March 2008- COMPLETE!    Jarred has his new ride.

March 15th: A thank you letter from the family.

Folks, The presentation success for our friend Corporal Foster, was due in part to one element----and that was teamwork.
I want to personally extend my gratitude to everyone. It was our collective teamwork that made today a show that will be talked about for years to come. I'm so proud to be associated with each and everyone of you.
Here are some of the pics that I feel captures our success. I do believe Corporal Foster will be in shock for the next several weeks !!!!

Update: March 14th
To everyone that supported PROJECT IRAQI VETERAN.
Lance created a website in order to be able to show more photos. The link below will take you to the site.
http://hotrodplanet.spaces.live.com/default.aspx
I have two albums running at the same time and below each, you can select which album you wish to view. You can have two running simultaneously if you want. You can click on the pics to get a slightly larger view, or fast forward thru the pics by clicking on one of the arrows at the bottom.

My personal friend Mike Tribby is responsible for Album #1. So don't be dismayed if you see too much of me. Sorry. However, Mike is responsible for some incredible overhead shots from the mezzanine.
Paul Taylor of Vintage Iron Restorations is responsible for Album #2---and he is excellent at those unique shots.
Album #3 is a compilation of work from George Wing, Tony D'Angelo and Dennis McGee----and probably a few others I forgot.

Lance Baker

View the footage of the News Media coverage:
News Story One | News Story Two

Thanks to everyone here on TC who helped them make this happen. - Al

Background:
Marine Corporal Jarred Foster is a 24 year old Iraq war veteran, who was severely wounded during his tour. Corporal Foster, fighting for our country took an enemy round through his lower back. His wounds were such, that he will have a permanent disability for the rest of his life. He does have the ability to stand and walk, however it will not be an easy journey. Corporal Foster has been undergoing many surgeries and intense rehabilitation for almost two years now.

And he is also one of us, a Camaro enthusiast. He bought what can best be described as nothing more than the shell of a 1968 Camaro coupe. His hope was to build a nice car for himself, but the effects of his injuries make it difficult for him to do "those car tasks" that require good physical agility. His wounds won't keep this good man down. He's been trying to do as much as he can on his project---sand-blasting, wire brushing parts, clean-up, etc. But it's some of the other aspects of working on a car that are a problem, such as leaning, crawling underneath, working under the dash, etc. He is also realizing that he has taken on a major project, one that may be more daunting than he realized at first.

Jarred recently approached John Bauler, President of the First Generation Camaro Club here in Phoenix, in search of parts for his Camaro. Upon getting acquainted with Jarred and examining the car, it was found to need a great deal of parts, as the car did not have an engine, adequate running gear, interior, body trim, wiring, etc. It was also discovered that this car needs much of its sheet-metal replaced.

Upon getting more acquainted with Corporal Foster, John Bauler quickly realized that Jarred would probably not be able to complete this car anytime soon, due in part to his physical disability and his need of someone who understood how to assemble these cars. It was then that John decided to approach the club and ask them if they were willing to assist in taking on this project, as a way of thanking this young veteran.

The club was more than willing to accept this challenge and word has quickly spread through the metro-Phoenix auto-hobbyist circles. This resulted in a group of people from the First Generation Camaros of Arizona, the Cactus GTO Club, and a few Chevelle club members coming together to assist in any way possible on this project. As a token of thanks to the Corporal, everyone has been very eager to assist, by providing parts, labor and financial support as needed.

Corporal Foster is unaware of the contribution aspect of the project at this time, and the Clubs supporting this project are intent on making it a "surprise unveiling" for him at a later date. This is a local version of the hit TV show "Overhaulin" if you will. And with a little prodding by John Bauler, in an attempt to find out what the Corporal envisioned as his completed car, yielded that he only wanted "a nice looking Camaro and went fast !!!" We've decided to help make that vision come true, and give him the car of his dreams.

The car really needs everything. The body work is currently underway, as Jarred has been saving up for this project and has put his money towards the sheet-metal that was needed, plus the funds needed to get the a local body shop started on the project. The body work and paint are being done at a substantially reduced rate (as part of a donation) plus a variety of other related labor is being provided at a very reduced rate as well. Currently, the body has been sand blasted and the sheet-metal replacement and body work is well under way. The body and paint should be completed in January.

The general plan is to build the car using stock or direct replacement "stock" parts, and keep the exotic custom stuff out as Jarred needs to be able to maintain the car later, off the shelf parts make that more economical. Only a couple of special parts will be needed for this car in order to make it an easy driver for Jarred. A tilt column, automatic transmission and front seats with good support similar to a Recaro or Scat design will be required. Due to the nature of his wounds, stock seats just don’t offer the support necessary to his lower back.

CURRENT STATUS
Discussion in the Tech Forums

There are many hours of labor and many parts that will be needed for this effort. The people previously mentioned have expressed a desire to assist in this project, by providing labor, used parts that can be refurbished, new parts and cash donations. This is on track but we have a long way to go.

The front sub frame is almost complete. A good used sub frame and some 69 disc brake assemblies were donated and installed. The plan is to get the entire drivetrain done and ready to install by the time the car is out of paint in late January or so. We also have located an 8.5" differential, which will have a posi-carrier inserted. There is some donated cash available to buy some if not most of the ancillary suspension and brake parts, and rumors abound of possible donations on a crate motor from GM as well as the paint for this car.

The mechanical items are as described, however all of the trim and interior parts will still be needed. Thus we are asking for some help.