I bought this car about 5 weeks ago and I thought I would start a build thread. This may be a slow one to follow, I am not sure how fast it will go. I will do all the work myself. I had a 69 23 years ago, I cant believe it was that long ago. I drove that car for 11 years. It was garnet red. Me and my wife dated in that car. I have wanted another one for quite awhile, but they cost a lot. This one was for sale locally. When we went to look at it , I looked at the cowl tag and I said to my wife, guess what color it was, she said garnet red? I said yes. I really didn't want to work this hard on one, but I feel blessed to have it and can build it the way I want it. It didn't come with a sub frame or rear end but I have a 72 Nova 4 door parts car that I bought to use to design front spoilers for my business. I was going to get rid of it when I was done but now I will use the sub frame for the Camaro.
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Today I cut the top off. It was not rusted but it was bent and warped.
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Great start Randy - straight in with the cut-off wheel! What are your build plans - to recreate your "dating" car (:yes:), clone something or go pro-touring?

Great find Randy.My car is a code 52 also.I love the color.With the million plus shades of red out there,I have always loved the depth of Garnet Red. Keep the pics coming.

Looks like you know what you are doing. I'm sure this will be a good one to watch. Good to see another Arkansas camaro being built and good luck.

Nice find Randy! conrats:beers: on a chance to re-create a past memory for you both. That's cool...:cool: subscribed to the thread just now!:yes:

Great to witness another '69 getting a makeover! :yes:

Today I finished removing the edges of the roof, front and back and in the drip rails. Yesterday my panels came in, I bought AMD parts. As far as plans for the car. It will be Garnet red with standard black interior. Not sure about wheels, I have some rallys I might use. I have a 350 engine that I can build for it.
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Nice project, will be following along as well !!

I have not had a chance lately to work on the project. Today I did some sandblasting. Its been a long time since I have done any sandblasting, I forgot what I big job it is. I cut up some old socks and put them on the wheels of the cart I made, to keep the sand out, It worked pretty good.
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Nice job...I love the Garnet Red also.

Nice project, Randy. As suggested, check all the garnet red colors, late model Buick and Hyundai have a pretty garnet red.

I have some progress to show. I welded in the center trunk gutter piece and welded in a center trunk pan. The trunk pan came with the car when I bought it. The trunk pan has a little light surface rust from sitting around. I am trying to prepare everything to install the quarters. I rebuilt the door hinges and have been aligning the doors.
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I installed a right trunk drop off. and have been working on getting the new AMD quarter panel to fit. The first time I put the quarter panel on it took about 30 min to get it in place. I have had it off and on so many times now it just takes seconds.
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The AMD quarter will need some work in this area.
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I cant seem to get the quarter panel to fit while the outer wheel house is in place. I have massaged that wheel house over and over, not sure what to do yet.
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looking good, Garnet red is my favorite 69 color. Are you going to put hockey stripes on it or leave it plain?

looking good, Garnet red is my favorite 69 color. Are you going to put hockey stripes on it or leave it plain?

I would like to have the D96 fender accent stripes in white. That is what my first car had. Sorry for the late reply, I was on vacation. Randy

I have not had much time to work on the car, just a little time here and there. I have installed the left truck drop off, I have the trunk floor epoxy primed. Bought a new amd tail light panel. Everything is starting to line up, getting close to start punching holes for plug welds.
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Looks great man keep at it!

Nice work, looking good!

Today I marked, drilled and punched holes, still more to do. I finished installing the left outer wheelhouse.
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Today I made some quarter panel upper braces. I have the left quarter panel prepped and ready for welding. I installed some window clip studs on the rear window channel of the quarter panel and welded the back of the stud to the quarter panel. On the right side I have to install the outer wheel house and prep the quarter panel for welding. I cant believe how long it is taking to get everything ready to weld.
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Looks great,keep the pictures coming.

I'm both SUPER jealous:sad: and happy for you over here. :beers: My '69 coupe is begging for my attention. Looks like you're on a roll and doing some nice work!

PS... i had to replace just about all of those same panels you are welding on too.... how did your RH quarter fit to the tail light panel by the way??? mine was HORRIBLE!!!! lots of mods to do there... and at the door jamb seam as well... what a nightmare! I gotta say... there's something magical and exciting watching a '69 Camaro come together. Definitely my favorite year!

Todd, I do feel like I am on a roll. Today I installed the right outer wheel house. I prepped the Right quarter for welding. The right quarter seams to fit well, did not have to modify any of it. All the panels are AMD brand. Tomorrow all the panels are going on for the last time, it may take awhile to get everything where I want it before welding.

Makes sense. I do remember reading that you bought AMD panels. Next time, I will too. I ended up buying three different sets of quarters before "settling" for the pair I now have. They fit now, but man! was that alot of work to get them where they needed to be. Glad to hear yours are gelling nicely.

If done with care, as you are, it does take quite a bit of time to prep everything for final installation. I've been there too. In the end, you'll look back and be quite grateful for the efforts you are taking now. Nice work!:beers:

Big progress here! I have both quarters installed, the below the window panel and the tail light panel. Prepping the roof and it is ready to install. It is starting to look like I really have a 69 Camaro.
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VERY Cool progress indeed!:thumbsup: I'm Jappy and Healous for ya! ;):D Gosh I miss working on my '69 now... NICE WORK Randy!:beers:

Great progress and nice work! Looking forward to more updates.:thumbsup:

And now we have a top all welded on. Getting all the panels on sure helps clean up the garage.
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Today I leaded in the sail panel seams and the A-pillar seams, it turned out really nice.
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Looks great! Is that lead-free body solder, or 104 octane lead?

Todd, this is the real lead. I use both but chose to use real lead this time. I did not sand on it, it has only been filed.

I'm sure you know already-- but be careful with it. Mask, gloves, eye protection. If I don't say it, I'd feel guilty. Dangerous stuff... Looks incredible though. Nice work...

Thanks Todd, I am careful. I have used it on projects cars in the past 30 years. Most of the danger is sanding dust, if you get good at filing you don"t have to sand it, but I wear a respirator even when I file it. Anyway my next project will be installing the trunk gutters.

Nice work! Should be A LOOKER when done

Not much progress on the 69, just grinding some plug welds. I have been helping my son on his 76 Camaro. His daily driver quit so we are trying to get his project going that he has had for 3 years. I painted it last week so we are putting it back together, still have to put the interior back in it.http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v70/ardad/IMG_1942.jpg

Today I sanded all the new panels. Glad to make some progress.
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Making quick work of it! Not many people can do lead still. I was taught it in Auto Body school but never did any real world stuff. Doubt I could even do it now. Great job so far, and looking forward to more progress! :beers:

looks great!

Today I installed my trunk gutters. This was an easy project, I had to trim the quarter where the gutter goes but that was all to make it fit. The gutters are AMD and fit perfectly.
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I test fit the weatherstrip, and it fits great.
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I also installed the quarter panel supports.
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Now I need to install the truck latch assembly.
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Great work, keep it up!

Looks great. I plan on using AMD panels too, they seem to have the best feedback.

Really moving along there Randy! Looks great... Nice work! :beers:

I did get the trunk latch assembly welded in, now the trunk will latch. I worked on cleaning up the firewall and dash.
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I started to cut out the floors, the replacement floor I have came with the car when I bought it. The floor is split down the middle in two pieces, I don't remember seeing anyone on here install this kind. I guess it will be just more welding for me.
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Is it me, or do the toeboards look wider than the floor's outer edge? I see two part stickers on it, so it's most likely two individual parts... but yes--- you will have more welding along that center seam. No biggy.. but double-check those toeboards. They look funky.

I have been working on my floors. Since my full floor is in two pieces I am just doing one side at a time. I have one side cut out and ready. The floor fits perfect. Today I sanded the floor and epoxy primed it. I have the seat riser cleaned and painted also. Next time I work on it I will get to start welding it in.
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How are your floors coming along?

How are your floors coming along?

Tony, I have the left side done it looks and fits good, I have been working on cutting out the right side. Tomorrow I am going to do some grinding and clean up work. Thanks for asking, Randy

Very nice!!! I am not talented or motivated enough to do that much metal work. I spent the extra $$ and bought a fairly clean base to work with. :D
I always hear nightmare stories about aftermarket sheet metal, but it sounds like the AMD stuff is pretty decent.

Tony, I have the left side done it looks and fits good, I have been working on cutting out the right side. Tomorrow I am going to do some grinding and clean up work. Thanks for asking, Randy

Sounds good man. Don't forget some pics after you get it finished :hurray:

Here are a couple pictures. The left side is all welded in, I have the right side almost ready, still need to get the seat riser separated from the old floor. Tomorrow I am going to sand and prime the bottom of the right side.
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Today I repaired some rust on the seat riser. I primed the bottom of the floor pan and I also got the A pillar drip rail pieces cleaned up and painted while I had the paint mixed. I have every thing ready to weld in the right floor.
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Very nicely done!!

Looking good. Nice repair work on the riser. What primer are you using?

Looking good. Nice repair work on the riser. What primer are you using?
Thanks guys on the comments. Southern Polyurethane epoxy primer.

Good work Randy. Good thing you are not shy about jumping right in there. You are going to have brand new car by the time you are done. That's the way to do it. Keep up the great work.

I have my floors just about finished. I thought I would kinda recap my build. I had a goal to finish the panel replacement on the body shell this month. This month makes one year I have had this car. Now I have a straight solid shell with no plastic filler in it. Here is a picture of the floor, and before and after photos. I bought the car for $2500. and I sold off the panels that it came with to get better ones, and I sold some RS headlight parts it came with. After selling the parts and buying new panels I now have $2950.00 in it.
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I found a picture of my first 69. This was in 1978.
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Here are two more progress pictures. I finished the floors and have them painted, I even poured primer in the seams where the floors and rockers meet to help seal the welds. I put seam sealer on the firewall. Next is getting the whole bottom ready for paint.
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looking good!!!!

I have big progress today, I got the whole body shell cleaned prepped and primed.
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Looks gr8. Keeps me motivated also!!

Randy--- I almost ready to drop the '68 and start back up on my '69 coupe again. LOOKIN' NICE! :yes: :cool: :beers:

Looks gr8. Keeps me motivated also!!
Thanks, I keep motivated seeing others projects.

Randy--- I almost ready to drop the '68 and start back up on my '69 coupe again. LOOKIN' NICE! :yes: :cool: :beers:
Thanks, Todd, I can't wait to get some wheels under this thing.

I see plenty of room under the shell now with the car up on the body cart. Won't take long. ;) :D I'm amazed how quickly you got her together. Really looking great. Thinking about taking another family trip to Arkansas soon... My in-laws are in NLR and Bauxite. We love visiting...

I see plenty of room under the shell now with the car up on the body cart. Won't take long. ;) :D I'm amazed how quickly you got her together. Really looking great. Thinking about taking another family trip to Arkansas soon... My in-laws are in NLR and Bauxite. We love visiting...
Todd, we love living in northwest Arkansas, it's about 4 1/2 hours front LR

Great job on the floorpan and whole car. Job well done and awesome progress. Keep the pics coming

I started to seal some seams. I am using Evercoat Maxim, it is a 2K seam sealer that can be used with and good caulking gun. I don't use the mixing tube, for small amounts it will dispense equal parts on the mixing board then just mix like it was body filler. You have about 8 minutes to use it. I scuffed the seam and cleaned with wax and grease remover. I used some masking tape to keep from making a mess. I worked it in the seam and smoothed it out. After I pulled the tape I used a rag with some wax and grease remover on it wrapped around my finger and smoothed it out.
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Very Nice!!!

great nice job,randy. you are as handy as a pocket on a shirt.

Great technique used for the seam sealer. Thanks for posting the pics! Looking great!:beers:

Hey, thanks guys. I have not had much time lately to work on it. I did a little more seam sealing around the tail panel and some in the truck gutter. I made and installed a left exhaust pipe hanger mounting plate on the left frame rail. I am trying to get the bottom side ready for some paint.
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I really like how your rear panel seams turned out with the sealer you applied. May used the same method for mine when it comes time.

I really like how your rear panel seams turned out with the sealer you applied. May used the same method for mine when it comes time.
Thanks Tony, I still have more seam sealing to do. I have not had any time lately to work on it.