Project "Patches" another 69 camaro...

[gmjj13]

let me start by giving a little background on this car. i purchased it thinking that all it needed was a roof skin. that eventually snowballed into quarters, outer fenderwells, trunk drop offs, front fenders, doors, header panel, valance, pass. floor pan and toe panel, and deck lid. the guy i bought the car from said it was a great car that just needed a little work. i thought i was getting a deal. boy was i mistaken. it ended up that the front fenders were actaully 3 different fenders put together with rivets and about 1.5" of bondo. they looked straight, until my body guy started sanding on them. the quarters almost snuck by. my body guy showed me where the quarters were cracking a little around the back window frame, and suggested i replace them to be safe. i agreed, and am glad i did. apparently the same idiot who did the fenders did the quarter work. what he did was take a quarter skin and rivet it to the existing one. and then layered up the bondo (about .75-1.5") to make it look straight. after removing all that mess, needless to say that the deck lid didn't fit right anymore. i can't understand how or why someone would do that. anyway, now that all the body work is done, the car is a bit lighter. imagine that. the motor that was in the car was a 350 with a th350. the motor ran decent. when we pulled it, we noticed it had no balancer!:pat: it makes me wonder how many other corners were cut. needless to say, thats being replaced by a 496/T56 combo. i still have quite a bit left to do, but atleast now i know what i have, which is pretty much an all new car. here's some pics of it now. i will try to post some later of the long strange trip its been. let me know what you think. thanks.


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2007/11/DSC00949-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2007/11/DSC00945-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2007/11/DSC00950-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2007/11/DSC00944-1.jpg

[dropit69]

ohhhh that looks good ..what are the colors?..and the dog seems to like it also..lol..

[PARKERRS]

I'd like to know the colors also, man that looks nice.

Tommy

[gmjj13]

Thanks. the color is a GM color. its 301N i think its called Red Jewel Tincoat. its a 3 stage paint. the stripes are charcoal with a black pinstripe. i love how it turned out. especially considering all the work that was put into it.

oh, and the dog loves it too!

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

the color is VERY nice..

[curly]

I like the color choice, should look really good with all the trim back on!

[jy211]

nice color...

[gmjj13]

i know its been a while, but i figured i'd finally post an update. i have since rewired the entire car. what a P.I.A. thats something i don't wish to ever do again. i got my rear seat, roll bar, most of my interior, motor, and a couple of other little things done. new tank with sump, 12 bolt with moser axles and TA perf. cover. i have some of the pieces for the fuel system, mainly need to get all the connectors together. my trans is ready to go as well. hopefully i'll be dropping the motor in this week sometime. anyway, just thought i'd post an update. also been thinking about changing the name of my project as well. not quite sure what just yet, but if you have any ideas, throw them out there. anyway, here's a few recent pics. i know she won't be a 100k car when finished, but to me she's worth 5x's that. thanks for looking....

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/DSC01087-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/DSC01088-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/05/DSC01076-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/DSC01081-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/DSC01080-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/01/DSC00987-1.jpg

[Code Red]

really digging the color man

[rubbersdown]

Sweet ride, coming along nice, how about project "look how bad ass my paint color is" because everyone seems to LOVE that color, including me!

Also, are those March pulleys on that motor? those look sweet, will go well with the car.

[gmjj13]

:lol: good one. i'll have to consider that one.

the pulleys are march. i'll have to post some pics when i get the motor in this week. i can't wait!

[redfire69]

I agree.... awesome color and project! Keep the updates coming...:twothumbs

[Chevrolaine]

Sweet! and yeah, love the color also.:yeah:

[jy211]

coming along nice...how about Frankenstein for a new name? :hammer: or Jeykl and hide?

[gmjj13]

thanks for the comments on the color. i'm glad it turned out as good as it did. hopefully the rest of the car will follow suit and turn out nicer than the paint did :fingersx:

:hah: as far as Frankenstein, that name actually seems to fit. maybe Franky for short

[gmjj13]

few more updates. got the motor in and started the other day. it sounds awesome. gotta a bit left to do. need to finish my brakes, interior, little wiring...etc. trying to get her ready for RTTH4. what does everyone think?

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/07/DSC00558-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/07/DSC005591-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/07/DSC00556-1.jpg

[GHOSTDANCER]

Well since no one else said it let me be the first. That color ROCKS. :cheers:

[Todds69]

That is a beautiful car you should be real proud of her.

[gmjj13]

thanks. i couldn't ask for more. she's turning out better than i had hoped for :twothumbs

[Chevy]

Congrats on getting the motor in...it did wonders for the stance too.

Maybe Brickhouse is a good name...color is close, and looks like it'll be a beast...

love the wheels by the way--what are they?

[SatisTraction]

looks great!!! having a car like that makes you hate rain :)

[gmjj13]

love the wheels by the way--what are they?

they are Boze ZE Forged "Friction" wheels with the satin black centers and polished hoop. 18x8 and 18x9 with 245/40 and 275/40.

[gmjj13]

another little update...
getting closerhttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2006/05/unibrow-1.gif

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/08/DSC01102-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/08/DSC01103-1.jpg

[BaddestBuick]

Oh my, what a sweeet vehicle...I noticed the rear spoiler are you ganna paint that same as body I think you should

[gmjj13]

i actually painted the spoiler to match the tailight panel and stripe. its charcoal gray...i like it better like that than body color. just makes it a little bit different.

[BossaNova]

i actually painted the spoiler to match the tailight panel and stripe. its charcoal gray...i like it better like that than body color. just makes it a little bit different.

I like it! Looks good with the wheel color.

[Dream68]

Yea man love the spoiler like it is. Im thinking of doing the same.

[gmjj13]

thanks. i like it, don't see too many painted like this.

[rlplive]

Just found this, incredible car man. Color and everything else is great. Nice interior.

[nitrovette]

yes very sharp car everything goes perfect together.nice job.

[1969CamaroRS]

That is a really unique and different color. Pretty awesome :1st:

[venturabeachpup]

That is one cool ride!

[Tucks69]

Very nice Camaro!! Can,t wait to see it in person at RTTH5.

Mike

[gmjj13]

thanks! she is far from done, but then again, are they ever finished. i'm hoping to be on the road in about a week or so. i was having some clearance issues with the clutch fork and pressure plate, think i got that one figured out. always something, still have some electrical gremlins to chase as well:hmm: .

Mike, i can't wait for RTTH5 either. hopefully everything will work out this time. either way, i plan on being there. preferably with my car this time :fingersx:

[gmjj13]

update:

i just about got her running right, and then she springs a leak :banghead: seems like a head stud is leaking yet again. i'll know more this coming monday when i can get back to checking her out. i did get all the electrical gremlins fixed. all lights now work, blinkers, brake, headlights...woohoo! now i just have to figure out whats up with the fuel gauge.

still a lot left to do, but it feels good doing it all myself. its nice to look back at what i started with and see where shes at now. :cheers:

[67SSDan]

Nice man! That thing is sweet!

Dan

[rlplive]

any updates?

[dropit69]

where did the valve covers come from?? car looks awesome !!!

[gmjj13]

before i left for school here in Ft Jackson, i had the leak fixed, and got her started again. hopefully when i get home, i can get her out on the road for a shakedown.:6gears:

[gmjj13]

where did the valve covers come from?? car looks awesome !!!

Thanks! its nice to hear what other people think about her. as for the valve covers, they are GM performance parts.

[ROACHZ28]

Beautifull car!!!! :jump:

[gmjj13]

thanks!

[rlplive]

any updates?

[icebird84]

good looking Camaro that you have JJ

[1971CHEVELLE]

That is one cool ride:)

[gmjj13]

well as far as updates, not too much to report. got her running, somewhat. i can pull her in and out of the garage now. found a couple of more leaky head studs the other day. i believe i have now resealed every stud there is. now i need to get the power steering and a couple of other things finished up as well. just in time to put her in storage for the next year. i was hoping to have her on the road a while ago, but things keep coming up, and it seems as though the closer you get to the end of a project, the more bugs you find. i did get the alignment done, using a fastrax caster camber gauge. i have the SPC arms on, and that made it fairly simple to get everything right. Markus over at SC&C was also a big help with getting my suspension done. i can't wait to get to drive her down the road, but that may have to wait another year or so. oh well, we'll see.

[rlplive]

JJ, I know you aren't driving your car yet, but how do you like your spc gear? what other suspension components are you running?

[gmjj13]

the spc arms made it extremely easy to adjust caster/camber. unfortunately my car does not have any of the cool high tech suspension goodies on it i.e. air ride/front sub/4link... i'm using the stock subframe with heidts 2" drop tall spindles, SPC uppers, stock lowers with del-a-lum bushings and 2" drop hotchkis BBC springs. in the back i'm using DSE 3" drop leafs. i couldn't afford to do a 4 link/new sub, but i'm happy with how it is for now. my car is not a trailer queen, and will be driven. soon as i get the chance and the bugs worked out, i'll be looking for my first auto-x to take her to. she may not be the fastest, but i don't think she'll be the slowest either. later on down the road when i can afford it, i may look at mini tubbing and updating the suspension. but for now, i'm really happy with how she turned out. i'll try to get a couple of more pics today to show how she sits now.

[rlplive]

hey man, big money suspension does not matter. Sounds like a great setup to me. I bet it's plenty fast.

[67SSDan]

hey man, big money suspension does not matter. Sounds like a great setup to me. I bet it's plenty fast.

Yeah, no doubt. Find yourself some good sticky tires (you may have them already... I can't remember what you have now) and you'll be hanging with everyone else... that, and some driving lessons (i.e. practice). The most important thing is that you're having fun driving your car.

Dan

[gmjj13]

i'll let you know how good of a setup it is when i finally get to drive her. she should be somewhat fast. i'd also like to find a chassis dyno somewhere here in central florida to get some sort of an idea as to what i'm puttin down. my current tires are nitto 555R. i would most definately have to agree about gettin plenty of practice driving. maybe i can find some place local here in florida that does auto-x on a regular basis. anybody know of any?

[gmjj13]

well, i should be home in a week or two.

hopefully i can get everything finished up when i get home and get her crated up and sent overseas. we'll see. if not, looks like i may end up putting her in storage for a couple of years...:crying:

[Tucks69]

well, i should be home in a week or two.

hopefully i can get everything finished up when i get home and get her crated up and sent overseas. we'll see. if not, looks like i may end up putting her in storage for a couple of years...:crying:

That would suck!! But my offer still stands, send it up to NC. I will take care of it!!!:lol: I was hoping to see the car at RTTH5 back in Sept.

[gmjj13]

thanks for the offer. i hope to have to pass on that one, but you never know. i really missed not being able to go to rtth this year. last year was an awesome time, and i was hoping to bring my car as well. maybe a good road trip is in order when i get her going. still have to get everything finished, and find a company to ship overseas.

[CruizinKev]

JJ's camaro on the dyno :cheers: :twothumbs

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/09/JJonDyno1-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/09/JJonDyno2-1.jpg

man too bad I couldn't be there!