I have had my 69 camaro since I was 16. It was a bondo bucket and had to be trailered to my HS auto shop class. Where it received no real help from the shop teacher and no real money from me. It has sat in the garage or on the street for years. I've saved money in between deployments, built a budget motor, 4 wheel disc brake upgrade, trans swap,and basically when I got out of the marines I came home bought some wheels and tires fixed the ignition system and drove the car for the first time ever since owning it. That was Jan 2008. Now it gets tinkered with from time to time, but I seem to do something to it and it's always temporary. Like I did the brake swap but it's not to the high-end brakes I want to end with, so Hopefully I will be able to save the money needed to order the parts I want to end up with for the next 10-20 years.
I just recently purchased a Wayne Due's front C-4 sub from Tellyv from this site. I'll post up some pics of that install and hopefully some work on the firewall while I've got the chance to get to it.
I'll show a few of what I'm working with right now in a few hours. but the budget motor I built is going to be replaced, the front sub is getting swapped out within the next week.
So I'll get some pics posted up soon, but when I had everything out of the way for me to massage the firewall and put a plate in place of my original a/c hole, I kinda didn't do a good job. First I had the welder set up all wrong, that really didn't help. Second the metal I used was a little too thin so it kept burning through. And third I didn't just do little tack welds, I did small beads and now as a result I do believe I have warped my firewall slightly.
Really crappy yah I know, but it was a painful mistake I won't make again and other spots I have welded came out a lot better, I fixed a hole in my tranny hump that I cut out just a little too big for my shifter. I should have lined up the metal better because one side is slightly higher than the other but the welds are not bad and it's all going to be under sound deadener anyway. So I wasn't too concerned with the aesthetics.
Anyway I have been laying down very very thin coats of body filler on the firewall. Good or bad idea? I just want to get my firewall looking better than stock. I might paint it tomorrow if I finish all the body filler work.
Hey, way to stick with it man. As for the work, live and learn. My first project was a MAJOR eye opener for me. It taught me alot about project planning, engineering, and hard work. Keep at it and learn from any mistakes you make.
Also, you may end up swapping parts 2-3 times. It isn't uncommon at all. some guys make due with what is available or what they can afford at the time (I know I do) and there is nothing wrong with that at all. What matters is that you are enjoying yourself and learning.
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"I should have just started smoking crack. Its just as addicting and WAY cheaper..." --unknown
Here are a couple of pictures of my recent discoveries. It looks like a donor roof was glued onto the existing roof and bondo'd into place. The stock roof is completely pitted with rust... I'm thinking it had a vinyl top. the bondo is at least 1/4 inch thick.
See the pitting, and the outline of a newer piece of metal. it's held on by??? the bondo maybe?
hahaha I have no idea. I bought the car when I was 16, and I had to pay for all the title transfers (about 6) because no one bothered to register it. So basically any of those jokers could have done it.
But I will not be selling the car, so I'm going to fix her up right... finally lol
Brian Hobaugh SCCA National Tour June 2014
First Hemi 'Cuda Convertible Ever Built
Short clips: Goodguys Pleasanton autocross and pit videos
Clay's 69 Project
the bondo is at least 1/4 inch thick.
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