Cool, good explaination. So what do you have left?

 

Thanks,
I need to get my front fenders perfect (they're getting there) then I need to get the hood, and rest of car sanded down to 120 grit, then get the body in good shape body work wise, then prim all of it, and block it out. Hopefully by then I'll have enough money for some summit racing paint, and paint the thing, I've got a little trick up my sleeze on the paint that should hopefully turn out well. Then interior assembly and done. I still have a long way to go! I just need to slow down and enjoy every moment.

DacMan

 

Whats new Dac?

 

Not much man,
Looks like I might have to sell the camaro, even though I really... really don't want to, my dad just bought a Toyota FJ cruiser, and his old truck (2002 isuzu trooper) is up for grabs, and well... I kinda called it, I've done the oil changes (every 3000 miles; castrol gtx) and routine maintance on her since she hit 50,000 miles, it's to 200,000 now and still runs like new, so I have to get rid of my car to get it. Since there's no way my parents will let me have two cars. I wouldn't have called it but I need a reliable car right now because I just got a job (I usually only work summers). So we'll see, but I may have to end all the fun.

 

Well that's a shame Dac, what's it look like these days?

 

Bout the same as before, runs like a champ, needs paint and an interior installed. I even have a buddy with who's parents own a buisness that repairs f-1 cars, who hooked me up with a sheet lagit carbon fiber for my dash and gauge cover. Ohhh well, I was loosing money on every investment in her anyway. I havn't listed it yet, but I probably will soon.

 

So it looks like for now that were back on for working on the old camaro Rx. I talked to my dad and he said I might as well work on it and then get it together and sell it. (I really plan to get it together drive it, and really see what I've got, if it's good and reliable then maybe I'll keep it). So with that said, I have a week and a half vacation coming up, and need to get the thing in primer (that's what I'm going to leave it in because I can get it free). I'm gonna put grey primer down, then put (hopefully) primer black hockey stripes on it. I still need t-top gaskets for the drivers side. I don't know how to take the t-top gaskets off, so I will be making a seperate thread for all my body work and questions like how to remove t-top gaskets, I'll throw a link into my next post for it.

Glad to be back, DacMan

 

Good to hear your going to finish it. Post a link in here to the new thread.

P.S I took my maro out for a few test drives the other day.. Well it looks like my fuel line repair didnt work out too well.. So I ended up getting stranded quite away from my house on a dirt road and the guy that pulled me home sprayed mud all over my maro

 

Lol Mark,
Been there done that, except not with a car, but instead a solid cast iron cub cadet 100 about a mile away down hill in the mud. It was a long day lol. Sorry to hear about the mud, hopefully it'll was off nicely, and w/out stone chips. What kinda truck pulled you home? Anyway here's the link to my body work thread:https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/body...ml#post4486406

 

Well it's good to see you're gonna keep it at least for a little while. Should we migrate over to your new thread then?

 

Well, that's a good question awsomex... I'll post all engine related topics here, and all body work topics there. As far as mechanical things go today, I took the camaro out for it's first drive since I got it home and tore it apart. It ran great, that exhaust sounds sooo mean!!!!

 

Did you floor it when you took it out??

And the truck that pulled me out of the ditch was a new gmc 2500 and a dodge ram turbo diesel pulled me home. The dodge had a broken front differential so he couldnt pull me out of the ditch.

 

Oh that's good. So what turned out to be the problem with your car?

 

I didn't floor it, I didn't even make it out of second because the tv cable is all messed up and needs adjustment. But (ignore what I'm about to say considering how many times I change my mind) I told my dad I wanted to keep it... he wasn't happy lol. The truck I got from him that I was thinking about buying has been completly detailed inside and out including the engine bay. So if worst comes to worst he got a much much cleaner car out of this deal, and better retail value. I only took it out twice, and went about 5 houses down and turned around... The thing sounds like a pissed off bull. I turned around in my neighbors driveway and it sounded so good going from idle to higher rpm back to idle.

The carb was chocked too much awsomex, the reason it ran so well before because I ran it choked in 15 degree weather.

Cheers, DacMan

 

Lol nice, well at least you figured it out finally. Doesnt it suck to know that you messed with that so much and it turned out to be something really simple?

 

Well initially there was an ignition problem, then following that I had my choke issues, but yes it certainly does suck. I am probably going to end up painting it in oliver green, made by valspar. It's a tractor and implement paint that comes for 29.99 by the gallon and has a hardner. I want to put a white or off white hockey stripe on it as well, but don't know how to lay the lines. Or how you put a stripe down on a single stage paint.

 

Hey just wanted to say most of my post will be at my other body work thread, so don't be afraid to comment and look it over. That being said here's somthing that seemed most appropriate for this thread. First of all, being that I'm on a budget I don't have the money to go buy random tools I need, so... for example in this case, I had to get the bolt that has a very large torx head that holds the lower seat belt down off. So I went to the box of unbranded tools (my uncle gave them to me) So I grabbed an old cut up screw driver, and a pry bar and got to work. I took the pry bar welded it to the bolt, then welded the screwdriver to the top of the pry bar, the heat alone probably loosened the bolt, anyway with some turning I got the bolt off, explaining pic 1 and 2. Pic three is the seat belt I got off luke, and I can't get either spools to release the belt giving me more slack, is there any trick to this, I tried dang near every angle. Do they just have to bolted in or what?

Thanks, DacMan

 

Hellooo... oo... o...? Any one out there?

 

Hey dacman, been enjoying reading your posts. I'm up in Lafayette. Just got me a project iroc. 88 with all the options, posi, 4w disc, but has the 305. Rust free car, had few minor dents, I fixed those, paints shiny & original but has 101k miles of chips, scratches etc. I'm gonna swap ot the 305 for a 350 + cam headers, only thing I won't do myself is paint. I do paintless dent repair & got a guy that'll paint entire car nicely for around $600. How far are u from Indy?

 

Glad you've enjoyed the thread, Not far, I might see you next fall, becuase I'm going to Purdue. Sounds like a neat project, I wish I would have gotton started with somthing like you have, instead of the pos I have lol.

DacMan

 

Hey Dac! Did you get those belts working. I had a similar problem with my belt. Except I couldn't get my belts to retract once being fully extended.. I fixed it by tugging on it about 200 times.

 

..gotta love this guy..

Haven't been on TGO that log as evidenced by my post count, BUT..this might be my favorite thread so far of all the ones I've peeked at. When you don't have a wealth of knowledge or resources to understand some off the jargon or seriously contribute to the conversation it's not as enlightening as you'd want; but for someone like me when I come across a thread like this where frugal has to be your personality, no-nonsense verbiage with tons off pictures where I can follow and learn, it refreshing cause I'll be doing this soon, SOoooooo...lol what Im really tryna say is..

Thanks DacMan.

 

Yeah I fixed my belts mark, just some shimming. Thanks ...Just a Kid. I appreciate it. Since I'm posting I best update everyone. I bought paint about two weeks ago, then broke my compressor... lol. So I'm in the process of fixing it so I can prim, paint, and assemble.

 

Good luck on the compressor. Just to let you know i bought some new door hinge pins to correct my door sag and squeek. Also I will be bringing my maro to my house because my dad moved and is selling his house in the country. Now I will be able to work on it when ever I want. Things are looking good.

 

How much did the hinge pins end up costing you?

 

They were $18 for 2 sets of pins and bushings

 

hey i dont know if u figured out how by now but on my car i had to pull off the fuel line and pull the front side of the vavle cover up first ( closest to belts) and lean it towards the driver sid ewheel well and wiggle like hell hope this helps i just seen where u said u were dissappionted in the forum but i guess no info is better then wrong info but this trick worked for me maybe itll help you

 

What are you trying to do by doing that??

 

Sounds good mark, keep it up, you may find those bushings fit loosly in the hinge hole they go in, mine were at least, so I just tac welded them on so it has no slop. Thanks Mr.Maro, I think I understand what you're saying. I think napa might have hinge pins for $10.00 but I don't know for sure.

Dac

 

your rusty pans aren't that bad man. you did a nice and clean job of welding, that's something you can be proud of. I have a similar project:91 formula ,my floor pans are almost done. I suggest you cut out any other parts that aren't surface rust and weld in patch sheets, seal up the welds with silicone (very helpful since metal on car is very thin and may burn through), and then finish it off by coating it with chasis saver, por15, or truck bed liner. your also goin to want to undercoat your underbody as well, if you haven't done so already.

 

What kinda welder did you use Dac?

 

I used a lincoln mig, nothing fancy just one I got at home depot that can weld up to 1/8 inch mild steel.

 

Updates on my fenders here: https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/body...body-work.html

 

Hey everyone, I realize it's been a long time since i've posted on this thread since all my body work has been going on, so here's why I'm posting here, long story short I might have a chance to get my hands on s 396 ci with a performance cam (not sure how extreme) two four barrel intake and obviously carbs (I believ holly), that's mated to a 2 speed powerglide for about 500 bucks, besides to obvious good deal, does anyone know how long my rear end would last, and tranny since the 700r4 is way more streetable than the powerglide, under daily driving conditions and occasionaly fun.

Thanks, DacMan

 

I would by wary of that engine. It might be a mess inside. Also the trans could be on the way out.

Check for metal in the oil and listen to it run if you can.

 

Why, any engine could be a mess on the inside, I'll probably do just like you say, and then possibly pull the heads and take a look before I buy, I don't think it's in anything.

 

did you buy the 396?

 

Unfortunatly not, I had it in my grasp at 450 bucks, but I couldn't afford the time or work it would have taken to make my camaro have the infastructure to handle a bb.

 

It was probably a good choice

 

Alirght guys I realize its been a really long time since I've posted but between collage and short weekends I haven't had a chance. So here's what I got done today. I decided to make a face plate cover for my stero and my hvac controls. So I started off with a gaping hole as in pic 1. In pic two you see my first template, it was an initial fit, and took some time to shape it to the odd trapazoid shape of the frame. In the third pic I have the initial template laid over the new template and am sanding the edges of the new template to perfectly mach the initial.

 

Once I had the template were I wanted it I test fit it, then began to "mathematically" figure out how to center horizontally and vertically my two pieces. I will be the first to say they aren't perfect, but their good enough. In the first pic you see my test fitting with the new holes cut in. The last pic is it in and finished, I still need to go back and touch my screws with fresh black paint. I realize the fabric looks loose, thats because... It is!! But that's alright, I used good quality spray adhesive on both mating surfaces but no luck, ohh well still looks good.

I still have a lot to do on this camaro and although it looks filthy in the pics it's coming along slowly. I should be providing many updates for this upcoming weekend because it's fall brake. I will be going to the junk yard on sat. if all goes as planned and picking up a vortec 350 ci engine. I am super pissed, and fed up with this shitty little 305 so I'm starting with a new platform and making the title of this thread correct.

 

Ok so here's the deal guys, this sat I'm going to the junkyard to buy a mid 90's 350 shortblock and late 90's vortec heads. According to a lot of research from myself and most importantly some very knowlageable friends, I have come up with two basic options, one leaves me with 300-325 hp FWHP that is, and the other leaves me with around 400 FWHP. IF I decide to go with 400 hp it will cost me about a dollar a hp. I've never driven anything with much hp so I need some thoughts on what 300 hp feels like compared to 400 hp. Ofcourse I'm on a budget, and want a t-5 soon down the road, 300hp will get me there sooner. I just want somthing that's reliable and really fun to drive, that can burn the occassional *****. And run mid to late 13s all day long less would be great ofcourse. Any thoughts?

Thanks, DacMan

 

Dac, I'm not up on what other mods you've done, but 400 hp is going to cost you more then 400 bucks just in supporting mods. Heck, the fuel system to support 400 hp will cost you more then 400 bucks. Unless you've already upgraded the rear end and transmission, they won't survive long. Throw the T5 idea out the window and buy a T56... unless you have a sick fetish for replacing transmissions constantly.

 

Well If I run a LT4 Hot Cam and grind valve guides, reseat, that's all in machinging so the heads can handle the new cam, then an edlebrock intake, and I've already got a brand new edelbrock carb. So After the budgeting it works out to a grand with all new gaskets everything you could ever think of. I agree about the t-5 but if I dont drop into it every time I drive it, but instead only have fun every once in a while I think it could handle it, maybe not?

 

Would a t5 hold up to 300 hp much better? How about the rear end?

 

T5s barely hold up to 260/270 HP. IMHO, dump the idea of bothering with a T5. Rear end may or may not live.

 

So IYO will a stick and 300 hp be enough for street fun, or will I end up dissapointed. I just don't want to put out 300-325 hp and look back angry cause I didn't do enough. But seems like with a t56 it could be fun

 

Anybody?

 

The most fun I have had in a car was a stock truck 350 w/ TPI and a T5. I doubt it made 200 HP at the rear wheels.

It was a lot more fun then my 450+ LS1 turbo charged 4th gen.

 

I drove ~300 HP from 2001 to 2010. It is plenty of fun.

400 HP on the street gets into the realm of being easier to get yourself into trouble.

(But it is fun.)

I will say if you have a carb, you really don't want to get into the "big" HP for the street. I know, others will argue otherwise, but especially with an Edelbrock carb (for which I have no particular respect), I'd keep the HP down.