Now that LB is 17 and learning to drive, he asked about driving the Camaro when it is finished. My first response was "over my dead body". Well, I kept that one inside and told him he is more than welcome to drive the Camaro when it is finished. I will be sitting next to him and he must help me finish it. So, Saturday, there was LB under the car with me, removing the front suspension and dropping the subframe for a makeover. Father and son. I forgot how easy it is for a 17 year old to crawl under the car and spring back up. He learned a few things as well. He wanted to know why we where pulling the subframe and I explained to him I was not happy with the work I did 14 years ago so it is being repainted and cleaned up. I then told him he is painting it. I told him I have the paint gun and i will show him how to do it. After all these years, he has some interest and is eager to learn and LB finally gets to wield a gun.

Thats great, Codi...the way its supposed to be :thumbsup:

Codi I hear ya on kids. My youngest daughter 21, decided to sign up for gun safety course with her girlfriend. THey both got their accredidation and she got 100% on the final written test... she never had expressed any interest in my deer hunting other than to say, when do we get more sausage. Now she might go deer hunting with her boyfriend this winter... go figure :thumbsup:

Ahhh! The times you will forever remember. Enjoy those father-son projects while you can.

All my children....The 1st car they drove was the Camaro...before even their 1st driving lesson...Drivers lincence in NZ is 15 yrs
1st took them out, with no warning, into a paddock...stopped. I got out and walked around to their door and told them to get out...no explanations.
I then sat in the passengers seat and told them to get behind the wheel and drive..
the look on their face is something I will always cherish, and the experiance for them...well ...they will always have memory "the !st car I drove was a 1st Gen matching numbers Camaro"
Then a few days later, I did the same, except this time around roads where new subdivisions where being built.

In NZ this is a bigger deal
1/Camaros are rare and only basically seen at shows
2/It is left hook and we drive on the left hand side of the road
3/Most of the cars in NZ are jappa (imports) and 4 cylinder

None of them have ever driven the Camaro since, and know better than to ask....they where told, when I KNOW they are no longer boy racers, THEN they can drive it.
I forgot how easy it is for a 17 year old to crawl under the car and spring back up. He learned a few things as well. He wanted to know why we where pulling the subframe and I explained to him I was not happy with the work I did 14 years ago so it is being repainted and cleaned up. I then told him he is painting it. I told him I have the paint gun and i will show him how to do it. After all these years, he has some interest and is eager to learn and LB finally gets to wield a gun

Yep tried that, BUT, by 17 they had saved up, got their own cars, and where already messing around with turbos and boy racer stuff on their own.
Thu now they wait eggerly for me to die and who is going to get the Camaro !!!!

My son is an adult, but has built many exotic cars from the dead. Now we have the 69 Chevelle SS and it now looks pretty nice. He drives it more than me. Funny, it rides a lot smoother than the 68 Camaro:D

Super! Glad he is taking an interest now. You know that is the main reason I bought mine...for some father-son bonding.

Of course...be ready when he wants to take it out by himself..:eek:..or with friends...:eek::eek::eek: (Thank goodness my boy is only going on 8...)

Thats great that your sons have interest in the Camaro or cars in general. My son was trapped in the video game craze late 90s to a few years ago. Now he is into imports with "Duck Fart" mufflers. Oh well...can't say I didn't try :)


Kev

Thats great he's taking an interest! When I was 13 my pops got me into cars with a 69 Z/28, he gave me the choice either I could buy it or he would. We restored it in '91 father/son project. I've had it for19 years and I thank him for getting me into this obsession.http://beer

I let my 17 yr old drive mine usually only while I am in the car.I have let him take it to grade 11 auto shop twice this year by himself to work on.He is very trustworthy and really respects the old mans 69 vert

Thats soo good doing that together, You will have to let him drive after all the help. The good part is if he helps he will respect how much goes into this and not take the same chances he would if it just fell into his lap. Win Win

You are so right, father and son time. Usually when the wife sees me working on the Camaro, she gets upset. This time she saw two pairs of feet and never said a word. LB is still in fantasy land, talking about Lambos and Ferraris. If he sticks with it, he will learn about cars and also learn a Lambo is neat, but not practicle. With luck (and no honey do list), LB and I will be shooting primer and sanding this weekend.

Those are cool stories! I hope I one day will be able to do these things with my sons. They are only 10 & 12 but we hunt together and play hockey together and have good quality time together. Hopefully, I can get them into Camaros' - together with me.
I figured I'd fix the 67 (for me to use - only) and then get 2 68's or 69's for them to fix (together with me) and use once they're old enough. I'd hate to see them wreck a nice car with vent windows..;)

I'm trying to get my eight year old interested in my projects. He does not seem too interested right now no matter what I do. Then, the other day he was helping me pump up the jack under the front of the car and when I lifted up the floor jack handle it hit him under the chin, he started crying and his mom had to come and rescue him. I'm not doing so good but I'll keep trying!