I'm extremely new to restorations, and even automobile work at all. However, I managed to acquire a 1967 plain Jane Camaro (originally a straight 6) cheap (I traded a friend of mine for a boat I never used). The Camaro had been sitting outside for 6 years and I didn't make the trade until we actually managed to get it running and inspection worthy. It had sat with a full tank of gas for that long, so we had to replace the gas tank, the fuel pump and everything between.

I drove it last summer and then decide I would strip it down and paint it since it looked a bit weathered, to say the least. Turns out he had paid a friend of his a while back to replace the engine with an early 70's 350 and to do some body work. His friend worked at a body shop, but didn't actually do body work, so he got a lot done for aroun $300 including a paint job. I started out thinking I would just do a cosmetic job by patching and painting the outside visible areas. Two weeks and 3 drill bits later, I finally got the front bumber off. Since I know I'm never going to want to do this again, I figure I need to take all my medicine at one time, so I started taking the front end apart.

Anyway, I know I'll have more questions as I go - seeing as this is my first time - but for now I've got three questions.

1) I'm still working on getting all the tools I need, and I've got a stubborn bolt question. So far, I've gotten one fender and wheel well off, but the other one is giving me some trouble. I've got three bolts that I can't figure out, but only two that are critical right now. There's the one closest to the wheel holding the fender extension on that's too rusted and/or stripped to budge. I can get to both the top and bottom of it, but no wrench seems to fit it. There's also the one behind the wheel well that goes through the fender, wheel well, and a flange on the firewall. That one moves, but it just spins, and I can't get to the back of it. I've got an air die grinder and was thinking of grinding the heads off of these bolts, is that the right way to do it?

2) The rear quarters are toast around and behind the rear wheels (one has a small dent near the door too). I can get 90% quarter skins for around $100. How much is average for a shop to put the quarter skins on?

3) I know my friend got plates welded into the floor pans when he had work done. I haven't dismantled the interior yet, and was hoping to finish the outside restoration before looking there. Is it a mistake to put that off? Would I be able to fix that up later, or would it be easier to do it now when I've got the front end apart?

I apologize for the novice questions, but hey, there'll be another nice '67 on the road when I'm done. http://www.camaros.net/forum/smile.gif

--Kryczech

1- Sounds like a good plan to me.
2- Haven't got a clue http://www.camaros.net/forum/frown.gif
3- SAFETY items first, then whatever way you want. But you should at least have an idea of whats ahead of you. No point to ruin/scratch/dent a fresh paint job because of some more welding in the floor pans.
rick

Grind off the heads of those bolts. The 1 at the extensions is held on by a u nut from behind, the 1 at the fender has a nut thats built into the cowel frame, for this 1 u will have to weld a new nut in its place when you go to reinstall. Its best to look at the floor now and all other rust known spots of 1st gen cam. so that you have agood idea whats going to be needed to be replaced and welded down the road.

Thanks for the replies.

It's a good thing I went ahead and looked at the floor pans, gonna have to replace them. Three sections were patched with tin sheets screwed in from the top and bottom, but behind the drivers seat, I could reach the road with a good heel to the floor. I also figured out why the rear end was leaning towards the driver's side - the bracket holding the front of the leaf spring is pushed up into the floor.

Thanks again.

--Brad