Well it seems like everyone has their own little project thread going on, so, i figured, why not make one of my own!

The whole thing started...well....a long time ago....in a galaxy far far away....lol...well..not the galaxy part :p. But a buddy of mine has always liked the classics, but just never had the opportunity to be involved in this culture of ours. Well after a few years of helping me with my 'stang, he comes up to me and was like.. "hey, I've got an old van with a 350 in it, what cha think?? :cool: "

and so that started the whole ordeal.

and so it began with a chevy van that was the "gladiator" model, and this is what we did for a weekend:

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v1780/176/21/1278690201/n1278690201_30098414_100.jpg



http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v1780/176/21/1278690201/n1278690201_30098417_1233.jpg



Needless to say, that tractor lifted up the front of that chevy van pretty easily :D, and we dropped it out the back.

Well so now we had a motor, and after some contemplation, etc. etc. we started building on the engine. Mainly becuase we couldn't find a decent camaro for the right price yet.

So in the motor, we've got:

9.7 : 1 dome hyperutec pistons
forged I-beam connecting rods
standard crank
Trcik flow "Twised wedge" aluminum heads (195 cc intake runners, 64 cc combustion chambers)
roller rockers
STILL a hydrolic flat tappet
Comp cam (somewhere in the ~263*I/254*E and .541"/.512" can't remember exactly off the top of my head)

waiting on:

Edelbrock performer Air gap intake
700 CFM holley 4bbl (2 corner dbl pmp) vac seccondaries/ mech. choke


and in its current state, it looks a bit like this:

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v1980/176/21/1278690201/n1278690201_30106798_6898.jpg





About ~a month goes by, and we cam accross the camaro. A guy had it up in the cities, and granted, its not in the most perfect shape, we got it for the right price. So here's the moment you've ALL been waiting for, the car:

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2157/176/21/1278690201/n1278690201_30117614_1291.jpg

and some pics of our current progress:

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2157/176/21/1278690201/n1278690201_30117637_1412.jpg





http://photos-f.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-snc1/v2157/176/21/1278690201/n1278690201_30123589_4523.jpg


http://photos-a.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-snc1/v2157/176/21/1278690201/n1278690201_30123600_1446.jpg








If i've got any questions, you can be sure I'll post them in here, so I'd appreciate it if you guys checked in!

thanks

http://photos-h.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-snc1/v2157/176/21/1278690201/n1278690201_30123599_497.jpg



durring:

http://photos-f.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-snc1/v2157/176/21/1278690201/n1278690201_30123597_8618.jpg


After:

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii35/jlangholzj/IMG_0815.jpg

On your way now. Your car looks like it is a decent car to start with, better shape then the one I picked up this summer anyway.

Good luck and keep up the updates.

On your way now. Your car looks like it is a decent car to start with, better shape then the one I picked up this summer anyway.

Good luck and keep up the updates.


thanks!

there's alot your not seeing though....the PO just put skins over the dented front quarters, so we're putting in a whole new front clip baisically, and partial floors with new rear quarters and a new tail piece along with the deck tray.


true its better than some, but you just haven't seen her ugly side :D

I'm still glad that we're saving a classic. :cool:

Welcome to Team Camaro John! Look forward to following along with your build. It very interesting to see the different skills, designs, and tastes that these builds display. Jeff:beers:

Just a few days ago I saw the proud owner of a 'new' project car trailering it to somewhere. Next to his, your car looks almost brand new. Good luck with it.

Just a few days ago I saw the proud owner of a 'new' project car trailering it to somewhere. Next to his, your car looks almost brand new. Good luck with it.


:p

after reading about terry's project 68' , i feel alot better about ours too! :D




first question i've got for you guys, its been a while since i've worked with bondo. I know there's a few different types/kinds out there. And albeit a ways before we get to prep, what is everyones favorite mud??

also, our toe boards and rear seat pans are very solid. So all we'll be putting in are the middle floor pans. After looking around at some other guy's projects, everyone braces their frames before cutting. But then again, everyone is putting in full floors too :p. My question is will we have to brace the rockers and what else before we start cutting, or will we not have to worry about it?

thanks!

Bump on the floor pan question, but here are some recent progress pics:


http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2157/176/21/1278690201/n1278690201_30125901_1095.jpg




out of focus...but oh well :P

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2157/176/21/1278690201/n1278690201_30125903_3248.jpg




both doors are done sanding, and the roof! :hurray:

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2157/176/21/1278690201/n1278690201_30125904_4290.jpg

hey guys, there's been some progress that's been made, I've just not had enough time to upload pics.


a few questions though:


we're planning on putting in full floor pans (minus the pan under the rear seat). and I've heard "brace brace and BRACE! it before you cut" my question is, alot of you guys that have done this have the whole car torn appart when you work on it. My theory is, the roof, quarters, rockers and firewall are all in tact, where can the thing go? Should we still brace it, only not as extensively??

also, for alignment, I'm planning on leaving the front bolts of the sub frames attached, and supporting the entire car to the floor, along with the rear of the sub frames. That way, when the pans get cut out, we can be sure of where the proper locations for the sub-frame attachments under the seat pans are. The tranny tunnel is planning on staying in place during the replacement of the pans.

I guess in general, I've never had to replace floor pans before, but it seems to me that by supporting the frame and the body relative to the floor, and with the roof/quarters/firewall/rocker panels all in place, there shouldn't be too much of an issue with things getting out of alignment? (or am i smokin dope?)


lastly, the name "belairbob" seems to be floating around as a pretty good place for replacement metal. We're looking for a good source for the quarters/trunk pan/floor pan etc, and the panels being too short is always a concern. Where have you guys had the best luck with it?? I guess some places i know of are NPD, and Year One is about it. and I'm curious about belairbob, care to share some info?

thanks guys, happy welding.


edit:

some recent pics:

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2424/176/21/1278690201/n1278690201_30142937_8689.jpg

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2424/176/21/1278690201/n1278690201_30142936_8952.jpg

All I can say about Bob is, talk to him
I know he can shot you some dang good deals
Larry

Welcome I see red X's

Welcome I see red X's


really? hmm...I'll try a few though photobucket. anybody else having issues?

Pictures look great to me. looks like a fun project as well.
-Doug

Pictures look great to me. looks like a fun project as well.
-Doug

thanks, here's a shot of the cowl piece i did last night:

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2469/176/21/1278690201/n1278690201_30145191_7549.jpg

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2469/176/21/1278690201/n1278690201_30145189_5051.jpg

I see them fine.
I just want to suggest using Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/) instead of Photobucket.
It's easier to use and the pages\pictures load WAY faster.
Just my opinion.

I also get your pictures.