Project Hellfire - 68 Camaro Pro-touring Build

[cluxford]

OK all, time for me to join the party. We have a 67 on this borard and a 69...I'm a middle child so I might as well be a "middle" build. Lucky I got the best model of the 3.

A bit of background. I have always wanted a 68 Camaro since I was really little and as many others saw "one crazy summer". Over the years I basically worked out all the little things I wanted and it would be nothing short of a blown big block full on pro-street animal. 3 years ago I even paid a deposit on one that was tubbed, caged with a 468 BBC blown. But let it go as found out couldn't get it registered.

With 3 years to ponder and do some more research I found I could get some things registered and keep the car close to what I wanted.

So the hunt began for another donor car. That hunt ended in Nov 06 when on Melb cup day I nervously bid on ebay for a 68 Camaro (that you see below)



The car arrived in Australia in Early March.

I haven't done anything to it yet except go over it and look at what I have bought check out whether it was a good deal.

Paid US$9K for it and $3300 aussie for shipping. Landed cost was $16K aussie not a bad deal in my mind.

So what does it have......this is an interesting read:
All new qtrs all 4 of em
All new roof
All new floors including new boot
All new front inner guards
New carpet
Everything else orginal.
Whilst the panels are good in that they are new (ie really straight - except 1 minor travel dint in rear LH side) the panel gaps leave a little to be desired so they will somehow need to be sorted out.

Doors are really rough. I was hoping frames would be OK but they are rusted through so hunt on for new doors.

The build...what will the car end up as?

I can show potenial "after" photos...my car won't be exactly the same but a sort of combo of various ideas from these cars:

Love this look, this one was fully tubbed, mine will be just mini tubbed but I am after that stance

Interior will be something like this but not in white



Car may look something like this but not in fluro green...




What I am building is:
Pro-touring (in no particular order)
632 Ci BBC - crate engine, has been dynoed and is on the boat on the way here. 816Hp (0r 607 Kw). Will run dual quads with Hilborn scoop through bonnet


T400
Art Morrison sub frame with C5 Vette front end and 13" Wilwood 6 spots
Here is a thread that shows the sub frame
http://www.usmuscle.com.au/Forum/showthread.php?t=114
And here is a photo


4 link rear with 9" (and Wilwood discs also)
17" Budnik Bladerunner wheels 8" front and 11" back (at least 315 tyres)


So car will be minitubbed
No cage (so will run sub frame connectors)
Exterior will be totally smooth, no chrome, shaved handles, no cutters
Grille will be a 69 Camaro RS grille
Interior will see a custom made metal dash, with console to run entire length of care up to rear parcel shelf
4 custom made bucket seats (will be customised using orginal seats but they will look way different)
I have a few other tricks planned to keep the car very smooth and basically everything hidden
Obviously the above is not comprehensive but I guess you get the idea
Car will be painted candy apple yellow with ghost flames

Week after Easter the work begins.
Got 1 week off to strip the car right back to bare basics (ie every nut and bolt removed) then off to the shop.

Let me be up front to say my role in this build is ideas and phone calls (and spending money). I've tried to do cars in the past and I am OK but not the quality I want on this so I am handing it over for all stages to experts.

I expect the build to take 18 months at the least.

More photos can be found at:
http://s156.photobucket.com/albums/t37/cluxford/

Obviously once I get going I will keep posting updates.

Anyone interested I am going to have a lot of original 1968 Camaro stuff that will not get used in this build. Therefore if anything is of interest drop me a line. It does have a running 327 SBC and a powerglide that are for sale now.

Thanks for taking the time to read about my car.

Rgds
Chris

[EAT-30T]

Good to see you finally join the party!

If I showed you the 68 my friend bought for similar money....well you did exceptional! IMO I know what you mean about panel gaps! My 69 had new 1/4's put on and the gaps were no good at all.... we spent alot of hours correcting those mistakes... needless to say I would try to avoid buying a car with new sheetmetal installed for that reason......

Can't wait to see this bad boy take shape! It sure as hell sounds like its gonna be something!!!!

[SirGeo]

Great deal with the car... i'm sure you'll be able to find some doors...

Looks like you have everything planned, from body style, subframe and motor.. Do you have all the workshops you want to do work on it lined up?

Sounds like it's going to be a tuff looking (and going) car when your done.. Keep us up to date, i'm sure plenty of people are going to be interested in how you go with all these bolt on custom bits.. i know i'm keen to see how the chassi goes

Steve.

[cluxford]

All work will be done by 2 shops:
Stylerod Panels in Croydon and
Sean Mullins Racecars in Kilsyth

Ordering sub frame today

[SirGeo]

I'll make sure i visit them during the build to sneak a peak at your car

[cluxford]

Please do and share thoughts and ideas as it goes along....it will be with Peter in the next 2 weeks

[EAT-30T]

Originally Posted by cluxford

Grille will be a 69 Camaro RS grille

Am I reading this right????

[cluxford]

Yep you sure are, I love the 69 RS Grille....I know many will think I am ruining a 68, I like the 68 RS grille but prefer the 69, but hate the 69 rear end and rear qtrs, prefer the 68.....so I am building the best of both

[cluxford]

Latest update 7th April 07

Spent the last 2 days literally pulling the car apart. All interior is out. Everything except the heater box, wiring loom, steering column and pedal box. Everything else has been removed, down to every last screw.

All chrome trim on outside, all bumpers etc. Would have removed grille but we always have one stripped bolt don't we...mine I can only reach with a tube socket so guess that one will wait.

Need to talk to shop on Tue as they want me to leave panels on at this stage so car will probably go to shop on Tue or Wed "as is".

All running gear still in it.

Will post photos tomorrow.

What I love that I have found......

All panels really straight except for minor ding in rear quarter that will easily roll out (looks like someone bumped it with some heavy it's not bad). And front lower (ie lowest under grille) valence panel as a hit is one side, again very easy to repair. Everything else (except doors) is eiether brand new or really straight. Even heater box, radiator support etc all brand new....it really is a new car bar a few panels...all repos so panel gaps are the biggest issue to resolve.

Anyway photos tomorrow

Rgds
Chris

[Customcam]

Hey Clux seen you over at Lat G a while ago
good choice on the front clip.

[cluxford]

Thanks these forums are a good way to share ideas and learn

[SirGeo]

Stripping is the easiest part.. just remembering where it all went is the tricky part

And if the doors and those small dings are all you found.. you've done well...

speaking of the doors found any yet?

As for the gaps, it's what everyone seems to complain about.. with genuine or repo.. repo just seem to be that little bit worse, nothing some spacers can't fix i'm sure

What is the quality of the non-genuine front guards like? i might be going that route as well.

[cluxford]

Front guards are really solid....come round check em out. Car will be here for a few weeks.

No doors yet, haven't called the guy in Canberra yet, have looked at some repos though and they feel strong...so might go that path given everything else is damn straight.

Next update about to come through

[cluxford]

OK latest update...well really photos of last 2 days work.

I know stripping is the easy part.....

First off 2 photos that show only panel damage on whole car:

first brand new repo rear qtr that has been "bumped" see red circles:


Second front valence, small hit on right hand side, see it's lifted up the bumper bar support....this will need to be straightened:


The rest are just random photos of interior stripped out. The more I work on this car the happier I am, it's all straight and no rust bar the doors......wow !!!!

[SirGeo]

floors look nice and solid.. and whoever did the roof done it properly..

Also you might want to check the price of a new front valance, i was going to repair mine (minor dings) but saw they only cost $64.95 ($US) brand new.. all depends on how fussy you want to be, and how easy it is to fix the current damage..

As for the 2 dings on the guard.. i wouldn't stress they are in a nice and easy spot to get at from the behind to knock back in place