what I have been up to project
 

Since I bought my rusty 67 camaro convertible here are some pictures of the restorationhttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1349316479.jpg
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I also have more pictures I will share when I have a chance this has been a fun project and pretty straight forward as all the panels are available. paint by christmas is the plan

Fun project? That's a labor of love!

Looks like you would have better off just buying all the pieces & welding a new one together.

You are a better man than I am!

Keep the updates and pix coming.

It looks like that's pretty much what he's doing!

That will be like a new car when it's done.

You paid like $48.37 for all that new sheetmetal, too - didn't you.

Nice work - that's going to be sweet when it is done. Looking really good!

So you're basically building a brand new car then?:p

Do they sell a "body in white" for the Camaro? I know they do for a Mustang. Swap in your engine, transmission, interior, suspension, etc and you've got a brand new car. Add your old VIN tag and call it done.

Yeah they sell complete new shells with doors, firewall,etc for $12k I will have $2.5k in new sheet metal for this car and yes basically new.

As to labor you would be surprised I have done a time study and to this point from driving the car into the shop until the pictures was only 30 hours of labor.

I have about 6 more hours of welding and putting new sheet metal on I also have to skin the doors then blend/grind spot welds and seam seal and epoxy prime and then start blocking out the car for paint.

finish driver side all up including a-pillar and toe boards. I completed the passanger side frame rail and trunk floor extension today . cold galved everything that is not getting welded or painted with anything and will get the inners welded in this week and have 1/4 hung by next week monday/tuesdayhttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1349815886.jpg

this is what it looked like when I got ithttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1349816056.jpg
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any thoughts on the stripes? I was thinking white ss hood/trunk stripes or possibly black to offset the white top?? the car will be red as will the interior. I thought about the hockey stick stripe or the bumble bee like it had. What say you???

I would lean toward a black bumblebee nose stripe with no pinstripes on the fender and door, or nothing... but that's just me... I tend to like the understated or sano look.

For instance, I much prefer the way a Cobra's lines are shown off without the typical double stripe.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1349820898.jpg

Ditto for no stripes on the Shelby Mustang, but most people want to restore them to look like the originals, and I don't know if they were ever sold without stripes.

But look at lots of photos of '67 convertibles online and decide what you like best and go with that. The great thing about a project like this is that you can do it the way you like best.

the cowl hood is the issue and to be honest that was the best piece of metal on the car ironically.

should I keep the trailer hitch;) jk I just turned in all the rusty metal today got $55 dollars from the scrap yard and only spent 2.5k on new metal

George Washingtons axe comes to mind.

Very awesome Ben. Going to be beautiful. I like the idea of the white top and white cowl striping. Original.

Mark,

yeah I think that is how I am leaning as performance wise it is going to be a sheep as it is only a 350 with a 350 hydromatic and headers so nothing special just yet maybe someday.

Wow, that's amazing...
 

I'm jealous that you know how to weld sheet metal like that and I'm jealous that you have a home shop where you can do a resto that involved. Awesome!!

Who makes all that reproduction sheet metal? I knew that it was available for those cars, just wondering if it's made in U.S.A. or China or (?) :cool:

I think year one makes a lot of that stuff, no idea if it is Chineses steel or not.

Always like the '67+'68 Camaros best. I like the '69 bucket seats though, higher back

Saw a pristine '67 with the hideaway lights, RS at the store yesterday. That pale yellow with the black stripe on the nose, very cool.

Sorry guys for the late reply,

There are tons of places selling the replacement sheet metal but for the most part everything comes from china, Tiwan, etc I did hear that AMD just started making panels in the US but I have not seen them yet but I have heard 20% more so I would try them next time

The thing I've never figured out in life:
How to weld up bare soft-steel panel connections, while keeping all surfaces protected before and after...

Somewhere there's a gap, and a potential for rust. Rust never sleeps.

Thats for sure. I figure EP will help but I will never own this car long enough to have it rust again. to be honest It will probably be for sale as soon as its done and move onto the next thing. I am not sure though as I have never driven a 1st gen camaro so dont know if I will like it or not

I would think the ragtops would be pretty flexible.

Definitely want front disc brakes, always liked those rally wheels

I am not sure how flexy they are. I am at the point where I could seem weld everything as I have already spot welded everything and that would add some strength over how they were from the factory. I think this car will only be a grocery getter around town car anyhow so not sure how far I need to go if I want a car to handle and not flex I will buy another 911.

I can tell you that after working on this car I understand the ls conversions on the 911's I see now..

The rallys are poving to be difficult to find as my car came with later 70's rallys in 14" and new tires. so I have been looking for 14X7 rallys from the 60's and everyone thinks there worth 500-1000 and I just cant pay that much for a steel wheel. It just seems wrong.

I have never driven a 4 wheel drum brake car before either so I may upgrade later on to disc brakes after this thing is painted and back together

You could always go with reproduction wheels. I know I have seen them somewhere. My brother was looking for wheels for his Barracuda and said he found some.

Here is a wheel and tire package for $1100 for 4, 14" is more for some reason Better options for tires in 15" anyway

Camaro Parts | 1967-1969 | 15" X 7" CHEVROLET RALLY WHEEL AND BF GOODRICH T/A RADIAL RAISED WHITE LETTER TIRE COMBO SET | Classic Industries

Just be glad you are not looking for some oddball thing, like an Oldsmobile or AMC

Yeah saw those problem is my total budget on the car was 12K including buying the car and so far I am going to meet that with complete brand new interior, top, metal, trim, and fresh paint. so I am being cheap it is my personaly goal to do it for that price not a total requirement but I like the idea of it.

Great project, Ben!

here is as of today. I pulled the engine from the subframe and then loaded for sand blasting. I may skip watching the packer game tonight and do some more welding. not sure yethttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1350236481.jpg
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also my helper is pictured

I got the passanger side 1/4 fit up and will tack on tuesday. I am feeling pretty good . I looked and I bought this car mid august so moving pretty good on it.

I just saw that they're doing a '67 Camaro on Overhaulin' tonight... 8 Eastern on Discovery... it might repeat later.

I saw it was dissapointed as the car was pretty nice as it was. Why not do a car that wasa real project.

here are some more pictures to sharehttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1350737777.jpg
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Wow.

Hope you got your tetanus shot before you started!! Very nice job.

Those plastic gas jugs in the backround make me a bit nervous though.

Gotta remember I do this every day so I where the proper clothing to protect myself. also gas cans get moved 20' from welding area when welding is happening.

You may have notice Shed was a mess but the mustang has been sold and things moved around to make things safer.

I am on track to have 90% welding done this week then grinding/blending the following week and Epoxy primed the following

Gonna go pick up some 14X7 rally's today for $250 complete.

Wow, what a project!!!

As it always goes I found a set of 14X7 rally wheels last night for $75 for the set after I picked up my set saturday:( oh well .. anyhow today I sand blasted everything took a couple of hours and then of course got caught in the rain. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1350934934.jpg
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Gonna weld the cross brace in tuesday along with passenger side toe board.

Regarding brakes, take a look at the Summitt Racing disc conversion kits. I was planning on around $300 to do a full overhaul on my Mustang rear drums, but the rear disc brake conversion was only about $400. To me that seems like a no-brainer, and absolutely the direction I go when I start that project.

I will definatly check that out.