Winter Body Work Progress

[tazinhawaii]

I've been updating a build thread of my 69 Camaro on another forum, but since the car is built as a pro-touring car I thought I'd post here. The car is actually almost done, and looking AWESOME. Way better than I even expected. The body work is being done at a place in Portland, Maine called Back Bay Customs which is a small shop that has a few magazine and big event cars to their past. As for cost, at $60/hour I'm now at approx. $32K. Way more than I expected initially with a quote of $18-26K. Found some surprises along the way and I changed some tweaks... Here is a link to the photobucket with over 500 pictures of the rebuild :

http://s330.photobucket.com/albums/l433/tazinhawaii/69%20Camaro/Tear%20Down%202010/

Here are a couple pics from the re-build which started in the end of August 2010.

First how it started. It was a 30 foot looker. Looked great at a distance, but horrible up close!
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/DSC04612-1.jpg

After media blasting (8/20/10)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/82010rotisary-1.jpg

unexpected surprises (8/26/10)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/826k-1.jpg

Interior and underside in primer (9/2/10)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/92kk-1.jpg

Fitting doors and new rear quarters installed (9/17/10)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/917k-1.jpg

Working the gaps to perfection (9/28/10)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/928b-1.jpg

First time I saw the car kind of looking like a car again (10/12/10)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/1012ee-1.jpg

More tweaking and unexpected surprises (10/22/10). At this point every panel had to be replaced except the roof, rockers, cowl, and floors/trunks/firewall). I was only expecting fenders, doors, and rear sail panel when this started.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/1022p-1.jpg

Body primed and into making everything straight (11/3/10)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/113c-1.jpg

Blocking and sanding (11/11/10)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/1111v-1.jpg

Interior and underside color finally (12/3/10)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/123e-1.jpg

More work on color (12/10/10)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/1210x-1.jpg

Car together and on the ground. BIG DAY FOR ME!! (12/16/10)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/1216f-1.jpg

Wet sanding in final preps for paint (12/28/10)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/1228b-1.jpg

Masked off for black base coat paint for the graphics (12/30/10)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/1230n-1.jpg

Painted black and graphics being taped off in the morning (1/4/11)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/14c-1.jpg

Car in color in the evening of 1/4/11
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/14x-1.jpg

Doors/fenders (1/4/11)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/14t-1.jpg

And the stinger hood which I think came out better than even the best I had imagined (1/4/11)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/14ee-1.jpg

And now color sanding and waiting on the airbrush artist to arrive to put on some graphics (a little very subtle flames on the stinger and american flag in the stripe on the rear quarter like the project American hero's Camaro from a couple years ago) (1/7/11)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/17n-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/17u-1.jpg

I'll add more pics as the car finishes up in the body shop and as I start to put the new goodies on when I get it home.

Derrick

[elitecustombody]

looking good

[Bryce]

Sweet!

[ROBS6T8]

That's going to be a beautiful car. Good work!

[Ron.in.SoCal]

Hey Taz - your car's lookin' sweet! Going through something similar, it looks like your shop is about twice as fast as mine. Congrats bro and post more progress pics!

[robert worl]

Lookin' good, Can't wait to see the finished product.

[bart0510]

Looking good!

[absintheisfun]

Looks really good. Where did you get that insert for the stinger hood?

[tazinhawaii]

Thanks all. These last few weeks seem to be an eternity!!

The insert for the stinger was custom made. There is a similar insert in the back as well.

Derrick

[Richio1]

Sweet project! Do you have a rendering of what it is going to look like?

I too am going through the same thing with my body shop / builder. Quoted one price but now about twice as much and twice as long to finish... But gotta keep my eye on the prize. They should be wetsanding mine for paint by the end of the month.

Keep the pics coming... Oh and what other forum is the build thread on? Lat-g?

[badbu68]

Looks great!

[tazinhawaii]

Sweet project! Do you have a rendering of what it is going to look like?

I too am going through the same thing with my body shop / builder. Quoted one price but now about twice as much and twice as long to finish... But gotta keep my eye on the prize. They should be wetsanding mine for paint by the end of the month.

Keep the pics coming... Oh and what other forum is the build thread on? Lat-g?

Thanks. The complete build thread since I originally got the car a few years back is over on camaroforums in the first gen section here :

http://camaroforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=33596

I don't have a rendering, but am basing the car on the super chevy project American Hero's from a couple years ago (at least the paint scheme with different colors). Here's a pic.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/tributecamaro4-1.jpg

Derrick

[manicmechanic]

Looks good, liking the Bee too!

[tazinhawaii]

Well, the airbrush guy arrived today and to quote my 16 year old daughter "O-M-G!!". The ghost flames on the scoop and the ghost flag in the stripe came out awesome. And only a few hours to do them. The pics are after 2 coats of clear over everything. One more coat went on after these pics, and color sanding on Monday. I've been promised I'll have the car back by next Saturday.

The ghosted flag in the driver's side stripe :
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/114a-1.jpg

And the passenger side stripe :
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/114c-1.jpg

Ghosted flames in the scoop :
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/114e-1.jpg

And another shot of the scoop :
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/114f-1.jpg

And overall hood :
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/114b-1.jpg

Derrick

[CruizinKev]

wow looks awesome!! love the ghost flags!

[ROBS6T8]

^^^ X2. Lovin the ghost flag. That is too b*#chin!

[tb8125]

the car looks awesome... Its hard to see how the car was a 30 footer from the pics.... Was it done by someone else before you bought it or was that your 1st try at restoring it????

[tazinhawaii]

the car looks awesome... Its hard to see how the car was a 30 footer from the pics.... Was it done by someone else before you bought it or was that your 1st try at restoring it????

The body work was done before I bought it. It turns out it was a bondo buggy, more so than I thought. It looked like the winter waves on the north shore of Hawaii when you looked down the side. The roof to quarter panel seam was horrible on both sides. There were runs in the paint everywhere, and whatever "5th grader" that repainted it didn't even disassemble anything. Overspray on EVERYTHING. That's why there really weren't many closeup pictures of the car body from me. Or they were creatively taken to not highlight these faults. Not anymore though!!! :)

Derrick

[HotRod47]

LOVE the car! The paint looks great.

[tazinhawaii]

Had to drop off some odds-n-ends for the headliner install (i'm having the shop put the headliner in so I don't destroy it). The shop has sanded everything and all but the hood and fenders are buffed. Got to roll the car out into the sun because the painter was so excited about seeing the car in the sun, oh, me too... Here's a couple pics from today. She'll be home Saturday assuming the weather permits.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/117bb-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/117ll-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/117t-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/117x-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/117mm-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/117dd-1.jpg

Derrick

[tb8125]

When do you think you'll be done

[tazinhawaii]

When do you think you'll be done

I'm planning to go to a local car show I used to go to as a teenager on May 15th. That's my deadline. But it's just a matter of putting things back together when I get it back. Probably have it done by April 1st.

Derrick

[tommycomfort]

Awesome paint! April 1st is will be just in time for the Run to the Shore event in New Jersey! Might as well break it in right. :cheers:
Tom

[tazinhawaii]

Well, she's put together. The shop is actually going to deliver it to me tomorrow or Saturday (depending on this damn snow storm coming). These pics today were before the windshield/rear window installation and headliner install. I had to give the painter a few of the chrome goodies because he just had to see some of them installed. The shop is using the car as one of it's 'example' build cars on their website soon. The problem is that it's now almost too pretty to drive (my opinion) and I'll be afraid of scratching it putting it back together.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/120b-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/120i-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/120a-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/120o-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/20110120110851-1.jpg

Derrick

[tazinhawaii]

I brought the car home today!!! She got filthy from these wonderful New England roads. After I get some of the emblems on and billet items, I'll post some pics. Very excited. I have 10 days off, and I'll get to enjoy them in the garage!!! :)

I used Windex and cloth to get the salt and stuff off the paint when I got home, but it left streaks. Is there anything better that i can use on fresh paint? I can't wax it for 90 days. I did get some hand glaze the shop gave me and I may try that, but that's a pain...


Derrick

[tazinhawaii]

I have 10 days of leave and get to work on the car around the "Honey-do's"... Still excited that she's home. A couple pics :

Loading onto the trailer for the trip:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/123l-1.jpg

Loaded and ready to go:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/123v-1.jpg

At home today with some "bling" back on:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/125a-1.jpg

A little new bling on the outside to pull together the LS3 theme:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/125d-1.jpg

Dyna mat and some wiring got installed last night:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/125f-1.jpg

The engine bay:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/125j-1.jpg

The front minus the headlight stuff:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/125i-1.jpg

Derrick

[ROBS6T8]

Beautiful... you must be really happy and excited. I know I would be all giddy with excitement. Enjoy the time with her. lol I would be afraid to touch her trying to get all that salty crap off of her.
Are you going with an aftermarket air, ie. Vintage? I noticed the block off panel on the firewall.

[tazinhawaii]

Beautiful... you must be really happy and excited. I know I would be all giddy with excitement. Enjoy the time with her. lol I would be afraid to touch her trying to get all that salty crap off of her.
Are you going with an aftermarket air, ie. Vintage? I noticed the block off panel on the firewall.

Nope. I never had any desire to use A/C in the car, even when I was in Hawaii. One of the things I found these older cars have are VERY adequate ventilation via the dash/kickpanel vents. And I don't remember the last time I drove the car with the windows up... So I figured there was no need for an A/C or heating system... The only potential problem is that I think NH checks the defroster for state inspection which mean I'll have to rig something up with a fan in the window vent duct to make it feel like the defroster works... Like I would drive the car when a defroster would be necessary! Geez NH...

Derrick

[tazinhawaii]

My vacation is almost done and did not get nearly as much time in the garage as I wanted. But we did get a couple new snowmobiles so my times been divided among several activities. But I did get the interior about 95% completed, including getting the windows aligned and the door poppers to work. Now it's time to start getting under the car to make new fuel and brake lines and get ready to put the drivetrain back in. My goal is to have the drivetrain in by the first of March. Here's a couple pics of the interior. I still have to put the rear tray in (after modifying it for the GTO seats) and build some filler panels around the rear seats.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/02/21c-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/02/21d-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/02/21e-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/02/21b-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/02/21a-1.jpg

Derrick

[tazinhawaii]

It's been a little while since I posted any updates. Been working on the car weekends and a couple days after work. Starting to come back together. In fact after I get an exhaust clamp tomorrow and fab up a couple tailpipe hangers, I'll be able to put her back on the ground as everything on the underside is done... I got her running again last week. Here's a few pics from today.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/02/218a-1.jpg


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/02/218b-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/02/218c-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/02/218d-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/02/218h-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/02/218i-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/02/218e-1.jpg

Derrick

[Defender67]

The airbrushing in the paint looks freakin' amazing! Very nice!

[Jon Clough]

nice build

[tazinhawaii]

Took the car out of the garage for the first time today and took her around the block. Worked pretty good. Only problem was the air tank for the air ride in the trunk needs to be tightened down...

Derrick

With air ride down :
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/03/312f-1.jpg

At ride height :
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/03/312a-1.jpg

Engine Bay :
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/03/312t-1.jpg

Stinger :
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/03/312r-1.jpg

Interior :
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/03/312p-1.jpg

Rear :
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/03/312o-1.jpg

[A62WAGON]

WOW!! Car looks great, nice job.

[tazinhawaii]

Well, due to needing to pay off the bills I accumulated rebuilding the car and an upcoming change in career (retiring from Navy), I posted the car for sale on e-bay. Hate to see it go, but also hate stressing over $$. Gonna loose about $60K on the car though, but it's the stress relief while building the car I enjoy the most...

Derrick

[ROBS6T8]

Dude, that sucks! You can't get rid of her... she's family! I see three other vehilces that you can sell! :)

[H.O.H11]

car looks great esp those ghosted flags. the rear buckets look good also how hard was it to make those seats work.

[tazinhawaii]

Thanks. Unfortunately, I sold the car. But the rear seats were pretty easy to put in. Had some cutting of the seat framing and foam to make the fit snug. Also had to make some "filler panels" for between the seats and side panels of the car.

[barryp]

what an awesome car!!! What silver is that? code?

[tazinhawaii]

It was pepper gray. I don't remember the paint code, but Dupont called it pepper gray. It's the color of the Eleanor Mustang in gone in 60 seconds and if you search that on the web you'll get millions of hits...

[CruizinKev]

wow looks great!!! love it slammed on the ground! drool.

[64impala]

What a Beaut!!!!!

[tazinhawaii]

Thanks all, but you guys are killing me since I sold the car to pay off the bills it accumulated. I miss it tremendously. And until the snow flies and I get the snowmobiles out, I am "toy-less" now. :(

Derrick