Brian's 69 Camaro

[bcampbell2858]

Hey Folks!

New member here! Been lurking for a couple months and finally just bought the car I've always wanted: a 1969 Camaro! I've seen quite a few of these on this site and I'm grateful for the info you guys post. Fun and quick story behind this car. I just bought it locally for $1000 and it is in fairly rough shape. A tree had hit the roof and it was missing the whole front clip besides the subframe. The car was also lacking doors and an interior of any kind. Yesterday, while checking through craigslist, I happened upon a set of doors, hood, and one fender...for $300! After meeting up with the person (different person than I bought car from), I found out that the parts actually came from my car! Except for some surface rust, they appear to be in great condition as well!



As you can see from the pictures below, the car needs quite a bit of work. I've always done mechanics work but never got into body work and have never welded a piece of metal in my life. I am, however, a carpenter, and I have an eye for a finished project with perfect lines, gaps, and smoothness. I learn quick and never shy away from a tool I've yet to use!

Plans:

While I haven't completely decided on suspension/drivetrain, there are some obvious things I need to replace. The lower firewall is rusted through. Floor pan is shot. Trunk is shot. Roof is caved in and may have to replace roof bracing if it can't be straightened out. Rocker panels are pretty decent. Rear quarters are so-so. They have some rot on the wheelwell lip and on sail panel at rear window. Chances are I'll be replacing these as well. With that said...just about all body panels need replacing. I anticipate this being a very long project and I intend to do just about all the work myself. I want to do this project correctly and a hack job just isn't in my nature.

So far:

As mentioned, I've only had the car for about a week. I've removed the subframe. Cut out the rusted dash support. Removed steering column and everything off of firewall. I'm in the process of removing rear suspension and rear end from the car. First thing I will be replacing is the firewall. Should be arriving this week! Also in the process of checking out prices on having the shell sandblasted. Stay Tuned! -Brian

[Motown 454]

Welcome to Pro-touring! There's plenty of great information and generous help on how you can use it. I don't see the pictures but looking forward to seeing them.

[bcampbell2858]

Hey Motown, thanks for the welcome! That is unfortunate about the pictures...was having issues uploading. Can anyone else see/not see pics? Lemme know folks and I will re-upload if necessary. Thanks! -Brian

[Motown 454]

I use photobucket.

[minendrews68]

I can't see them either, I also use Photobucket. If you have trouble let me know and ill try to help. and welcome!

[Justin@EntropyRad]

[bcampbell2858]

Hey Folks, sorry for the wait! Been much to busy! Here are the photos, hopefully you can see them now.

[Blown73]

Meh. I have seen worse starting points

Welcome to the site, looking forward to seeing your build progress!!

[armourmark]

It's just like eating an elephant, one bite at a time. Break it down into phases so you can have those small moral victories and stay motivated. Good luck and I look forward to your progress!

[Motown 454]

There they are ! I've used that blue handled auto body tool on the transmission tunnel too. Keep them coming!

[bcampbell2858]

Hey everyone,

Been doing some more disassembly. Rough cuts in trunk and driver rear quarter to get at seams better. I am somewhat limited on tool selection...looking to pick up a large air compressor and some air tools soon. Been doing all the cutting with an electric die grinder. One thing of interest...when I cut out the rear quarter, I noticed there was two layers...so it has been skinned at one point in its life. I already picked up a new trunk pan...next on list is new quarters, roof, and tail panel. I plan to tackle floor pan when those are done.

Pics!

[Blown73]

Looks great! The worst part is getting all those spot welds drilled out.

One word of note: As you disassemble, I would recommend some form of support on the body. I put a bunch in my car as I did this, I have yet to find out if it works, but it starts to get loose the more body panels you take out. I put it at a point to keep the body from compressing on itself, so it doesnt have to be anything super structural. Door jambs are one spot, i also put one from the dash to the back tray.

Just a thought, keep up the progress!

[oweb2]

So stupid newb question incoming........

Seeing as though he has cut out the quarter and trunk pan, would this be a good time to mini-tub if he were going to do it? Would that be too much body off the car at one time? Would it matter if he braced it up? Or would you weld it all back up and then tub it?

I have been going back and forth on replacing my quarters, and I know I need to do the trunk pan ( unless I want to patch it), but if I cut out as much as he did when is a good time to do it?

[Justin@EntropyRad]

The thought of cutting quarters still sketches me out..even though I've seen it on here a bunch

[oweb2]

The thought of cutting quarters still sketches me out..even though I've seen it on here a bunch

Thats part of the reason I asked my question, at a minimum I am probably going to have to do my trunk pan at the most I might need to reskin my quarter panel. I could probably get away with not doing anything to my quarter since most of the rust is at the bottom and just patch it (granted these would probably be some sizeable patches) but if it makes my life easier to just cut it out, do the tub and reskin, that might be an option.

Especially since I have to cut out the trunk and and my tail panel isn't in the best condition either, though again could probably be saved with some finesse.

[Justin@EntropyRad]

The joys of classic metal

[ICrombie]

I've seen people tub the car with no quarters on and attach them later, it will make it a lot easier to cut up the trunk and fit the tubs with the quarters gone. If you haven't done so already, I'd brace the car really well, with a well braced car (or on a body cart) I don't think you have to worry too much about having to do the metal work in a particular order.

Also just a tip on tools, doing all of the cutting will much easier with a good air hammer and chisel set, if you get a good air compressor that'd be one of the first air tools I'd buy. I can't tell you how many hours I saved using an air hammer to remove the frame rails, I didn't even drill out a single spot weld to remove them and the trunk was completely unharmed in the process.

[TonyV]

Be careful cutting too much out at one time....i did it and getting wheel tubs/quarters/doors and tail panel all lined up was very difficult. I'd suggest doing one at a time at a time so you always have a reference....just my .02

[bcampbell2858]

Hey folks,

Thanks for all the tips! This is definitely my first adventure into this type of structural/body panel replacement. With that said, I am a finish carpenter by trade. I understand a thing or two about perfection...and I will accept nothing less than perfection. As an internet and computer savvy 32 year old, my research has brought me to this forum due to its wealth of information. You folks have provided me with such an expanse of knowledge...and I intend to put it to good use!!!!!

With that said...I present to you the beginnings of the body jig!



Took this picture yesterday...since then I've done some cutting and prepping of the base structure. I am roughly following these plans: .

Courtesy from the folks at the camaros.net forum at this link: http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=163374

I will be making a few modifications to this jig per Page 5 (post 61) of that link. I like moving the rear casters further towards the back to increase stability. As a side note, I would like to thank the folks at that forum for providing that information! Also, I have cross-referenced and double checked all measurements to the original Fisher Body Manual for a 1969 Camaro. Everything seems to be in check.

I believe I'll have the jig welded up within the next 2 weeks. I will try to get pictures as I can. Looking forward to dropping the body onto the jig! My plan of attack after this will be floor pan, then fixing the very rear of frame rails (leaf spring mounts rotted), then trunk pan.

Here is a current pic:



Thank you all for your posts! I am not the best at keeping an up to date to blog, but I will do what I can!

-Brian

P.S. After seeing these pics uploaded...I can't wait to upgrade to a new phone...I have a Galaxy S3 and my buddy's Galaxy S6 Edge is incredibly better.

[TheJDMan]

I would recommend that you don't cut out any more of the body structure until you can get it properly supported to avoid distortion. Do you have a welder? If not take a look at some of the 110v MIG welders from Eastwood. Just make sure what ever MIG you buy can use shielding gas.