Idaho 69 Camaro

[jsr69]

Sorry in advance for the long post. I've been lurking for almost three years and have posted occassionaly, but not often. Mainly been using the site for information on my build. I wanted to start a project thread when I purchased the car in 2005, but after having it blasted, I was embarassed by how bad of shape it was in. I didn't realize that some of the projects on here were as bad or worse. As I stated earlier, I wanted to post progress pics, but this was going to be a long term project and I didn't want to tell you what I was doing until after it had been done. I once heard the saying "don't tell me what you are going to do, tell me what you've done". That's kind of my life's motto. That being the case, here goes.

Anyway, as I started cutting off sheet metal it became apparent the proper way to revitalize this car was a complete new skin. So that's what it got, new quarters, tailpan, filler panel, roof skin, outer rockers, firewall, dash top, both floors, trunk floor, wheel houses, and frame rail ends. Some may say so what, lots of cars do that. True, but I've never done this type of work before, ever. In addition to all the new sheet metal, it received DSE mini tubs, subframe connectors, dash insert, and Quadra-link hooked to a 9-inch with QA-1's. The rearend has a nodular case, Detroit TruTrac, 3.89's and Strange 31-spline axles. For the front, I picked up a Wayne Due C-4 that had the a-arms and spindles ceramic coated with QA-1's again and a Speedway splined sway bar. Other items of interest include Wilwood 6-piston fronts with 13" rotors and Wilwood 4-piston rears with 12" rotors.

To date, I've done all the work myself in my garage with the exception of actually spraying the color, and polishing. I called upon friends to do that. I hope you can appreciate the work done to date. My original plan was to have the car finished in the spring of 2008. As you can see, I didn't make it, and was hoping for spring 2009. As a budget build, meaning I spend money as I get it, it has taken longer than anticipated, but I'm only going to do things right the first time and not come back and redo stuff over.

The final items to be completed are a rebuild of the LT-1 T56, finishing the 420 SB2.2 headed small block, and a Concept One pulley system. Interior wise, it will be gray with matching insert.

From now on, I will post regular updates on the progress.

[jsr69]

More pictures.

[awr68]

Great job!! I hope you are very proud of what you have accomplished! Is it painted yet? I like the parts list! Keep the updates coming..don't hold out on us any more!!

[jsr69]

Last ones for tonight.

[radrambler]

thats huge
to do all of that work yourself.....very big deal
keep us posted ..

tom

[awr68]

Awesome! What color are the stripes?

[jsr69]

To get the effect that I wanted, which was a fade from light on the outside to dark on the inside, we loaded up some clear with a silver pearl. With a detail gun we then just sprayed the outside edges until we started to see some color arrive. This took 4 coats. I then masked off the border stripe which is an 1/8 inch, and then shot the color over the main stripe. I couldn't find a candy purple that I liked so we started mixing up something until I got the color I wanted, and then we thinned it down with more clear to make it transparent. After we were done, we got the bright purple over the pearl and the dark color over the black. Once it was cleared it really popped.

[wiedemab]

Looks great! Nice work!

[Denvervet]

Looks great so far. You obviously put a lot of time and effort into replacing all those panels. And you learned a lot Those of us that have done work like that ourselves ,on a hobby level , have a respect for the trial and tribulations you've undergone to accomplish all of that. Keep us informed as to how this turns out.

[waynieZ]

Very nice job , your car looks great.