Project CamaREM – 1972 Camaro
 

This story is not unlike many as the car has family history. I purchased the car in the late 90’s as a red street/strip car complete with 10” slicks and and a stout 383. Shortly after that I got married, started a family, and the car sat in the garage.

My Dad ended up buying it from me and decided to turn it stricly into a drag car. The car was back-halved, with monster tubs and slicks, and a 12 point cage. He traded a guy for some of the work (p.s. – that never seems to work out well for the trader) and that’s where the project stalled. Broken promises, shoddy work and the car was finally hauled home unfinished. Frustrated, he bought another project car and the ’72 sat. In 2007 my Dad passed away and the car once again was mine.

My dad’s initials are REM and rapid-eye movement (REM) is the stage of sleep dreams mainly occur in. Since this build was a tribute to my dad, and my dream car, it seemed like the perfect project name.

Here is what it looked like the day I brought it home…

http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...ed/Camaro3.jpg

I had been “out of the game” for several years when I got the car back but knew I wanted to make the car street legal so the family could enjoy it. I started reading magazines and internet forums for ideas. One day at the supermarket I found Camaro Performers. That’s where I learned about the Pro-Touring scene :) .

In search of inspiration for my car I ran across a Ben Hermance rendering done for Eric (70rs). I loved the design and after talking to Eric I found out his plans had changed and we was working with Ben on another rendering. I talked to Ben about having a rendering done but kept coming back to the one he’d done for Eric.

My dad painted all of his cars (and trucks) to match his Fathom Green ’69 Corvette. With this in mind I had a friend photoshop Ben’s original grey creation, green. I don’t recommend anyone doing that…rookie mistake. I received exclusive permission to post this altered rendering by Ben.

If anyone is considering a rendering I highly recommend Ben. He’s talented, easy to talk to, and a second-gen Camaro owner!

http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...-rendering.jpg

First, I want to thank Tim for being forthcoming with what his friend created for him. He recognized the value of the original commissioned artwork and asked Eric and I for permission to use it. I also appreciate that he liked the rendering/design enough that it served as an inspiration for his vision.

In contrast, I've had to send out no less than 20 Cease and Desist notifications to various people and businesses that were either honestly unaware of art law or unscrupulously ripped off renderings/designs to use for stuff like business cards, event promos and even Tshirts. My personal favorite is when my signature is erased. It's frustrating to have to deal with that while you're trying to support a family that depends on my work.

Good luck Tim!

After digging into the car I noticed a lot of questionable work.

1/4 - 1/2" thick bondo
http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...d/PICT0764.jpg

Rust painted over
http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...d/PICT0756.jpg


Knowing the limit of my skills I decided to send it to a professional shop.

I like the rendering and where the car is going. Details of the plans for the car please? Motor, tranny, suspension, etc. Also, to Ben, to the people you had to send letters to, it's funny how they say they didn't know it was unlawful, but yet and still they were erasing your signature. :_paranoid :_paranoid I love your renderings!!:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

I knew I forgot something! The car is nearly complete...this thread is just severely overdue. I will be posting the 4 years worth of progress over the next couple of days.

Modifications:
Rushforth Rated X’s – 18x8 front, 19x12 rear
DSE mini tubs, sub frame connectors and roll cage
LS1 with Texas Speed 228R cam and 4L60E
Wilwood brakes
Heidt’s front suspension and 4-link rear
Side markers filled
Combo RS/Standard header panel (think Dale Jr’s car) with standard inlet used for cold air induction
Billet tailights and RS indicator lights
Vintage Air

Popping off one of the quarters revealed more carnage.
http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...d/PICT2257.jpg

That’s when we pulled out the Dynacorn catalog to go shopping for new sheet metal:
Full floor pan
Trunk pan
Trunk drop off
Tail panel
Quarter panels
Inner/outer wheelhousings
Frame rails

I was able to find some original doors, fenders and hood in pretty good shape.

To make room for the new sheet metal the old trunk and floor had to be removed along with the non-structural cage bars.

http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...M/PICT3577.jpg

Then the rebuilding process starts!

New floor
http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...M/PICT3913.jpg

Inners cut out to make room for the DSE tubs
http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...M/PICT3919.jpg

Yeah that's right, the original part of the car is the rockers, firewall, and roof!
http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...M/PICT4073.jpg

More pieces of the puzzle

New trunk floor

http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...CamaREM/27.jpg

Frame rails and coilover bracket next

http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...M/PICT4169.jpg

Add some quarters and tail pan and it's starting to look like a car again

http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...M/PICT4164.jpg

Nice story.... it is looking really good at this point.....

Thanks Ralph!

Here is more of the progress...

DSE mini tubs and roll cage installed

http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...M/PICT5182.jpg

Firewall smoothed

http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...M/PICT4074.jpg

Side markers filled

http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...M/PICT4788.jpg

I never was a fan of the quarter “overhang” so the quarter-to-tailpan seams were welded smooth

http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...M/PICT4320.jpg

Instead of welding the plates to permanently hold the subframe to the connectors I opted to make it bolt in so the front subframe could be removed.

http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...M/PICT5618.jpg
http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...M/PICT5604.jpg

Next up was the (slightly) narrowed rearend.

http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...M/PICT4783.jpg

4-Link brackets being welded in place

http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...M/IMG_0010.jpg

Axles and coilovers installed

http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...M/PICT5186.jpg
http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...M/PICT5382.jpg

On the rotiserie for the bed liner undercoat.

http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...011_detail.jpg
http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...015_detail.jpg

Nice car. Rendering reminds me of F-Bomb

Looking good.

Thanks guys!

The last modifications…then bodywork could start. A RS header panel was grafted with the standard one to create a spot for the indicator lights since the standard openings would be used for cold air induction.

http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...013_detail.jpg

Here is the “collector” for the air. It will eventually feed into a central, filtered air box.

http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...M/PICT0294.jpg
http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...M/PICT0293.jpg

Lastly, I wanted to go with split bumpers but always thought they could use a little heft to them. There were a couple 67 Camaro bumpers lying around so my friend cut and stitched them together to see what it would look like.

http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...021_detail.jpg

I picked up a LS1 from a ’00 Corvette with 10k miles. The guy I bought it from was building a Factory Five GTM and bought the wrecked Vette for parts. His original intention was to use the LS1 but after making enough money parting out the pieces he didn’t need he decided to buy a crate LS6 and sell the LS1.

Using a set of mounts and an F-body oil pan from BRP we mocked it up in the car, along with the DBW pedal. It was now time for bodywork so I took the engine home for some upgrades.

http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...M/PICT5304.jpg
http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...M/PICT5181.jpg

Once home I replaced the cam, springs and pushrods with the Texas Speed 228R kit. I then cleaned it up and spray bombed it Cast Aluminum and Satin Black.

http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...M/IMG_0013.jpg

Prime, block, repeat :)

http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...M/PICT5610.jpg
http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...M/PICT5646.jpg

Once the lines were crisp, panels flat, and gaps tight it was final blocked and disassembled for paint. Subframe, rearend housing and suspension sent for media blasting then powdercoat.

Nice progress it looks great, and the engine looks nice too.

Thanks Wayne!

The paint laid down really nice. It will really pop once color sanding and buffing begins. The green is a Kia color called Natural Olive Metallic. It looks a lot lighter in the sun.

http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...REM/paint1.jpg http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...REM/paint4.jpg
http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...REM/paint2.jpg

wow nice job . lots of work i feel the pain been there. keep us posted:thumbsup:

Nice!

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

I'm with Spiffav8 Very Nice.

Thanks jr...I love the orange houndstooth interior in your car!

Thanks Wayne and Curtis. The color choice was not an easy one for me! :thumbsup:

Looks great. I'm digging that color.

Very unique and cool color choice. Congrats on the progress!:thumbsup:

I originally was going to create a “fastback” by deleting the package tray for an open area behind the rear seat….I changed my mind. No one sells (at least not at that time) the seat back/trunk divider and package tray pieces so they had to be fabbed up.

http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...M/IMG_0003.jpg
http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...M/IMG_0004.jpg

Got the parts back from powdercoat, the firewall area was painted Hot Rod Black, and wiring is roughed in.

http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z.../IMG_00072.jpg
http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...M/IMG_0118.jpg

Really love the project and the pace! Keep going man :thumbsup:

Now that is killer! :thumbsup:

Yeah, about the pace...don't let the frequency of posts fool you :)
I'm almost 4 years into this now!

Nice custom touches, really like it...

Speaking of interior changes…I wanted something that would be recognizable as a Camaro dash but with cleaner lines. The lower dash pieces were covered with metal to smooth them out. They would then be uphlolstered.

In the end I went with a fiberglass dash to try and offset the weight of the Dynamat I put in the car (went a bit overboard!). If interested, the lower dash pieces are for sale :)

http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...M/PICT5386.jpg

Holy Dynamat, Batman
 

It should be nice and quiet inside!

http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...M/IMG_0011.jpg
http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...M/IMG_0095.jpg

That is going to look very cool when you look for the rear seat.

Thanks Marty. The plan right now is to use the rear seat from a newer GTO...we'll see.

Next was testing the fit of the Spectra gas tank and running the fuel lines. The tank will get sprayed with undercoating.

http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...M/IMG_0839.jpg
http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...M/IMG_0835.jpg

Working my spray bomb magic again :lol:

http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...M/IMG_0093.jpg
http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...M/IMG_0097.jpg