Okay, so to set the stage, when I was 16 me and my step father bought a 91 RS Camaro. It ran, but was deff in need of some work. It's got that tri-color, sexy red paint, red wheels, red interior color scheme. We put work into it here and there, and after some light body work, and some TLC we had your average V6 Camaro. We had big plans for the car, as money would allow. A year went by, and the car was used as a daily driver in the summer, garaged in the winter. Then I took the car to my high schools homecoming, where someone backed into me, ruining the passenger side of the car. No biggie right, bought a new door and panels. Then the car died in my garage, and my stepfather passed away withing a month of eachother. And thats where this car has sat since. I finally have some extra cash, but only a minimal mechanical know-how. My hope is to restore it, but its been sitting 2+ years. I'd like to do an egine swap (V6 to a 350) and I know with my 700R4 and rearend, the car should be able to handle it. I just am not all that confident that I know exactly what this entails.
I really would like all input that all of you could offer. I would really like to start the restoration for this car, and it would mean alot to me to be able to drive it again. I guess I'm just looking for a place to start, and how to get moving forward. Thank you all for your time.

 

Welcome aboard thirdgen.org.

For the engine swap, read the V6 swap sticky in the top section of this forum. Just so you know, your V6 TH700 won't work with a V8.

In the nit-pick department, a true "restoration" would mean keeping the V6 and putting everything back to the way it came from the factory. While I wouldn't argue with your reasoning with regard to what you want to do with the car, I get a bit stickler-ish with the use of the word "restoration".

Anyway, read through the sticky, ask any specific questions it doesn't cover, or anything that needs clarification. We'll be glad to help.

 

you know that was the goal at first, was to keep it just like it came out of the factory. then the talk is always well more HP, more HP and what not, so I guess that path just kinda of materialized...I wouldnt be opposed to keeping it original to the factory, but is their value in doing so?

 

Being a member of a classic car club, I'm not sure there would be much for additional value of keeping a 3rd gen stock as opposed to engine swaps for hp or really any other mods. After 2 years of running the car show circuit in the southeast, it seems that the show winners (and thus more appreciated cars) are usually hp modified classics as opposed to resto cars.

Now - if the car was not as popular a car, or not as mass produced, THEN resto is definitely way more appreciated and desired than modded. Like a 1970 Pontiac XXX as opposed to a Chevy Nova (sorry, don't remember the Pontiac name). The two cars are virtually identical except for badges and minor interior differences - but rarely does anyone ever see the Pontiac car (Nova's are a dime a dozen) - so folks like to see resto there. Also, cars like Rolls, Delorian, Packards, etc. - cars not seen that often, not as massively produced, etc. Even the old never restored ugly cars of the 50's, 60's, 70's ... today those cars are rare, because no one ever liked them - and now original condition restored, although they are still fugly cars, are highly appreciated and valued (like maybe an AMC Gremlin).

But 3rd gens - like their predecessor 1st gen and 2nd gen - are kind of a dime a dozen car. They will appreciate in value, and may actually be worth what their sticker price was in the 1980's someday. But unless already a rare model (like a 1LE, or a notchback, or Carralo, or something - I would do what makes YOU happy with the car.

Just my opinion here. Remember - opinions are like a$$holes, everyone has one, most all of them stink!