Project Wicked First Gen

[AJ_McPherson]

Before anyone says it.... Yes this is another First Gen Camaro Project. ...Now that that is out of the way this is what i have.

1968 Camaro was a 350 Auto car with manual everything Drum brakes on all 4 all the "best" in technology from the 60's.... Ok not really but it was a OK driver car. Nothing too fancy but it was my first car. And the first real project that i ever really worked on with my dad.



He Passed away from cancer in 2005 and I always wanted to restore the car in his memory. I started in 06 with the paint job and had a co worker of mine paint it for me... I also let him "replace" the floorpans... more on that later.


Last winter i blew the engine in the car and decided i wanted to go with a LS engine and T-56 trans. I started pulling the car apart and long story short it snow balled into a full build project. Getting an chance to drive Brian Finch's car didn't help my decision making when trying to build a budget car....



The Plan:

Fix the attempts at restoration on the car... (well underway)
DSE Sub Frame
DSE quadralink
DSE Deep Tubs
Sub Frame Connectors
LS3 Engine
T-56 Trans
Roll Cage
C6 ZO6 Vette Brakes
Of Course in big BFG rubber
Possibly streching the rear quarters and flaring the front fenders for bigger rubber. (Again its Brian Finch's fault)



As always encouragement, comments, outbursts, ect are welcomed....

[AJ_McPherson]

The BAD:

Old Subframe







The Firewall (Someone "Smoothed" it!)



I found about an inch of bondo in it.....



The (Repaired) Floorpans




Notice the lack of a full weld around the repaired area. And the remaining Rust.

The Trunk Pan






I so glad someone fiberglassed that for me...

Outer rear Fender wells



As i dig in more ill post anything else i find...

[dontlifttoshift]

I always say, "if its ugly, drill holes in it", that is the coolest subframe ever in the history of subframes. Tell me it's hanging on the wall somewhere.

[tommycomfort]

Good to see you on here AJ! We're looking forward to keeping up with the build.

[AJ_McPherson]

Thanks Tom... However do not hold your breath. Its going to be a slow build as i get funds and time to work on it. I'm trying to get a lot of the deconstruction done this winter and hopefully have something that resembles a car again early next year. As of now my Firewall, outer cowls, floor, and trunk are all out of the car.

[KnightMare]

Heck you should see how bad my Camaro is. At least you got fiberglass, I've got floor pans riveted in in and rust repaired with expanding foam. Good luck

[T.K.]

if you have to take the floor out already take a look at a full frame from one of our sponsors like art morrison. you wont have to meld a quadralink, subframe, and subframe connectors together. itll take a bit more custom floor work if you get the inner frame as well, but you can save some money and have a super ridgid foundation to start from

[AJ_McPherson]

T.K. Thanks for the Comment. I have looked into the full frame products. But, I'm pretty set on using the Detroit Speed stuff they are great people and their products more than speak for themselves. Plus I already have the Quadralink and Ford 9" that goes with it. I will be adding a Full Roll Cage and 2"X3" steel crossmember to support the rear of the Transmission and another near where the Rear Frame rails end. The car should have plenty torsional rigidity for what I'm doing.

[AJ_McPherson]

Small Update...

I got the Side Cowl Panels fully removed. what a job... would have been easier with a plasma cutter and knowledge of the best way to remove it... One side was dented the other was rusted. :( Luckily they are fairly cheap panels so its just time.



Hopefully I'll get the underdash area media blasted this weekend. I'm not sure how deep the rust goes.

[Todd in Vancouver]

Great job taking the car down to the bones. Really like how you are taking the time to do it right and what a great way to remember your Dad and do the job right. Good luck with this build and I will certainly be watching your progress no matter how long it takes.

[ramrod]

i can't believe that subframe!! how much weight possibly could have been saved??...4 or 5 pounds? all at the expense of rigidity. but hey - at least they're symetrical.
you could have reinforced it by filling the holes with that new "structural foam" - you know - the kind that comes in the can. yeah, they also use it to seal windows.

[AJ_McPherson]

Haha Donny its not hanging on my wall of shame yet.... The holes saved 3 pounds over a stock subframe.... Too much redneck ingenuity went into "restoring" this car long ago. I didn't find any "structural foam" but i did find about 5 pounds of RTV that was used in an attempt to stop the water leaks. as you can see from my missing side cowl panels it didn't work.

[AJ_McPherson]

Well I found a little more surprises when Media Blasting the Tub today. Rust in the lower outer Rocker Panels.





the Bondo is three layers deep and about 1/8 to 3/16 thick. The inside of the Rockers were also heavily pitted. When the car was last painted the painter found heavy rust in the lower doors so i had a feeling the rockers would be similar.

The good news is the door pillars look good and clear of any rust.



Blasting will continue until the car is fully stripped.

[RS_Customs]

Hi Aj,

Very cool to see you working on the car. Will be good to see you thrashing on your car at the events (instead of the rentals lol).

Robert

[AJ_McPherson]

I really need to change the name of this project to "Project Bondo Removal" lots of bondo was added to change the body lines i guess. Its a pain in my a$% today. I found 3 layers of paint the Bright Red that you see above a little darker red and light metallic blue which was the factory color. the DA sander, Wire Wheel, and Media blaster are getting a workout this month.