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Project 1969
I've been a lurker here at Lateral-G for a while and have found all your projects have been very inspiring and have helped me on my current project. After having my 69 Camaro project for 11 years, it is time for me to share my project.
I started looking for a 69 Camaro in 2000 and finally found my perfect project car in 2003. They guy I bought it from was pretty much making it a Z-28 clone. He was pretty straight forward with me. His dad was the original owner and it was bought in '69 with a straight 6 and butternut yellow. It had been painted twice since the factory...once Canary Yellow, the next time, the blue you see here. https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...0485/L/1-L.jpg It was by no means a numbers matching car but seemed to be a pretty solid car interior was pretty decent. Plus it means I can make the car the way I want, which is exactly what I was looking for. https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...22fc/L/3-L.jpg and the V8 they put in was aging, but still pretty solid for a driver. https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...ec33/L/4-L.jpg I have done several mechanical upgrades over the period of 10 years. I've been having fun with working on it, driving it, and taking it to the local car shows. https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...2b3e/L/5-L.jpg I started having some issues after a couple of years with the old 350 so I decided to start with it. I pulled the motor and the front clip so I could clean everything up as well as I could for the new powerplant. https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...5a5/L/23-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...ae/L/23b-L.jpg Clean up went well and I put the new motor in. I went with a built 383 stroker I picked up from a buddy of mine. Everything was fresh, but he had decided to go a different direction with his car. So it worked out perfect. I added the March Performance Pulley kit and a few extras including new control arms, front disc brakes, 2" drop spindles and a set of Centerline Telstars which looked sharper than the old Classic Centerlines it came with. https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...628/L/30-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...96f/L/32-L.jpg Upgraded the old 10 Bolt to a Moser Ford 9 inch and added subframe connectors and I was ready to roll again... https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...b0b/L/37-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...b9c/L/38-L.jpg Wired my fans and added ceramic coated headers https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...32a/L/43-L.jpg I added a Thunder Road dash panel with some Autometer Cobalt Gauges and I matching steering wheel and this baby was ready for the track. https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...974/L/48-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...faa/L/50-L.jpg I ran it in the Pinks All Out race in 2010 just for fun where it proved to be an 11 second car. https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...a12/L/45-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...6b6/L/46-L.jpg I was happy with this, but I decided it is not the direction I had planned to go with my car. So in 2013, with everything mechanical about the car in very good shape, I decided to tear it down again and begin the most dreaded part...paint and body! I will update with a new post that will take you through this journey thus far... Stay tuned and thanks for reading! |
Welcome to LatG, and I can't wait to see more. Car looks great!
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Welcome to Lateral-G. Great read on your journey and adventures with the car. Looks like you have had a lot of fun with it and it seems that a lot more is in store for you. Nothing better than getting out there and having a good time and that's exactly what you are doing.
Looking forward to seeing more of what you do. Any idea on the paint at this point? Going to stay the same or change it up? Seems that car has had just about all the colors on it except red. :D :thumbsup: :thumbsup: |
:popcorn2: i like it!
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I like where this one is going! :popcorn2:
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Thanks guys. @ Curtis - I have settled with going back blue. But this time a more modern GM Color... Luxo Blue.. Here is a reference pic.
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/a...rebb/C6frt.jpg I plan for it to be more simple so probably not going back with the rally strips, but something more subtle...when we get to that point. So here we go. About a year ago at this time, I decided it was time for paint and body and move in a slightly different direction. I knew I did not want this car to end up as just another drag car. That is not why I looked for a 69 Camaro for so long. SO I drove my car over to Camaro Concepts here in Houston. I spoke with Corbin up there and we agreed we agreed I really have to get this baby down to bare metal to see what we are dealing with and go from there. The car is what I would call a 20 footer as in it looked damn good from 20 feet away. Having this car for 10 years I already knew most of the secrets, or at least I hoped... I knew there was body work and rust in some areas, but nothing that Corbin and Roy could not handle. So I began the tear down... So I pulled the motor and removed my cowl vent. Notice the rust near the bottom of the wind shield.... https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...37e/L/51-L.jpg a little around the back window after I pulled the glass... but not as bad as I thought...whew! Hey look...Butternut Yellow! :P https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...12d/L/55-L.jpg The trunk pan...well I knew about that...yeah, kinda hard to haul around any dead bodies in that so I will have to replace that. (J/K) https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...95c/L/56-L.jpg Pulled the interior and yeah, hard to tell how bad, but someone previously tried to put glass over the pinholes looks like... Not looking good for the floorpan... https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...0c8/L/57-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...f6c/L/58-L.jpg So I got it over to Camaro Concepts and while I was there, they already dropped the rear suspension. Within a week, here is what my car looked like... Ready for blasting!! https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...69f/L/59-L.jpg I decided to smooth the firewall. Here is a good before pic... https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...2da/L/60-L.jpg As I feared, I can see the rust damage around the windshield is pretty extensive. It's okay, Roy and Corbin have seen worse. https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...8f2/L/66-L.jpg A little on the lower cowl too... https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...c91/L/69-L.jpg Car is back from blasting. naked and P-coated. I was worried they would start blasting it and suddenly they would say, "where did it go?" luckily, it still had a bit of medal left. :) https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...082/L/70-L.jpg Some previous bad patch work hidden under the paint... https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...4ec/L/72-L.jpg and the door... https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...df1/L/73-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...692/L/75-L.jpg More to come... 15 pic limit per post... Thanks again for reading! |
Dig the new color! Looks like the body has seen better days, but we have seen worse around here. It sounds like you've got a good team that will get it back into shape and done correctly. Keep at it!!!
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Meanwhile, back at the fab shop, my car is getting a lot lighter...
Cut out the cowl, right side cowl shoulder, floor pan, trunk pan, and left rear quarter panel... https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...d1c/L/94-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...a21/L/95-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...341/L/98-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...929/L/99-L.jpg At this point, with all that out of the way, I decided to go mini tub and 4-Link rear suspension. So Corbin added that to the parts list for me. New parts came in and the car starts to go back together. :ups: https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...2e/L/113-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...59/L/115-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...17/L/116-L.jpg Start of some of the pre-fab work for the minitubs. https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...b6/L/120-L.jpg Tail pan https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...6e/L/126-L.jpg Trunk pan fitted https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...db/L/130-L.jpg Ready for the tubs https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...d7/L/128-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...b3/L/136-L.jpg Fixed that rust spot with a new section https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...62/L/137-L.jpg To be continued... Thanks for reading! |
Up on the rotisserie to finalize welds and clean-up to prepare installing the 4-Link rear suspension from TCI.
https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...d4/L/138-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...bb/L/144-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...7b/L/145-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...76/L/147-L.jpg Couple more tweaks and we're ready to send the whole rear suspension to powder coating. https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...fb/L/149-L.jpg Time to put the subframe back on for fender fitting. https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...d3/L/150-L.jpg Starting to look like a car again... decided not to try salvaging the doors, so got these doors from Auto Metal Direct. Body lines are pretty true and like all aftermarket body parts, needed some massaging, but the guys at Camaro Concepts were able to fix them right up. https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...19/L/152-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...d2/L/154-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...81/L/155-L.jpg Tubs looking good https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...1f/L/157-L.jpg We've got a roller again... https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...b2/L/160-L.jpg The rear suspension came back from powder coating and finished nicely. I gained an additional 3 inches to accommodate the 19X12's I plan to have on the final product. https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...24/L/161-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...6e/L/162-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...fe/L/163-L.jpg Back at home where my work continues. A big thanks to Camaro Concepts for all the help with the sheet metal work and fab work. They are top-notch and easy to work with. Now it is time to do some more fitting and additional prep work before sending it to paint. Room for one more? (don't mind the Cokes in the back ground. lol ) As always, thanks for reading. https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...a3/L/164-L.jpg |
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Welcome to the site. Glad your project is moving along nicely. What all do you have planned for the car? I like the blue you're going with.
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Okay, a few more updates to get y'all to present. Since I got it back this past winter, I worked on seam sealer in the interior and exterior. Also worked on the surface rust in places to help preserve the car for the winter since I did not yet have a paint shop lined up that did not have a 9 month waiting period. So I worked on the interior first. I cleaned and applied #M Seam sealer to all seams. I stripped any rust off and e-coating with a rotary nylon abrasive brush. (Thanks Sonar Chief) I then cleaned, taped off and shot the areas with Eastwood's Epoxy Primer to seal it well.
https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...9f/L/165-L.jpg This was just to get it by as I did not want this thing sitting in Houston humidity and just rust away since I suddenly found out I was going to be traveling quite a bit for work in the first half of the year and will have less time to try to get this finalized to go to paint. (Work always seems to delay major projects like this :P) https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...0b/L/166-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...42/L/167-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...bc/L/170-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...54/L/171-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...40/L/172-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...53/L/173-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...54/L/174-L.jpg Did some fitting for brake lines, fuel lines and some of my new billet accessories. https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...84/L/175-L.jpg Also got my Ice wheels in from Budnik. Thanks Jason Swain. https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...eb/L/168-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...cf/L/169-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...28/L/183-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...d1/L/184-L.jpg Fronts are on the way. Next update will have the latest progress as of 9/26/14. I will then be posting as it moves along. I finally have it at a local paint shop after hunting all summer. Great shop and has been doing excellent work so far and it is getting really close to paint now. |
Okay, so it has been over at the paint shop where it has gone back on the rotisserie. The bottom sealed, primed, blocked and shot with semi-gloss black. Here's a couple of shots after it was rolled out of the paint booth. Sorry, pics taken from my phone...
https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...87/L/176-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...93/L/177-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...76/L/181-L.jpg More updates coming soon! I'll use a better camera on the next ones! |
Nice
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Just an FYI ... I used Eastwood Frame coating under the seat frames there cuz when I cut into them for the sub frame connectors there was RUST, so I sprayed away before I weld the top back on. Camaro is lookin good! |
Project looks good and always nice to have another local guy. Love to check this car out in person when you get it completed!
William |
Good project. I can appreciate the time it took to find the car that seems to be the right one. I'm still looking for the "right" '69 fpr myself. Good color choice and a interesting build story. The neat thing that I like about the '60's cars is that they have lasted so long. Yes there's some rust damage, but compared to the thinner metal of cars of today these are more saveable. And they have character which is not common on modern cars. Definitely can appreciate needing to get the metal covered to avoid new rust in the Houston environment,
Keep up the good work and let us know your progress when you can. Rod |
Nice work Kenny....
Front wheels are almost done :) |
Welcome and great project. Its looking good. I'll be watching for more update, very interesting. Subscribed.
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Welcome to the site,very impressive work so far,nice car:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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Nice work and the Budnik ICE wheels look great.
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This is going to be fun helping him getting it back together. I just don't want to be the one that puts a scratch on it.
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We have all winter so we won't sweat our a$$es off. ...and welcome to Lateral-G, Mr. 598! Quote:
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Okay, small update. I went by the paint shop and they are hard at work prepping it for paint and blocking the crap out of it. The plan is to shoot the firewall, cowl and interior dash with primer/sealer tomorrow followed by painting it the same final color as the rest of the car. Rest of interior is painted (nothing special, just went with semi-flat black since it will all be covered by Dynomat and anyway) Firewall is being blocked to perfection.
https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...IMG_6713-M.jpg Inside of the fenders already got their treatment of Luxo Blue Metallic and exterior being blocked and prepped. https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...IMG_6719-L.jpg Kind of a blurry pic, but the inside of the fender looked suited for a very good quality exterior paint job. https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...IMG_6710-L.jpghttps://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...IMG_6707-L.jpg ...and the metallic is poppin'! https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...IMG_6709-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...IMG_6711-L.jpg More updates coming soon. It's getting close! Thanks for reading! |
Couple of new ones. Firewall and dash with color:
https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...aa08f8c8-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...08f0b580-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...7c6d93cd-L.jpg |
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Man that is a sweet blue there .... any stripes going on later? |
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Sweet Color.
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Another quick update. Here's most of the car. The rest of the unibody was getting clear in the booth when I went by.
https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...IMG_3159-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...IMG_3162-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...IMG_3165-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...IMG_3166-L.jpg They will assemble it back tomorrow and get the gaps all aligned, then wet sand on Thursday.:excited: |
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That Blue looks great,making good progress:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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Nice color choice, I bet it looks really great out in the sun! That has to be one of the best parts of the build, it never gets old seeing the customers face after freash paint is on their car!!
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New update. Coming together pretty good. I'll get clearer pictures soon, but you get the idea :)
https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...IMG_3167-L.jpg So much reflection, you almost can't tell the firewall is smooth. https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...IMG_3168-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...IMG_3169-L.jpg Wetsand and buff is next. Again, thanks for lookin'. :) |
Very nice,blue looks great:trophy-1302: :trophy-1302:
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The color looks even better all together.
I painted my 69 Z28 midnight blue a 74 Monte Carlo color in the early 70's so I love this color on your car. Its going to be beautiful. |
That is a gorgeous Blue right there .... :king:
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Gotta add my .02 cents too......yes that blue looks great!
David |
Thanks guys. I went by today and they are starting to wet sand and get the gaps aligned. Had to drop off the hood hinges so they can get that aligned. Billet Specialties makes a great product:
https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...IMG_3182-L.jpg Here are a couple more shots of it coming together https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...IMG_3185-L.jpg A little better shot of the firewall... https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Pho...IMG_3187-L.jpg Hopefully will have the final product next week after wet sand. Then it is back to my garage to start putting it back together. |
Hinges
The hinges are awesome. Cannot wait to work on that car.
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The rest of my Dynamat set and more billet stuff came in yesterday. No pics, but I talked to Marcel and it's really close to coming home. Just a couple more days. In the mean time, I have been finishing the steering column and getting the first parts for "Project Reassembly" ready. It's about to get fun! :woot: |
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