1969 Camaro (Restoration)

[zraffz]

Newer floor pans, quarters, fiberglass fenders/front end/hood. The car has a fuel cell, interior is gutted, manual steering, no luxury (speakers/radio/etc). He had a 700R4 built for it with a 1,800 stall converter. It's a 350 bored .030", .525"/.525" think I read 288 duration, dart heads, god knows why he has a victor jr on it (guess I'll have to see where it stops pulling since he kept all his documentation for his sake although the tach indicates it should only be turning 6 grand), gear driven timing assembly, 1.6 roller rockers and a holley 750. He ran a best of 12.8 @ 108 with a 1.9 60'. I think the car has an easy 12.5 or better with stickier tires and the right manifold. Probably going to spray it as my motor finishes completion.

Panels on passenger side need some aligning, something is tweaked in the door hinge area. Right after he re-skinned the quarter panels his .38 went off and shot a hole in the passenger side
Interior is ratty. No headliner, carpet, console... pretty much a dash and two racing seats. It does have slapper bars and weld in sub frame connectors though.

This is my ultimate dream car. I never would mention a 1969 Camaro when the conversation would come up because I figured I'd never afford one. Dumb enough luck I punched in 1969 Camaro on craigslist (might do it once every 6 months) and this came up as just posted. Immediately called and said I wanted to see it. Next day (yesterday), I put a deposit and came back with a trailer. Turns out he was in a tight spot and had to let it go after reviving it from a field 15 years ago... paid $6,200. Thank god I was the first one to get to look at it.










Special thanks to NJBadSS for lending me his trailer. Car is going to my Uncle's garage. I will be working on it there.

[zraffz]

Starting out fixing control arm (suspension on passenger side is currently a block of wood; all parts are in the trunk); he was in the middle of changing bushings when he lost his storage and had to move it in a hurry.
Afterwards I'm doing new weather stripping all around, wire wheeling the underside and floor. Anybody have a good suggestion on what to seal it with? Seen hit or miss results with POR15.

[LTb1ow]

So much slow race car, hillbilly deluxe going on with that car, so awesome. Good luck with it!

Pics of the .38 hole would be cool as well.

[maroman88]

Nice!

[zraffz]

Originally Posted by LTb1ow

So much slow race car, hillbilly deluxe going on with that car, so awesome. Good luck with it!

Pics of the .38 hole would be cool as well.

lmao thanks. It's kinda funny, I like the direction it was going. Conveniently I want a street/strip car but I'd feel guilty ruining a car with a nice interior... now I won't feel bad caging it. I don't have much plans besides carpet, headliner, door/sail panels, and a god damn radio... and nicer seats. Also saves me money not buying SFCs and slapper bars.
Once I straiten out the body it's getting painted gloss black, new window/door trim and badges. As long as it looks good from the outside I'd be very happy.

Got a TH350, 2,500 B&M converter, and a Trick Flow 23* 195cc 383 (still being built although I have all the expensive stuff). I'd be happy with an 11 second NA pump fuel motor since I won't spend much time driving it anyway

[1320B4U]

Lucky man you are. Would love a '69 myself..the pinnacle of any camaro. Awesome score! I checked one out about 8 years ago...250/6 in vernon...marina blue w/black stripes for 6k (body need work though..obv)...ran great but didn't move for a number of years..just too much of a project for me at that time but the wheels did turn in my head.

[L695speed]

Sweet score there. Hope to see it around sooner rather than later. So whats left, only a second gen and you have the complete collection? The 5th gen isn't continuous so it doesn't count.

[zraffz]

Originally Posted by L695speed

So whats left, only a second gen and you have the complete collection? The 5th gen isn't continuous so it doesn't count.

haha well I only own a 1st and 4th but my brother has a 3rd. Trying to sell my 4th now cause I won't be able to finish that but their is still another 4th at my house

Absolutely zero interest in owning a 2nd gen... I'll leave that one up to my brother to obtain
Also no interest in a 5th. It ain't even a f-body.


Should see the car come spring. I might throw it on the road this year but I seriously doubt it. I'd rather just get to everything that needs my attention.

Originally Posted by 1320B4U

Lucky man you are. Would love a '69 myself..the pinnacle of any camaro. Awesome score! I checked one out about 8 years ago...250/6 in vernon...marina blue w/black stripes for 6k (body need work though..obv)...ran great but didn't move for a number of years..just too much of a project for me at that time but the wheels did turn in my head.

I called him and I explained how badly I've always wanted one and I begged this guy not to let anybody else come see it til I saw it. I told him if it was anything like it was in the pictures I wouldn't ask any questions and wouldn't try to beat him down on the price (he wanted $6,500). He actually had a line of people to see if and his phone was going nuts when I went to look at it. Cool dude, I couldn't make it down that night and took off work and only got down there around noon.

[L695speed]

Ah ok I see now. Still though it would be neat to have one of each gen. Good luck on selling the LT1 car. If you intend to keep the 69 and would care to spend some decent coin perhaps a Schwartz Chassis? Drop the body on, drivetrain of choice and then go out and out corner a vette.

[BonzoHansen]

Originally Posted by L695speed

Ah ok I see now. Still though it would be neat to have one of each gen. Good luck on selling the LT1 car. If you intend to keep the 69 and would care to spend some decent coin perhaps a Schwartz Chassis? Drop the body on, drivetrain of choice and then go out and out corner a vette.

I suspect the OP does not have $30,000+ to drop on a car. lol

[WildBillyT]

Cool man, good luck with it.

I've got some leftover '69 parts floating around, dunno if you'd need anything. Front wheel wells, bumpers, some misc interior stuff.

[B4C]

The grill and headlights are very 1980's

[BonzoHansen]

Originally Posted by B4C

The grill and headlights are very 1980's

and the wheels

[zraffz]

Originally Posted by BonzoHansen

I suspect the OP does not have $30,000+ to drop on a car. lol

lol absolutely not but if i did I'd be on the phone with nelson racing inquiring about their 1,400 horse twin turbo ls7

Originally Posted by WildBillyT

Cool man, good luck with it.

I've got some leftover '69 parts floating around, dunno if you'd need anything. Front wheel wells, bumpers, some misc interior stuff.

What condition are the bumpers in? I hate how my front one is gray and the back is a rusty/pitted chrome. On the other hand I found a set for $150 new from some company.

Originally Posted by BonzoHansen

and the wheels

haha the wheels are terrible. Don't rub it in! However that isn't a big priority as of now. And that grill is growing on me. I guess it depends what I end up building (classic or retro rod). I think gloss black, lowered a hair with 17/18" wheels and a chevy logo on the grill is the only way to make it look half way descent. Thinking I want to keep a classic look though and therefor I'll need a grill.

[WildBillyT]

Originally Posted by zraffz

lol absolutely not but if i did I'd be on the phone with nelson racing inquiring about their 1,400 horse twin turbo ls7


What condition are the bumpers in? I hate how my front one is gray and the back is a rusty/pitted chrome. On the other hand I found a set for $150 new from some company.


haha the wheels are terrible. Don't rub it in! However that isn't a big priority as of now. And that grill is growing on me. I guess it depends what I end up building (classic or retro rod). I think gloss black, lowered a hair with 17/18" wheels and a chevy logo on the grill is the only way to make it look half way descent. Thinking I want to keep a classic look though and therefor I'll need a grill.

I do not believe they are dented at all but they would need to be rechromed or polished. Regardless of if you buy mine or not, be aware that repro bumpers are NOTORIOUS for being of poor quality/thin gauge/cheap chrome.

If you are serious I'll haul them out tonight.

[zraffz]

I'll get back to you. I want to see if someone painted over my front or not. I am pretty sure I can save my rear bumper and make it look good.


Edit:
and thanks for the heads up.

[L695speed]

LOL that is true....but I know you can get a bare chassis and do as you wish for less than 10 grand. However a full true rolling chassis with brakes and all, assuming you got the highest cost options and had it assembled.... it would be around 34 grand. But thats with a 9,000 dollar IRS suspension, 8,000 dollar brakes, etc. Can easily be had and built for less presuming you are up for the work. Just putting that out there for fun.

[sweetbmxrider]

What's with the baby stall?

[zraffz]

Originally Posted by sweetbmxrider

What's with the baby stall?

No idea... I don't know much about the motor. Like I said, Victor Jr and 1,800 stall don't go hand in hand. Neither does setting the tach at 6,000 RPM shifts and Victor Jr.

My 383 is going to be a small stall too. No plans of making this thing a pain to drive. Don't need a lot of power in a gutted car with a fiberglass front end.

[sweetbmxrider]

Converter technology has come so far from back in the day. I dded a tight 3600 converter no problem. Now I drive a looser 4k stall and it still is fine driving any day I want rain or shine.

[zraffz]

Originally Posted by sweetbmxrider

Converter technology has come so far from back in the day. I dded a tight 3600 converter no problem. Now I drive a looser 4k stall and it still is fine driving any day I want rain or shine.

I'll keep it in mind. Not to late to have my trick flows ported and I didn't buy a cam yet.

[zraffz]

car sat for two months, finally started working on it.
Got parts starting to come in. (th400, trans brake, grille, suspension parts/lowering springs).

Floors ground, first coat of POR15 applied. Interior torn apart. Picked up weld pro stars with nitto nt555r drag radials.






Front is getting lowered 2":

[zraffz]

Car was lowered 2" with new shocks and front control arm bushings, bought air shocks for the rear and pinion shims to adjust the slapper bars.
Front half of the frame was ground down and painted. Floors have been POR15'd from the top so far, getting ready to patch a few small holes and apply another coat.

Since I was on a bender to remove the things I didn't like (replaced wheels with Weld Pro Stars), I got myself a new grille:



Been kicking around the idea in my head of converting to a TPI harness and running an HSR or Mini Ram.

[zraffz]

Getting ready to convert to fuel injection (accel pro ram manifold & rails with a custom sheet metal elbow and 58mm TPIS throttle body).


And a TC78 turbo for that extra ooomf.

[sweetbmxrider]

You are loco maaan