Redemption 1st gen chop top (The Logo car)

[1stgenchop]

143955Hello everyone, I'm starting the reanimation of an old custom build. I found this 68 Camaro roller in a local salvage yard. All the body mods caught my eye (looks like the pro-touring G machine logo) and all the floors were solid. I needed this like a hole in the head but....Here we go. The plan is LS power w/auto trans,full digital dash, subtle wide body to fit 20's front and rear for a daily driver. I may need a gang of help because I'm new to LS stuff.
First order of buisness is to cut open doors that were welded shut. and add bracing to the previous targa top and only entrance.

[noob5,000,000]

Huh, interesting. I look forward to seeing more of this one!

[1stgenchop]

Don't know what these were for but they have to go.
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That looks much better, less blind spots.
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[1stgenchop]

Beginning door cut, testing firebird cowl cover
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[RMMiller]

It would be interesting to know the back story on this car, who built it and why. Pretty cool that you grabbed it and will save it.

[raustinss]

id like to see it blasted ...without any bondo or paint

[Build-It-Break-It]

Please tell me your putting the entire car back to looking like a camaro......

[1stgenchop]

If anybody knows the original builder, I would love to know the history of the car. I have always wanted a chop top car. I chopped my first car, a 69 Chevelle when I was 16, it was a disaster, angles all wrong, glass issues galore, some would say this car isn't much better but there are plenty of stock 1st gen F body muscle cars out there, this will look close to the original artist's intention . As an artist myself I want to see it through. The roof may get put back w/bracing but it will remain chopped. As for the Bondo, cutting open the doors was hard,dirty days of work. I will be cutting through panels to do rust repair where needed but I will probably not get stripped completely because this will be my driver and I don't want to worry about it all the time on the street besides, winter's closing in and I want it running well before then so I can keep up morale...I get frustrated if a car sits...life happens and before you know it, it's in the classified section, unfinished and for sale.

[1stgenchop]

I was going for an 03 Chevy van motor but I found this WS6 w/4L60 that will go in instead.
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[dhutton]

Looks like a 98 LS1 with perimeter bolt heads.

Don

[1stgenchop]

You are correct D. It came out of a Firebird. Thanks to everyone for the feedback and encouragement.
Finished cutting open the doors and tacked in a roof brace.
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[Yukon Cornelius]

Interesting to follow.

[ryeguy2006a]

I would be very curious to know more about the vehicle history too. Cool build, I will be following along.

[digitalsolo]

That's an interesting car for sure. Following along on this one.

[Simbad68]

I found this pic on First Gen Firebird. The photo was taken in Annapolis.

[813Demon340]

Cool project, I'm excited to see it get saved and live on in its chopped form. Wish these cars could talk and explain their backstories.
If you want to add a second gen Camaro to the fleet, theres one on craigslist in Tehachapi CA... sister from another mister maybe??

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[1stgenchop]

They could be related, this is reportedly a California car.

[813Demon340]

Heres the ad link. You could be right, not too many people chopping Camaro roofs/

https://reno.craigslist.org/cto/d/1972-custom-split-bumper/6297462506.html

[1965gp]

Very cool save. Might want to pull the windshield and have it measured while you are working on it. Have a spare made or at least have info for future reference.

[1stgenchop]

1965gp Thanks, that is good advice, I only wish I had heard it a while ago before I cracked it. All may not be lost , one of the reasons I fell for this thing is I believe that the glass in this car is all stock, just laid back. They chopped it by shortening the roof.
Any way I got tired of grinding metal and cutting out rust (which will keep me busy for a while). I decided to work on mocking up the Impala plastic FI gas tank.
It hit the rear when I tried it out so I set it in front of the torpedo heater and softened it up, then used a stainless salad bowl (sorry honey) and some 2x6 boards for bracing behind it, wrapped the steel cable around it and cranked it all down with a come-along wench, once it cooled, it mounted up with the bowl dent in the front like it belonged there with plenty of clearance.[/ATTACH]144022[ATTACH=CONFIG]144023

[1stgenchop]

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[raustinss]

nevermind ...answered my own question

[1stgenchop]

Today I started the gauge assenbly mock-up. I am using Intellitronix Corvette tach and speedo for the main cluster and the rest will be mounted in a decending cluster on the driver's A pillar, eventually behind smoke plexi lenses.
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[1stgenchop]

Goodies arriving...
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[1stgenchop]

While I was back into cutting mode, I removed the large steel sheet covering the front end. I hope I can still use the fenders after wire wheeling them because I like the Camaro lines a lot more .I can metal work that hump on the top of the fender which will give it a smooth slope.
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I didn't take any shots of it but I recreated the wiper system which was cut away, I'm using Fiero wiper trans parts and a Smart Car motor which will fit inside the cowl, that way there is one less thing on the firewall.
I didn't like the curved opening on the flip front so I cut it at the graphic line, welded the fender pieces together on the fender and now I need to create the returns.144128
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[1stgenchop]

Inspired by the "Impulse", I created a grill with LED lights. http://bonnellsrodshop.com/gallery/i...-chevy-camaro/
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[1965gp]

I bet if you call a good glass co they can measure the window. Can probably keep it intact too so you can verify if it's stock. Friend has a chopped 69 bird and he is going to use a place out of no cal that specializes in chopped tops.

Love the project- will be watching

[HotRod47]

I'm digging the car. I would personally leave off that big sheet metal top of a hood and use the Camaro parts. Better shape in my eyes then that sheet hood. I also like the new way you cut the fenders than the curve. Car is gonna be cool.

[1stgenchop]

Thanks 1965gp, I will be in touch as I get closer to that part of the build. HotRod47, I agree, the Camaro fender tops are the way to go, just a lot of work to save them, considering new metal.

[1stgenchop]

Waiting for hart transplant.
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[1stgenchop]

During the engine installation, I saw this. Does this mean the subframe is damaged?
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[MOREHORSEPOWER]

Way cool car !! That crack does not look good and a lot of shims .

[1stgenchop]

Thanks, I went over the frame, it has paint chips but I didn't find any cracks, but why so many spacers on one side?

[dhutton]

Thanks, I went over the frame, it has paint chips but I didn't find any cracks, but why so many spacers on one side?

The offset shims provide caster. The equal shims provide negative camber.

Don

[1stgenchop]

Motor is going in....
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[cornfedbill]

This is a way cool project. I cannot wait to see it on the road.

I would consider another subframe. The shims could indicate that it is bent. Stock subframes can normally be had for a reasonable amount of money.

[dhutton]

You cannot determine if that subframe is bent without checking the front end alignment at ride height. I don't see any point in worrying about the number of shims until the alignment is known...

Don

[1stgenchop]

Thanks, Sounds good. I didn't know how to check it for square and I have observed other cars with a similar set up. I'm getting excited now. Can't wait to turn a wheel in this thing.

[1stgenchop]

I need help, can someone tell me what over the counter power steering hoses will work on this box and my LS pump?
Previous owner said that it is a quick ratio IROC box.
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[silo84]

I used a stock part for a truck in my 3rd gen nova with a iroc box and a ls 5.3. You will have to bend the metal lines a tad but for the price its hard to beat

Ac Delco part number 36361260 correct threads no adapters needed.

on the return side I used a SF02 adapter from 16mmx1.5mm to -6 AN, 45 degree push lock AN fitting, and push-lock hose back to the barbed fitting on the pump

[1stgenchop]

Thank you very much!

[ryeguy2006a]

I used the stock 4th gen Camaro lines for 98-02. It took quite a bit of bending, but it fits in there really nice. I'm using 4th gen accessories though too.

[FormTA]

Ditto, me too, stock 98 lines rebent. Love this thread. It really is something different. I like the direction you are taking it too. Keep up the good work!

[1stgenchop]

Thanks everyone, it seems that I can't use my hose because of the difference in flares so I bit the bullet and made my own.
They will look much better too.161665