I say fix the car if you want! Projects of all kinds start with cars in need of repair, that what makes them Projects. Who cares what it is worth as long as you enjoy working on it and learn something while doing it. Thats what this hobby is all about. I myself would rather see someone customize a sport coupe than an Iroc/Z28, but thats my opinion. I do understand the other opinions stated above, but the body parts could be had for cheap, its not as if these cars bring big money anyway.

 

Are you working in the automotive field? This car would be a good project for a auto body class if you were a student?? I dont know how old you are but i wish i had the time to take either mechanics or auto body.

Honestly I hope your not in over your head. You said that your new to the hotrod! world. I would back out of this one big time. Its a waste of good money! I think if your interested in these cars you should buy another 1. Even a nice clean Iroc would need lots of TLC.

How much money do you have to spend on this car?

 

How many cars did you look at before the camaro.
How much did you spend.

I dont know all the details about the car, so im a bit out of line with the above comments. Sorry for that! But You have to research every little project and upgrade before you start ordering parts. Talk to people with experience. Ask around about good mechanics. Listen to some of the senior members on the board. They should be able to point you in the right direction.

 

Dude, you're in dreamland and you need to pull yourself out before you have a room full of parts and no money or clue about how to make it work. Now don't dismiss me as being a pessimist and hear me out.

Since you bought that car to begin with, I'm going to assume that you're like most of us here and have limited funds to allocate for your car project. You should sit down and plan out what you eventually want your 3rd gen to be... then write down how much you can spend each year (that's right, each year... if you dream big, it will take years!). Now you have the task of compromising your dreams to fit reality.

You're early on in your project, so don't be affraid to change direction. If it turns out that t-tops are way up on your list, and body repair and paint costs aren't affordable right away, don't be affraid to look at some t-top cars with decent bodies but maybe faded paint that you can live with for a while. If you eventually want a really awesome engine, well maybe you can live with a weaker engine for a few years while you save up to buy or build another engine on the side.

You have to plan and budget if you want to enjoy this hobby. Dreaming is fun, but achieving and actually driving your car as you want it to be is so much better. Having said that, I'm heading out to my garage to push my own project forward

 

well i have made the list and it turns out that suspension and motor work is top on my list...and t-tops are waaaaaaaay down the line probably not till im out of school and probably not till im married hahaha...but i am way limited on funds and i am starting automotive classes this upcoming semester...i've been workin with a guy in my town who was a mechanic but now runs a car auction and he is also working on his thirdgen as well lol....but im glad to hear everyone on here isnt totally against me having a healthy hobby and bad lookin body lol

 

This thread has got to be a joke. Proably one of the guys from another board. The car is a complete pos. There is not one thing on the car worth saving. The car is a complete wreck. He is buying T tops and headers and suspension parts????? Doesnt make sense, has to be a joke.

 

i didnt spend a dime and i looked at one other car before the camaro...it was another ford ranger slightly older than the one i had...i didnt go for the other truck bc it wasnt driveable at all and needed alot of money before it was driveable....so i went with this one, this camaro had way less damage and motor problems than my ranger so i said what the hell and traded it...

 

thankyou...im glad somebody sees from my perspective

 

Any updates? Youve had the car about 90 days and have ordered some parts...Just curious if youve made any headway.

 

yes and no...yes i ordered parts but no i havent installed them yet...I sold most of them because of family financial issues...the only stuff i havent gotten rid of is the new alternator i put in and a few belts and misc nuts and bolts......im slowly gaining money back bc my job has me workin 6hours a week and jobs are rare out here but as for any headway...ive just been sanding and primering really...i did just get a new oem carb bc mine is gonna take a crap on me though

 

Ive taken off the louvers and have started preparing for transforming my hood into a ram air hood and ive just started taking out the back seats in hopes that i can find a way to turn it into a two-seater with a more convential trunk space....on another note im selling the trunks vinyl shade thingy for $40+shipping (its in great condition and still works) and the louvers off my hood for $50+shipping

 

Now I'm starting to think this is a joke too...
I mean, c'mon man. You have a car, that probably has some very desperate needs, the the body looks like crap, probably needs a tune up badly, and so much more. And your worried about making it into a 2 seater and turning your stock hood into a ram air hood...

I bought my car about a year ago, right after high school. I had takes 2 years of auto tech in HS so I kinda knew what i was doing and what was attainable. If your car is anything like mine (neglected by previous owner) Then you are gonna need to do alot of things just to keep this car on the road.

Btw, you did get a bad deal trading a much newer ranger for this car. The guy who you traded with will pay to get it fixed, then be driving a very new car, you'll put thousands of dollars into this and it still wont be done. less than one year in and I have easily $1K in mine.

 

sorry guys no joke and really the car runs good. And really your all bitchin about the rear quarter but then again third gen ranch has them for a good price if he got that rear quater and put it on I bet everyone would change there tone of "oh that car looks bad"
If you really think about it were all running around in rolling totals (yes I work for insurance industry) You car gets hit it totaled but we all still dump tons of money into these cars why???? we will never get out what we put into them but we do because we like the cars WE think there worth dumping money into.

So when you go telling someone why dump all that money into that car ask that about your own. I have seen rust buckets from some members that have
turned out great.

 

I'm confused now, whos car are we talkin about?

 

Come on now... I don't think most people are in here to bash this guy personally or for fun. We're giving an honest appraisal of this car as a starting point for a project. It has two rusted out rear quarter panels (one is also smashed in pretty bad), one smashed door, the rocker panels have significant rust and that's just what we see from the pictures he's posted. I doubt that the rust decided just to attack where we can see from 20 feet. The floorboards almost certainly have a good bit of rust too, including the pinch welds. The car is a BAD candidate for a project. The cost and time to get those problems fixed is greater than the cost of starting over with a car that doesn't have those problems. There is no way around that and the members of this board are TRYING to do him a service by telling him that. What part of this do you not agree with?

 

we r talkin about my car...an 84 camaro coupe....needs a door and quarter panel...and paint...and rick is rightwe pour money into these cars for reasons unknown but we all know we will never get near what we put into them back

 

I still think this post is a joke. I looked at the pics of the car really good. Looks like the entire bottom of the car has rust issues. Have you pulled the carpet yet. The car looks like it was pulled out of a junk yard. Its not like these cars are rare, the are a dime a dozen. Ok, you want to save money? Go buy a Camaro in good shape that runs good, and switch everything over into this car. Including all the body panels, engine, everything. You can proably salvage the gas cap off your car. But it all depends on the floor pans.

 

well as i stated in previous posts in this thread, the guys at Nethertons body shop in kankakee, IL and at Tanners Collision and Body also in kankakee have checked the car through and through and have both given me the same answers..."The car is physically sound other than the minor surface rust and the drivers door and quarter panel...."

 

Ok, so who on this board can actually say that they can sell their car for more money then they have into it? I can't, I know I have aleast $10k in my car and I could probably sell it for maybe $4k. Altough I had someone offer me $6500 for it last week and I didn't even consider it. It's a hobby, I don't know of to many of those that you don't spend money on. I would expect alittle more support on this board.

 

I don't think anyone is trying to bash him, I think what hurt him initially was trading a 2000 vehicle for that car.

Now if he went and said he bought the car for $500 straight up......people might have eased off a bit.

I'll give you an example of what the point they are trying to make using myself as a reference.

My brother picked up this 1985 Trans Am for $600.

Good thing it has a straight body, but if you notice the hood is missing, the tires are rotted, the fuel injection is stripped off it, unsure of the engine condition, the wheels are mix matched, the interior is shot and so on......all in all it is def a project car. Heck the windshield is busted.



I ended up with the car with the intention of fixing it up....but came to the conclusion that this car will take way too much money to even make a good driver.

I sold that car and bought this 1988 Trans Am instead for $2800



Keep in mind this car was ready to go, I could actually drive it anywhere. It runs that good. I know it would cost way more than the $2200 difference to fix that 85 up. The body is straight and the interior is mint. Could I do a few things to spruce it up here and there...sure.

And I have a car I can enjoy and recoup my investment if I ever sell it.

My prediction is you'll get tired of messing with the car and dumping money into it...I promise you will, we've all been there at one time.

 

And you're still not following what we're saying, as well as others on this thread. Yes, we've all poured money into our cars without the prospect of getting it back except for the enjoyment we have working and driving these cars. What the majority of people are telling you is your car is not worth putting money into. We say that because we've, "Been there, done that." My car in my opinion looks great, but it was trashed...and I mean trashed when I bought it. I fight depression everytime I think about how much money I've sunk into it just to make it safe and reliable, let alone bodywork and paint. but what it didn't have was a wrecked quarter panel or rust. Had I been a member of this forum before I bought my car I would have listened to those who trudged on before me and found a better candidate, as you should.

 

I probably have somewhere in the range of 700 dollars into my project, and that car still needs paint, body work, rust is not too bad but god knows whats behind the W62 aero package, its fairly straight, but the interior needs to be redone as does the weather stripping, and I did a straight 305 for 305 motor swap, with the intention of rebuilding the original L69 later. Now if I did most of the work myself, because the car is considered desirable with it's L69/T5 combo I might make the money back, but if I had all the work done by someone then I already know that unless people go crazy for 80s cars I'll never make it back. However because of the family attachment and the father/son bond that was heavily forged with that car before Dad's sudden death I'll probably never sell it.

I do agree with others here that if you don't have the money or the means to rebuild a project I would go out and get a running driver for what might end up being half the cost. Hell for the cost of having my car totally redone by someone I could go out and buy one of my must have dream cars for my garage in the form of a nice TTA, those range from 8-50 grand with a range of 10-20 grand for a nice running one. I'm still intending to get one and theres enough of them out there that I could pick one up in a couple years.

 

My advise: NEVER add up the receipts. Look for good deals, build the car you want, and enjoy the time you spend doing it. Worrying about the bottom line is nothing but discouraging. I personally don't even keep receipts if the parts are not something I may have warranty concerns with. I know I have spent more money on my car than Kelly Blue Book or stuffy collared collectors try to tell me it's worth. Truthfully, I don't care what they say it's worth, it's not their car. I keep maintenance records for my own reference, not to satisfy some mindless Consumer Reports junkie. Car Crafting is about enjoying what we do because we love it, not because of what someone else will pay for it. Enjoy the build and I'll be watching for more pics.....

 

You probably got hosed on the trade but its over and done with..... and if that motor runs good it may be worth it. I paid like 700 for mine but by the time title licensing , trailer rental and gas to tow it home was done i was probably out 900. Now the body on my IROC is in great condition and the seats\ carpet were new but my motor is compeltely shot (wont even turn)... Everythings give or take just have fun and learn as you go. But like was said before get an idea of what you want to accomplish or else you have a whole bunch of parts with nothing set on building. I've had my iroc a year and i've changed my idea about the motor at least 50 times and i do have parts that i will not longer need in my garage. Make a plan take your time and have fun

 

OK, from what I have taken from this, the guy is out of work. His family needs money. Someone made a good point, if you have the extra cash. You do not buy a car like his unless you have other cars and it is a "project". If not you take the 7-800 for whatever and get a running car. For most the 8-10000 to rebuild the car would be a nice down payment on a modest house. I waited till I was 42 to buy a third. My child support had ended and it was a time when I had extra income. I knew what I was in for, my wife dosent like to work on cars so she purchased a new car. When I figured what it would cost to bring it back I sold it a purchased a fourth gen. It was cheaper to buy a fourth in the condition I wanted the third, in addition I ended up with a LS1. Part of being a parent is to put your wants on the back burner. I drove a caravan for 10 years, its life.

 

Bad or good candidate for a project? Seems like alot of people are bashing this guyand his choice of cars to fix up. It's his $$$, not anyone else's! The car looks rough, well so did mine when I started, let him have at it! You may be surprised how it comes out??? If he enjoys it and learns while he fixes it up, I say more power to him, alot of you guys see some surface rust and freak! Here in the salt belt, alot of cars have surface rust, and clean Camaros are not that easy to find, especially at a good price. At least not here in Ohio.
Anyways I wish you well, have some fun w/the car and the build up. Don't be discouraged, anything can be fixed if the floors are solid and the car is straight!

 

Year One, Goodmark, and several other companies offer brand new floor pans and even trunk wells, so even then no excuses. I have the Year One catalog in my hand and am looking at floorpans for $234.00 each, driver (FP92LH) or passenger sides (FP92RH), and a trunk well (CR139) for $161.00. Truck freight might be a little spendy for the oversized parts, but overall not bad pricing. Summit racing sells Goodmark sheetmetal and might even be a little cheaper. I don't have a catalog handy or I'd give you those part numbers and prices too. EVERYTHING can be replaced or repaired, that's the beauty or our cars. Junkyards, sawzalls, and welding torches are a gearhead's best friends.

 

I will agree it is his money to spend on a 25 years old car with no value. I remember a poster in 83 in a barracks in San Antonio. It was a pic of a gold cow pile. It read "even the biggest piece of **** can shine like gold".

 

I don't think we're trying to bash him, we're just warning him not get in over his head. From what I understand he has little or no car experience at the current time, and more importantly little or no money. It is his $$$ and he can do what he wants with it. I just don't want him to get 2K into it and realize he's barley scraping the surface of what he wants to do.
I was fortunate and bought an Arizona car someone had hauled here to Michigan and got if for a reasonable price. You'll want to store/park them in the winter, road salt will eat right through these things, plus they handle like sh*t on snow.

 

quit spending money on anything but the drive components. dont look for stock at all. that way you can always put the engine in a different car is you see one you want.
dont buy anything that you cant use on an upgrade body.
also keep in mind that the cam and almost everyting else in that car will not work in post 87 camaro's. so get a 350 from a yard - post 87 - and build that first. dotn buy headers until you get the block torn down and see what you need inside.
i have been told that you get a 373 out of a 350 if you put in a 400 crank.
dont waste one cent on the body yet.
then move back to the trans.
as for the suspension - dont waste your money yet.

 

Your getting bashed but when you put all your hard earned money,sweat,and blood into it and a year or so down the road its a bad *** street machine compared to what it is now you can proudly say FU to any haters.

 

i wasn't bashing him, i was giving him options.
he can already drive the car so he drives it while he builds a more modern era engine and then works back to the trans and rear end. he may becide he wants a different or he may want to keep that body - but options are everything.
there is nothing worse than buying parts witout a full plan of how and what to do and where to get the parts and how much everything costs.
i drive around with a parts list in mine and lots of us do too.
once he gets the drive train built and has some road time on the car he can decide what suspension will best suit his needs. does he want a road racer, or a drag machine, or a daily driver - these are decisions he can make - and he should think about all of that while the engine build happens.
he has thousands of decisions to make before he starts on the body. he should get used to junk yards - maybe find a new drivers door cheap.
but for a first build he needs a since of accomplishment and getting the engine and breaking it down is not too costly. cleaning the block - painting it - all those things that are really a lot of fun, can provide that. getting it bored etc. then he will have to decide what to use for heads, cam, pistons - that will give him a small taste of what it means to have a good plan.
if he just goes out without a plan and starts buying things he will never get it together.

 

Oh yea 175 bucks and some welding class or just bring it by and weld it here all this complaining will stop LOL then they will be complaining about something else LOL

http://thirdgenranch.com/-strse-372/...ear/Detail.bok

 

I dont mean to say hes getting bashed from everyone. I definetly think if he wants to be vested into an F-Body thats alot better than some other routes. He needs to think about maybe also buying a cheap everyday car so he can truly make that one a project.

 

And your not really thinking realistically either, here are some of the known facts of the original poster of the car

1. He's 20 years old

2. He's a student

3. Has admitted to not knowing a whole lot about welding or what it takes to fix this car correctly so he's outsourcing the work

4. Works six hours a week, and has had some finacials problems

5. Spent $700 so far on a carburator, headers, shift kit, and T-tops (for a fixed roof car). But has since said he sold some of those parts for bills.

6. Having said that, it's obvious that he doesn't have his own place or possibly the tools to finish a car like this.

Not bashing the poster, because we have all been in that situation. I'm 36 and it took me 10-15 years to accumulate enought tools and the place to do restorations.

When I was 20 I was renting a house and trying to do a frame swap on a s10 blazer in the driveway with a $60 set of craftsmen tools. Guess what? My dreams were bigger than what I had in my possesion to finish the truck.

I ended up abandoning the project and came to face the fact I couldn't do it right then.


I seriously doubt the thread creater will have a bad *** street machine in a year or so unless he won the lottery or someone gave him a car. He's bit off more than he can chew with this one.

Let him finish school and get a few years under his belt...it'll all work out for him. But this isn't the car to do it with, sell it and buy a good straight drivable 1990 RS with the V6 and drive it until the tires fall off. While silently building that bad *** motor to drop in it when you can afford to work on it.

And lastly get a car with T-tops if that's what you want.

 

Any after pics?

 

i say build it an enjoy the experience . moneys only good if your spending it , can't take it with you when you die .besides who wants an easy project ? those are the people that have no vision an jus wanna drive a car . me personaly i take great pride in every new part i add . i'm building an tuning mine myself . my believe is win ,lose or draw baby it's all about what i can do ... good luck

 

mine started like this :

an i'm at this point now :

 

Guys,this is a 3 yr.old thread.I wonder what ever happened to his project???

 

That's why i brought this thread back to life

 

I kind of LOL'd when I read in the OP that the car was in "excellent condition inside and out" to be followed later in the same run on paragraph by "interior needs to be swept (swapped?) out" and then the pictures showing that the driver's side was smashed.

I didn't read the whole thread, but if the OP is still around, let's hear an update. My guess is things didn't go far, unfortunately.

 

I really hope to be pleasantly surprised

 

 

The outlook on him coming back with an update is not so great. On his profile it says

• Last Activity: 06-28-2009 09:32 AM

 

I see no difference in that car except painted rims and a wash.

 

BAHAAHAHAHA

 

What? He's kind of right, that car isn't much different.

I see a car wash, an unpainted cowl hood, different tires, painted or at least cleaned wheels, a replaced center cap, and the removal of a sticker from the rear windshield. Also a new rocker emblem, and what looks to be an A-pillar pod and possibly something going on with the seats.

All in all, most of that stuff is very minor and difficult to see at best. For the most part it looks identical sans dirt, tbh.

 

Meant no disrespect man. I was just pointing out an obvious question. You might have swapped out for an LS2 but those pictures sure dont show it.

Thanks for backing me up Puma. I've told you I'm in love with your camaro right? Its knock out!

This is more of what I expect when I see someone say; "here is a before and after picture" I'll use my one year progress pics:

 

WELL YA KNOW I CAN SAY THE SAME THING ABOUT YOUR PICS . ALL I SEE IS A PAINT JOB DIFFERENT WHEELS A WINDOW TINT . LMFAO at both you all !!
i've done everything on my car myself ! can you say that ?