let us begin!

[absintheisfun]

technical issues....

[796spdbu]

I dont get it.

[absintheisfun]

sorry, got the hosting issues fixed...

I don't know if I should be excited that I get such a challenge, or absolutely furious that my car was in this condition!

I bought this car for $5,500 when I was 17...in 1994. I can't track down a picture now, but here ya go with the description.
1967 Camaro, 400HP 350ci, Turbo400 trans painted bright red with white racing stripes.


I put it in storage when I went into the Marine Corps, and now I've decided to completely rebuild it...only problem is that the more I look, the more I realize I got screwed those 13 years ago! I bought on beauty....oh what a shame. Since the tear down, here is just a small list of the "MASSIVE ISSUES" I have discovered:

1. Driver seat only attached by 3 mounting screws
2. Passenger seat only attached by 2 mounting screws!
3. No seat belts in rear (I know its not a big deal since no one was allowed to ride in the back) but COME ON!
4. Floor pan patches were installed, but just freaking barely! holes and breaks in the welds were covered up with tar. In some places, I can actually stick a putty knife through them!
5. Rust in all areas wasn't corrected or patched...it was covered up with tar (interior) or body filler (exterior).
6. Frame bent
7. Guy put quarter panel skins on and “hung” them. To cover up the fact that there was a panel overlap, he put on ¼ inch of bondo!
8. holes that were poked into the trans tunnel to accept shift cables were covered up with…now get this, a 1/8 inch sheet of steel…attached with WOOD SCREWS!, and of course more tar!
9. two of the body mounts were so badly cracked and damaged that they have actually begun separating from the car!
the list goes on, believe me...but my hands are tired from typing angry! lol
At this point, I'm just thankful that I survived driving it for 2 years!


In its current state:
The whole sha-bang:


The trans tunnel holes are visible after the removal of the metal plate:


rust, covered in a mix of tar, paint and seam sealer:


Poorly done floor patches…covered in tar, paint and seam sealer:


The obvious rust in the trunk (although this too was hidden under trunk spatter paint!):


The “hidden” rust in the trunk (notice the body filler INSIDE the pitting!):



And my favorite….metal patch held in by seam sealer. That’s right, absolutely NO WELDS! Seam sealer is the only thing holding this piece in here! The top peal is the seam sealer, the lower one is the metal patch.

[mikesz]

I feel your pain. My 67 was like that. It took me 2 hours of scraping and tugging an pulling to get the carpet out because the previous owner coated the ENTIRE rusted out floor with tar and the carpet had melted into it. Patches in my car were not even metal, they were fiberglass covered in tar. I spent weeks with a torch and putty knife or mineral spirits and a wire brush (and a mineral spirit buzz) getting that tar out. And then I ended up cutting out the entire floor anyway!

The body was so rusted out the previous owner had to stuff the holes with newspaper so the body filler would not fall through before it cured. The car had new partial quarters but they were pop riveted on and covered in 3/4 inch of lead at the seams. The roof was so rusted around the window channels (vinyl top car) that the roof was pretty much separated from the car in that area.

The frame was so rusted around the body mounts that the front end was sagging so bad the rag joint would bind and lift the front of the car some when you turned the wheel.

I bought the car when I was 15 with my dad. I know allot better now and am working to make it right. I have cut so much off the car that I doubt it weighs more than 200lbs.

Mike

[absintheisfun]

I knew that I couldn't have been the only one to experience it...but damn it feels good hearing I'm not the only one! sorry about your surpizes!

[Widetracker]

Do you guys have any suggestions for getting tar out other than scraping? My 69 convertible is lucky enough to have a whole trunk full of it! How did the torch work out? The thought crossed my mind, but visions of the whole trunk on fire kept me from it. Mineral spirits is one idea I haven't tried yet.

[mikesz]

Do you guys have any suggestions for getting tar out other than scraping? My 69 convertible is lucky enough to have a whole trunk full of it! How did the torch work out? The thought crossed my mind, but visions of the whole trunk on fire kept me from it. Mineral spirits is one idea I haven't tried yet.

You don't list your location but if it's cold where you are I would try putting the car outside to chill the tar. This might make it come off in chunks easier. Mineral spirits and a torch (used separately!) both worked but made a mess so be sure to cover your floor with something. I don’t think I had a problem with the tar burning with the torch but my patches had fiberglass under the tar that burnt nicely. A wire wheel on an angle grinder also worked well once you had most of the tar off, otherwise it just moves the tar around.

Mike

[1971novaSS]

I thought just plain rust was bad! Guess i got lucky. I would have been Ticked off to the core if i found TAR! I dont understand why people wouldn't take an extra weekend to fix the rust properly? It doesn't take to much experience and know-how to weld in metal! Obviosly they can put down tar!! BAH, some people ya just want to find and smack around a lil. <--- this is what will happen when i find someone who tars rust.

Rennskii

[Widetracker]

I'm in Ohio, and yes its cold. I haven't tried scraping since its been cold- worth a try I guess. The same genius also painted my red convertible brown because he thought brown was the original color. He even looked up the paint codes and still confused it...

[zman1969]

i have seen alot worse! and at least all is available to fix it its really your choice if you fix it right you then will knw exactly what you have , or take a chance on another car with other hidden issues,i know what I'd rather do , good luck and enjoy the challenge
oh BTW i see that sawzall hanging on the wall thats a good tool to start with

[69TAPoser]

i have seen alot worse! and at least all is available to fix it its really your choice if you fix it right you then will knw exactly what you have , or take a chance on another car with other hidden issues,i know what I'd rather do , good luck and enjoy the challenge

I agree. I was VERY disappointed once I got into my car too. But as z-man says, what can you do? Take your chances on another car? You will have the satisfaction of knowing that it is done right.

...Mine ended up going all the way down to the skeleton and firewall (no body panels or frame).

Phil

[F70t/a]

not a bad start, goiod luck with it