[69SpeedDemon]

Well im new to cars in general... i know like models and certain details but im clueless on the fixing part which i have help on im thinking of buying a 67-69 camaro and restoring it but not with more moderen parts other then mabey the engine.. I need facts and info and tips period please help me if you can and sorry bout all the questions.. now that i have my license i want to have a car ive been dreaming of cause ive loved 67-69 camaros forever HA! Thank you for your input and help


Edit- I need help on like prices and what is nessesary and what should come later... im hoping to get it done within 2 and 1\2 years time if thats possible

[69-Z11Pacer]

Hi 69SpeedDemon -

Welcome to Camaros.net. You have found the right place if you are thinking about getting a first generation Camaro. There is a TON of good info, knowledge, and people here.

I don't think your question is real easy to answer.

What you might want to do is read through the posts here on this message board for a few weeks. Read all the topics, all the replies, and ask questions...a little at a time. You will learn alot.

If you find a car you are interested in, get as much info on it as you can. Then, go to the 'Tag Team' section and post all the info for a 'decode'. You'd need things like the VIN, and all the trim tag information. (just in case you aren't familiar...the Trim Tag is on the firewall above where the master cylinder is and a little to the passengers side)

More than likely, actually I can almost guarantee it, within in a few hours your info will be decoded and you'll know a little about the car.

That's my starting advice. I'm sure others will chime in here to give you a welcome and some tips.

[HwyStarJoe]

69SpeedDemon, Welcome to TEAM CAMARO! You've made a wise choice..... both in the make and model of car you'd like to start with, and in coming here. [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]
You won't be steered wrong.

From your screen name, it sounds like you have a stronger liking to the '69 Camaro. If so, narrow your search down to 1969's first of all. You'll spend less time deciding which one to bring home that way. If not and you could live with any year First Generation Camaro, decide how much you can and want to spend on the car itself, then how much you can afford to spend restoring it. Start with a budget in mind and immediately TRIPLE it! The next question you have to ask yourself is how much of the work (mechanical, body, interior, paint, electrical) do you want to do yourself. You won't get a better education learning all those things than owning a Camaro and belonging to Team Camaro!! If you plan to farm a lot of the work out to shops or friends, it's not a big deal then.

Two and half years? That's not out of the question. It depends on the shape of the Camaro you buy to start off with, and what your end-goal is for the car. Getting one back to factory shape and beautiful is easy nowadays. It all comes down to $$$$.

But until you have one in the driveway, any question you may have can be answered right here at TC. Think of a question, click on Search in the upper right of this screen, type it in and you'll find an answer 9 times out of 10.

The Camaro Research Group is another great resource to have at your fingertips. READ IT top to bottom. It'll make the buying experience a whole lot easier.

Good luck!

[DL]

Hi 69SpeedDemon, first of all WELCOME to this site full of information! [img]graemlins/waving.gif[/img]

Like 69-Z11pacer wrote, we can answer very fast as there are people on this site from all over the world, so even at 3am people are online!!

Here is a nice link you should read once befor you plan to buy a car

http://www.camaros.net/shop/

Also, almost every part of a first gen. Camaro can be bought brand new (except for some parts ofcourse), so a restoration is fully possible with new parts. Just remember one thing before you buy a Camaro, RUST NEVER SLEEPS. If you find a Camaro with rust on it, don't be afraid to skip the deal, replacing rusted parts with new sheetmetal can be lots of work and can move your butget into higher $.

Goodluck on finding a nice project, and just keep asking questions and posting your results...

[69SpeedDemon]

Thank you all for responding is a short time... lol and sorry my enital post wasnt exactly to the point. Yes im gearing toward a 69 but if i find a decently priced 67 or 68 ill jump all over it.. really all im trying to find is a good frame condition because i want to learn as much as i can about restoring the rest.. and if any one knows of some good books please inform me, i thinking i am going to order one or 2 from the site tonight actually. But i want to learn what i can before i go a looking,, thank you again

[HwyStarJoe]

Start with these three at the very least:
1. Factory Assembly Installation Manual (AIM)
2. Chassis Service Manual
3. Fisher Body Manual

There's also a wiring manual but that's covered pretty well in the others.
You can find them on EBay for about $25 a piece. Some of the aftermarket companies like Classic Industries offer them, or our sponser Ground Up has the Fisher Body manual.

[69SpeedDemon]

Thank you Joe, youve been a big help also the way im looking at it i am probably going to have to rebuild the engine which is fine by me cuase i want to learn the one thing is is that i know nothing and are there any books that can tell me about how 1st gen camaro engine works and some details thank you!

[Spongebob]

69SpeedDemon,

A good beginning book for learning about Chevy engines is "How To Rebuild Your Smallblock Chevy" from HP Books. There is also a version for the Big Block by Tom Wilson (also HP Books).

Those books will also give you the history and development of the engines.

Welcome aboard!
[img]graemlins/beers.gif[/img]
Chad

[HwyStarJoe]

Books will help, but you should also look into vocational classes at your local high school or a college. They may offer classes at night a few times a month or something. I wouldn't trust a book to rebuild an engine if you've never taken one apart before. It'll also require special tools (as will the rest of the restoration) but you need to figure that, and supplies, into the total budget right from the beginning.

[Spongebob]

Good point, Joe. I wasn't suggesting it as the only route. Just a place to begin to learn how and what things are and a basic idea of how they go together.

The non-credit courses are a great idea assuming you get someone who is good. The college where I work has a bad habit of hiring people who don't know their arse from a hole in the wall to teach those types of classes. You have about a 50/50 chance of getting someone inept. All I can say is BE CAREFUL and seek second opinions.

[69SpeedDemon]

Thank you both Joe and Spongebob. My dad also recommended i seek a vocational class. Its not a bad idea. The choices i have available are either the highschool offered one "SteelCenter" or a community college. I dont know which one would be better. I would want to think the highschool one because at the community college they are courses for any one and the teachers are not supposed to be top notch. [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img] I also think i will buy both of those books, especially if they offer the history and if some how describe the engine. Where and how would u search for a car? Are there some telltale signs that the car is terribly bad or how to get a good deal. Thank you again and thanks for putting up with my questions... [img]graemlins/waving.gif[/img]

[davidpozzi]

Go to your local College book store and buy a good auto shop text book. It will contain lots of basic information on all the components in a car and how they work. It is an excellent reference for any mechanic. Lots of us know some areas better than others, and a good reference book like this is a great tool.

David

[69SpeedDemon]

THank you very much david i will have to look into that. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[knipper]

I agree w/HwyStarJoe! Get all the books you can find and afford, but then see if you can get into an auto shop and/or body shop class at your school or even a community college. (Some local colleges will take HS students for vocational classes)

A benefit of the classroom is three-fold you will gain knowledge from an teacher with experience, you'll have help from classmates if you want to shorten the work time plus the school will have many tools available you probably won't have... and it won't cost you anything to use them!

Hope this helps, and good luck!