High school history....... 36 years

[Rag-Rat]

This is my high school RS/SS 67 Camaro that I purchased in 1981. It has been through many changes in its lifetime but as far as I can remember (before the terms restomod or pro-touring), I always wanted a mix of classic with modern.
i had it in a local shop several years ago who appeared to do nice work but much was hidden. After finding many issues I took the car to Chassis Crafters in Daytona Beach to fix it and do it right.
Plans include DSE suspension upgrades, modern wiring, late model interior upgrades and a Holley EFI 383 w/TKO 600 and 12 bolt 3:73143037143038l143039143040Yes, that's 3/8" thick bondo over the patch panel seam that is rusting so bad it pushed the bondo through the sealer.

[Rag-Rat]

Doing it the right way.143041143042143043143044

[Rag-Rat]

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[Rag-Rat]

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Pallet of new AMD sheet metal. Great working with Real Deal Steel in Sanford, Fl

[Rag-Rat]

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[Rag-Rat]

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Old meets new

[Rag-Rat]

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Just want a place for my Mt. Dew and cell phone

[Rag-Rat]

The previous shop used so much bondo built up on the quarter patches that they ground 3/8" of an inch off the rear spoiler to allow clearance when the trunk closed. So subtle that I didn't even catch it. Luckily I had another stock rear spoiler sitting in my garage for when the car is done correctly this time.

[Rag-Rat]

And here's where we stand today

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[minendrews68]

You know, I'll never understand why the people that work on these cars for others (when finding a hidden problem), won't just let the customer know and let them decide what to do. It's their car and if it costs extra let the customer make the decision as to where to go from there. If they want to spend the extra money fine, if not, fine. I'm serious, I just don't understand it. They'd rather botch it up and then out the door. Really?

[Rag-Rat]

Yeah lesson hard learned. Some people think their skills are greater than they actually are. Luckily I saw a post on Facebook about the quality of work Chassis Crafters does only 45 minutes from my house and took the car there. Like everyone says, better to find out now than after paint. Now it will be done better and will last me another 36 years.

[Rag-Rat]

Almost ready to go back together

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[gator68428]

Wow! 36 years. Mine is a similar story, but only 15 years since high school. Looks like you're doing it right!!

[YAMATHUMP]

It looks like it is getting done the right way now. Got a great start on it now.

[Rag-Rat]

New panels being fitted. Car is going back together quick but with a lot of attention to details at Chassis Crafters

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[813Demon340]

Nice to see it coming back together quickly. Keep the updates coming!!

[Rag-Rat]

Car is whole again.

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[rohrt]

You have a nicer finish on your inside panels then I do on my outside panels.

[Rag-Rat]

Getting closer to paint.

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[Rag-Rat]

Where she stands today. Almost ready to have paint applied.

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[Motown 454]

They're doing an excellent job. You'll have a nice car for life. I wish I had a 5th gen tunnel so I could use it fr my console.

[Rag-Rat]

I got mine from a salvage yard. He cut it to my request. He said it was no problem.

[1968CamaroSS_Sam]

Looking very good. Love how straight and crisp your lines look. Nice work.

[1965gp]

Very nice work

[Rag-Rat]

The last weeks work and car in sealer. All body work finished.

Paint to be applied next week.

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[Peter Mc Mahon]

Looks great, you have to be a happy camper!

[Jimbo1367]

"Crafters does real nice work.

[HotRod47]

The car looks great!

[Rag-Rat]

Thanks everyone. It's been a long journey to get here. Can't believe that it will be in paint in terms of hours now. And then striped. And yes, it is top notch work. Hope to have new pictures with color in 2-3 days.

[Rag-Rat]

Freshly painted last night. Body gets painted today. Striping tomorrow. Then wet sanding and buffing starts next week.

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[Rag-Rat]

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[Rag-Rat]

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[1968CamaroSS_Sam]

That looks gorgeous. Great work.

[Motown 454]

Nice, very nice!

[Rag-Rat]

Drivers door and quarter panel after wet sand and first buff. Once the whole car is done it will have a final polish.

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[keepat]

Wow! That looks awesome, you have to be extremely excited!
Good luck with the reassembly.
Pat

[wfo guy]

Very nice! :)

[H20cooled]

Paint looks great. What color is it? Look a lot like the Madeira Maroon from 67.

[Rag-Rat]

Thanks everyone. I've been watching everybody else's builds for years and finally it's my turn. The car is an original Madeira Maroon car but since this is a restomod/pro-tourer car I wanted to stay close but go bigger and better. It has more metallic and is slightly darker than the factory. I thought it popped with the white bee stripe. So the body, exterior pieces and suspension upgrades will be going together over the next 2 months and then hopefully the driveline starts around January.

[H20cooled]

Thanks everyone. I've been watching everybody else's builds for years and finally it's my turn. The car is an original Madeira Maroon car but since this is a restomod/pro-tourer car I wanted to stay close but go bigger and better. It has more metallic and is slightly darker than the factory. I thought it popped with the white bee stripe. So the body, exterior pieces and suspension upgrades will be going together over the next 2 months and then hopefully the driveline starts around January.

I have a 67SS that is the factory Madeira Maroon with the white bubble bee stripe, I plan to do similar to what you did close to original but just make it better.

[Motown 454]

The paint looks amazing!!! I love the color.

[minendrews68]

The only problem I see so far is how much your acting like a kid in a candy store at this point... How do I know? Been there. I probably embarrassed myself when I saw mine painted. Your car is looking really good, can't wait to see the finished product.

[Rag-Rat]

More pictures of my high school RS/SS to bring it up to date.

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[Rag-Rat]

I didn't ave any new pictures but wanted to show the old work that Brian @ Screamin Performance did on the SS hood to make the ornamental SS stacks functional heat extractors. He tied the upper and lower structures together for strength.

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[Motown 454]

Brian does beautiful work, I like that idea.

[Rag-Rat]

Frame almost done151220

[Rag-Rat]

I finally have new pictures of the new parts installed. Should be a roller by Friday and time to pick the wheels and sizes.156451
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[Rag-Rat]

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[Rag-Rat]

Here's a 55 GMC with a LSA supercharged engine in the same shop.
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[Rag-Rat]

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More details
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[Wraith]

Looking good!

[Rag-Rat]

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[Gmc427]

hi nice build,are you able to post or pm me a clear picture or two of the bottom of the dash cutout ?mine has been removed in front of where pedal box mounts and im wanting to replace,regards george

[Rag-Rat]

Thanks, not sure what you are asking to see. The firewall on the drivers side is original. So is the dash.

[Rick2964]

Wow super nice build. The color didnt grab me at first but then after seeing it put together I think you knocked it out of the park! Ill be following

[Rag-Rat]

Being loaded into a trailer and on its way for some interior work.

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[Rag-Rat]

Wow super nice build. The color didnt grab me at first but then after seeing it put together I think you knocked it out of the park! Ill be following

Thanks. I wanted to retain the original heritage that someone chose when it was ordered new but improve on it so it sets itself apart.

[wfo guy]

Nice parts. :)

[H20cooled]

Looks great, can't wait to see it all together.

[Rag-Rat]

Inside is going together.

[Rag-Rat]

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[FLYNAVY53]

Cool build....are those PS Engineering wheels? I ordered a set for my '64 Corvette build back in November and have gotten radio silence since then. Apparently they got bought out by Coker Tire.

[Rag-Rat]

The wheels pictured on the car are borrowed. I did order some Vintage Wheel Works V45's..... who were bought out by Coker, and I finally received them after having a couple issues and returning 1 wheel. Coker worked hard to resolve the issue quickly but was a little disappointed with the quality control oversight, or lack of it on the wheels. Maybe just because they just changed owners.

[FLYNAVY53]

The wheels pictured on the car are borrowed. I did order some Vintage Wheel Works V45's..... who were bought out by Coker, and I finally received them after having a couple issues and returning 1 wheel. Coker worked hard to resolve the issue quickly but was a little disappointed with the quality control oversight, or lack of it on the wheels. Maybe just because they just changed owners.

Hmmmm....thats interesting. I contacted Coker Tire, and they told me that Wheel Vintiques would be handling all PS Engineering orders. I contacted Wheel Vintiques and also got no response. I'm considering biting the bullet and paying to have the 2-piece version of the American Racing Torque Thrust D built in the custom backspace I need...even if they are absurdly priced for 15" wheels.

[Rag-Rat]

Hmmmm....thats interesting. I contacted Coker Tire, and they told me that Wheel Vintiques would be handling all PS Engineering orders. I contacted Wheel Vintiques and also got no response. I'm considering biting the bullet and paying to have the 2-piece version of the American Racing Torque Thrust D built in the custom backspace I need...even if they are absurdly priced for 15" wheels.

Wheel Vintiques and Vintage Wheel Works are/were different companies. VWW was bought out by Coker, didn't know if Wheel Vintiques was since you can purchase them from Jegs like I have done previously. I wasn't familiar with PS Engineering. I noticed that Coker doesn't show the 2 piece VWW options on their website yet, just the 1 piece.

[FLYNAVY53]

Vintage Wheel Works and PS Engineering merged years ago. There was a small link on the old Vintage Wheel Works web site that took you to the PS Engineering web page. When I placed my order in November, I was actually talking to the owner of Vintage Wheel Works. As you know, they just got bought out by Coker and the Vintage Wheel Works single piece wheel are now available through them. I don't know how Wheel Vintiques fits into the mix, other than the email I got from Coker telling me to contact them for any outstanding PS Engineering orders.

Anyway, apologies for hijacking your thread....glad the wheels worked out for you, they do look damn good!

[Rag-Rat]

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[Rag-Rat]

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[Rag-Rat]

With fab work of an air cleaner housing by Steve Ward of Chassis Crafters and cowl duct made by Nelson Rudisill, I love the way this turned out. I get to still use my SS hood, the "cool factor" is awesome and with Florida temps I hope it helps that I won't be drawing in underhood air into the EFI.
Even my Chevy Colorado has a cold air kit on it so this should be better than a stock air cleaner and it fits my restomod look.

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[DWC]

That turned out great.

Daniel

[Motown 454]

It looks amazing! I love the air cleaner.

[Rag-Rat]

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[Rag-Rat]

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[Jay71]

Nice job! I like that it still looks stock unless you look closely.

[Josh@Ridetech]

Beautiful car! That's definitely something to be proud of.

[Rag-Rat]

Thanks everyone, it's been a 10 plus year journey.

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[Alwhite00]

168620Great story, great color choice, love the look. I do have one question. Why did the fill in the door seam overlap on the doors? I always like seeing a nice factory seam there. Just curious.

Great build, awesome that it’s your high school car.

[Rag-Rat]

168620Great story, great color choice, love the look. I do have one question. Why did the fill in the door seam overlap on the doors? I always like seeing a nice factory seam there. Just curious.

Great build, awesome that it’s your high school car.

Easy answer. The finished car you see is the results of the third shop (Chassis Crafters) who corrected and finished MANY issues. My car was almost ruined by the second shop who made so many unrequested changes (filling every body seam on car with bondo) that I couldn't afford to have all of them changed/fixed. A lot of people have body shop nightmare stories but mine was a Duese. I was forced to pull my car after losses in the tens of thousands not to mention all the valuable parts that were lost, thrown away and damaged.

[Alwhite00]

Got it, great looking car.

[Rag-Rat]

Thanks a lot. It really looks nice. Knowing what it looked like 3 years ago makes me appreciate it even more.