The car is an 83 camaro z-28. It has a 305 crossfire engine now. I had got the car from a junkyard not in running condition. I have worked off and on for a year on it to get it running and to do some cosmetic work inside and out. Now im at the point where im ready to replace just about everything. Tires & resurface wheels, new bearings, rotors and brakes all around, all new bushings and suspension, weld on a pair of subframes, all new recovered interior, all new weatherstripping, new exhaust system from new headers to tailpipes, all new paint scheme, and of course get rid of the tired 305 crossfire and go with a 350 carb setup.
I know what i want as a finished product, but im not sure where to begin. This is totaly a project car just something to keep me occupied when I have some free time. I have no need to hurry. I figure that it will take at least a few years to get everything the way I want it, if not longer. Im not interested in going with expensive high performance parts. Just close to stock or a little better.
So where should I begin?


steve

 

I do all my restos starting with the drivetrain and mechanicals . I do all the body and interior work dead last . Its just what I do and it works for me , your mileage may vary . Good luck and happy wrenching !

 

My recommendation If you want a "SHow quality car"

Strip everyting from the car, engine, interior, trim, everything...

then paint it, inside & out, fix the rust problems wherever they may be.

I would start with under the hood, all the suspension pieces, etc.

Then Put your fresh engine & Trans in,

Then do your interior.

Finish up your paint stripes, touch up whatever,

John

 

i'm doing a similar project right now. I'm going from a 305 carb to a 350 TPI and have a donor car with every part i need. So far I've removed the entire dash and almost everything under the hood. Along the way i'm being careful to learn how all the wiring is routing and labeling everything along the way. I won't use any of it again, but it's all practice so i get it right when i swap out of the donor. I can't stress labeling parts and bolts enough! After a day, you don't remember what bolts and small parts went where no matter how sure you are that you will. I expect to pull the engine in 2 weeks and then i'll be cleaning and preping the engine compartment for new paint. I don't have the money to do a full paint job right away and don't want to invest any more $ than I have to before i have everything in and running. After it's running... then i'll figure out the finances and timing of painting the entire car. it really doesn't look all that bad as is, but like most people on here, I envision the finished product as being absolutely perfect. I keep forcing myself to wait on anything appearance related but it's very tough to do. Best of luck with your project

 

Just a note to both of you, I know this might seem obvious, but I did not do it and I regret not painting my firewall & under the hood stuff when I did my first Formula... I should have done it when I pulled everything off...

John

 

I feel ya.. Nice polo green car.. shiny red firewall. I also wish they'd done prep work on what they did paint under the hood, cuz it's all peeling off now.

Anyway, yeah.. Paint while the car is bare is a must. The more parts you can remove from the car for the paint, the better. Second is definitely get her mechanically sound. Interior is more of a "as you find the deals" affair.

 

With respect to Chupakabra-King ... I would hold off on the engine and drive train to last. You want to concentrate on the the body first. Also ask yourself what parts of the project you plan to do yourself and what will be done with outside help. Do all your own work first because this will be the cheapest and if you scrap the restoration you have only lost the time spent. You would regret sinking $4K into the mechanical part and then loose interest in the project.

Ever wonder why Boeing puts the engines on the plane last. It is because they do not want multi million dollar engines sitting in their inventory waiting for the plane to be built.

 

Heres what I'm doing on my 82 targa z28 project. First I stripped the entire car down to a bare chasis. Now i'm working on making the "frame" and fixing the rusted floorboards, and then cutting the t bar out and making the targa top. Now I will buy a complete 91-92 ground effects kit, bumpers, front spoiler, side gfx. Then 2 used doors, while i'm at it I will replace all of the bushings and get the 3rdgensolutions upper hinge kit for both doors. Then I just have to buy my Johnboled hood and 5 inch 3 piece spoiler and hopefully the Hawks repo notchback will be in production by then so i can put the entire body together. Make sure everything is going to look right and then remove the front end body panels again.
I just have to replace the Crossmember and then bead blast the engine compartment and paint it. Now I just have to get a motor inbetween the fenders, make sure its going to work and run. Then I will finish off the rest of the body work and then onto the interior to finish everything up.

You can look at some pics of my 82 here on cardomain,
www.cardomain.com/id/82targaz28

 

Holy cr@p!!! Wow 85sportcoupe. I thought I had a big project ahead of me. What makes you start a project with something that far gone? Third gens are so common. Why wouldnt you start with something thats in better shape? You must have some determination to take on a project that big. I envy you.
This is my first project. So I tried to start with something that I thought would be small. But once I got it running I found that it was a bigger project than I signed on for. And a whole lot more expensive. I've decided to replace the rotors, bearings, and brake system all around first. Then check the rearend to make sure all is good back there. Ill keep the engine in till last just incase i have to move it for some reason. I just read a post on refinishing wheels. I bought a Black & Decker sander and polisher last night. Im going to try and shine the rims up nice and new looking before the new rubber goes on. So thanks for the help. If i could figure out how to post a picture I would put some up for everyone to see. She looks really nice for being 20 years old.

steve

 

I cant figure out how to post a picture. Im I retarded?

 

It looks like a worthless car at first glance but its a really solid chasis. near perfect rear quarter panels, and it was the only t'top camaro I could find out here in arkansas for 50 bux. This is going to be my show car for my business PolishingINC when ever I finish it and start going to shows.
Thats the reason why I picked this one for the project, + when I get this done people like the resurection of 3rdgens as much as I do.

 

I didnt even notice that you had a polishing buisness till after i wrote that last post. Im in the process of tring to make the stock z-28 rims shine again. Is there anything you suggest to make the job easier? I just got the old tires taken off today. Now im ready to jump in head first and polish these rims up. Is there and easy way to get the old paint off? and once its of do I just use rough to fine sandpaper then buff with some alluminum polish? And doesnt alluminum rust? How whould I stop it from rusting if i just want the polished alluminum?
steve

 

The best way to get rid of the paint use Aircraft Stripper. That will take off the paint in no time
Aluminum doesnt rust but it oxidizes over time. Theres 3 ways to prevent, 1 "and the best that I reccomend" is Zoopseal. 2-3 years of no oxidization worrys is good in my books.
Then you can get Wheel wax and use that on the rims 1 or 2 times a month.
And lastly you can use, VHT clearcoat that is made for aluminum. But it may discolor during the curing process.

I highly reccomend the Zoopseal. It costs 130.00 but is beyone its worth in gold since you never have to worry about upkeep to prevent oxidization. You only have to wash them off everynow and then to keep the protective surface nice and clean.

 

How does one apply Zoopseal? Do you need a spraygun, or does it come in a spraycan?

 

If you do the mechanical stuff last, you have to worry about scratching and denting the paint, accidentally dropping a wrench and chipping the paint, and all that good stuff. No matter how careful you are, stuff can always happen

On my projects, I've always gotten the car mechanically sound first, and then do body. But to each his own. Find what works best for you and go with it

 

you just wipe it on with a piece of the supplied cloth. What you do is mix chemical a and b together, shake it up really good and let it sit for a while and peridocly shake it up for 4 hours after mixing. Once the liquid in the container is clear then it is ready to apply to the part.
Make sure its clear or your part will have a yellowish hue or what ever color the Zoopseal is in at the moment of application.

 

I just started a new project, its a 1984 Z28 camaro, needs alot of work... i think i am starting by replacing all roted panlels and floor, then replace all suspention, brakes, ect, then interior, then finalizing bodywork, paint, ect...

here is what it looks like now...