Gonna Fix a 69
The saga continues from my thread, “Gonna Get a 69”:
OK – So I finally got my Camaro WOOHOO!… now what do I do? I bought an Assembly Manual, Camaro Restoration Guide (Jason Scott), Fisher Body Service manual, and a Chassis Service Manual. For somebody that has never turned a wrench on a car in his life, it seems like a daunting task. I’m up for the challenge, and I need to make a plan and execute it. So, here I go…..
I have talked with a few people and gotten some different ideas on what to do with the car. Here are the main ones:
Idea #1 – Fix it and drive it: Basically the idea here is to simply get the car running safe and sound, ensure all mechanical components are in good enough working condition to not do damage to the drivetrain, do a little cosmetic and performance R&R, and just drive it.
Pros:
1. I will be able to begin the enjoyment factor sooner and by time until I can determine what I really want to do with the car.
2. My initial outlay won’t be as much and, with whatever I end up doing to the car in time, I won’t have invested a lot of money that will be “wasted”.
Cons:
1. It doesn’t look too bad, but it’s not that “pretty”. The interior is OK… the front and back seats are in really good condition, but the dash pad, carpet and rear area above the back seat need to be replaced. The door panels are a little curled up on the edges at the bottom, and they could be left in or replaced. The body has a crunch on the driver’s fender, a small dent in the rear quarter, and the paint looks not that great… a few scratches, some “crackling”, etc.
2. The metal just below the rear window has some rust and I have been told this should be addressed immediately in order to prevent further damage. If I take it somewhere and start tearing into it, won’t I be just as well off to do all the body work, paint, etc. at the same time? If they’re going to have to tear out the rear window, repair or replace some metal, etc. and paint over the “bad” area, should I do it all at the same time?
3. If I am going to do body work / paint, there’s different ways to go --- from basic “blow and go” to full frame off.
a. If I go the quickie route, I’ll have the car up and going sooner, but will have to redo it all again in the future if I want to do a full restoration.
b. If I go with a full blown restoration I have heard it could be down for many, many months, if not a year or more.
4. Since the car has been sitting for a long, long time, and it only has 39k miles on it, I’m not sure I want to just drive it all over the countryside. I definitely want to drive it and enjoy it, but I don’t know if it’s such a good idea to think of it in terms of a “daily driver”. It’s not so much about value, but more about preservation.
Idea #2 – Take out the old, replace it with “other”, and drive it all I want. The idea here is to preserve the “original” components of the car by taking out the numbers matching motor, trans, etc., finding something that I can stick in the car that won’t bother me if I put some miles on it, and making it a daily driver, so to speak.
Pros: If, by removing the “valuable” components of the car is truly seen as “preserving the car”, it will make it that much more valuable in the future and preserve it’s originality. The question I do not know the answer to here is, “What is perceived as maintaining the originality of the car?” In other words, if I remove, store and replace components, is that considered preserving the car? If so:
1. The originality of the car, to a degree, will be preserved. The problem is, if I were to go this direction, I’m not sure which parts I should take off and store, and which I can leave on. Example: do I leave the seats on, since they’re in excellent condition, or do I put them on a shelf? What parts do I take off, which do I leave on?
2. If I replace the major components and “break” something, eg; motor, tranny, etc. I won’t be that concerned about the initial breaking of it, nor about how the “repair” of the breakage goes… what parts to use, etc.
Cons:
1. It will take longer to get it out and enjoyable.
2. This could be throwing money away if my thinking on “preservation” is wrong.
3. The odometer shows 39,000 miles on it. If I yank everything out, the “parts” will only have 39k on them, but, over time, the “car” will have much more.
4. If I tear into it this much, I will probably end up doing a full restoration on it anyway. If that happens, I would probably end up doing the “whole car”, in which case I think have defeated the purpose.
Idea #3: GO FOR IT! Scarp the whole “piecemeal” idea, go for the full blown frame off restoration right from the start, and be done with it.
Pros:
1. I will have a clear path to an endgame. No further decisions to be made. Whatever it takes is what it takes. Damned be the torpedoes, full steam ahead.
2. When it’s finally done I will have a “masterpiece”. A rare piece of Americana, something I can be truly proud of.
3. I will learn every square inch of a 69 Camaro SS. Since I know absolutely nothing now, it will be the true “school of hard knocks”.
Cons:
1. I’ve heard the horror stories --- The time it actually takes vs. what those who have done it thought it would take.
2. The money pit --- in for a penny, in for a pound. I have heard the following: “Whatever you think the budget is, add another 50%”. I don’t have a problem with spending the money. The thing I don’t know is, “How much is too much?”
3. It’s going to be down for a long time. I know me. If I have to wait for it to get “done” I will probably go out, find another one that I can drive today, and wait for the other one to get done. There’s another $10,000 to $30,000 I’ll be “out”… not really out, because I can probably always recoup the investment. But it’s a lot of dough to have on the street for a “newbie”.
So, I’m looking for direction. I know it’s all about “What do you want to do with the car?”. But I need advice. I realize that the final decision will be mine, and ultimately I will make the final call. But, because many of you have been down this path already I would like to glean from you whatever advice you have, collect information from as many sources as possible, and make a decision. Deciding which direction to go is the toughest part. Once I reach a conclusion I can devise a plan and execute it. Until then, I am in limbo. Any insight you have would be helpful
The saga continues from my thread, “Gonna Get a 69”:
OK – So I finally got my Camaro WOOHOO!… now what do I do? I bought an Assembly Manual, Camaro Restoration Guide (Jason Scott), Fisher Body Service manual, and a Chassis Service Manual. For somebody that has never turned a wrench on a car in his life, it seems like a daunting task. I’m up for the challenge, and I need to make a plan and execute it. So, here I go…..
I have talked with a few people and gotten some different ideas on what to do with the car. Here are the main ones:
Idea #1 – Fix it and drive it: Basically the idea here is to simply get the car running safe and sound, ensure all mechanical components are in good enough working condition to not do damage to the drivetrain, do a little cosmetic and performance R&R, and just drive it.
Pros:
1. I will be able to begin the enjoyment factor sooner and by time until I can determine what I really want to do with the car.
2. My initial outlay won’t be as much and, with whatever I end up doing to the car in time, I won’t have invested a lot of money that will be “wasted”.
Cons:
1. It doesn’t look too bad, but it’s not that “pretty”. The interior is OK… the front and back seats are in really good condition, but the dash pad, carpet and rear area above the back seat need to be replaced. The door panels are a little curled up on the edges at the bottom, and they could be left in or replaced. The body has a crunch on the driver’s fender, a small dent in the rear quarter, and the paint looks not that great… a few scratches, some “crackling”, etc.
2. The metal just below the rear window has some rust and I have been told this should be addressed immediately in order to prevent further damage. If I take it somewhere and start tearing into it, won’t I be just as well off to do all the body work, paint, etc. at the same time? If they’re going to have to tear out the rear window, repair or replace some metal, etc. and paint over the “bad” area, should I do it all at the same time?
3. If I am going to do body work / paint, there’s different ways to go --- from basic “blow and go” to full frame off.
a. If I go the quickie route, I’ll have the car up and going sooner, but will have to redo it all again in the future if I want to do a full restoration.
b. If I go with a full blown restoration I have heard it could be down for many, many months, if not a year or more.
4. Since the car has been sitting for a long, long time, and it only has 39k miles on it, I’m not sure I want to just drive it all over the countryside. I definitely want to drive it and enjoy it, but I don’t know if it’s such a good idea to think of it in terms of a “daily driver”. It’s not so much about value, but more about preservation.
Idea #2 – Take out the old, replace it with “other”, and drive it all I want. The idea here is to preserve the “original” components of the car by taking out the numbers matching motor, trans, etc., finding something that I can stick in the car that won’t bother me if I put some miles on it, and making it a daily driver, so to speak.
Pros: If, by removing the “valuable” components of the car is truly seen as “preserving the car”, it will make it that much more valuable in the future and preserve it’s originality. The question I do not know the answer to here is, “What is perceived as maintaining the originality of the car?” In other words, if I remove, store and replace components, is that considered preserving the car? If so:
1. The originality of the car, to a degree, will be preserved. The problem is, if I were to go this direction, I’m not sure which parts I should take off and store, and which I can leave on. Example: do I leave the seats on, since they’re in excellent condition, or do I put them on a shelf? What parts do I take off, which do I leave on?
2. If I replace the major components and “break” something, eg; motor, tranny, etc. I won’t be that concerned about the initial breaking of it, nor about how the “repair” of the breakage goes… what parts to use, etc.
Cons:
1. It will take longer to get it out and enjoyable.
2. This could be throwing money away if my thinking on “preservation” is wrong.
3. The odometer shows 39,000 miles on it. If I yank everything out, the “parts” will only have 39k on them, but, over time, the “car” will have much more.
4. If I tear into it this much, I will probably end up doing a full restoration on it anyway. If that happens, I would probably end up doing the “whole car”, in which case I think have defeated the purpose.
Idea #3: GO FOR IT! Scarp the whole “piecemeal” idea, go for the full blown frame off restoration right from the start, and be done with it.
Pros:
1. I will have a clear path to an endgame. No further decisions to be made. Whatever it takes is what it takes. Damned be the torpedoes, full steam ahead.
2. When it’s finally done I will have a “masterpiece”. A rare piece of Americana, something I can be truly proud of.
3. I will learn every square inch of a 69 Camaro SS. Since I know absolutely nothing now, it will be the true “school of hard knocks”.
Cons:
1. I’ve heard the horror stories --- The time it actually takes vs. what those who have done it thought it would take.
2. The money pit --- in for a penny, in for a pound. I have heard the following: “Whatever you think the budget is, add another 50%”. I don’t have a problem with spending the money. The thing I don’t know is, “How much is too much?”
3. It’s going to be down for a long time. I know me. If I have to wait for it to get “done” I will probably go out, find another one that I can drive today, and wait for the other one to get done. There’s another $10,000 to $30,000 I’ll be “out”… not really out, because I can probably always recoup the investment. But it’s a lot of dough to have on the street for a “newbie”.
So, I’m looking for direction. I know it’s all about “What do you want to do with the car?”. But I need advice. I realize that the final decision will be mine, and ultimately I will make the final call. But, because many of you have been down this path already I would like to glean from you whatever advice you have, collect information from as many sources as possible, and make a decision. Deciding which direction to go is the toughest part. Once I reach a conclusion I can devise a plan and execute it. Until then, I am in limbo. Any insight you have would be helpful
