Yes, We're Restoring Our '68 Camaro Coupe (New Panels Installed 5-15-07)

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YSSMAN

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The oft mentioned Camaro that belongs to my Father is currently in the process of being restored by my brother for a project at school. After sitting in our barn for oh, I don't know, 18 years, we finally convinced our father that it was time to pull it out clean it off, and get the project rolling again. The car had been for the most part, in running condition up until a few years ago when the gas had finally spoiled, rust began attacking the nearly 40 year old car big time, and the cylinders had pretty much seized up.

...But a little elbow grease goes a long way, and now nearly a month into the project, things are moving smoothly. My brother has removed the rear pannels and reinstalled factory-spec replacements, and is working on the new front pannels as well. I believe the car will be sand-blasted and re-primed (again) by my brother some time in the next three weeks after he gets the pannels done (I have no idea how to do that stuff...), and then by the second week of June we hope to have most of the major body-work done.

After the car returns home, we're pulling the engine (a '67 Corvette 327, bored .30 over [or was it .20?] with .202 heads, Moroso (?) intake, Holley 650 cfm [something about manual secondaries] carb, etc), having it re-built possibly with a few more 'modern' parts (new manifold and carb probably), and then hopefully re-installing it after we get the interior refinished by ourselves. Oh, and we need a new front window.

We are at least a year or more away from getting it in tip-top shape, but it has been a long-time coming. With my Uncle building a '68 Chevelle (600 BHP), my Dad's friend restoring cars semi-professionally, and the increased interest in the subject by not only me, my brother, but also my youngest brother (he is six years of age), Dad is finally spending the money he should have spent years ago...

Here are some photos from about a year ago:

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There she is in all her glory. BTW, that is my Father's house, what I like to call 'The Farm' on occasion. Oh, and if you're wondering what the spoiler says, its "Blue Magic."

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Unfortunately the quarter-panel was a total loss. We had two (for both sides) brought in from Detroit last week.

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The rear panel between the lights had to be replaced as well, as there was some crash damage that had once been fixed (poorly) reared its head again. Oh, and thats my Dad's Avalanche there too.

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Same story as the other quarter-panel. We aren't certain why it rusted like that, as it was kept in a dry barn for all those years.

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The car is currently at my Brother's school, with him working on it with the aid (surprisingly) of his teachers. Turns out one of them used to be my Dad's neighbor, and he is committed to getting this car in the best shape possible before my brother Graduates.

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The picture makes it look a lot worse than it actually is. My Brother and his teachers weren't supposed to tear the engine open, but they did, and it turns out the only reason why the engine seized is because there was still oil in it as it sat. A bit of cleaning and a good lubricant should allow the engine to turn over without a problem.

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I'll try to get my brother to take some pictures of the car soon, and I'll keep it updated as things happen. With my Father, Grandfather, Brother and myself fighting to get this thing done (not only money issues, family issues too... Have I mentioned that I hate my Step Mom?), we'll see if we can hit our target for next summer...
 
Holy crap you are going to have to invest a lot in sheet metal replacement. That body is tore up pretty bad. If the outside rear quarters, doors, hood, and fenders look that bad I imagine the floor is really bad too. How is the trunk area??? Its not as bad as Heathers Mustang but that Camaro is still pretty rough. How are the front and rear frame rails??? I bet they are bad too. Welding new sheet metal parts on doesnt take that long (I can do a rear quarter in a couple hours) but the cost can add up quick. Luckily it doesnt look like you are putting any money into it. Good luck with the project and keep us posted.
 
Definitly keep us updated YSSMAN 👍 I can already imagine what it would look in good shape, it might cost a lot of money but I think it's defenitly worth it 👍
 
:lol: Nice bootleg Mickey Thompsons on it! For a minute I thought the picture was reversed.

Looks like a lot of work, but you've got a pretty good team assembled. Good luck!
 
Holy crap you are going to have to invest a lot in sheet metal replacement. That body is tore up pretty bad. If the outside rear quarters, doors, hood, and fenders look that bad I imagine the floor is really bad too. How is the trunk area??? Its not as bad as Heathers Mustang but that Camaro is still pretty rough. How are the front and rear frame rails??? I bet they are bad too. Welding new sheet metal parts on doesnt take that long (I can do a rear quarter in a couple hours) but the cost can add up quick. Luckily it doesnt look like you are putting any money into it. Good luck with the project and keep us posted.

Well I think the combination of the red primer and the dirty condition it is in makes it look worse (not to mention that my Brother and my Dad can't operate my digital camera), but it certainly is going to be a lot of work.

When they put the car up on the lift, TJ and his teachers looked over the car, and most of it was in pretty good shape considering how long it sat in our barn. The rear panels were a total loss, and I believe TJ installed those just the other day, as well as replacing the stuff below the trunk. The trunk itself is still good as I understood it (I just looks dirty), and the Hood (apparently) just needs a good sand-blasting to get fixed. However, the floor pan is rusted, and we're going to have to replace part of it, as I doubt it is road-legal to drive the car with a hole in the floor...

I'll ask my brother tonight if I can get him to take some pictures for me tomorrow. If I recall correctly, once he changes out the rear pannels, patches the front ones, and then strips the car, he will be sand-blasting most of it, and then we will be re-priming it for the fall/winter, before we have the floor replaced (unless we do that this summer), hopefully Rhino-Lined, and then send it off to paint.

...If I recall correctly, Dad wants to paint it the LeMans Blue that was offered on the '69 Z/28. Its not quite navy, but it certainly is darker than royal...
 
It's painful to see a Camaro in such a condition but it's great to hear that it's going to get the full treatment. Keep us updated YSSMAN, I'm gonna follow this thread like a rash, it interests me alot also.

Quick search gave this as Le Mans Blue:


Good colour choice :D
 
As a late 60's Camaro lover I will too follow this thread.

Like CAMAROBOY said, all that rust means alot of sheet metal replacement. And thankfully companies sell aftermarket floor pans for you to just buy and weld right in. I have to find then for the 1st gen, I only know off the top if my head one for the 3rd gen.

Oh and as for color might I suggest something a bit different? Grabber orange with black stripes and gunmetal painted wheels? That's what I'm probably going to paint my Camaro.

Which coincidentally I happen to have taken my "pre-project" pics of myself.

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And to answer your question yes that is spray paint. I needed to coverup the real bad paint and surface rust spots (so they wouldn't get any worse). I used a ceramic enamel designed for engine blocks which is tough as nails and takes the weather quite well. It should last long enough for me to do the things I need to do before the painting begins.
 
Why is your name 3000GT if you own a Camaro?

But my what a Camaro. Big fan of that gen also, and I'll follow your progress if you keep us updated.
 
Sweet 'Maro project. My brother is taking my camera to his class tomorrow. He put one of the rear fenders on yesterday, and will be finishing the welds (I think) tomorrow (Wednesday). He already patched the holes in the front near the bottom edge of the doors, and he is hoping that if he can get the pannels done fast enough (he only has six weeks of school left), he wants to get the floor done as quickly as possible. Otherwise, work is going to be limited to what he can do in our garage before he heads off to Washtenaw this fall...

...I'm in it more or less to learn how to build a small-block, my brother is the body/paint guy. He keeps thinking that he wants to open a shop when he gets out of school, and I've already told him I will do the best to help (that is, of course, depending on what happens to me after school...)...
 
Oy... I don't feel so bad about my dad's 64 1/2 Mustang convert now. I don't think there's any rust that bad. :scared: Anyway, good luck.
 
Sweet project dude. Keep at it.

My dad and I have an '81 Torana in the shed which is in a similar state to your Camaro currenty is - ours hasn't been touched for 12 months though. It won't get to 18 years though! Well, it shouldn't...

I'll watch on with interest. :)
 
Sweet 'Maro project.

You know what's awsome? Those 225/50 16 inch Formula wheels are a blast in the rain, it's almost like I don't even have to try to oversteer. :dopey: If I ever have the extra money once this Camaro project is done and my second project is done (MkI MR2 most likely) I want to turn a 3rd gen into a drifter--minus all the rice and stupid wheel camber/damper settings that make the car look gay. Of the three projects that would be the cheapest.

Keep us updated often. 👍
 
UPDATE! New panels installed!

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My brother custom-fabricated this piece on an interior pannel (above and below)

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He has four 40 hour weeks left at school to work on the car. After getting the pannels on, there may be time left for the floorpan, but otherwise the plan leaves for sanding the car, re-priming it, and then sealing it back up... All before the engine gets removed and taken to a race shop to be rebuilt...
 
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