New project...1976 Camaro

[NHRABill]

Hey all thought I share another project I am taking on. This is the owners very 1st car a 76' Camaro 8-)

It has rust all along bottom of Body slipping transmission and anemic 2bbl 305 bone stock down to replaced factory muffler. The lower 1/4's are rusted out as well as the lower front fenders as well as other areas the Bad part is the Frame rail on the drivers side is rotted through.

So here is the before shot I am not good about keeping up with things but I will try and post when I can. I plan on having frame and bodywork done by May for mid May Paint Job.

Engine is getting new exhaust, Carb manifold tune up. hope that the trans is just a seal and gasket leak and that is what made it lose 3 quarts of fluid :facepalm: Ammoco quoted 1500 to repair trans back in 1986 LOL they have the papers too funny. car is a time warp for sure I am also going to cleanup the interior carpet/ paint/ defunkify the nastys. Make it clean safe and roadworthy. Please don't bash me for adding non stock items such as Spoiler and other year trim the owners request was to make it reliable and cool.

So far I managed to get her started and running, carb adjust it was super rich and now she is purring sort of you can only drain the fuel so much without dropping the tank.

With fluid in the trans seems to shift run and drive fine drove it to my house 15 miles and rand good now I just need to flush and clean replace the brakes. Pluss a hundred more things. Wish me luck.



http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/MDA_/cars/1976%20Camaro/2013-01-06180608_zps664e164a.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/MDA_/cars/1976%20Camaro/2013-01-06180332_zps5f742d26.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/MDA_/cars/1976%20Camaro/th_2013-01-10155343_zps7d2250a1.jpg (http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/MDA_/cars/1976%20Camaro/2013-01-10155343_zps7d2250a1.mp4)
http://s73.beta.photobucket.com/user/MDA_/media/cars/1976%20Camaro/2013-01-10155343_zps7d2250a1.mp4.html

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/MDA_/cars/1976%20Camaro/th_2013-01-10155655_zps51ba0f22.jpg (http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/MDA_/cars/1976%20Camaro/2013-01-10155655_zps51ba0f22.mp4)

http://s73.beta.photobucket.com/user/MDA_/media/cars/1976%20Camaro/2013-01-10155655_zps51ba0f22.mp4.html

[BonzoHansen]

targa top!


my 1st car wa a 76 LT. Firethorn red & white targa. ugh that top.

[sweetbmxrider]

Cool project, that color though is not for me :)

[zraffz]

Not one of my favorite body style but good luck! I never knew GM made targa top f-bodies.

[BonzoHansen]

It's not what you're thinking. It's half a vinyl top. we just used to call it that. I think out was called a landau top.

[zraffz]

Oh I see what you are talking about now. For a second that back seem and the front seems looked like a late 90's corvette targa.

[NHRABill]

Yup its a vinyl top, its actually in perfect shape just dirty. I am waiting to take it off as one of my final things before paint cause I have not seen a replacement in that color none of the resto companies carry anything close to the color. It is a low production color and has a few unusual options for its model. I like classics to be stock not all hacked up so I was hoping they change their mind on paint color and add on stuff like spoiler etc.

It may not be anyone's first choice in Camaro years but that is what makes it hard to find cause everyone junked 140Hp 305v8 Camaro and kept 69 Camaro. Transformers movie added some interest with them using a 77' model with big chrome bumpers like this one.I will make it pretty and reliable so it can be driven and enjoyed once more. I hope to start cleaning up of the frame tomorrow. Have to dig out the Mig and find a metal shop for some supplies.

[NHRABill]

Bottom 2 pictures are videos click them to play them

[NHRABill]

OK so here is an update

Under inches of caked on oil and grease I found the motor, upon tear down the drivers side oil gallies are all clogged. I spent 8+ hours degreasing scraping and cleaning and eventually got somewhere. I removed 2bbl carb/manifold and started to replace and rebuild on the limited budget I have.

I forgot how much I enjoy working on older cars

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/MDA_/cars/1976%20Camaro/2013-01-06180332_zps231ea32d.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/MDA_/cars/1976%20Camaro/2013-03-03161058_zpse7195f33.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/MDA_/cars/1976%20Camaro/IMAG0875_zpsf836e1ab.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/MDA_/cars/1976%20Camaro/IMAG0880_zps6eabcdc0.jpg


Seen as this is a little 305 it got the basics

Edelbrock performer EPS manifold
Holley 600 Carb
rebuild kits for everything else

I will be swapping out the wires when I have a moment to cut and size the new set I picked up. Having an issue with the shifter binding up looks ok underneath must be in the console so that is a priority

I also have a new exhaust system sitting in boxes might get put on tomorrow if I am motivated

Wires and hoses under the hood I will be cleaning up when all else is complete owner of car wants to keep stock A/C so I had to work that back in there I hate the look of A/c units under the hood :(

[chrisfrom nj]

the car is looking great

[1320B4U]

Looks great man. Clean up the fan shroud and header panel area and that can evetually pass of as a great, budget saturday night cruiser. can't wait to see body/paint....and keep the landau roof, makes it unique. I'm assuming z28 rear spoiler, blacked out grill and headlight buckets, maybe z28 hood?

[NHRABill]

Thanks guys,

Spent a couple hours on it today the hard to get in gear issue is a bad shifter cable will see if I can talk the owners into a prostick / megashifter or something different on Monday when they stop over to check progress.

I also stated on the exhaust didn't plan on doing it today but it went quick until my 5 year old wanted to play so I called it after an hour :) I am a giant child. So I still have to adjust and make 1 more cut not sure on how I want the pipes to exit yet.

Yup have a 3 piece spoiler in the garage waiting as well as a bunch of Z28 gauges swapping them in place of the stock idiot lights. Its a nice touch no one can tell other than a hardcore Camaro person the original owner and me will know.

I would like to add a hood scoop not sure which type but stock looking. I am not fond of the 80/81 teardrop and the cowl hood is nice but I have done it to death over the years so I guess I will know it when I see it.

The vinyl roof is not staying :( I pleaded my case already but lost shame cause I don't see this color being remade in any books so it is one of the more rare things that will fade away forever. I am leaving it for last in hopes of a change of heart. I want the car to be painted gold copper color possible black stripe or detail work to go with its stock tan interior.