The Family '67 RS Build

[dcpetty]

I picked up this car last Christmas as a surprise for my wife. We have driven it just like it was for a year and now it's time for an update. I'm starting with brakes and suspension first. Going fom drums and monos to disc and Hotchkis should be like night and day.

[dcpetty]

I forgot to ask.......anybody in Middle TN??

[Hotchkis]

Hey DCPetty,

Great project. Thanks for choosing Hotchkis (http://www.hotchkis.net/) parts for your wife’s car. The Camaro should be very nice to drive with the updates you’ve chosen. Let us know how it goes. If you have questions or need help during the install, feel free to give our tech department a call. 877-735-6425

[CruizinKev]

looks good! :twothumbs

[dcpetty]

I am really terrible at posting updates. Here is a pic of the engine on the test stand being broken in and tuned. I have the car ALL apart and just got it back from the blaster. More to come later. https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/08/IMG00024201106031939-1.jpg. As the name implies , it is a true family project. https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/08/photo-1.jpg

[Nessumsar]

What happened to "I'm starting with the brakes and suspension"?! Haha.

What all are you doing to it? Cool to see your daughter getting in on the action.

[dcpetty]

Thanks. She is in my back pocket all of the time. My wife and son also help out a bunch.

.....isn't that how all frame off resto's start?? I currently have it ALL apart and it has been bead blasted. I am starting body work this week. I have already replaced the pans and trunk. I am painting the underside this afternoon.

[dcpetty]

I got the floor pans sealed and the bottom of the car painted today. I used Chassis Saver and it shot great. time will tell how durable it is.

[dcpetty]

This weekend got the firewall smoothed, installed a new upper dash panel, and primed firewall and dash. Now I'm on to the roof....it was a vinyl top car. Need I say more?!$&@

[Timothye]

Wao man its show that you love so much with your wife.you picked a very nice surprise for her.

[WVhotrod]

Would love picture updates gonna be looking through all the camaro builds on here. Buying a 68 this week.

[dcpetty]

I am horrible at posting progress. Here are some pics.

[dmc69]

No pics came up. Not in middle tn, but I am in N. Alabama(Huntsville)

[dcpetty]

Here are the pics.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/02/z-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/02/h-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/02/k-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/02/k-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/02/hjkmhkmj-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/02/c1-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/02/44-1.jpg

[TT302Z28]

Looking good.

[dcpetty]

Here is a few more pics.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/02/q-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/02/dddg-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/02/1-1.jpg
[Ihttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/02/qqq-1.jpgMG]http://i830.photobucket.com/albums/zz229/dcpetty1971/qqq.jpg[/IMG]

[Motown 454]

Great project. Nice your daughter is helping. It looks great nice work.

[dcpetty]

Here is an up to date pic. I'm REALLY not liking the ride height so far with the Hotchkis coils and springs. I know I have a ways to go on the car, I'm really hoping that it brings it closer to the ride height I want. I don't think it's going to get there. :banghead:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/03/camaro-1.jpg

[CruizinKev]

NIIIICE!!!!! wow looks great! good work so far man! :twothumbs

[Steven's 72]

Looks great, What's the color?

[67rally]

Perfect choice in cars! And I love the new paint.

Not trying to hijack at all, but I used the Hotchkis 2" lowering coils in the front and 1.5" lowering leafs in the rear. I took this pic about a week after the rear leafs went in, with an empty tank and no interior. I'm still hoping it drops another 1/2"-1" in the rear, otherwise I'll probably add a lowering block, but this shows that there's hope for you. Once you get some weight in it and get it moving it should settle, unless you rightened the rear suspension down with the wheels up in the air. If that's the case, loosen everything up and retighten when it's weight bearing.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/02/IMG_0404x-1.jpg

[dcpetty]

That's great news Rally67. Thanks for your post. Can you tell me about your tire/wheel specs?

[67rally]

That's great news Rally67. Thanks for your post. Can you tell me about your tire/wheel specs?

The wheels are Foose Legends, 18x8 w/5" BS in front and 18x9 with 5.25" BS in the rear. The tires are Nitto 555's. 245/40/18 and 275/40/18. The tire size is a very tight fit.

Long story short, my fronts were rubbing slightly when I turned the wheel all the way while backing out of a driveway. I have the SpeedTech LCA's which have a steering stop bolt to allow you to limit how far you can turn the wheels, and was able to resolve the problem. I just did the rear suspension over the winter, and haven't dialed the front steering stops back yet, but I believe the new rear leafs may have solved/reduced the problem completely. The rear tires are also a very close fit, you need to make sure the axle is dead center. If you want to be safe, I would look at 235's and 265's just to give a little extra clearance.

[dcpetty]

Thanks for the info. I really hope mine settles down. I'm putting in Vintage air tomorrow.

[rfalker1]

If you have the 2 inch drop kit from hotchkis, the car will drop more when u have weight. My car hasn't been driven yet but it has dropped alot. Check maybe the last 4 pages of my build and you can see just how low it is... (links at the bottom) Maybe after driving a bit it may drop another 1/2 inch too. I am really hoping for that

P.S I am running 18" wheels front and rear. GOod luck with it

[dcpetty]

Finally got my wheels on. I am really glad I painted them body color. 2 more weeks then it's off to the interior shop for a full custom interior.still wanting it to settle some.

[Steve68]

Looks good like the color!!!

[Ron.in.SoCal]

I'm not usually a fan of one color for wheels and car, but you really opened my eyes on that. Great job!

[dcpetty]

Added my shifter.

[Hotwhilz]

I have to ask what are the color codes for the car and stripe, looks beautifull and I was in the look for a shiny grey for my Nova and I have a winner! Awesome!

[Code Red]

real nice man, though I think I would of angled the stripes a bit more

[MarkM66]

Congratulations on the progress.

I would be adding a lowering block to the rear, and cutting a coil out of the front.

[dcpetty]

Yes I agree. I am still in the build process. I will set stance when I'm completely done.

[dcpetty]

It's finally on it's way to the upholstery shop!!!!! YAAAAHOOOOO!!!!
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/06/camaro2-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/06/camaro1-1.jpg

[MickyT]

I ended up dearching my hotchkis to get ride height.

[MyFriendScott]

It's been a pretty common complaint around here that the Hotchkis 1.5" and 2" drop spring kits aren't low enough for the modern pro-touring look. I'm in the same camp and ended up dropping the front another inch and installing a 3/4" lowering block in the rear. The rear still isn't quite where I'd like it. Don't expect the 67/68 F-body's to look like a '69 with only 1.5" and 2" drop because the top of the wheel wells on the '69's are flat and give the car a lower looking stance. Your camaro still looks fantastic. The color is awesome. Sorry that you've ended up down the same path as many of us by not choosing the 3" drop springs all around.