1973 Camaro Z/28 LT

**dipren443** · 10-13-2009

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:

BMR A/C delete plate currently installed:

Some of the interior damage:

**dropit69** · 10-13-2009

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

Originally Posted by dropit69

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.

**dropit69** · 10-13-2009

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

**dipren443** · 10-13-2009

Originally Posted by dropit69

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

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 to my car. But like you said you got some work done on it . Sounds like a good start. Wayne

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**dipren443** · 10-13-2009

Originally Posted by Motown 454

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.

**Motown 454** · 10-13-2009

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

**Kennedy** · 10-19-2009

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

What a cool camaro!

**The Stickman** · 10-29-2009

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

**LSXZ28** · 10-30-2009

Great time for a new interior on them!

**WS6** · 10-31-2009

Cool. Love the wheels as well.

**LeighP** · 10-31-2009

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!

**LeighP** · 10-31-2009

lol...I forgot I also had them on my 70 RS/SS...but with charcoal centres...

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

**dipren443** · 11-01-2009

Originally Posted by LeighP

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!

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

Originally Posted by The Stickman

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

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

**LeighP** · 11-01-2009

Originally Posted by dipren443

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

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!

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1973 Camaro Z/28 LT