Time for another 68 Z/28 to be restored

anickel-67cpe · Jul 17, 2011

Gauges turned out nice! look like new.

68camaroz28 · Jul 18, 2011

anickel-67cpe said:
Gauges turned out nice! look like new.

Andy, I did not word that correctly or clearly as that's the condition of the gages when I sent them this week coming out of a long storing periord to be checked out. My comment on the tic-toc-tach was referring to it still looks pretty darn good for all these years and nothing being done to it. The console gages are dusty and will need a little possible cosmetic work but thats how they looked prior to sending out. When they return I will post an update.

lookingforparts · Jul 18, 2011

Tac Man does nice work you should be happy. I had him do my tic-toc-tach last year. It was in about the same condition as yours so only minor touch ups were needed, but I did have him do the quartz conversion to the clock. You can't tell the difference looking at the tach from either the front or back, but it certainly runs well and keeps good time. He also repairs the original mechanism (I believe) but the warranty isn't as good (1 year when I had mine done) which would lead me to believe you'd be sending it out again soon if you don't do the conversion.

6781camaro · Jul 18, 2011

lookingforparts said:
..... He also repairs the original mechanism (I believe) but the warranty isn't as good (1 year when I had mine done) which would lead me to believe you'd be sending it out again soon if you don't do the conversion.

In Tac Man's defense, clock mechanisms need routine cleaning and oiling to ensure a longer life. Dust and dirt are their enemies. I know it's not the most convenient thing to do nor the first thing on our minds when our Camaros are completely assembled, but these clocks should be cleaned and oiled at least three-four times per year. Keep them clean, keep them oiled, and they will last 3-4x longer and keep good time. :yes:

68camaroz28 · Jul 19, 2011

Since this thread might help others with how something looked or was done from the factory I've added a few more pictures of the front driveshaft yoke. It almost appears as the yoke was dipped in orange paint. Now do we restore this back or let it the way it is????

Details, details, details, geez! Noticed on one of the large DF font wheels it still wears an original "micro" tire weight. Those wing ends just give those brand weights a look. Anybody know how or best way to clean lead? We have some used ones to clean up.

News Flash-Pics of after wet sanded and buffed coming later this week.

Rarerat · Jul 21, 2011

You have just done an amazing job on the car so far, I can't wait to see the finished product. :thumbsup:

68camaroz28 · Jul 21, 2011

Worked on the sub-frame today and finished putting the new wheel hubs on. Had to back things up yesterday as I found the re-built manual steering box leaking where that large cap screws into to adjust bearing tension (so many inch lbs to turn). S/Box was in and torqued with drag link, etc. attached but dis-assembled to remove so it could be evaluated and corrected. Received some tips/assistance on what to do so we will see what happens but darn I hate leaks.
The other issue is I have not painted the sway bar or sway bar brackets as I'm still not sure what paints to use. Sway bar is to be semi-gloss and brackets gloss 60%. Anyone have some suggestions? What has more shine the semi-gloss or gloss 60%?

Here are a couple of the sub-frame taken today.

68camaroz28 · Jul 21, 2011

Daytona Yellow 69 Z/28 said:
You have just done an amazing job on the car so far, I can't wait to see the finished product. :thumbsup:

thanks Nick, greatly appreciated! :thumbsup:
Wait till you see the paint job Lonny and the "East Coast Muscle Cars" team have provided. Pics coming soon:beers:

68camaroz28 · Jul 22, 2011

Well the main part of the car has completed wet sand and buff along with the doors, deck lid, and spoiler. The rest of the front end is wed sanded but yet to be buffed. Lonny and the "East Coast Muscle Cars" team just flat out get it done top notch IMHO. You be the judge:yes:
First up some outside pictures and the glare caused problems with obtaining acceptable pictures:

Inside pictures:

68camaroz28 · Jul 22, 2011

And a few more showing the reflection of 58 corvette sitting beside and notice under the rocker panels. They are the same as the main body. By the way, that 58 is SWEET:yes:

anickel-67cpe · Jul 22, 2011

Looks great chic keep us posted.

Garfields Maro · Jul 23, 2011

She looks good enough to eat Chick :yes:...like a Bananna split on a HOT summers day, eh ! Purrrdy :thumbsup:

Who gets the pleasure of reassembly ?

69z28freak · Jul 23, 2011

6781camaro · Jul 23, 2011

How are you going to work up the gumption to drive this masterpiece? I don't know that I could after all this extreme care and detail. Truly an amazing build and definitely a work of art. What a beautiful Camaro!:yes: :beers:

69z28freak · Jul 24, 2011

I agree with Todd. I wouldn't even let anyone in the garage to look at it unless they are naked or wearing a foam suit, perhaps the latter!

It must be going in a museum, even normal air would get it dirty. Too good to be true...

68camaroz28 · Jul 25, 2011

Garfields Maro said:
She looks good enough to eat Chick :yes:...like a Bananna split on a HOT summers day, eh ! Purrrdy :thumbsup:

Who gets the pleasure of reassembly ?

Thanks Garth! I did one 69 front end years ago and said never again without assistance as I had one heck of a time getting it where it should be so East Coast Muscle Cars will be putting the front end back on and completing the alignment. But I plan on being there and assisting

6781camaro said:
How are you going to work up the gumption to drive this masterpiece? I don't know that I could after all this extreme care and detail. Truly an amazing build and definitely a work of art. What a beautiful Camaro!:yes: :beers:

Thanks Todd!

69z28freak said:
I agree with Todd. I wouldn't even let anyone in the garage to look at it unless they are naked or wearing a foam suit, perhaps the latter!

It must be going in a museum, even normal air would get it dirty. Too good to be true...

Mike, I know you have worked on a lot of cars that easily fall into this Camaro's category and beyond.:thumbsup: Before I retired I had work challenges that kept me motivated and can honestly say I enjoyed. Lean mythology, Kaizen events, Jidoka, etc., but there was no way I had the time to take on a project like this plus the last 4 years was overseas. Even though retired I find a challenge is a positive motivator and in the end can be very rewarding, hence this car is my challenge and we can take the time to do it correctly. I accept my limitations in areas (paint and body being one for sure) and put forth the effort in other areas. One of those being research and boy oh boy have we spent the hours in that category. Its the challenge in trying to make this restoration possibly just a little better than the norm. And that is much easier said than done. :yes: Our 68 will be a trailer queen for some period of time as I want to show it and see how well it does (part of the challenge), but I believe at some time it will hit the road. But I'm sure having fun and cannot express enough gratitude to the countless individuals like yourself Mike who have helped with information and even a few parts here and there.

68camaroz28 · Jul 26, 2011

Not good news on the steering box. The person who re-built it told me to work it back and forth (like you were steering the car) and it should stop. Well it did not and still weeps! Had a similar issue on another steering box for a 67 corvette and that turned out to be the Mobil 1 synthetic grease used as they changed the formula slightly and it has a tendency to separate if it sits. The re-builder of the 67 vette box changed the grease and since no problems. I'm wondering if it might be a similar problem but have not received an answer to what grease was used. Will make some more contacts but you would think that some thread sealer would do the trick also.
Anybody else have this? As mentioned before, I along with everyone else hate leaks.

This is how I found the leak, with the red oil on the floor

68camaroz28 · Jul 26, 2011

It does get a little frustrating when you have to take things that have been done and re-do them again to make them better. The brake calibers when rebuilt had the two (2) bolts that bolt the two caliber halves together painted cast blast. They were Phosphated bolts so out they come to be glass beaded and re-phosphated. Will have them done shortly to show.
Cleaned parts for the trunk area which involved gas tank hardware and also a brass fitting used on the rear brake hose. Interesting the stamping on the brass fitting is the same "Weatherhead Company" stamp found on orig. petcocks. Here you can see both the petcock and the fittings "weatherhead" logo stamp.

Now to some gas tank original hardware and how it was. Notice the trunk spatter on parts.

The plate after a little minor resto!

The orig. filler neck hose has more than just GM stenciled on it. It has a pattern of GM A Y GM A Y

Everett#2390 · Jul 26, 2011

Awesome, Chick. Enjoy the journey. Thanks for the pictures.

68camaroz28 · Jul 26, 2011

And then comes along a little surprise in the way of tower clamps. These are the orig. tower clamps that came off that filler neck hose and hard to believe someone would change them out to another tower clamp but they are not Wittek clamps. After some initial cleaning they have stamped in the band "Murray Corp", "2 1/2", and "TO SON, 4 MD" I might have this wrong but it's all you can make out as the stamping is very slight and had to use a magnifying glass. I know the eyes are getting bad

Will see what else I can find when cleaning is complete. Here is how they look before I started. Anyone else ever have this Murray Corp hose clamp on their car?

And finally I was digging out a set of spark plugs and found I had two sets of AC 43's. They each have the 4 bands but one set has the top band much wider. I think the one to the left is correct but need to verify. Can someone help to confirm which one is technically correct for 68?

The one that I think (assume) is correct. Do not have any boxes from the other set of 8.

Time for another 68 Z/28 to be restored

anickel-67cpe

68camaroz28

lookingforparts

6781camaro

68camaroz28

Rarerat

68camaroz28

68camaroz28

68camaroz28

68camaroz28

anickel-67cpe

Garfields Maro

69z28freak

6781camaro

69z28freak

68camaroz28

68camaroz28

68camaroz28

Everett#2390

68camaroz28

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