Hey guys and gals. I currently purchased a 67' Chevrolet Camaro. It is a hardtop 4-speed car. It currently has a 350-4spd Saginaw. The body and paint look really good. As I have heard looks can be deceiving. My main concerns are the firewall and engine bay at this time :) . I just took off the inner fenders, fenders, hood and grill. My plans are to clean up the front subframe, inners and firewall. What is the best way to go about this? My plans were to sandblast and possible use some paint stripper. I would like to go through the front end first. By pulling the motor and tranny out this should be fairly easy. Being new to the resotration world (Only 19) I need some expert guide. I would really appreciate any help. Thanks a lot and I am proud to be a member!

http://community.webshots.com/myphotos?action=viewAllPhotos&albumID=451552154 -----Hopefully the pics will work


Justin :)

:clonk:

Sounds like a good deal... Ok lets just think about this for a minute...if your really happy with the car but you wanna "clean it up alittle" why not do it the rightway? i dont think you will be happy with trying a fast fix for something that you may not like when its done?winter is right around the corner (atleast here) make it a nice winter project.. its like putting all new chrome on your car but using the old bumpers.. I think you get the point

I will be back to give some advice after I stop giggling about the title of this post...usually folks seem to use the term "newbie" instead of the V-word.

BTW the picture link didn't work...

Last November I decided to pull the front clip off the veryt for a thorough cleanup... here's some reading material for ya...watch out for snowballs, they get big rolling sown the hill!
http://www.camaros.net/cgi-bin/forum/ultimatebb.cgi/topic/3/6778.html?
http://www.camaros.net/forum/ultimatebb.php/topic/3/7019.html#000000
http://www.camaros.net/forum/ultimatebb.php/topic/2/10637/3.html
http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=57666
http://home.comcast.net/~Jimragtop/gallery/index.html

have fun, and remember, I warned you!!

Welcome Justin.
By 'going through the front end' if you are rebuilding and not just cleaning, and you replace the control arm bushings, don't tighten them until you have the weight back on the car (ie motor/trans, front clip).

I have this saved in my favorites. It wil help to guide you just to see what you are up against.

http://www.geocities.com/boodlefoof/camaro2.html

Welcome to the board!!!!

Hey guys, You have all been a huge help already. Just a general ballpark, how much am I looking at to go through the entire front end of this car. Bushings, Control Arms, Paint.....etc.?

Are there any suggesstions on taking the subframe completely out? How hard and tedious is that job?

Thanks alot guys, I really appreciate it

Justin :thumbsup:

From one newbie to another (can't say the V word). I've scarcely opened the hood on one of my cars in the last ten years but this June my wife told me she wanted her baby restored in time for her 50th birthday next June. This car was her 16th birthday present and it's priceless to her. Guess that's why we've been dragging it around for 12 years without driving it. I was gonna let somebody else restore it but then again I'm a cheapskate and never happy with the results when I pay somebody to do something I could have learned to do myself.

But to try to answer your questions with what I've done so far and some of the hard lessons learned. I'm working in a very cluttered 2 car garage in central texas heat. One benefit of the heat is that it doesn't hurt as much when flesh and steel collide. It's easier to take stuff apart than it is to put it together again (use penetrant liberally and be patient). Label everything. Take multiple pictures of everything. I pulled the front clip, and removed all the components with out any major injuries. Having several hydralic jacks helps a lot along with several sizes of wood block/boards. When you're working alone you need to shift that weight around carefully so you don't drop something heavy.

Cost wise this is roughly what I've spent. Front disk conversion and brake lines $800 from Right Stuff. Front and rear polygraphite bushing kits from PerformanceSuspension and PST $260 + $80. Sandblasting front clip, rear axle, and assorted parts $250. Engine rebuild $1000. Everything else from NPD: Body bushings, radiator support, steering box/pump, fuel pump, water pump, hoses, rear brakes. Don't get cheap engine mounts here, they didn't line up right.

My engine rebuild guy was really cool and willing to give me a lot of advice: basically it came down to: replace all parts with rubber components, B-12 Chemtool removes dry paint and is good for cleaning fuel lines, get the gas tank/radiator reconditioned to remove rust etc, and surprisingly he said to use mid-grade gas.

I rigged up an electrolysis tank to clean paint and rust off the smaller parts. It's cheap and easy but a little slow. Sure beats a wire wheel. I'm prepping metal with phosphoric acid and painting everything as I go along with Duplicolor 500 degree paint. The frame, arms, axle and major metal parts get a coat of POR-15. I'll be wearing it for the next 2 weeks.

i've got a lot more to do and the body really scares me because i understand nuts and bolts but not that artsy stuff like filler and paint.

Good luck with your project. It sound like you're just a few weeks behind me. This site has a wealth of info and it's where i can usually find the answers I need. And I'm gonna start needing a lot!

Doug
68 coupe

Take plenty of digital pics during your teardown. Thery are very valuable when you begin to put everything back together.

Buy a factory assembly manual. Gives a nut and bolt breakdwon on everythin to do with the car.

I am about half way through with my frame off. Just dropped 1600 on Brakes, poly front end kit, Hard lines, body mount kit, and stainless steel bolt kit.

Label everything in seperate bags as has been suggested.
And be PATIENT

Good luck

Where abouts in central ny?

Hey guys....Here are some updated pics of the subframe removal. It took about 6 hours by myself. Everything came out pretty smoothly except for a couple of the subframe mounts. The next step is to remove the motor, tranny and some other odd's and ends before the sandblasting. I found a guy that is going to sandblast the subframe, inners and other parts for around $75.00. That's about how much sand would cost me! I took many pictures because my memory is about as bad as the bushings in the pictures :)
I just ordered subframe bushing kit off ebay and now have to rally up some more parts for the front end. Carlisle is coming up and I am planning on going so I hope to have some luck there. Well guys I will keep you updated and please keep on replying for some more advice. Are the pictures working? Please let me know......

Thorpe67, I am in Clinton. It is about 10 minutes from Utica. Where are you located?

Thanks again, Justin :thumbsup:

Camaro Subframe Removal Pictures (http://community.webshots.com/album/456863858OLwunB)

Camaro Pictures together.....If they didnt work before (http://community.webshots.com/album/451552154cZOlJb)

Looking great! Keep us updated :)

Nice pics Jim!!!!

Go here -- this is my personal website. It has lots of pics, some detail. My e-mail is there too so ask ask question as you go along.

http://home.comcast.net/~rlwing

Also - best trick was after pulling the subframe, I built a dolly to hold the subframe. I built the enitre front suspension, engine, tranny all on the restored subframe and then rolled the whole unit under the car. Line it up, bolt it in. Took me less than 30-40 minutes by myself and I went slooooow so not to scratch anything. I even broke in the motor while it was on the subframe before bolting it in.

Last note: I would not sandblast. Use glass or some other type of media to blast it if you can. Sand leaves the finish too rough in my opinion.

Hey guys, I have added some updated pistures of the sandblasting I just got done. It turned out really good and the best part was....I didnt have to do any of it. :)

It all cost me $150 to get blasted....well worth it! ;)
My next step is to get everything in primer before the devil starts growing (Hopefully by the weekend)

I need to buy a front end kit if anyone knows where they are cheap I would appreciate the referal. Hope you all enjoy and keep on posting!

Thanks for all the help :thumbsup:

New Sandblasting Pictures! (http://community.webshots.com/album/463508716JBbnzx)

Hey guys.....Im back and have a coated frame. After priming the frame and other varoius front end parts it was time to get the front subframe underway. After applying 3 cans of the "name brand" rhino liner, I had a very good base point to apply a nice healthy coat of Por-15 Topcoat chassis black (highly recommended).

This is my progress so far, I have to put together the front end hopefully this weekend (Ball joints, Tie rod ends, Sway links and bushings etc....) Hopefully it will go together easy and trouble free. Hope you are all enjoying....Will keep posting

Pics are below....Hope they worked....if not they will be up in the morning

NEW SUBFRAME PICTURES.....COATED and PAINTED!!!!!!!!look!!!!!!!! (http://community.webshots.com/album/481360551tPhnOa)

Leave some feedback (Hopefully positive :) )

Justin

Looking good to me, although I would have done all the rebuild work first, and painted pieces parts separately... Oh well, you'll get to see how tough the new paint is when you are pressing bushings out and in ;)

Seriously, it looks like you're doing well.

Nice job Justin.

Hey justin, i too haven't lost my V-card (only 20) to the restoration process. I just got my 68 coupe and will be doing exactly what you are doing!! I was wondering if you could send some pics of everything you've done to jdunfield@hotmail.com cuz i can't see any of them from work.(stupid government). Good luck with the project and hopefully i can catch up to ya!

cheers :beers:

Hey guys, here are some updated photos of the assembly process # 1. I still have to get the lower ball joints in but dont have a press. They are currently occupying the freezer! any other suggestions?

After the lowers are in the spindles are next...I am sure those will be fun to put on. I thought the red would offset all of the black...I think it looks pretty good. Let me know what y'all think and Ill keep posting updates!

Thanks a lot, Justin

Subframe Assembly # 1 (http://community.webshots.com/album/497392931nzexhN)