2nd Chance Camaro - Let the Project Begin

[jcadwell]

Originally Posted by syborg tt

One thing that has always bothered me with old cars is how close the seats are to the dash. I remember as a kid my buddy's father built a set of set back plates so he could fit behind the wheel. He also built another set to lift the seat up an 1.5" higher for his daughter. All I need to feel comfortable is to slide the seat all the way back and a different dish on the steering wheel but if someone other then me drives the car that happens to be taller then me they are going to want slide the seat back much further.

I was about to make a set when I noticed a set on Ricks Camaro. So I order a set to see if I would like them. I did the passenger side first since the car was backed in on my lift.





Quick test fitting and I determined I would need longer hardware. I just hate it when I come up short by a 1/4 of an inch. It's a good thing the local Sears is only onemile away. For now I picked us four 1.5'' x 5/16 Grade 8 bolts. So I could finish the project today.





From this pictures you can see just how much further back the seat is and when you sit in the passenger seat you no longer feel like your right on top of the dash. It's amazing the difference few inches will make.





Next up is to order all of the correct ARP hardware for the guys at Totally Stainless and of course have Mr Trim make me a set of trim pieces to cover up the set back plates. Hopefully something simple or maybe I will make a fiberglass piece and spray it with some wrinkle paint to make it look factory.




This pictures lets you see just how much of a difference these plates have made.





That's all for now folks.

Marty-

This is a great build. I've got my old '70 1/2 RS camaro from high school I'm restoring. I'm 6'5" and really appreciate the seat relocation brackets you used. Those are definitely going in my car too.

Also will be using the TMI seats you used. Did TMI make the headrest for you to match the '70 original? Didn't really like the TMI headrests they offer, so glad to see you were able to arrive at a better option. They look great.

[grendel]

Why not put the seat belts on the tiger cage?

[syborg tt]

I finally picked up the new bolts from Fastenal now my seat studs will be the correct length.



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[fleet]

Marty,

I sense a cohesive interior design plan unfolding before us.

Are you sure that's a good thing?

[syborg tt]

Originally Posted by Cosmo mentis

Marty,



I sense a cohesive interior design plan unfolding before us.



Are you sure that's a good thing?

Oh I've got a few thoughts spinning around in my head.


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[WSSix]

Wow, you wanted the seats further back than stock? Don't ever jump in my TA or any vehicle I drive without checking the seat first then. Compared to you, I sit on the steering wheel. I'm 6' with a 31" inseam, wear a 32/33 shirt, and can't imagine trying to drive the car with the seat all the way back.

Doing good work as always, Marty.

[syborg tt]

Originally Posted by WSSix

Wow, you wanted the seats further back than stock? Don't ever jump in my TA or any vehicle I drive without checking the seat first then. Compared to you, I sit on the steering wheel. I'm 6' with a 31" inseam, wear a 32/33 shirt, and can't imagine trying to drive the car with the seat all the way back.



Doing good work as always, Marty.

lol it's more for the taller guys with long legs that I slid the seats back. I'm only one click back from stock and it feels great.


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[syborg tt]

Moving on the front suspension.

First step was to clean it and the start taking it apart so I could install the ARP bolts with stainless Nylock nuts.





We also needed to cut the ears out of the spring pockets as there was some interference with the Ride-Tech shocks. While I was in there we sprayed a little Eastwood chassis black rust inhibitors up in the pocket.



There's a good story here but make sure you buy at least two of them if you need to finish a project.



Yes we bought two on the 2nd trip.



That would be Mike cutting and getting metal shavings all over him.



The ARP hardware was supplied in kit form from the guy's at Totally Stainless. Very nice and it helps to keep you organized while your working on the car.



We're all good now. Time to start the assembly.



Bummer steering box bolts area little short.



Moving on.

We had to drill out the sleeves for the ARP Bolts as the 1/2 bolts would not slide through the sleeve.







That silver you see is this nightmare sh!t. Just ask Mike and no Mikey doesn't like that anti-seize at all.




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[syborg tt]

Last week Dennis at High Speed Welding needed a car for a local Cruise Night (Insert Chevy Night) that he was sponsoring. Since they did a bunch of work on the car prior to it going to Kenny's. My car was the perfect choice for him. Of course Mike & I only finished the drivers side of the car and more importantly the car didn't have working brake lights. So the brakes light became the priority. To add to the time crunch I only had one nigh to get the brake light work as my daughter was graduating 8th grade the next day.

So a quick trip out to the garage when I got home from work at 8:30pm and I dove right into trying to figure out the issue.



Good news is it was a simple fix it was only a bad ground and loose bulb.



The next day I dropped the car off 1 hour before we had to leave for graduation and I picked the car up after graduation.

The one thing that bothered me was the fact that I didn't have time to Install the seat belts.

So that will be the next project.


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[WSSix]

lol, I used that same POS cut off wheel from Harbor Freight to cut my subframe for the same reason. Worth every penny though even if I never use it again. I had no other way to make those cuts to get the coil overs in place.