RoadsterShop "Makeover" 69 Camaro

[Tony@Roadstershop]

With the ever growing vintage and pro-touring market, it is now easier than ever to find decent 'restored' vehicle as a starting point for a project.

Vehicles with older (80's and 90's era) simple restorations can be purchased at a fair price when compared to a completely new 'from scratch' pro-touring car build. This creates a much more enticing and affordable long term project for those on more of a strict budget.

At our shop, we are seeing more and more of this type of project: vehicles arriving in good running order, nice paint, simple interior and drivetrain. The owners are happy with the cars, but are seeking the ride comfort and quality of a newer vehicle. With a good foundation for the chassis and handling, many upgrades (such as bigger brakes, audio, wheels and tires etc) can come over time or as the project evolves.

As an example, I thought I would post up a thread on the makeover of this '69 Camaro we currently have in the shop. The aim, to help illustrate how the average builder can build a fun and competitive car without starting from scratch with drastically improved handling and ride quality. We will be removing the existing factory subframe and rear rails, doing the necessary modifications to the floor and installing one of our FAST TRACK full frame chassis. (info on chassis HERE (http://www.roadstershop.com/products/1967-1969-fast-track-camaro-chassis))

71290

This is our starting point. A decent and clean '69 Camaro with good paint, standard interior and a healthy little small block with a built TH400 which, at this point, the owner still plans to re-use.

The first step is to completely wrap it to protect the paint and start dissassembly and removal of the original suspension.

71296

[SparkyRnD]

what are the plans for it?

[SRD art]

Protecting paint, so is this a suspension and or drive train overhaul? Looking forward to seeing more...

[csouth]

what are the plans for it?

Looks like just a chassis overhaul....

"At our shop, we are seeing more and more of this type of project: vehicles arriving in good running order, nice paint, simple interior and drivetrain. The owners are happy with the cars, but are seeking the ride comfort and quality of a newer vehicle."

"We will be removing the existing factory subframe and rear rails, doing the necessary modifications to the floor and installing one of our FAST TRACK full frame chassis"

[Tony@Roadstershop]

Sparky, We have a few small details and possibly some wiring but the chassis and suspension upgrade is the most substantial upgrade at this point.

[1965_SS]

Roadster shop builds are awesome! Thanks for posting.

I wish I could do this with my 65 Chevelle:crying: like those other early Chevelle builds you guys have posted.

[coolwelder62]

Will be watching this one come along.

[Tony@Roadstershop]

After pulling all of the suspension, exhaust and underpinnings out... we cleaned up everything and did a full inspection to see what we have. It turns out that the Camaro is as solid as it looked. The only item up in question is if we use the factory gas tank or go with one of our new stainless tanks. The OE tank will work just fine with the Fast Track chassis but this one looks to have some possible rot issues.
71379

At this point we can go ahead and start removing the rear rails and outlining the portion of the floor pan to cut for clearance for the new chassis rails. On the 1st gen Camaros it is pretty minimal cutting and pan work. The tape marks here make it appear larger then really is so I will post up some images of the pan after we finish trimming it out.

Start removing the rails by drilling out the factory spotwelds
71383

Rails completely removed and out of the way for the new chassis rails
71384

This rear portion of the rail remains in place and becomes another anchor point for the rear of the chassis
71385

71380

71381

These rear marks to cut are to gain clearance for the rear four-bar frame bracket. It will slightly protrude through to the rear seat pan area.

71382

[village idiot]

I love seeing your work!

If you ever need some one to clean up around the shop, I'll volunteer!!

[Tony@Roadstershop]

Village, Thanks for the kind words... grab a broom anytime you want :) !


Here is a good shot of the floor cutouts required to clear the chassis rails. The forward trimmed portion only effects the rear foot well pan to where it rises and meets the seat base. The rear cutout is the very rear of the rear seat pan.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/02/8465510259_00f0b34577_z-1.jpg

In order to design the chassis to accept mini tubs and up to a 345 series rear tire. The frame rails had to be brought in slightly. In doing so we have found on most cars we have done here with the factory trunk pan, that you will need to relieve the front side and corner of the suitcase well to allow for clearance. There are many ways of doing this small detail from a dead blow hammer to how we prefer to do it :D . We start with two cuts. The vertical cut starting where the bottom of where the pan contours up and the horizontal cut at the top transition of the pan effectively creating a "T".

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/02/8465510017_fc1d8e84b1_z-1.jpg


Now we can join the body and chassis together for our prefit. This is where you want to double check your clearances and take measurements to make your and fit your floor cover pieces.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/02/8465510235_ec6d4cd8b5_z-1.jpg

[67speedfreak]

That looks sick ! We may be in touch soon ! :)

[Tony@Roadstershop]

Speed,
Feel free to hit us up anytime you have questions or need anything.

[Tony@Roadstershop]

Time for another quick round. We are now to the point of fabbing up and fitting the filler panels where we trimmed the floor for clearance. This first panel is being placed where we clearanced for the four bar bracket in the rear of the rear seat pan.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/02/8466606486_189ea93430_z-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/02/8466606460_ea6eef9af8_z-1.jpg

After we tacked the pieces together creating our box, we pull it up through the bottom of the pan giving us the flat flange portion as a place to tack in place and then fully weld on the inside.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/02/8465510029_0be9bfc6a6_z-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/02/8466606432_c730e5e2c9_z-1.jpg

[Crazed]

I'd like to see more of the Fairlane in the first pic

[Tony@Roadstershop]

Crazed,
I have dug up a few images for you. To see the complete build images you can got to the gallery on our website / currect project builds. Here is the link to the Failane build http://www.roadstershop.com/current-projects/tim-s-1963-fairlane. I really dig that car too and up until this build I personally wasnt a big fan of this body/roof style. To me this thing is the perfect modern sleeper version of pro-touring car.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/02/8228282892_441d86facb_z-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/02/8283428585_d8b65f9597_z-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/02/8365157130_eb6d82ba54_z-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/02/8365153802_dccf1da1cf_z-1.jpg

[Crazed]

That car is Awesome. Is that a chassis you offer or a one off?

[Tony@Roadstershop]

Yes, That is a new Fast Track chassis we offer for the early 60's Ford Fullsize :)

[jw1969camaro]

Any updates on John's 69 Camaro

[DJ Mabe]

Love that Boss 9 motor in the Fairlane. I would hate to see the bill for that piece.

[Tony@Roadstershop]

We have made a lot more progress on the car than the we have on build thread over the past few weeks. So, here is a big update to get this one brought up to its current state.
Here is the area of the rear footwell that needs to be modified for the frame rail to pass through. We have fabbed a sheet metal channel that is welded into the floor for the frame rail to pass through. We also add an extra body mount in this location.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/03/8465510227_eb2edae29b_b-1.jpg
A complete view of the required floor modifications to install the chassis into a stock body. You can also see the reinforcing plate with the hole drilled for the new body mount.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/03/8466606124_9ea5239bd3_b-1.jpg
A view from underneath
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/03/8466606314_63256b6ae8_b-1.jpg
The car was also fitted with deep wheel tubs. Here you can see the front corner of the trunk (that was modified on the previous page) has been welded up and ready for metal finishing.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/03/8465509969_bedeac258a_b-1.jpg

Assembly has progressed on the chassis in this picture and the body is ready to be mated to it for the final time.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/03/8465509901_59086975f6_b-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/03/8466606156_11cc8c9cab_b-1.jpg
The inner fender required a minor notch to clear the upper shock mount.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/03/8466606082_fb050c4553_b-1.jpg
The rear frame bracket bolts up the the original rear leaf spring mount in the stock sub rail.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/03/8575892130_0eba95b260_b-1.jpg
A little branding!
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/03/8575892594_d2b55d8122_b-1.jpg

[Tony@Roadstershop]

New stainless exhaust system was fabbed up and stainless tank from Rock Valley was installed.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/03/8574803839_d742d501a2_b-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/03/8574804321_5967e1c22a_b-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/03/8574806833_aee1443273_b-1.jpg

A few suspension detail shots.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/03/8575891812_1252445694_b-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/03/8574797371_2b7b25c897_b-1.jpg

[Tony@Roadstershop]

And the completed product outfitted with a new set of Forgeline ZX3P's with Matte black centers and polished hoops that really set the car off. We were extremely pleased that the customer took our recommendation to replace the directional billet wheels with the new Forgelines.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/03/8576030046_9c998c53ef_b-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/03/8576028964_01e7610d6c_b-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/03/8576027246_5cab7f4788_b-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/03/8574931599_c877d35afa_b-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/03/8576025416_0e361d34a2_b-1.jpg

[Tony@Roadstershop]

Absolute proof that wheels and stance do make the car. In this case a Roadster Shop FAST TRACK Camaro chassis and Forgeline ZX3P Wheels

From a dated, poor handling, average cruise night car into a serious pro-touring machine in just over 200 hours!

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/03/8574929729_51af355de0_b-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/03/8574930031_fb075d939e_b-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/03/8574929327_b088439214_b-1.jpg

[andrewb70]

Excellent makeover. Great way to bring a dated build into the 21st century.

Andrew

[armourmark]

That is a textbook example of wheels/stance can make or break a car!

[craigs73]

i really like the car now....looks like a whole new car

[19,69camaro]

I can't believe that is the same car. What wheel sizes are those?

[KnightMare]

That looks incredible. It's like a work of art underneath that car

[ROADSTER SHOP]

Thanks guys. This one is a pretty major change with the stance and wheels.

Aldin, I'm with you 100%. Looking at this picture, you would swear that they are 2 completely different cars
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/03/8574929729_51af355de0_b-1.jpg

The wheels are Forgeline ZX3P's in 18x9 and 18x11. The rubber is Bridgestone 265/35R18 and 295/35R18

[kipmurphy]

I am the proud owner of this car and happy customer of The Roadster Shop. I intended to go with a full DSE solution, but after reviewing the RS Chassis and that it compared in price to the other solution I chose Roadster Shop for the work. The project grew from the initial bid, which is normal for these types of builds. However, the changes and recommendations that the team at Roadster Shop made were the right choice. In fact, it got the point where they would ask me questions about the car on what I wanted to do and I asked them to make the choice because they had the experience and vision. The wheels are an example of this where I told them I wanted them to choose and this was the right choice.

Super happy with the car and love the quality and professional skills/vision of the RS team! Thanks to Bryan, Phil and Jeremy and the rest of the team. A special thanks to Kim at the front desk who patiently took my calls when I dialed them for updates!

Kip

[TwinSting]

I have to ask. How much to do this upgrade?

[Ron.in.SoCal]

Shaun if I'm reading this right, shop rate x 200 hours plus parts. It'll add up quick. PM me if you want to spit ball numbers...

[1965_SS]

Now that is amazing looking. HUGE difference!!!!!!!
Would love to have some new rims on my 65' like that.

Like you guys said, wish I could afford 20K in labor + parts for my 65':crying: