1973 Camaro Z/28 LT [Archive]

dipren443

10-13-2009, 08:17 AM

I have been around here for a while now, but never really considered my car to be worthy of a project thread. I have worked on little bits and pieces of it along the way while keeping her road worthy.

Well, thanks to an err in judgment, my 100% original interior was burnt to a crisp (not my fault, and yes I got a nice check from the shops insurance co.). Instead of just throwing a new interior in, I am taking the opportunity to improve several things that just make sense to do at this point in time. The interior will need to be completely resprayed, the area behind the seat is pretty charred. So... Before that gets done, I am going to modify everything that would require the floor to be cut up.

My punch list of items...

Keisler or CC5S TKO-600 swap
Finally make my LS1 e brake functional
Rip the front end off and weld in a proper firewall block off plate. Install a VA bulkhead and finally finish my A/C install.
If I am really feeling gutsy (more funding related than anything), get my Lateral Dynamics coil over brackets installed up front with new upper and lower control arms.
Move the battery out back.
Once all this is done, I will get the interior resprayed and install fresh carpet, new headliner, etc...
Already completed are my DSE SFC's. I took the car to G Force Designs for that work.

Some pics:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

BMR A/C delete plate currently installed:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

Some of the interior damage:

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dropit69

10-13-2009, 08:38 AM

ouch thats gotta suck...but is good time to upgrade..id love to see more pics of car im thinking about running those style wheels on my 71..the 2nd gens are taking over here ..wohoo..

dipren443

10-13-2009, 09:58 AM

ouch thats gotta suck...but is good time to upgrade..id love to see more pics of car im thinking about running those style wheels on my 71..the 2nd gens are taking over here ..wohoo..

Pics you want, pics you will get. :attn:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/10/DSC_9726JPG-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/10/DSC_9046JPG-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/10/DSC_9741JPG-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/10/DSC_8433JPG-1.jpg

dropit69

10-13-2009, 10:52 AM

yep i like the wheels..are those vintage wheel works ones?

dipren443

10-13-2009, 10:55 AM

yep i like the wheels..are those vintage wheel works ones?

Team III Minilite replicas. I preferred the look of these over the VWW ones. Now just gotta knock that ride height down. ;)

Motown 454

10-13-2009, 11:14 AM

dipren443

10-13-2009, 11:41 AM

Hey Nick did you ever get your bracket for the hydo boost aodized? I haven't tried to powdercoat mine yet. If you did get it done who did you use ,I need some anodize work done. The car looks good . I would have had a heart attack if that happened tomy car. But like you said you got some work done on it . Sounds l9ike a good start. Wayne

If you want to send it my way, I can probably sneak it in... I have to call the shop that does our anodizing here. We use someone local. If we are having a batch done, I can usually slide one piece in... I will found out when we are doing our next batch.

I did get a first gen bracket done. Looks great.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/10/DSC_9971JPG-1.jpg

Motown 454

10-13-2009, 07:23 PM

Sweet let me know when your ready I ship it to you.
Thank you Wayne

Kennedy

10-19-2009, 12:24 PM

Sorry to see that buddy. I am sure she will come back even nicer. All, I have been in this car in person, it is very nice.

Love the wheels, but she does need to come down a lil. I am sure the coil overs will take care of that up front.

Chris

classiccardude69

10-29-2009, 05:44 PM

What a cool camaro!

The Stickman

10-29-2009, 07:11 PM

Car looks good. What did they do to catch it on fire?

LSXZ28

10-30-2009, 02:26 PM

Great time for a new interior on them!

WS6

10-31-2009, 04:49 PM

Cool. Love the wheels as well.

LeighP

10-31-2009, 06:19 PM

Very nice. You were really lucky with that interior fire....it could have been much worse...looks like they caught it fairly quickly.
My 71 Firebird is in the shop at the moment getting its flat firewall fixed up....I like things tidy and smooth in the engine bay.
I like those wheels....I had a very similiar set on my old 76 Trans Am....an Australian company makes them, called Superlites.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

Good luck with your project....2nd gens rule! :1st:

LeighP

10-31-2009, 06:21 PM

lol...I forgot I also had them on my 70 RS/SS...but with charcoal centres...
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

See, I told you I liked those wheels..... :twothumbs

dipren443

11-01-2009, 09:24 AM

Very nice. You were really lucky with that interior fire....it could have been much worse...looks like they caught it fairly quickly.
My 71 Firebird is in the shop at the moment getting its flat firewall fixed up....I like things tidy and smooth in the engine bay.
I like those wheels....I had a very similiar set on my old 76 Trans Am....an Australian company makes them, called Superlites.

Good luck with your project....2nd gens rule! :1st:

Leigh,

Nice cars!!! Superlite wheels are nice for sure. They are British I believe. I still wouldn't mind running a set of 3 piece Superlites. With the exchange rate, they are really ridiculous in price for us in the colonies.

Nick

dipren443

11-01-2009, 09:41 AM

Car looks good. What did they do to catch it on fire?

Stick,

A little convoluted... They were making some pipes to go between the header and muffler. The exh. hangers didn't mate up with the factory holes. Instead of asking my advice, they decided to not drill new holes and tack the hangers in place. The holes from other hangers were close enough that I *think* an arc made a beeline for the seat backing and caught it on fire...

This was a make shift exhaust solution too, so welding was not something I wanted them to do. I was planning on installing a full Stainless Works or Ram Air restorations system this winter. I just wanted something temporary so I could drive the car the rest of the summer after I installed the headers. \

As part of my winter project, I will be ripping out their tacked in hangers... Filling all of the holes in the floor... And drilling new holes when I get the hangers from Stainless Works/Ram Air to go with their system.

Nick

marc_b

11-01-2009, 10:08 AM

cool project, love those second gens. keep the updates coming

LeighP

11-01-2009, 11:42 PM

Leigh,

Nice cars!!! Superlite wheels are nice for sure. They are British I believe. I still wouldn't mind running a set of 3 piece Superlites. With the exchange rate, they are really ridiculous in price for us in the colonies.

Nick

These ones are an Australian cast wheel, no doubt they are close copies of Minilites or similiar. They are a one piece casting that I seem to recall are available up to 10" wide on custom order. Mine were 7" on the front and 8" on the rear...both 15" diameter.

dipren443

11-28-2009, 01:00 PM

Alright, a bit of an anti climactic update as I am traveling home from Thxgiving with the fam in sunny Orlando...

Order has been placed for the transmission. Keisler estimates a ship date of Dec. 11th. Anyone in the 'burgh ready for a weekend thrash to install a trans??? Would love to grab some gears before the salt hits the ground. Beer will be on me!

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

CruizinKev

11-29-2009, 01:48 AM

nice project! love the rims :twothumbs

RJ66

12-04-2009, 07:46 PM

I'm a big fan of Mini lites! Looks like it's going to be a great project.

Randy(D&Z Customs LLC.)
[email protected]
1-262-347-9741

dipren443

01-18-2010, 05:30 PM

Mini update: Car is mostly torn apart...

Hotchkis upper and lower control arms are on their way. Time to start cutting the upper shock mounts off and get ready to install the double shear shock tabs. I am scrapping the LD mounts and am going to make my own.

Transmission is in the garage already. It is just about time to yank the engine out and start setting up the manual.

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dipren443

03-17-2010, 11:10 AM

I realize updates are slow, but I am making some headway. Here are my custom hubcentric rings. I just received them back from being anodized.

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Motown 454

03-17-2010, 03:50 PM

any progress is good Nick. They came out nice.

dipren443

06-21-2010, 05:38 AM

Slowly but surely. Bell-housing is dial indicated. Transmission is mounted to the block. Hole is cut in the floor for the shifter... Just can't find enough time in the day to work on the car...

Started closing up the holes in the firewall this weekend.

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Motown 454

06-21-2010, 11:31 AM

It looks good Nick . What kind a bracket did you use for the power steering pump and which pump?

dipren443

06-21-2010, 11:36 AM

KRC Remote reservoir pump with a PSC reservoir. Mounted with a KRC bracket.

Motown 454

06-21-2010, 02:59 PM

Did you have to regulate the flow or pressure or did you run it like you got it from them?

dipren443

06-21-2010, 03:06 PM

Wayne,

I am running it right out of the box. It is a their standard flow pump, not a high flow pump. I ordered my Lee 670 box through Marcus (SC&C) and provided my specs to him. Lee valved the box appropriately.

sovain

06-22-2010, 06:31 AM

love the car, what colour is it?

dipren443

06-22-2010, 07:13 AM

Just the factory colour. Where are you sovain? Canada or Europe? Us 'mericans don't spell colour like that ;)

Motown 454

06-22-2010, 08:17 PM

I have a stock steering box with the quick ratio and I'm using your bracket and a hydraboost. I'll have to see if it will work for my setup.

dipren443

06-23-2010, 12:17 AM

I have a stock steering box with the quick ratio and I'm using your bracket and a hydraboost. I'll have to see if it will work for my setup.

It should be no problem Wayne. It was also part of the equation when I originally spec'd everything out. My remote reservoir is even designed for HB and has two returns on it. Like I said above, a standard flow pump is required. HB is not that demanding on the power steering system.

dipren443

07-03-2010, 09:20 PM

Hanging out with Grandma for the holiday weekend, so no updates other than some verbals. I did get my pedal cluster back from the powdercoat shop. Looks fantastic. Hung the brake and clutch. Now just gotta mount the bracket for the clutch master on the firewall.

Just got word from everyone's favorite Wilwood dealer that my Superlite 6's will be arriving on Tuesday. :) Thanks Frank!!!

Speedtech just about has the Chicane coilover brackets done for the 2nd gens. Should be able to pull the trigger this week. Once I have those in hand, the car will be back on the ground!!!

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Motown 454

07-04-2010, 11:12 AM

The pedals came out great. The trans looks sweet all hooked up and ready to go.

dipren443

07-04-2010, 04:47 PM

Thanks Wayne. I am going to do a degrease and respray of the block while it is out of the car. Seems silly not to.

LeighP

07-04-2010, 05:33 PM

Nice work....good to see things happening. :)

dipren443

07-04-2010, 06:32 PM

Leigh,

Moving far too slow for my tastes. Problem was it really took far too long to come up with a direction. I sort of knew where I wanted to be, but I didn't know how I wanted to get there.

I wasn't overly pleased with LD coilover brackets... I had several drawings and prototypes of my own ready to send to the metal shop for fabrication. Then I called Speedtech to order their lower tabs. That was when I found out they were just about ready to test fit their 2nd gen brackets.

I am reasonably familiar (Do tooling design at my day job) with what it costs to make one off prototypes, i.e, unless you can machine them yourself, it isn't cheap. These required a brake that could handle 1/4 sheet... No access to that. That being said, I just decided to wait for Speedtechs.

In the meantime, I have been collecting parts.

Should start moving faster soon. My Wilwood brakes will be pretty much ready to install next weekend :)

Can't wait!

Nick

The Stickman

07-05-2010, 07:51 AM

Mini update: Car is mostly torn apart...

Hotchkis upper and lower control arms are on their way. Time to start cutting the upper shock mounts off and get ready to install the double shear shock tabs. I am scrapping the LD mounts and am going to make my own.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

I love those mounts. Very nice.

dipren443

07-06-2010, 09:16 PM

I love those mounts. Very nice.

Stick,

I won't be using those mounts. Don't be surprised if the ones I am going to use look surprisingly similar. They are the secret final ingredient to my project... I will have them shortly.

As an interim update... A couple of boxes arrived today...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

dipren443

08-03-2010, 03:10 PM

I guess I should update this...

Brakes are done and assembled

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

Speedtech coilover brackets have arrived and I have started working on the frame mods. Drivers side is mostly done, hoping to get the passenger side knocked out tonight.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

Motown 454

08-03-2010, 07:04 PM

Sweet looking brakes.

dipren443

08-04-2010, 09:26 AM

More test fitting and the first pic of the speedtech coilover brackets.

Crappy cell phone pics. I spent my lunch hour at the house and ran an angle grinder for most of it.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

dipren443

08-26-2010, 03:49 PM

Man, I was away from home far too long. I have made some progress, but work keeps getting in the way. The control arms are all finished up.

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Motown 454

08-26-2010, 04:21 PM

Those look sweet. New parts are good!

dipren443

08-26-2010, 04:22 PM

Cutting up brand new parts was... well, it took some convincing. It will all be worth it though.

Cris@JCG

08-26-2010, 05:32 PM

About time you get some work done on the car...

Looking good!

Cutting up brand new parts was... well, it took some convincing. It will all be worth it though.

Motown 454

08-26-2010, 05:49 PM

Well atleast you know its quality work Nice welds.

dipren443

08-30-2010, 11:15 AM

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CruizinKev

08-30-2010, 11:34 AM

very nice bead!!! :twothumbs

dipren443

01-25-2012, 08:22 AM

It has been a long time since I have posted any updates... Lots has been done, but I am still nowhere close to being finished.

54620

54621

syborg tt

01-25-2012, 08:36 AM

Looks really nice.

sebtarta

01-25-2012, 10:11 AM

Wow Nick, it looks great.

dipren443

01-25-2012, 01:38 PM

Thanks guys. I am now working on gathering lots to send out for powdercoating and anodizing. Then I can start assembling all of the little bits.

Who wants to teach me how to use an HVLP gun? Need to spray the inner fenders and core support grey now. My dad sprayed the firewall with an old siphon feed, but I don't know how to use either and have a brand new HVLP gun ready to rock. Just need to learn how to spray! Might as well learn on the newer equipment.

solarguy09

01-25-2012, 01:43 PM

Very Nice...

the dan

01-25-2012, 02:11 PM

looks good. tig'ing suspension componants is always a good idea. i like the way this build it going, anyone can just bolt on parts

dipren443

02-04-2012, 09:58 AM

Nothing crazy, just got something in the mail on Friday. Need to start laying out the steering shaft. Slight improvement over stock.

55069

craigs73

02-04-2012, 10:08 AM

looking good nick.... what made you change your coil over brackets? how are they to install? also what is the second bracket setup you went with

dipren443

02-04-2012, 10:19 AM

The LD brackets would have required a lot of fab work to get to index properly on the frame. I was going to make my own then saw Speedtech began making them. The cost was reasonable enough that I just bought them from Speedtech.

Motown 454

02-04-2012, 05:48 PM

Nice progress sence I last checked in. Looking good.

sokoloka

02-05-2012, 03:50 AM

I love second gens. Nice work!
Hurry up and get it done!

dipren443

02-05-2012, 09:19 AM

I am on it! Hope to see her on a flatbed heading to G Force Designs shortly (when I return from NC in a week is the plan). Full speed ahead from there.

dipren443

02-19-2012, 02:50 PM

Well I cannot seem to get any time at home. I did however manage to have the car picked up by G Force this past week in between two business trips. I still need to make the drive out there to discuss the project with them, but haven't been able to escape for a few hours.

Here she is with all of the front suspension and steering in place on the flatbed... Next updates should be with a painted interior and repaired quarter panel. Stay tuned!

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

MikeDVC

02-20-2012, 06:11 AM

Looks like my car will have some company at G-Force, the 2nd gens are taking over, lol!!

Subscribed.

MikeDVC

03-13-2012, 08:01 AM

It was nice to meet you on Saturday, I looked over you car earlier in the day....front end work looks great

dipren443

04-01-2012, 02:14 PM

It was nice to meet you on Saturday, I looked over you car earlier in the day....front end work looks great

Mike,

Likewise. I would have responded to your post earlier, but I just now saw it. I don't seem to be subscribed to my own thread anymore! Thanks for the positive feedback. I looked over yours as Mike and love the details you put in to the build. My front seats will end up resembling yours quite a bit.

dipren443

04-01-2012, 02:18 PM

57664

57665

57666

57667

57668

craigs73

04-01-2012, 04:03 PM

good to see there making some progress on the car.......so whens the paint being laid?

Kennedy

04-01-2012, 07:30 PM

Good progress Nick. I hope no overspray gets on those nice rims.

dipren443

04-02-2012, 10:19 AM

good to see there making some progress on the car.......so whens the paint being laid?

Craig,

Damn son, you are more impatient than I. :) I am not sure. I was supposed to head out there and check on the progress today, but couldn't schedule a flight late enough the day to fit that in (Heading to Providence for the week). I am supposed to travel to Missouri next Monday, but hope to find a way to squeeze that in then.

Good progress Nick. I hope no overspray gets on those nice rims.

The car is in good hands nizzle. Give me a ring tonight if you get a chance.