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PitKempo

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Discussion starter · #1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Hey Fellas,
My 68 roller finally arrived today. I'm sure it will need tons of hours of long work but I'm nothing but excited for it. I will continue this thread for as long as it takes to restore this future beauty. I just need y'all's expert advice on the steps in a logical order to go about restoring it. I'm very new to this! The car cams with original steering column, front and rear bumpers and AC components. It also came with a new quarter panel. I'll upload many more photos so y'all can provide me with the first thing I should start doing! All help will be completely appreciated!

Here's the link to my PhotoBucket so you guys can take a look at it, until I figure out how to upload photos on here. For some reason when I do it gives me a limit exceeded. Do you have to be a member to upload more than one photo? Anyways, please help me step by step on this project!

Image


http://s122.photobucket.com/user/PitKempo87/library/


-Dwight
 
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#2 ·
Ah ha! Fresh meat! We are going to work your butt off.
Not me though. The experts will be more than glad to help. It'll help if you post a list of your skills and tools. Without getting personal, give us a hint as to how much you want to spend.
 
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Discussion starter · #3 ·
I really only have basic mechanical skills but I pick up on things very quickly and I do research on everything before I attempt it. As for tools, I have access to your standard things as well as a compressor. And for the budget, I always tend to lean towards the best quality items even if it means saving up longer for it. I'm a firm believer in "you get what you pay for." I haven't set a minimum or maximum budget. My plan is to take it one step at a time, and slowly but surely want to make progress. Don't want to burn out on restoration nor burn a hole in the wallet all at once. So if you guys tell me the first step is to do "X", I will research, ask questions, buy all the necessary tools and attempt the task once I feel ready!
 
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#5 ·
First decode the VIN and Trim tag on the firewall. Check the hidden VINs to make sure they match.... http://camaros.org/numbers.shtml#VIN

Do you have any documentation with the car, Protect-o-Plate, dealer invoice etc. ? Does it have the original engine ? If not, first thing before disassembly is to look it over closely, checking for major options the car may have originally had. Check this chart ....http://camaros.org/diffs68.shtml


Take plenty of pics while disassembling to help document the cars originality. From the looks of it, it needs to be taken down to the bare bones and the body shell needs to be sand blasted. I'm afraid you're gonna find some unpleasant surprises.....but then you know what you have and you can decide what's the best way proceed. Don't spend anymore $$$ than necessary until you get to this point.

Best of luck.
 
#7 ·
Welcome aboard Dwight and now being a 68 owner. Congratulations :hurray:
First step is probably the easiest or maybe not but document what you have as far as vin, trim tag info, hidden vins, optons on car, any possible history, etc., and then an analysis of exactly what you have physically involving the car. Example, determine what sheet-metal will need to be replaced, and the extent of body work.
All of the above is needed no matter what direction you go with the car and that leads to the next step, what do you want? Restored to original, some type of pro-touring or resto-mod car, or?
That assists you to determine what would be needed to complete the goal in the way of interior, paint (different colors & paint can be very expensive) engine, trans. and rear, suspension, wheels & tires.
Many things add up quickly and many we do not consider like hardware (lots of scews, bolts, clips, washers, nuts), wiring, bezels, etc.. If one stays original and wants original parts it's going to cost more vs. repro parts in many cases but in many cases the repro parts have issues and one needs to do their homework/research. You stated you do that. Great:D
Once you know what you want that 68 to look like once it's done start to do your homework to understand the area of cost you might be into. It can be a real sticker shock to many, trust me.
The moderators will probably place this under 'builds' and may I suggest going there and reading many of the great build projects currently there.
I have a 68Z build project and trust me, it takes a lot of hours but it can be extremely rewarding.
Good luck and have fun Dwight,
 
Discussion starter · #8 ·
What I was told is that when the trim tags were put on it was by rivets that would sometimes get knocked and fall off. Either way, it is not there any longer. Not a big concern to me as I will most likely paint the car to my likings when the time comes.
 
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#9 ·
As I was writing a response and posted it I now see other posts including the car. The trim tag question is important to also know what you thought you purchased and then the review of what you have which member can assist with.
 
Discussion starter · #10 ·
Thank you very much for the info! Tomorrow I will grab a notepad and begin the documentation! Right now, I know sheet metal will be needed and such, but as for making a list of parts I need will be a challenge seeing as how I'm unsure of EVERY nut, bolt, screw, panel, gauge, wire, etc that belongs on the car. I'm currently purchasing some manuals from Ricks Camaros so I can have a better grasp on this!
 
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#12 ·
PitKempo said:
What I was told is that when the trim tags were put on it was by rivets that would sometimes get knocked and fall off. Either way, it is not there any longer. Not a big concern to me as I will most likely paint the car to my likings when the time comes.
Click to expand...
Dwight, research would have confirmed the being told "that when the trim tags were put on it was by rivets that would sometimes get knocked and fall off" is BS.
 
#13 ·
PitKempo said:
Thank you very much for the info! Tomorrow I will grab a notepad and begin the documentation! Right now, I know sheet metal will be needed and such, but as for making a list of parts I need will be a challenge seeing as how I'm unsure of EVERY nut, bolt, screw, panel, gauge, wire, etc that belongs on the car. I'm currently purchasing some manuals from Ricks Camaros so I can have a better grasp on this!
Click to expand...
Dwight, that's not what I suggested. Know what you have and document, review what you will need body wise as that is key or will be needed no matter what direction you go. Then a goal of what the car will be when completed. You do not need to list "EVERY nut, bolt, screw" etc. you will not get into that for a long time and can use AMK kits which supply just about everything needed. My point with hardware was cost factors....... By the way, in my build thread I have listed by part number just about all needed screws and bolts, and their sizes so much of the info is available when researched.
 
#14 ·
PitKempo said:
I do however have a title with matching VIN
Click to expand...
That is the extremely important fact of the day. Glad that is at least the case. True the Trim Tag would have given you a better idea of what she was born with but if you are building a Mod - you wouldn't have cared.
 
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Discussion starter · #15 ·
Is a missing trim tag a huge problem? My plan is to not sell the car, but to restore it and keep forever.
 
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#17 ·
If you are computer savvy, you should set up a small XL program to keep track of your expenditures. Back 20 years when I was doing Restorations to my cars I started a simple program. I just put the part or service I purchased, part numbers and suppliers and what I paid. It was really great to keep records. The best part of it was I could hit a button and find out exactly to the penny what I had spent. If you are old school you could keep a log book. There is nothing worse than waking up one day and finding you are upside down on a restoration. Keeping these types of records will also let you plan how far you are going with the restoration. If you reach the value of the car, you can see how much further you are willing to go.
In asking for help from this forum, you will have to realize, there are many members and many ideas on what form a Camaro restoration should take. There are the every nut and bolt, paint dab, correct part types, and the resto mod types and in between. You have to decide what information you will use for your direction. As far as how to, this forum is invaluable. No matter what part of the car you are looking at someone has already been there and done that, and took pictures!
Good luck with your resto and enjoy the journey, it is what is the most fun.
 
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#18 ·
Having been restoring these cars for over 30 years, I would suggest very strongly that you do a cost estimate on each component of the resto then total and see if that suits you. Treat it like a business and price comparison each item because you can save as much as 30% in a variety of ways. 2 cars ago I had a budget, after purchase of $20K and ended with $21K with all major components new or rebuilt, a "Best in Show" car. The current car I had a budget of $12K and ended with $11K, and a top end driver BB, 4 SPD.
It is real easy to let the cost get away from you if you go by the seat of your pants. Just one little example, Dynomax the interior for $300 or insulate from Lowes for $25. IROC box from Autozone for $120, or a vendor for $300, by the way Autozone has a lifetime replacement warranty on all their parts. Have fun and not break the bank!
 
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