Ok fellas, here's the deal. I have a 68 camaro, im young, have a job, live with my parents, and im goin to college. I want to rebuild my car the RIGHT way. My problem is every time I think about doing something to my car, I think of something else, or something else goes wrong. What I want is a good first step, what I need to fix first. The cars not a rust bucket but needs work around every little area and some. I want to make it just right, I have patience and I love my car way to much to just sell it and buy a new Camaro so just give me a list of parts, and some helpful tips, and my car will be back on the road thanks to the guys of camaro.net

First, you need to honestly evaluate the condition of the car, and the condition of your wallet.

When you say "rebuild my car the right way" here, people see 5 year frame-off's, rotiseries, and garages full of new parts, and investments of $20-90K $$$

To help you with specifics, we need some details, and some pick too, if you can. When you say "needs a lil work" and "get it back on the road", I imagine there are some immediate issues, what are they?

Basically, assuming you're not prepared to do a full resto, first make it run, then make it safe, then make everything you need to have actually function.

**edit--- then make it pretty

[ 12-14-2004, 08:33 AM: Message edited by: JimM ]

I bought a 68 for my son for $5,000 and figured I'd put about $5,000 into it. Well, I'm here to tell you it has been a nightmare. I now have over $16,000 in parts alone and it's not even painted yet. And this car only had minor rust and required only minor body work. Like a house remodel, the more I took it apart, the more I found missing parts, broken parts, wrong year parts, etc. etc. etc. Once you get into it, you can't get out so my advice is to plan on saving up some money before you start. I had to take a loan against my house.

At this stage of your life, your first priority should be the degree. But with that said, you can still put a little effort into your car. I think JimM said it best, make it run, make it safe, then do what you can afford to make it pretty.

Hang in there, and take all of this advice to heart. I bought my 1969 RS Z-28 in 1984 when I was 21. I am now 41, and it still does not drive. Lots of reasons why, all a part of life. But I feel it holding its value, and now I have a new circle of friends, as well as old, who are commited to help me bring it all together- which is to me the spirit in which this hobby should be done. There is a Camaro club in Houston and Dallas, so get hooked up there as well. To answer your question more succinctly, make it mechanically safe, then the cosmetics.

Enjoy!

Rob

Noche 68, If you want your car to look really nice, try and be patient, very patient. Some great advice has already been given. I'm 22, I have had my 68 since 2001. It has sat in my garage in resto process since Feb. 2004. Get your degree, and make some $$, then do it right. I graduate in May and cannot wait to blow $$ on the car.

As for right now, Olympic 69 is right on, make it mechanically safe.

Have a plan as well. In 5-10 years, what condition would you like the car from bumper 2 bumper? Show car, driver, keep it original?, etc. Have a rough plan, and do lots of research on camaros.net and try and be patient.

All I can say is to go over the car, make a parts list and then plan out your projects. Take your time and don't rush. I feel your pain. Unfortunately parts are going to be missing or the wrong parts will be used in a car that is over 30 years old. I'm sure if most people in the past realized that camaros would be worth a lot of money in the future, people would have taken better care of them. I bought my plane 69 coupe 2 years ago as a driver. It came with a rebuilt 350 and 4speed installed along with the original 307 and powerglide. I thought it was a good deal since the car was painted a few years earlier and it was a driver. When I got it home, it was another story. It needed a complete new front and rear suspension, new distibutor, new radiator, new brakes, the 4 speed had to be rebuilt, new clutch, it needed new floors and the two subframe body mounts had to be repaired, and a new gas tank. On top of that as I begin each project I notice their are parts missing or the wrong parts were used. I'm slowly fixing everything as time and cash allow. It sucks that I've probably put only 200 miles on my car since I bought it. Its frustrating, but thats also part of the hobby. Good luck

I had the same issues when I got my 67 in 1977 at the tender age of 14! As a result, it has been a garage queen for 27 years. It is finally getting close to complete now after college, marriage(s) and children. My advice is similar to JimM and Stope's:

Fix whats broken and worn out, but don't replace everything you touch. If its still servicable, leave it alone. Keep it running and enjoy it until you have your degree and a 2nd car!

Determine the restorability of your car and set your long term goals concerning the car.

If it's a plain jane 68 you have more freedom to consider "restification", that improves the car in terms of driveability, handling, performance.

If its an SS or rs or numbers matching, you should consider restoration to original.

Try to be consistent with your approach and just keep it mechanically sound until you have more time and $ to fix it "right". Otherwise, you are in for a nightmare like RJD's.

The good news is that if you take care of it, it will maintain (or increase) in value, unlike most other (new) cars.