Build ??
Incredible work and car..:cheers: |
So what siver exactly did you go with? Was it the cortez silver or a diiferent silver. Love the so far by the way. :cheers:
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Great look dash,where'd you get you lights and wiper controls?
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The dash looks great I love the switches.
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Well its time for an update... and again there isnt much to update. Its been 3 more months with little progress much to my frustration. We are still creeping along with the grille which is the "reason" for the delayed progress... more on that below.
I have wired my dash though. Thanks to these forums I found several examples of how others have organized their dashes. In the picture below you can see the printouts I used. This is my first attempt at wiring anything so I am hoping for the best. The AAW kit is great. http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...o1/pics032.jpg I think it turned out ok http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...-48-25_331.jpg Props to Jay, aka - Jamess113, for the lead on where to get the 3 prong connectors for the Autometer guages. Way cheaper than from AAW. For anyone else looking for them here you go. http://www.delcity.net/store/Wire-Co...Quick-Splices Now for an update on what has come to be the "Grille from hell" to me. My builder kept telling me he always wanted to do a recessed grille on a 69 (as I mentioned earlier in the thread). I was reluctant not being able to see or understand what he was describing until we had a rendering done. Once I could see it I wanted it so I gave him the green light. Knowing it would take some custom fab work I was prepared for a little delay. Maybe a month or two max... well that was more than 7 months ago now. With what I see the other shops around here doing in 7 months it is killing me and has me second guessing if I should have even done it. Whats worse is nothing else is being done while waiting for the grille to get done. Its not that it is that hard it is just him spending the necessary time on it to get it done. Once the grille is done he will finish the paint prep, blow it apart, then shoot it. I know it is a little hard to tell by this piece of the redering but it will give an idea of what we are after. Oh, and the reason I havent posted the rendering (that I have had for over a year and half now) is because you know how it goes, once its out there, there will be others just like it. So for now it is staying under wraps and thankfully so. If I would of posted it when I got it who knows how many others would of been completed by now... while I am waiting on this damn grille... :lolhit: http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...Picture1-1.jpg We are using perforated metal for the back and the cross bars. We had expanded metal but it didnt look as good. http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...illephoto1.jpg He used his Pullmax to form the cross bars. The first bit he made didnt cut it so he had to have a longer/larger one made so it would keep its form and alignment. They look really cool in person. http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...illephoto2.jpg http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...1/photo3-1.jpg http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...1/photo2-1.jpg To his credit, I am really digging it and cant wait to see it in the car. I also know it has been very time consumming welding the cross bars to the back support with all those little holes. As of today (he is out of town again for a few days... major part of the reason it is taking so long) but he claims he has one more day on the grille then a day of firberglass work on the surround and it is ready to mount. So if history repeats it self I should have another update by the end of summer... LOL... |
Jeff,
Make sure you have real intense bright LEDs for those gauges. They won't light up the gauges sufficiently if they are not real bright. I've got to replace mine so that's how I know. :mad: Bryan |
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Rear Quarters
Any chance you still have your old rear quarters laying around? I need the artificial vent sections right in front of the rear wheels. I am grafting them into my project car. How much? If you woudl cut the section out we wouldn't have to ship the entire quarters, just two maybe 2' x2' sections.
PM me if you are interested. Thanks!! |
Sorry those are long gone. Good luck with your search.
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Dude, the gap spray paid off big time. Where did you buy your "Grill" spray from?
Sweet execution all the way around--love all the mods. Can't imagine waiting like you are---the progress must make you feel great when it happens. I like the change you made on the seats---white looked great, but you are right--it would not work with your new color combo---black with the inserts on those seats will look killer in the car. Did you mention what you will be using for a trans? Renner (spelled backwards and forwards--it's the same) :lol: |
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Who knows maybe my builder isn't wearing a mask when spraying that stuff and is getting too sleepy ( and hungry ) which is causing some of the build delays. As for the seats, got the rear welded up and is sitting at the upholstery shop. He is in no rush since the builder isnt. I think I have smelled some of the gap spray at the upholstery shop too. Maybe it's Super Tight Stitch Spray??? As for the tranny. I am dumping the TH350 and planned on a TKO600 but being in cash preservation mode in case my builder doesn't perform and I need to go elsewhere to get it done I have pulled the trigger on a rebuilt M20. Got the whole setup minus flywheel for $800. It'll do until I blow it up then have to upgrade the tranny :wow: the 2 pedal is just not fun enough so a Muncie is better than nothin for now. I can't wait to get it done and be able to get out and play with you guys. |
Update
Its be 2 more months... time for an update.
Well he finally got the grille finished. Dont have any good pics to share but am going to the shop tomorrow so I will hopefully be able to shoot a few. My car is now over in the body shop for final paint prep. They pulled the front clip and are finishing up the firewall. "Should be" in the paint booth early next week. (fingers crossed) I was really pushing to get to GG West Coast Nats. in 5 weeks. We will see if he can pul it off and get the car in and out of paint so we can get it assembled. Praying for a Miracle :D |
Jeff its looking BADAZZ!! :faint:
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Jeff, how was the WCAC visit?
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