Project status...deadline approaching!
 

As some of you guys know now, I am pushing to finish my 69 Camaro by the July Goodguys show in Columbus, Ohio. This was my first car my dad and I built from scraps when I was a kid. Got rid of it in 1989. Lost my dad in late 2003 and went on a search for the car. I found it about 200 miles away on the third owner. Paid WAY too much for it and brought it home. We started the rebuild in March 04 with grand plans of all sorts of different ideas with the help of Radrambler.

http://www.mcspeed.homestead.com/69_...urrection.html

Fast forward to now. I have just finished the engine/trans build and mounted that in the subframe assembly. I am back on the body work. I HATE sanding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Having to go back and perfect the super shaved firewall and jams. If all goes well I will be spraying color on the inner panels by next weekend (that is a lofty goal).

That will allow the engine/trans to go back in and start fitting the outer sheet metal, then the final exterior body work will begin.

Working mostly alone with a new baby and a full time job...this is tough (but fun).

I decided to just KILL my credit card and hammer this thing out to make our goal. I had been spending, paying it off, then spending again.

Can you say:

($3,500 to SLP for head/cam/injectors, $3,000 to Summit for go fast goodies, $3,000 in trim, paint, etc, $2,000 for this and that, etc, etc, etc, etc, ...THE FEELING OF GETTING IT DONE ON TIME>>>>>>>Priceless!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

I promise I will do a better job of updating and detailing my website once some of the project slows down a bit.


Until then........see ya out in the shop!

:thumbsup:

69
 

nice project, goodluck, can't wait to see the finished product!!
oh ya, you still got the vette???
jake

Yep, the 69 Vette aka Killer is just collecting dust in the house garage. I drive it to work here and there and take it out once in a while, but it gets little use (two seats), now that we have a baby boy in the house.

I have plans for it in the future that should take it way over the top. If you notice I rarely post any pictures of the engine. Not that it isn't nice...RPM aluminum heads, EFI, March pulleys, etc. etc...just that I have way too much "bling, bling" going on in there and it makes me want to hurl when I pop the hood. So, it is waiting for the next go around.

killer
 

cool, glad to hear to kept it, its sad to see guys project cars get sold to build another, although the next one is usually more outrageous, very cool
jake

The engine is finally in the subframe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://mcspeed.homestead.com/files/subframea.JPG

http://mcspeed.homestead.com/files/subframec.JPG

Looks great. Thanks for taking and sharing all those build pix.

Holy crap I wish I had money :rolleyes:

You Know, 69myway, I perused your camaro site a LONG time ago, and didn't realize that you're also the guy with the Killer 'vette!

The camaro is looking good. :) Keep us updated on your progress!

didnt take you long
 

hey

69myway.....i knew youd bust right through that motor deal...
its sunday night and shop talk online ......
ramblers on the ground ....wow....its really on the ground...
im happy and worn out....i was only one there....ice tea is my friend..haha
glad you got the front clip/engine together....
i realized i could paint the bottom of the car/suspenion crap brown...CAUSE YOU CANT SEE UNDER IT..HAHAHA....
live and learn...

congrats on the progress
radrambler

69myway....I've been following your build for the past 2 years, some great progress you're making there. I'm especially looking forward to the paint pictures as my car is going in for color this July. Can't wait.

Looking good. :thumbsup:

Is the killer vette stll owned by you?

Yep, just drove it to work today :thumbsup: I figured it could use a little "blowing out"...if you know what I mean. :D

That car is one nice vette makes me want a convertable vette.

I plan on getting my '70 Nova done by GG Columbus too. Actually want it done by GG DesMoines wich is the week before. I think you're a little further along then me though. See you there, :thumbsup:

Update....I am deep in the Jams now. The shop that had the car with the prior owner hung new quarters on the car and lipped them in right at the door jam. They had simply crammed seam sealer in there. The spot welds are nice. I had to dig all that out and begin to fill and smooth it the best I can. I am not 100% happy with this, but I will make it work and look fine.

Still wrapping up a few more long skim coats on the firewall to get it perfectly smooth. Going to drop the racing stripes down the firewall, so it has to be right. As you may have noticed my brakes, windshield wiper, hoses, wires area all gone from the firewall. I reshaped it around the trans tunnel and eliminated the dimples for the washer lines (relocated). So, this will make a super trick wall that begs for the stripes to run down.

I hope I can get it all ready for jam paint by the end of this weekend. Picking up my paint supplies on Friday.


Once that is done the engine/trans/sub frame goes under and reassembly begins!

What type of filler are you using for the firewall?

As soon as it gets warmer here (Michigan) I'm going to be laying down some filler on my firewall. It's all welded up with the DS&E filler panel. I just have to do some grinding at this point. I'm planning to use Evercoat Everglass with a light skim coat of Evercoat Rage for finishing.

Here is the story behind it. I started out by making my own block off panel and welding it up. I wasn't satisfied with just closing the a/c blower holes and wanted to make the seam go away. I started filling with heavy duty filler. It got THICK! I primed it up and slapped the car on the 360 dolly to do the floor pans, etc. Once I got the car down I noticed a crack in the filler! So, this next picture is after my wrath and a grinder with a wire wheel tip. I followed this by making a template of cardboard and had a local speed shop precision cut it for me from steel. I zinc/weld through primed both sides and tacked it on. You will notice I closed off EVERYTHING in the process. I ended up with some warping across the panel and had to run some evercoat icing type filler over that with a 17" long file to make sure it is square. Total filler is minimal and cracking should never be a problem. Since these photos I went back and closed the steering shaft hole to just enough to clear the shaft since I shortened the column up behind the wall. I also cut my a/c and heater hoses and built some simple aluminum sheetmetal grommets to keep them from wearing holes through the firewall holes. My a/c drier is in the passenger cowl with a power antenna and Vintage Air heater control valve.

The lines go up high hidden from view until they pop out of the inner fender right next to the engine.

http://www.mcspeed.homestead.com/fil...leaned_out.JPG

http://www.mcspeed.homestead.com/fil...l_template.JPG

http://www.mcspeed.homestead.com/fil...firewall_2.JPG

http://www.mcspeed.homestead.com/fil...all_camaro.JPG

dibs on having him do mine :)

Jams, firewall....PAINTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I did the racing stripes right down the firewall and textured the lower part of it.

I am exhausted!

For some reason the paint lifted in the trunk lid and the upper b pillars. I also ran out of paint so that will have to wait until next week. At least I will be able to finally set the sub frame in for good!

BTW--I was pushing my materials really hard today. Temps didn't break above 68 and it just started raining. My dry times and technique had to be adjusted to get the paint on.

In those pics above we pushed all the parts in the shop just in time to beat the rain showers.

Looks great! Are you using base/clear, or single stage?

Dupont Base/Clear

looks good
 

you painting out side??
also are you using a yellow pinstripe on the racing stripes?
good work
jake

Partially painting in the garage and under a cover outside.

That is a gold accent stripe on the edge of the racing stripe. This is the exact color combo we used when we first repained this car in 1985.

The main color is 1986 Renault Alliance met red, the black is Cadillac Black Cherry, then the accent is just met gold.

looking good
 

i see progress...congrats....reminds me of 1988....remember when?
cant wait to see it painted ...ill stop by tommorrow..


radrambler

man, i hate to say it



i was 3 in 1988


damn :rolleyes:

1/28/05 Update----

Engine/trans/sub frame permanently installed
Brakes are functional
A/C lines connected and system vacuumed
Inner fenders in
Radiator in
Engine wire harness dressed and permanently attached

Your just knocking that machine out!

hey guys
i know 69myway..he can flat go through a build out..i have witnessed his building of projects before(we go back to 1988)...he wastes no time...
good job ..chat soon

radrambler

Well, here is the deal. I have a soon to be ONE year old that requires a lot of time (as some of you know). My wife likes the car hobby but can live without this part (grinding, sanding, welding, grease..etc).

She is also committed to the July deadline but I had to broker a deal. I get Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat, & Sun with exception for Church, other events, etc. to plow ahead on the car fairly un-interrupted. Tues and Thurs are dedicated Family night. Just got done watching one of the Baby Einstein videos with my kid and giving him a bath...etc.

The way I see it I have just under 70 days counting weekends and week nights to finish this car into June. It seems like a lot of time, but some of those days are just 1 to 3 hours a night to grind it out, and other things will come up.

You're really kicking ass on the car. :thumbsup: And I know how hard it can be to juggle work, family and hobbies. There just isn't enough time in the day.

Awesome
 

Looks great. Keep the updates and pics coming. Best of all....cudo's on taking time to worship. :thumbsup:

Jay

Thanks Jay. I look at it this way. The human condition is very much like a high performance engine that needs regular and continued maitanance to perform at peak capacity. When left unattended for long periods of time it tends to lose power, run poor, bilch and kick smoke all over the other cars, and pretty much run itself into the ground. You gotta keep good quality fuel in it and give it regular tune ups to keep it running smooth. Well, I depend on a regular pause to set my priorities straight each week and get a good tune up to make it through the rough times. Without it, I am a mess!

Waiting on the glass guy to show up right now. Got the rear window cleaned up and ready to seal down. He is bringing a new front glass to install. I prepped and painted all the window channels so it will be sealed all the way around.

Tonight is family night, so I will be hammering like a mad man come Friday night! Going to attempt to get the body panels all lined up for the next step.

Virtually all the body panels are on now. I am really fighting to get a decent alignment and gap. It won't be perfect, but at least it will be consistently off all around!

The aftermarket cowl hood appears to simply be too narrow, or the aftermarket core or front nose piece is too wide. Either way you could drive a mack truck down both hood gaps.

Of course I chipped some of the jam paint while fitting the doors/fenders. Oh well, nothing a touch up brush can't handle.

I am working my way at this point to start long blocking and priming the whole ride. Got a few more mechanical and body fit items to fight first.

Computer shipped out for programming. Headers mods pend.

Some how I pinched a wire on my power windows and they are blowing a fuse now since I put the doors back on. You got to just step back and laugh, because yelling doesn't do any good!

Anyway, hope to kick some butt this weekend and move closer to getting some paint on the skin.

Got the radiator tied up with hoses, etc, and am moving down the "to-do" list as fast as I can building to that day when we twist the key and see if the shade tree rebuilt LSX motor fires off!

Status report:

1. Paint on (wet sand and buff pends after engine running, etc).
2. Header FINALLY roughed in and test fit last night. It fits!!!!!!!!!!! It is DARN close to the neck on the steering rack, but I think it will fly.
-I ordered some of the Edelbrock couplings to weld to the collector so the rest of the exhaust can be bolted up with no gasket needed and resused:

Ball Flange Collector

Going to spend the weekend getting the weather strips and minor trim on the car. Preparing my list of "have to order" items to wrap up the body.

Once the Ball Flange collectors come in I will take the headers back to the shop to TIG weld up the mods to the driver header and add the ball flange. I will send them out to be coated, then the next trip will be to the muffler shop!!!!!!!!!

You know what that means? It means I will then get to see if the motor will actually run :willy: and...maybe, just maybe....go for a drive! :D

I am thinking I am two weeks from hearing it run (due to the header coating, etc), and then another week from driving it putting me smack into MAY. That gives the remainder of May to get the buffing, interior, and trim done, then start flogging it out on the street to see what is going to break before the big trip!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Incredible! :hail:

Your not working fast enough.

Faster...FASTER!!!


...just messin with ya. Car is coming along great. I just have a few trim pieces to put on the floor in the kitchen tommorow and it's back to the garage. Finally!

Looking Good,
I will be looking Forward to seeing it in Columbus.

Kevin

It runs! It lives!!!!!! It ROARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! sort of.

Got the headers back. He suggested running them in, then yanking and coating them for a better bit on the ceramic. So, I bolted them up, did the last minute hook up including the computer back in the harness. Said a quick prayer and spun it over. It hardly made two spins when it sprung to life. It is loud as heck (open headers). It took a few for it to build oil pressure and other vital signs.

I was able to add fluid to the trans and power steering.

Plan on running it to the muffler shop on Saturday morning.

This afternoon I fired it up and put it in gear. It moves!!!! This is great because I won't have to winch it on the trailer.

RIght now I have a code P1336 (crank sensor re-learn). My buddy at the GM dealer is going to re-program that (common problem). We then have to let it learn the base idle. Right now it won't idle on its own, but I am also not able to let it run much because it is too loud.

I will upload a video clip this weekend!!!!!!!!!!!