Rebirth of the Skunk

[barno68]

After nine months of little to no progress, I finally got a little time to work on the car (or pieces of it at least!). I bought the Camaro four years ago from a kid who had it stripped down for circle track. It looked like swiss cheese on the inside due to all the holes drilled in it.

This past year I decided to quit half-assing it and start a frame up, unfortunately the city compliance guy was not a car fan and issued a few citations... Long story short, I now have a new garage at the house .

The body is currently at the shop and is sloooowly taking shape. They have the firewall smoothed and are working on newly discovered cancer. I am hoping that it will be ready by spring, but... Anyway, the engine is coming along and most of the sub-frame is now complete. Monday I completed the brakes, installed new studs and got it sitting on the ground. The trans cross member still needs modified, but I think I can just turn it around and weld the tab on the opposite side. Also the Corvette exhaust manifolds hit the cross-member, so if anyone has header or manifold suggestions for the LT-1, send them my way (picture would be nice also).

It is really nice to actually see some boxes being emptied!

This site has been a great resource and I thanks to everyone who has taken the time to answer my questions. You are all a great bunch!

Brent

[BB69]

It looks good. What color are you going to paint it? What type of wheels are those?

Ken

[barno68]

I have no idea on the color. First I wanted metalic silver, then Sunburst Orange, then pumkin orange, then yellow... you get the idea :-) The problem is that I decide on a color and then see someone elses car and think, wow that is sweet! I will probably decide the day before it is sprayed. Of course, once that is done I can't call it the "Skunk" anymore, so maybe I should stick to black and white :idea: Then again, I do live in Arizona...

The wheel are aftermarket BMW rims from Discount Tire. I picked them up off Craigslist for $200 and am using them for rollers. When I put the LS1 brakes on, my 16" ralley repros would not fit; such is life. They were a bit of a pain as the offset is around 16mm, so the lug holes are very deep necessitating the use of tuner lug nuts and new wheel studs. True to form, no upgrade performed so far has been easy.

It is not as fancy or pretty as the LS conversions out there, but for a daily driver, I think the LT1 is soooo much easier to do.

Brent

[barno68]

It has been awhile since I posted an update. After 15 months at the body shop, progress is finally being made :seizure: ! Hopefully I will have it back at my place by June... The engine is close to being finished, just a few block-off plates to fab and a little more wire work. I finished (well almost) plumbing the radiator this afternoon, so it is ready to load for the shop as is the rear.

Oh, decided on the color finally. Silver on silver, dark for the body and light for the stripes.

Here are some pics:

All this time and still ugly!
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2007/04/DSCN1622-1.jpg

I was really happy with the job they did on the firewall
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2007/04/DSCN1621-1.jpg

Yes, I know, the tubing is a bit long :-)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2007/04/DSCN1631-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2007/04/DSCN1628-1.jpg

Radiator
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2007/04/DSCN1629-1.jpg

The rear is not the best view... hmm, I think I have heard that before...
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2007/04/DSCN1630-1.jpg

[malihoochie]

Keep it up!
I envy the frame off....but mine will happen sooner or later.

[barno68]

Thanks, I tried it the other way and kept redoing work. So, I think in the future that I will do the frame-off on any car resto if time and space permit. Although, I am hoping the next project will have a full frame :-)

Brent

[tb8125]

what are you going to do for a tank

[barno68]

One of two things, both involve a new stock replacement tank. Either buy Tank.inc's in-tank fuel pump kit and modify or just pick up a mid 90's Capri pump and sending unit, modify its length, and build a baffle tray for it to sit in.

Brent

[tb8125]

hey where are you with your swap and resto

[barno68]

Unfortunately, not much further. I am still waiting for the body to be finished, although I think he is done with most of the body work and is starting prep.

I was getting impatient a few weeks ago and almost starting removing perfectly good parts and adding twin turbo's... but luckily my motorcycle broke down, so I have been working on tuning it up and replacing the ABS modulator. Hmm, not sure if that was really a good thing or not...

[rellim51]

Will the block stay yellow?

[barno68]

Unfortunately, yes... I was flopping between painting the car yellow or orange and had plenty of black in the engine bay already. Ended up going with grey/silver for paint... now I have an oddball yellow block! Well, at least it will be easy to see the oil leaks :-)

[tb8125]

its been a month since your last update whats going on any pic to post