Quote: Originally posted by Teetoe_Jones How many of you are really interested in a good looking body kit for the 3rd gen Camaros? I probally would be. It all depends on the styling.

Teetoe you've got my interest on a body kit, however i'd suggest fiberglass, mainly for the cost issue, half the people around here wont want one just cause it costs too much, a lot of the people around here want top quality parts, at junkyard part prices, it is rather rediculous. Please have some sketches done, post some pictures, im in the beginning stages of a car that would very much be one to get some magazine coverage, if I can actually get some time to work on it anyway, too busy with customer cars, and parts for customers (I work @ thirdgenparts.com). Heck I dont know if you can improve much over the stock 91-92 design, however maybe even just reproduce the stock gfx in fiberglass since 91-92's were urethane, and then a new rear bumper cover, something with a more rounded rear skirt to match the smooth flowing side skirts, I started to try at one using the rear valence from a later style fourth gen firebird, with the exhaust cutouts, however firebirds are several inches wider in the rear than a camaro so there went that idea, cutouts in the rear cover with a new rear skirt with 1/4 panel effects that bolt on to the car and to the rear cover would be nice (the only aftermarket one i know of now extends the ground effects which are part of the cover, to the rear of the back tire fender opening, and about 1 ft tall, horrible if you ask me ).

Ran into a hood scoop problem after installing a nitrous plate under the carb ' had to modify the scoop a bit. That flat spot on the hood scoop would be a good place for a firebird!

Laid down some fiberglass resin with glass filler beads to smooth things out a bit on the bumper (the red stuff in pic). It's basically like bondo only stronger. I'd say about 90% of the filler-resin sanded out, it's pretty straight and almost ready for primer. I still have to mount the lights, cut the hood, and correct the radiator inlet hole before I can spray some real paint.



Teetoe_Jones- That camaro's looking good! I'm not sure if I like the side gfx, It's better than stock though. The front looks killer!




"I'm so sick of seeing all these "restored-to-original" "era correct bias belt tires" "original fan-shroud-safety-stickers" I mean hubcaps on a 70's muscle car then the owner will flaunt it like he's got something really fast and special just cause it was made in the 70's don't get me wrong there's a place for cars like that I like to see how they came from the factory I just don't see why you would spend all the time bringing a high mileage car back to life and not at least put radial tires on it or upgrade from front drums to disc brakes I bet half the "muscle cars" from the 70's could get eaten alive by minivans now-a-days of course there is still hope some thirdgener's are unbolting a set of 15" iroc wheels to put in the back of the garage maybe in 20 years they will sell it to some shmuck and he'll spend weeks trying to track down a set.."

Well, I'll have my artist start sketching some ideas. I'll bring them back here as we progress.
I was thinking a whole new front head light system that uses a xenon bulb, and sits flush with the bumper cover/hood.
Plans would be for a new front facia, new hood, a set of updated rockers, revised rear spoiler, and possiby a rear bumper cover.
I'll post up when we get some sketches together.
Tyler

Hey Tyler, I've seen ya around at pro-touring.com I'm JamesD over there too. As for the body kit I think it would be a good idea. I like what you did with the 50/50 and I think you would do justice to the 3rd gen. I'd like to see some concept sketches of what you had in mind, would John McBride be doing the drawings again? Car Craft had a little blurb on a body kit being made from Banks Engineering. Here’s the clip:



Although they messed up in the article, its not actuating going to be produced I think it was just Gale Banks messing around. They had no plans to produce it. Good luck with what ever you have planned.

Rear bumper cover would be more important than a "spoiler" unless by this you mean the rear ground effect, and that is part of the bumper cover, necessitating a new bumper cover, the stock 91-92 Z28 highrise is plenty for most, and the 5" replica of the 3 piece, I like the idea of a new bumper and headlight setup, that would be very nice, rockers could definetly be a possibility, however as I said, they would have to look very good for me to stray from the stock 91-92 pieces. The hood, well hopefully you can make the new front bumper setup match with the stock hood, as the Z hood is pretty nice, not to mention Chris TPI383 is supposed to be working on the Japan style "inverted cowl" hood, which im waiting on being available so i can purchase it.

Inverted cowl???

Like this one, but he's supposedly doing it without the side vents.

that is a sick hood but its over seas in japan.

You might want to take a look at some of the styles on this site, I know it's primarily on mustangs but these guys do extremely nice quality work. I have one of their 4" cowl hoods on an 85 IROC-Z and it is great and was a direct bolt on. When you look at what these guys do you realize why stock is not "good enough" a lot of times!

http://www.cervinis.com/welcome.html

i agree with about everything that Z28***** has said!

I have been building and modifying classic cars for over 20 years.
Leaving a car bone stock is for a person who is a car collector looking to proctect his investment by keeping the car original and not changing a thing and not driving the car at all in hopes of keeping the mileage down or risking a scratch or ding, it is also used by people who lack imagination or a drive to design or engineer a better idea or concept with out the help of an assembly line 20+ years ago. Leaving your ride stock is easy and BOOOOORRRIIING .. its a thing grandmas do with their rides. Unless it is a real 60 grand plus collectible then it would make some sense. 3rd gens just dont fit in there yet. possibly never will.

I have a certain amount of respect for any one who takes on a project who attempts to modify their ride even if it does look bad. Most stock 3rd gens from GTA's to Iroc z's just dont get the classic neck snapping attention that cars from the 60's still get but they get a whole lot of respect amongst every body (craftsman,welders,painters,fabricators,designers,car enthusiasts)if it comes out awesome. That takes tallent and skills.
Rob

Teetoe_Jones any update on the body kit, realy interested?

My artist and myself are tossing ideas around for a body kit. We'll bring it to the board when we have a few to show you guys.
Tyler

You would def. sell some body kits, as long as it was tasteful, which, judging by 50/50, would be.

You should try a 91-92 bird with that kind of look.

1983Fbody can you post a picture of your car with that big wing on your notch back I would like to see the profile of it..
thanks Rob

I had to take the wing off, it was slowing me down AND no one seemed to dig the look. I'm sorry I don't have any pic's to share as of yet.. I might be able to dig up some old pics of the spoiler still on it and I'll click a few new pic's to post up the next time I make it back to the computer.

anything new?

I set the spoiler back on the car and snapped some pic's for you Robsgta I'll spare some other's and not post them in the thread. You can see them here...

http://www.81x.com/Authors/83fbody/DCP_2443.JPG

and here...

http://www.81x.com/Authors/83fbody/DCP_2450.JPG




I'll post some frontend pic's, the hood is mostly done now. The front bumper still needs to be "rounded" to match the lights.

Cool pics. Great job

man, that front end looks pretty sweet! is that a custom dash inside, too?

I must say, that is developing nicely. Look forward to seeing the end result.

I had no clue what to expect outta the first pics you posted. But that looks good. THe front cover seems lacking something, maybe just a larger hole or a couple of foglights. But hey, if you like it, it's your car. I do think it looks good though. Awesome job on that!

1983Fbody: Do you have any bigger pictures of the notch back you made? It gives me a nice idea on how to drop a bunch of weight on my car with minimal work and money (no $400 lexan!).

I don't really like wings usually, but If you need my opinion...

I like it on your car. It really wasn't that bad. I think it matched the style. On a normal hatch, it would have looked bad, I think. On your notch back it seemed to fit.

What does everyone else think? I am sure he would like some opinions.

I vote keep it...

I really like the front end now. After finishing up the bumper, and massaging the light area, I think you will have a nice look. I didn't know how the lights would look, but from that first front view, they have a great profile. Good job. I am really looking forward to seeing the progress.

What did you end up doing for the interior, and the underhood area? You had a lot of welding going on. Have you finished up the strut towers yet? Lets see some pics. Hows the notch back?

Oh yeah, what happened to your door handles? I see some welding went on there too.

-- Jay

something looks a bit odd around the headlights... doesnt look as smooth as the rest of the bumper but i assume it is still a work in progress... I dont like the wing that much... might look better if you "tipped" it foward jsut a bit... I really do like what youve done with the tails though, great work

-Tom

Is there any way to shorten up the rear overhang? How would a rollpan style rear bumper look on that bird? I like the creativity. Can't wait to see it all smoothed out.

looks great
cant wait to see it finished

I just skimmed through this thread, and i'm acually quite interested to see if a professional artist that more than likely has a good background in automotive design can design a good body kit for a thirdgen. The thirdgen just doesn't seem like a bodykit friendly car.

The thirdgen is bodykit friendly, its just the crap that is out now is inspired by what was cool in the 80's, and as we all know, TG's were about th only good thing to come out of the 80's. Someone should make slight modifications to the existing body kit. General rule of thumb, if the kit exceeds the stock in size... start over.

Thats because the thirdgens are awesome lookin as it is hard to top the design they already got, imo

I'm not one for body kits AT ALL.. but...

Although I think third gens are gorgeous in stock trim. I think the nose and tail is a tad long from Stock and most kits only increase overall size not reduce. In order for a body kit to look really smokin I think it would look best with a whole new front clip. The limiting factor would be the strut towers but look at F 40's... The wheels are so close to the front and rear of the car it gives it a real boxy badass look. I cant see how adding more gack on top of our cars can possibly improve the look as they are already a bit long. I have no idea what to suggest for the rear but shortening again would be the way to IMO.

Just thought I would throw it out there as food for thought

Great work! Do the headlights aim correctly? Can you send me some more pics ? caliswangin916@aol.com

It has a Nascar look

Good job dude that looks crazy as hell!!

Ummmm when are we going to see the Camaro body kit that hes making? I mean its been months since he posted.

We've been expanding our product line, and we developed a forged aluminum spindle to correct the bad geometry of the 1stgen Camaros. My designer and I talked it over, and we feel we have the guide lines down, we just need to start on the sketching. I'll bring them here for input when we start, I promise. These things take lots of time/money, and I've been spread a wee bit thin. I stilll want to get one done for my own 92 RS, so I have a high interest in making them, as you guys do.
Tyler

Ok, well that answers my question lol. Well if it means waiting for the product to look better than I shall wait lol.

From the looks of your projects, if you have interest in it; something badass will come of it. Can't wait to see what you come up with.

Im with stupid J/k I know your not stupid lol.

Another update- Front bumper is finished just a whole lot of sanding left to do, move the LF headlight mounts back about 3/4" and smooth the radiator hole. I'm thinking about making a 91-92 style wing only a little bit taller also toying the idea of a custom grill out of aluminum.

one more..

I have to admit. I was worried earlier, but that looks extrememly well done. It's definately unique and looks pretty good man. Awesome work!

It's looking better, can't wait to see the finished product.

that looks sweet. nice job. Totally diff from anything else I've seen

wow! that looks awesome! that thing looks like a 'stock car' with painted on headlights! i think it turned out very nicely.

Man 1983Fbody your car is really coming together. I really like how you did the front end on it, I can't wait to see what its going to turn out like, keep up the good work.

Are there vents under the headlights? I can't tell.

Looks like you've put some nice effort into that. Good job. I'd like to see it painted; what color are you going with?

Did you get your engine bay finished up yet? I you were doing some major welding under there.

I think it would look really good if you just coated it with a primer sealer and left it flat~satin.

What do the headlights look like in person. Did the lines match well?

I would go with the aluminum grille that they make for the c10's. Just cut it to match your hole, and it would look great, I think.

Looks pretty good man, but doesnt it kind of remind you of a Cavalier?