I'm looking to restore a 69 Camaro that's been in the family for 20+ years. Its been sitting in a field and need a few pointers to start this project. Right now I have $4000 to drop on it so i'm just looking for some guidence on where i should start. I have a mechanic already working on an engine thats not costing me anything and the original PowerGlide was rebuilt years ago. I'm heading towards front end rebuild first, then body work. Any suggestions on suspension and opinions on fiberglass front ends.

Welcome to Team Camaro......It will pay you great dividens if you can post pictures of the car......Pictures will help other members to advise on what should be done first........Budget of time and money, finishing one thing before starting another helps keep things in check. You do not want to end up with a car totally apart and no clue of what or how to put it back together.

Use the search feature to find a wealth of information and photos of restorations of other members cars how they did it or if they farmed the work out, who they used, where they located parts....etc.....

example: search for:
Started restoration (http://www.camaros.net/forums/search.php?searchid=4364047)

That should give you plenty to think about.....

Also.....

Purchase of a factory Assembly Manual referred as "AIM" in the fourms is a great start.

Allow twice as much money and five times a much time and you should be fine......Be patient as these cars take time to get right and half of the fun if not more will be found in the restoration......

Lets see those pictures!

take care.....

8 Ball

The first thing you need to decide is how far do you want to take the restoration.Is it going to be a daily driver.Is $4000 all you will spend.Do you plan on keeping the car.Is it going back to a stock appearing car.Is there any rust that has made holes.How is the sheet metal from the fire wall back.Will you do the work yourself.I spent around $60,000 and did all the work my self.I you look thru some threads on here it will help you alot.When I did mine the first thing I did was remove the front sheet metal and subframe.

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welcome to team camaro!!!

Good pionts above
And read this
http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=169258

When you decide what sort of resto you are going for nice daily driver you can clean up for a show and shine, or full on show car....DO NOT get carried away as you get into it.
Mine was a pretty striaght to start legal on the road, usual rust in cnrs of doors around wheel wells...
Took me 8 months 11 days full time.
I spent $NZ 16000 ...6k over budget.
I was on tight budget.. The bank manager lent me the balance...condition was when finished I took him and the branch account for a full day road trip.

Being a daily, I do a body rebuild and paint every 7 to 9 yrs..plus a few bits and peices that need doing.
Since 1980, including intial purchase have spent $NZ 96,000
The insurace company valuation is $NZ65K...
Nett thats close enough to 30K
over approx 30yrs grand a yr.
Replacing the wifes toyota every 5 yrs with a good 2nd hand far exceeds that.
I do everything myself, dont use patch panels (to expensive to ship in from the states)
Yeah I brought compressors, spray guns welders, lathe etc
But buying these thu meant intial outlay, If I was going to get the work done, worked out the same or cheaper....AND I have the tools for the next project 'free'

Im a real bloody mind AH...
to acheive it finacially, I didnt go out, grew my own veggies, If the guys asked me out told them every penny is for the car...so they said they would shout me...I didnt think that was fair, so I told them no, give me the money you would shout with and I will spend on the car.
I found out who where real friends...it was a real suprise.
The friends would drop in, bring a couple beers, sit on the couch in the workshop while I kept working.

Bottom line is what my grand mother told me
"If you want something, you will get it, dont waste others time talking about it. Just do and sacifice what you need to do it. Friends will respect you for it, the rest dont matter"

Welcome a board! Lot's good folks here. They helped me through mine. All 6 + years of it ...

Just a few words of advice to think about and maybe even brace yourself for:

1.) It will cost you more then you ever thought
2.) It will take longer to complete then you ever thought
3.) It will be more work then you ever thought
4.) See number 1 above
5.) You will get burnt out and wonder why you ever started
6.) You will come back to it and remember you need to look at progress in small steps
7.) See number 1 above
8.) You will learn that you know more curse words then you ever thought imaginable
9.) See number 1 above
10.) It just might be the most satisfying project you may ever take on

Enjoy! :beers:

I guess we scared him off.I think I saw him at Fox Chevrolet getting a 2010.

This may be the way to go if I had to do it again,oh I'm doing it again with my son I almost forgot.

Boy u guys hit the nail on the head. My advice is get it drivable! then u can work on it as u go. lot funner win u can take it down the road then start up grades. I bought mine as a complete car,but nothing ever satisfied me. think long and hard about what kind of rebuild ur wanting. these guys are great I just found the site about a week ago its allready help me. ive spent good money after bad. these guys will send in the right diretion

Boy u guys hit the nail on the head.
That reminds me a black board in the shed...things to do...
Its good when it appears nothing to so, getting down, and see stuff crossed off.