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View Full Version : Finally got my 68 camaro,now the fun begins


james68ss
04-02-2008, 07:31 PM
Hi to all out there,
I'm a new new member to this site, so I thought I would take the opportunity to bore you all with my little project and say hi. Have loved Camaro's since I had a hotwheels model in 68, so now I have the real thing! My Camaro is a stock 68 coupe, 350 engine with powerglide tranny. The car arrived in Jan. 08as a driver, and so far I have stripped it down with only the rear end, petrol tank and subframe to come out. I intend to build the car from scratch, every nut, bolt and washer etc., into an SS clone. It has drums all round, at the moment I am researching disc brake conversions ( trying to avoid the yank kits). I will replace the floor (has rust in the passenger rear) so considering the cost, wiil just replace it all, will also replace the pass. quarter, as it had a ding that was repaired by someone who wore a blindfold. will also replace the driver guard, repaired by the same person. They love bog in the states. Saying all that, the car is in pretty good nick, 16000 landed, so I am not unhappy. Some slight rust around the windscreen, but nothing to serious. I will leave it LHD and do not intend to make any major mods, just a nice clean good looking Camaro that drives and looks real nice. Was originally Ermine white (is now in primer) and at the moment I will probably paint her the same color again, with a black vinyl roof, as original (other than the fact that I want to make her an SS). My interior (standard) will be all brand new, as all I can save are the mouldings on the door and rear panels (very good considering 40 years of age and some metal polish). This is my first project car, although I have been a car person all my life and have rebuilt 4's 6's and 8's as I have needed to for myself, friends or family, and have made all sorts of weird little fixes as needed. I am a Fitter and Machinist by trade, so any machining mods or welding jobs will be no problem (I think!) I just want to build a nice Camaro. Thanks for reading my story, James68ss

SirGeo
04-02-2008, 07:34 PM
Welcome... All i can say is you seem to have gotten it at a very decent price.. you can afford to spend some cash fixing it and still come out ahead...

And goodluck!

james68ss
04-02-2008, 08:06 PM
Thanks sirgeo,
I was looking for a long time, many many months of searching, and finally...
There was some disapointment though, it originally had rally wheels and caps, that somehow didn't make it to Australia, although I made the point about the price including the wheels. Should have kept my mouth shut. They did put a new starter in for me though, can't complain to much, suprisingly little rust for a 40 year old car. I could get away with a few patch panels, but I want her to be perfect (or as perfect as my bugdet will allow). Love your thread, have read the whole 18 pages (thats why I joined this site) she is looking real nice, good to see someone having a crack at the body and winning, I don't have much experience at bodywork, mechanical yes, tinwork no,but I will have a go at anything until I get it right, thats the way to learn.

cluxford
05-02-2008, 06:40 AM
James, welcome aboard....keep us posted it sounds like a really sweet project. Good to see yet another Camaro in Australia

EAT-30T
06-02-2008, 08:57 AM
Welcome James... be sure to start a build blog.... Oh and I trust like all other members here you purchased shares in panadol or nurofen! :p

rodent
07-02-2008, 04:32 PM
Welcome James :) Hope your build goes smoothly:D

RSZ28
08-02-2008, 06:50 AM
Welcome James. All the best with your project!

james68ss
10-02-2008, 08:26 AM
Thanks for the welcome guys,
Will pick up a complete floor pan from eastcoast in the next couple of weeks, in the meantime I will remove the subframe and start fabricating my rotisserie, that should be fun. Found one of my cyl. head bolts was helicoiled, when removing the bolt, the helicoil came with it! Will have to machine a plug to fit the hole, 620 loctite it in and retap back to original. When I work out how, I will post some pics. cheers, James68ss

rodent
10-02-2008, 09:09 AM
Why not just screw another helicoil into it?

james68ss
10-02-2008, 06:51 PM
Why not just screw another helicoil into it?

When they screwed in the original, they didn't take a good look down the hole, only about 50% of the helicoil is in contact with the wall. Could probably do the same thing again, but I want to get it right. ie. back to original