Well this is my first time at "restoring" a car, just thought I'd get some opinions on how I'm doin so far.

Here's what I started with:



Here's where I am now:


I just told my girl even though she helps me, I won't let her drive it!

This is what I hope to end up with:


I've since removed the outer window trim, the door handles and locks, and the rear spoiler. So how am I doin so far, and about how much am I lookin at to have a shop finish from here?

Thanks for ny opinions and advice.

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86 Sport Coupe, 2.8 V6, dead stock, but not for long!
Coming soon: paint job, new interior, MSD-6A, MSD GM Blaster Coil, MSD 8mm Helicore wires, Catco Hi-Flo cat, Dynomax Cat-Back, K&N Filters

Daily driver:
2000 Pontiac Grand Am SE2

www.geocities.com/camman86

 

DROP A V8 in that thing.... not bad so far but seems like a your still a long way from being finished

 

Cool! Just don't rush things. If you take your time, it's more enjoyable and you're less prone to screw something up. And also, just be glad you have a girl who will lend a hand, or at least be willing to hang out with you while you work.
I'm also glad to see you have a vision of your final product.
Good luck on it!

 

Cool! Just don't rush things. If you take your time, it's more enjoyable and you're less prone to screw something up. And also, just be glad you have a girl who will lend a hand, or at least be willing to hang out with you while you work.
I'm also glad to see you have a vision of your final product.
Good luck on it!

 

From a fellow '86er, so far, so good. Take your time. Be nice to your girl,too. If she works she should get to drive. Remember if you make her mad what is she coming for first? Answer; The car she worked on(lol).

Seems like you have a Z hood on the one you are working on. If I am correct good move. The flat hood is boring, especially when everyone else has a better hood. I would remove(easy to do, takes 5 minutes) those tail lite lens while working and stuff. Too much can happen to them. Consider replacing them with the '90-92 ones for a more up to date look. It is a cheap mod that looks good.
Also I agree with MADOGIROC, plan on putting a v8 in. Either a 305 or 350. You will be happier when you have the POWER and the LOOKS. Drive a buddys 5.0 or 5.7 and you will see what I mean.

Keep us updated with pics.

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86 Camaro Black SS Coupe, T Tops, Flowmaster, Custom Paint, Dunlop Road Kings S/R tires, Wheel Country Directional Chrome Wheels,new charcoal & gray interior including seats and door panels, new carpet and headliner, complete front end suspension rebuild, new Valve seals, and more mods to come
http://www.angelfire.com/sports/niterider/86camaro.html
Morgan_Andre@hotmail.com


[This message has been edited by 86NiteRider (edited August 18, 2001).]

 

Good job man! Take your time. The car looks good. Keep up the good work!!

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Check out My Car Pics http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/Albu...667&a=13599419

Gran Turismo Americano "The Ultimate Firebird"
Smokin 1989 GTA- Bone stock except for exhaust. (no catalytic-stainless pipe into Flowmaster 2 chamber) & AC Delco Rapid Fire Plugs

 

lookin good so far, reminds me of my last summer
I took mine from this:

to this:

to the finished product:


Just be patient, and if you get the prep work done right you'll save yourself a lot of money. I only stripped mine down, didn't fill or sand anything on the body, plus I had to replace both fenders and the windshield and a few other things. mine cost about 3000 overall, but had I been confident and patient enough to prep it, it would've been about $1000.

 

I agree, looking good. Here are a couple of ideas for you...

If you are looking for a real smooth look like in that last photo, then shaving the door handles would be in line with that look, and now is the time to do it.

A lot of people hate our third brake lights, but no one has said anything negative about mine (at least to me) since I painted my housing body color. I left the bottom rubber moulding off afterwards for a cleaner look and it hasn't affected the insides of the brake light housing at all in the 9 years since I did it.

I can't tell whether that hood you have on there is an '82-84 Z one or a later style Z hood, but if it is the latter, you might consider painting the louvers body color. Would keep the smooth look, they would still add interest and you would still be able to see them, but they wouldn't stick out like a sore thumb. I painted my louvers white so that they wouldn't break up my racing stripes, and while they don't show up great in photos (they kinda disappear) they look great in person.

Foglamps were an option on '86 sport coupes. They look real good (see pic on my website of my '86 when it was new if you haven't seen them before), plus they make it easier to see at night. Might be hard to find the grille and sport coupe brackets, but the rest of the set-up is exactly the same as on the IROC. Would definately be worth it imho.

Keep up the good work!

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'86 Camaro Sport Coupe & '88 IROC-Z

 

Hey Blue502, I am looking high and low for those foglites bracket and grill for the '86. If you see any in America can you send me an email. I need them since I am not going with the G effects on this car. Thanks

 

I think you are doing fine man!
I know the feeling - and it is so much easier when you have a fairly clear view of what you want in the end.
I did the same thing to a 2nd gen a few years back:

This is what I started with:


Then to this:


And finally this:



So keep going! It's all worth it in the end!!


Ken

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Bright red 86 Iroc-Z Choo Choo Customs Convertible
17x9.5 TT II's w/ 275/40x17's, BMR stb, Lakewood APR, Jamex 1.5" Lowering Springs
ChevyKen's Cars (ALL new!!)

Administrator @ ChevyWorld.net (Now in a BRAND NEW Design)

 

Definatly Progress... All i can say, is next summer their are gonna bee some sweet projects debued... hopefully mine included...

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Arthur-
1985 IROC Restoration In Progress
http://www.thirdgenfbody.com/projiroc/
Member # 98 of The Las Vegas F-Body Association
www.lvfbody.com

 

Thanks for the replies. Keep them coming guys.

Those that asked about the hood, it is actually off an 86 IROC. I have a set of the 91-92 blisters that I am going to paint the body color. And I've also thought about painting the housing for the break light the body color. I've seen one that is, and it does look good. And I've already decided that the rubber mouldings down the middle are staying off. Oh, and I also have a set of the grid tail lights for when it's done.

 

Any other comments/suggestions?
(Besides dropping in a v8).

 

This:



To this:



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The IROC Homepage
<A HREF="http://www.rit.edu/~jli4307/camaro" TARGET=_blank>
View the restoration of an 85 IROC</A>
Custom Thirdgen Subwoofer Enclosures
"I didn't know a bored out Ford could go so slow" -Shenandoah

[This message has been edited by Jim85IROC (edited August 22, 2001).]

 

Keep in mind that if your car has alot of body work in it .. to pick a light color like white, yellow silver etc ...

Here is one of my Body and Paint 4 weekend projects.







More pictures and story at www.slpfbody.com/body.htm

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JimW
89 White Formula 350
86 Black Z28

 

TAKE YOUR TIME..

ok i work at a body shop so here are a few tips.

1. disassemble. its much easier than it looks.
2. buy a rotary sander and do it that way. much faster and then block it at the end.

dont buy any spray can primer, it shrinks up after a while.

buy a spray gun. you can get a decent gun for $30.00 and just spray primer out of it.

but you also need a large air compressor.

and if you plan on bright red you are going to have to take the engine out anyways to paint under there so why not put something else in.

just an idea and a thought.

have fun and dont cut corners and you get what you PAY for so dont buy really cheap ****.

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Jarrad
1990 IROC-Z L98 350 TPI
TH-700R4
G92- 9 Bolt Borg-Warner 3.27gears
Dupont Flame Red Hardtop/ Grey Interior

Working at Carl Cleve & Sons Auto Body Repair as the wetsander/buffer.

1991 GREY S10 2.5L/5SPD -FOR SALE.

 

Your progress looks great. Just take your time and have fun doing it.

Before:
<img src = "http://www.evilface.com/camaro/before/camaro%20LF.jpg">
Prepped:
<img src = "http://www.evilface.com/camaro/prep/ready2.jpg">

Done:
<img src = "http://www.evilface.com/camaro/camarofl.jpg">

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Evil's 88 Camaro
Stock 305 TBI Auto, Flowmaster, Full 3" Exhaust, B&M Megashifter, K&N Open Element, MAC Lower Control Arms and Panhard bar