Where to start?

[devin]

I just want some pointers/advice/suggestions/experience of successes and failures. I mainly need help with the mechanically stuff (motor, trans, rear end, suspension, exhaust, etc). The cost is not a major concern (within reason of course), I just want a fast and reliable weekend toy and that can cruise the hwy, carve corners, and smoke the tires for blocks!



Thanks in advance for all your help!

[Piet]

Welcome Devin,

There is so much to your first post, it is hard to know where to begin.
1) Firstly, there is a lot of 67-69 Camaro talent here. Good place to come.
2) When you say "I don’t know that much about mechanical stuff"... what is your expectation about building a car. What kind of work are you thinking you will do Vs. contract out?
3) When you say "The cost is not a major concern " what does that mean? $10,000... or $100,000... or in the middle?
4) When you say "10 sec ¼ mile "... are you expecting to put in a roll cage?
5) When you say "Can cruise the hwy"... 1 passenger or 3? (do you expect to keep a back seat?)
6) Do you HAVE a car already??? or are you expecting to build one?

After all that... Welcome... you are in for an addictive ride.

[devin]

Welcome Devin,

There is so much to your first post, it is hard to know where to begin.
1) Firstly, there is a lot of 67-69 Camaro talent here. Good place to come.
2) When you say "I don’t know that much about mechanical stuff"... what is your expectation about building a car. What kind of work are you thinking you will do Vs. contract out?
3) When you say "The cost is not a major concern " what does that mean? $10,000... or $100,000... or in the middle?
4) When you say "10 sec ¼ mile "... are you expecting to put in a roll cage?
5) When you say "Can cruise the hwy"... 1 passenger or 3? (do you expect to keep a back seat?)
6) Do you HAVE a car already??? or are you expecting to build one?

After all that... Welcome... you are in for an addictive ride.

ill answer those questions for you:
2) i wont be able to do any work myself, i have no tools/skills. I have many friends with shops who build cars, so ill be contracting out all of the work, but i wont be paying shop prices.
3) My idea of a budget was around $50k cdn (40k US).
4) If it needs a roll cage, we can put one in. Something stealth.
5) Id like to keep the back seat, if possible, but i will only ever have myself and a passenger in it. Back seat would just be nice to keep, but its not a necessity. By cruising hwy i meant cruising at 70mph at a reasonable rpm (ie: tranny selection: 3spd with OD?)
6) I do not have a car yet. I think that will be the hardest part--finding a worthy car!

Thanks for ur help so far!

[Piet]

Where are you located?

[devin]

Canada. Vancouver, BC

[indyjps]

first off send me $100,000 certified funds and all be in touch when you car is done,
no really selecting a car will be your first step, if your in canada finding a rust free car might be tough, but youll be time and $ ahead if you can start with something solid. might even look into a solid painted car that you just have to do suspension and drivetrain work on. if youre not looking to do the work yourself you might look into a finished car or a partially finished car that has quality workmanship. keep us posted.

[devin]

first off send me $100,000 certified funds and all be in touch when you car is done,
no really selecting a car will be your first step, if your in canada finding a rust free car might be tough, but youll be time and $ ahead if you can start with something solid. might even look into a solid painted car that you just have to do suspension and drivetrain work on. if youre not looking to do the work yourself you might look into a finished car or a partially finished car that has quality workmanship. keep us posted.

What about those companies that build fiberglass bodies?? One i know of is Promax (www.vennom.com).

Many people i have spoken with said to begin designing the car u want, and see if it is doable. This is why i made this post before i have even found a car; but i am begining my search for one. I just wanna have an idea of what im building before i start!

[Andrew McBride]

I agree with Indy about finding a good solid base car to begin with. I wish I would have found a solid car up front. As much time and money as I have in my 68 I am a prime example that a guy can go out and buy a nice car and add the suspension he wants and be money ahead of the guy who does a nut and bolt restoration. Steve Rupp had an idea awhile back about looking for a Pro-street car and turning it into a PT set-up. Since Pro-street is kinda a thing of the past for many you tend to see a few of those cars up for sale. That could be a solution. I would recommend buying a couple books. First off check out David Possi's web site and Tony Huntimer has a book on pro-touring cars that you can purchase which gives a great deal of insider towards suspension geometry and everything else about a PT car. Like mentioned above: Figure out what you are going to do with the car: street use, track and street, drag. There are guys that are involved in all 3 and have killer cars. What kind of engine do you have in mind. 40K will go by quickly if the car is not planned out properly especially with a guy contracting out work.
Welcome to the board! and good luck with the car search.

Andrew

[devin]

The car will be 99% street. I would probably take it to the strip once just to get a 1/4 mile time. I think the best thing for me finding a car is to find one that someone has completed the body work, but for some reason couldnt finish the project.

[Steve Chryssos]

Where to begin?
RULE#1:
Forget about the hot rod and, BUY REAL ESTATE INSTEAD!!

RULE#2: If you must ignore Rule#1, then start with the nicest car possible. If you get it right, that starting point will consume at least 50% of your 40K.
The following website chronicles a build with similar initial goals. (Nowadays, you will have to get creative if you want to meet your goals and stay within budget.)

Tony Whatley's 69

[devin]

Thanks for the continued help! FYI - i already bought a condo for me and my gf to live in, and i bought a house for rental purposes. The car is just a toy that i want/need

Where to begin?
RULE#1:
Forget about the hot rod and, BUY REAL ESTATE INSTEAD!!

RULE#2: If you must ignore Rule#1, then start with the nicest car possible. If you get it right, that starting point will consume at least 50% of your 40K.
The following website chronicles a build with similar initial goals. (Nowadays, you will have to get creative if you want to meet your goals and stay within budget.)

Tony Whatley's 69

[ProdigyCustoms]

How about a new steel body 69 Convertible. There is a place in Florida (us) that could hook you up with a rolling car taken to any level of completetion you desire, with any suspension, rolling stock, horsepower, whatever your heart and pocket book desire.

[Steve Chryssos]

I forgot about the new bodies.

Yeah! Do that.

[third base]

Good Call! I would definetly do that instead of trying to find a good body.

[devin]

How about a new steel body 69 Convertible. There is a place in Florida (us) that could hook you up with a rolling car taken to any level of completetion you desire, with any suspension, rolling stock, horsepower, whatever your heart and pocket book desire.

do u guys only do convertibles? id rather a hardtop, but would take a vert if thats all u guys make. I know with actual older verts, most ppl dont have high hp motors b/c the body can twist...is that an issue with ur bodies?

[David Pozzi]

I'd rather have a coupe, better torsional rigidity, lower weight/cost.

Check out the cars Detroit Speed builds, they do awsome work and are a good example.
http://www.detroitspeed.com

[colt zantop]

I can say detroit speed is TOP notch......They did quite a bit of work on my 68. they are detailed, and awesome to work with.....

[vanzuuk1]

sometimes it's better to just buy a "done" car and adjust it to your taste. You said your contracting it all out , why not spend a few months shopping for a sweet car? look at all the cars on this site that have swapped owners.Take your time , I looked at cars for almost a year and there were really only a handful in my price range that were right for me.I looked at every car I could so I would know the right one when I saw it. The guys on this site know their s@#$ and tonys book is awesome , also davids website. Also careful with the inheritance !

[smooth]

Why not go different, front drive car converted to rear?Everybody has camaros,mustangs,etc. It'snot really that expensive to do. I have always wanted to do a mid 80s toronado.Just somthing to think about. Tim

[ProdigyCustoms]

Convertibles is all that are being built right now. We are looking at converting them to hardtops also, but not yet. We can put HP in convertibles, check out the website. Look at Projects, current projects.