LS7 1969 Camaro SS Convertible - Project "Overt"

[Nine Ball]

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I've owned this Camaro since 2005, but didn't start doing the pro-touring conversion until late 2012. It was purchased as a driver, had the typical 10-footer paint job on it. I found the car in Tennessee, it grabbed my attention due to its pedigree. It is an X55 Camaro SS, with the code 72 Hugger Orange paint.

My buddies told me it needed a project name, so I came up with "Overt". It is a play on words, Orange Convertible = Overt. But, I was more intrigued by the definition of Overt:

overt
adjective \ō-ˈvərt, ˈō-(ˌ)vərt\
Easily seen : Not secret or hidden : Open and viewable : Outgoing

The definition matches up well with a bright orange convertible. And, if I elect to, the name will fit on a license plate later.

I'll skip the tear down process, and skip straight to the restoration and body/paint steps that have been completed. This series of pics happened between 2013-2015. There was a year in there that I got burned out on the project, and it sat for a while.

I put the body on a rotisserie, and sent the car to get media blasted. At the time, I was hoping the car was indeed rust-free, and didn't have any horror stories. I had my fingers crossed for a simple repaint. You all know how this story goes...








Here is what we found under the paint. I wasn't too pleased about it. Just a lot of crappy sheetmetal repairs, swiss-cheese trunk and floor pans, and questionable bondo artistry. This made me regret even tearing into the car, thinking I should have just sold it as it was. This just became a full restoration, because I'm a picky SOB and want things done right.





















Trunk floor = daylight holes.

[jy211]

hey its only money LOL

[Nine Ball]

Basically, all of the sheetmetal would need to be replaced, in order to do this build right. Structurally, the Camaro was very good. The rocker panels, frame rails, cowl and windshield frame, all were good. We managed to save the forward trunk panel, as well as most of the dash and firewall. The rest was removed and replaced by GAP Racing ( http://www.gapracingtx.com/ ).

I had GAP do the following work:

-Replace full floor
-Replace full trunk floor
-Replace trunk drop-off panels
-Replace both quarter panels
-Replace tail panel
-Replace trunk lid
-Replace door skins
-Replace both cowl side panels
-Smooth firewall
-Install DSE mini-tubs and new inner wheelhousings
-Install restored '69 front subframe
-Install DSE subframe connectors
-Install new narrowed Moser 12-bolt axle, 3.42 gears and posi
-Install SpeedTech torque arm rear suspension system

[Nine Ball]

Got the car back from Gap Racing, with all the new sheetmetal installed. Project stalled out for a few months, while I worked on other projects.

Back from GAP Racing, all sheetmetal and suspension installed.

[Nine Ball]

This past June, I loaded up the Camaro and took it to the paint shop, RF Customs (Spring, TX). I met with the owner, Ray Reitz, and looked at a few of their other projects going on in the shop. They had nice attention to detail, and seemed to only work on classic cars. I didn't want a paint shop that focused on mostly collision/repair work, as those places often back-burner our classic car jobs.

RF Customs would do the final trunk and door gap work, panel alignment, firewall smoothing completion, block/sand and paint the entire car and engine bay.





Working on trunk gaps:



The repro quarter panels needed a lot of work, door gaps weren't even close to matching the doors.



Ray spent a lot of time getting the door gaps perfect, as well as the trunk gaps. I should have the car back by October, which was a month ahead of our agreed date. No paint shop prison, amazing.













Welded up all the misc holes on the inner fenders, and filled in all the little dimples. I see a lot of high-end builds skip this step, when they shouldn't. Looks much better smooth!

[Nine Ball]

In the paint booth! Laying down epoxy primer on every surface. I have to admit, the car looked killer wearing satin black. At this point, the car has come a very long way!



Smoothed the body seam surrounding the tail light panel, as I plan on painting the rear orange. Subtle, but looks cleaner like this.









Firewall has been completely smoothed, painted in semi-gloss black. Entire engine bay will be this color.

[Nine Ball]

We have Orange! Laid down a base coat of white to make the Hugger Orange pop more. Car was disassembled to do body work and paint the jambs. Door jambs and trunk jambs are now completed.

[Nine Ball]

Baking out in the Texas 95F sun.

[Nine Ball]

Body reassembled for final paint. Getting close...

[Nine Ball]

Engine updates. I dig horsepower related topics

Texas Speed & Performance did the machining and assembly on my engine. It is a 427ci LS7 that was built from all brand new parts, including the block. I went with a relatively mild cam, as this car is a cruiser and I want to maintain street manners. Target is to make 525-550 rwhp.

GM LS7 block
11.1:1 CR
ETP/Mast CNC ported LS7 heads 64cc
TSP custom cam - 233/239 0.595/0.603 113 LSA
Callies Compstar crankshaft and rods 4.0" stroke
Wiseco pistons - part K445X7 -15cc 4.127"
Katech ported oil pump
All ARP hardware
Clevite bearings
Cometic head gaskets
LS7 rocker arms with Comp Cams trunion upgrade kit

New LS7 block:



Bunch of parts:





Arrived at my shop:









Installed a billet valley cover that I had left over from a previous MagnaCharger kit install.



Intake port:



Exhaust port:



I had the sheetmetal intake built by my late friend John Beck, who passed in 2013. It was always intended to be the centerpiece of this engine bay. I challenged him to create some CNC billet runners, forming a cross-ram of sorts. The intake is a work of art, and he will be missed.



Testing out two different valve covers I had made for the engine. Some fabricated sheetmetal ones which match the intake manifold well, and some billet aluminum ones that are more dressy. I'm likely going to powdercoat the upper hat of the intake, and the valvecovers, thinking a matte gunmetal gray.