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What is the worst condition any of you have restored a Camaro from?

Old Apr 29, 2001 | 07:56 PM
  #1  
84CAMAROHIGHOUTPUT's Avatar
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From: FT. Lauderdale, FL USA
What is the worst condition any of you have restored a Camaro from?

Just curious to see how my recent project matches up with some of your rides.
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Old Apr 29, 2001 | 08:55 PM
  #2  
ede's Avatar
ede
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Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,811
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From: Jackson County
not a restoration, but with my 85 i have changed everything, rewired it all, added a engine and transmission that never came in it. repainted it, changed interior, hood, relocated battery. there isn't a part, piece, or system i haven't changed.

------------------
ICON Motorsports

1st & 3rd
MM Black Diamond 538 F&AM
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Old Apr 29, 2001 | 08:58 PM
  #3  
Petes 84Z28's Avatar
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Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 1,593
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From: out of my mind; be back in 5 minutes....
Car: 1989 Firebird Formula
Engine: Internal Combustion
Transmission: Completed
Axle/Gears: ones that turn.
Not a Camaro, but an 89 Formula.
I haven't any recent pics, but about all it needs now is an engine and tranny....check it out here.
Paint will come later; I have a TH350 and a 350 shortblock in need of rebuild, plus a 400 crank...so I'm considering a mild 383....

Pete

------------------
Pete's Place
HiOutput Tech Page
83 SC
[i]originally a V6...now
206+k mile LG4/5-speed
14.935@94.14
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Old Apr 29, 2001 | 09:02 PM
  #4  
Petes 84Z28's Avatar
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Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 1,593
Likes: 3
From: out of my mind; be back in 5 minutes....
Car: 1989 Firebird Formula
Engine: Internal Combustion
Transmission: Completed
Axle/Gears: ones that turn.
And like Ed, I've done nearly the same to my 83...except for the rewiring, and paint - but that is due soon...

Pete

------------------
Pete's Place
HiOutput Tech Page
83 SC
originally a V6...now
206+k mile LG4/5-speed
14.935@94.14
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Old Apr 29, 2001 | 09:03 PM
  #5  
daniel dekay's Avatar
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From: san luis obispo, ca
bought mine for 900 bucks, 8 different colors, dents all the way around and an lg4. since then i have painted it, swapped enignes, added 92 style body and a complete stereo. future mods call for a new rear end and complete suspension upgrades. maybe another paint job too.

daniel
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Old Apr 29, 2001 | 09:47 PM
  #6  
84IROC's Avatar
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From: Ft. Worth,Tx.
My sig says most of it but basically in 1991 I purchased the '84 Z28 that had been involved in a serious headon. There was no front seet-metal and the front frame had to be straightened/spliced with a donor as well as the radiator support and inner fender wells. I then began shopping around for all the sheet-metal, ended up purchasing new hood and fenders then I bagged the nose peice and rear bumber cover and ground effects from an '86 IROC. Found a set of '87 IROC wheels for $500.
IN 1992 I purchased an '85 TPI engine for $800 and had fuel injection specialties rewire it to 90-92 spec. Dad and I wired in the vehicle speed sensor and neutral safety switch as well as the new fuse block and ALDL. I had the original 700 R4 rebuilt with shift kit and vette servo, and then added the rear disc brake-posi-3:42 geared rear end for $275! Had an inexpensive paint job ($600) + stripes to finish it off, oh yeah, new carpet, head-liner, dash cover and complete sound system.
Nearly everything came from the wrecking yards and Dad and I did 98% of the work! while searching the wrecking yard for parts one day I came across another complete TPI which I promptly aquired for the paltry sum of $50! I then proceeded to the swap meet and sold said TPI for $300, I also sold the cars original rear for $50.
I also replumbed the entire fuel system for fuel injection because the engine was originally an LG4 (carbed).
apprx. $4000 total investment including $500 for the wrecked car.
I could purchase this same vehicle for less now but this project was began in 1991 with the engine swap being done in 1999. I do not feel bad about the time and money though because there is not hardly a bolt unturned by my hands on the entire vehicle!
Quick ratio steering box ($35) waiting to be installed.

------------------
'84Z28/'92 305TPI
'92 complete rear suspension/PBR disc/Posi/3:42
Light weight 34.5mm stabilizer bar in front ($10 from wrecking yard)/
"wonder Bar" ($5 from wrecking yard)
23mm sta. bar in rear
Rear RS Springs (slightly softer than my Z28)
comp cam, flowmaster
TB coolantbypass/shutoff valve to heater core
powersteering cooler lines (liberated from another wrecked car of course)
MAT relocated
Ram-Air(home-made) gutted air-box
IROC ground effects/wheels GY245/50's
700R4 superior shift kit/ corvette servo(excellent shift kit btw)
home-made strut tower brace (cost $6)

Rebuilt engine and transplanted it myself.

Love this engine!

freshly painted OCT. 2000 Teal with two white stripes on the hood and deck lid

LOW performance people should drive low performance vehicles!

[This message has been edited by 84IROC (edited April 29, 2001).]
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Old Apr 29, 2001 | 10:47 PM
  #7  
RyanSS's Avatar
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 389
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From: Abilene/Lubbock, TX
Well, I just bought my 89 (in sig) in February for $400. paint peeling, has a rusted through floorboard, no carpet, various interior peices missing/broken, no radio, no speakers, no fuel pump/sender, no air cleaner, no IAT, exhuast bent around rear axle, various dents/dings, several burnt through plug wires.
I just fixed the fuel pump, got an air cleaner(open element), new plugs/wires, totally cleaned interior(took out and put back in).
Now it runs.
Still much more to go.

------------------
89 RS (supposed 350) TBI auto
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Old Apr 29, 2001 | 11:14 PM
  #8  
84CAMAROHIGHOUTPUT's Avatar
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From: FT. Lauderdale, FL USA
my 84 has a blown L69 (head gasket, timing chain,??????) i don't know what exactly broke but it just stopped running, previously huge clouds of steam coming from exhaust and overheating badly. t-tops blew off due to rusted lip holding them in. what's next, rusted floor pan, passenger rear has nice hole in it. none of my gauges work, gauge cluster is held together by two screws, power windows are non functional, paint job was a defineate do- it- yourselfer,
steering wheel has electric tape wrapped around 75% of it. clutch is defineatley bad,
radio delete, carpet defineatley needs replaced. and i think thats about it, what do you say? $5,000-$6,000 to restore?
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Old Apr 30, 2001 | 01:51 AM
  #9  
burnoutrpm's Avatar
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From: outerspace(maybe..pluto)?
except for pete ..you guys cant even come close!!! i just entered my car into readers rides and man you guys should really see this i will display pics in the next few days!! sorry you cant see it yet!! it will be on there REAL soon then you compare...this IS my everyday ride!!yes it is!! this the car im sttting the 400hop engine into!! its just" aerodynamicly challenged"!!

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89 firebird formula

360 10:1compression (350 .060 over)/fully balnced and blueprinted
comp cams xe262 cam
performer rpm intake/port matched to heads
#1407edlebrock 750
sportsman 2 heads 64cc 2.02/1.60 valves 200cc intake runner/cnc pocket ported
msd 6al/msd8.5 super condutor wires
h.e.i. proform 50,000 volt vac. advance ditributor
700r-4 with 3.08 first gear and 3.23 posi 7 5/8 rear end.
b trans shift kit(will kill shifts...suck dong!!)
shorty heddman hedders with custom 3" pipe y-pipe back(no damn cat!) with 40 series flowmaster!
griffin daul1" core rad.cutom fabrication to fit(but no cutting )

future mods: 406 roller REALLY REALLY REALLY RADICAL!!!!!
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Old Apr 30, 2001 | 07:56 AM
  #10  
MTCAMARO's Avatar
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From: NewBrunswick,Canada
Car: Camaro sc
Engine: 350 cid.
Transmission: 700R4
Mine was a bad v-6 to v-8 conversion.Wiring was nasty,Engine leaked everywhere,transmission was the real headache though.The guy tried to get a 350 turbo trans to hook up to the torque arm by welding a bunch of plates under there(talk about vibrate.)The throttle brackets were either wrong or not there(kickdown not hooked up)speedo was reading wrong,had some front end damage,headliner was trashed.On the plus side,it was pretty much rust-free,had american racing wheels on it,had louvers,t-tops.I've re-built the motor with lots of good parts,found a 700r(rebuilt it)new struts ,brakes,went over interior,the list is endless.Shes nothing like the 1200$ basket case i brought home 5 years ago.
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Old Apr 30, 2001 | 08:12 AM
  #11  
Mark W. Winning's Avatar
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Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Stuart, Florida USA
95 Camaro. Owner must have been the child of a U-boat commander. She drove it into a creek. We actually found a fish under the seat!

------------------
1992 Pontiac Firebird 350/Six Speed
1987 Toyota Pickup 383/500+ HP
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Old Apr 30, 2001 | 12:10 PM
  #12  
phantazy82's Avatar
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 75
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From: Garland,TX
i just bought my 82 SC in march...had to beat the roof back out since a large oak tree branch fell on it, replace the windshield, starter, and battery. still have problems with the roof, but it's driveable.

------------------
1982 Camaro SC-Z hybrid
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Old Apr 30, 2001 | 01:15 PM
  #13  
TomP's Avatar
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 13,414
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From: Central NJ, USA
Car: 1986 Firebird
Engine: 2.8 V6
Transmission: 700R4
I totalled mine quite a few years ago; bought an '84 beater Firebird as a parts car ($250), stripped both to just a motor, and had a body shop weld the '84 subframe (and switch the windsheild) onto my car. Then I put my car back together using the '84 front clip. I had to bring my whole car (except for the spoiler!) to bare metal to fix paint & rust problems. I re-did all the previous Bondo work, prepped the car completely, and sent it off to Maaco to be shot. The interior just got it's clean-up last summer (new carpet/seats).

This summer I'll be welding a new right rear 1/4 on the car myself... looks like my "rust repair" was a failure- and apparently I angered the rust, because it's damn bad. With that will come more prep work & another paint job...


------------------
-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!
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Old Apr 30, 2001 | 02:36 PM
  #14  
daniel dekay's Avatar
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From: san luis obispo, ca
hey tom i did the same thing with my paint. it was rusting like a champ. it took me a little over 2 months to completely sand the car down to bare metal. my dad and i actaully contemplated just spraying a clear coat over the bare metal and driving it like that, it was soo shiny. it was wonderful. the entire paint job took me over 5 months to complete cuz i didnt know what i was doing. ha!

daniel
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Old Apr 30, 2001 | 06:32 PM
  #15  
SUPER-SPORT-CHEVY's Avatar
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 547
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From: Pueblo Co usa
Well not 3rd but 1st gen 68 camaro.
From a body and frame with no wires at all no engine no trans nothing. Took a year and spent 6800$ and sold it for 18K. I never want to do that again.
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Old Apr 30, 2001 | 09:28 PM
  #16  
MY87ROC's Avatar
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 117
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From: Henderson, NV., USA
Car: 87 IROC
Engine: 5.0
Transmission: 700r4

found sittin on the side of someones house
had smashed windshield, guy said he was
trying to change plugs bc it would not run
he smashed his finger which led to the
smashed windsheild, offered $ 1000 and he
took it, new fuel pump and windshield
drives like new, only had 65k about a year
ago best grand I ever spent.

------------------
TPIS airfoil,relocated MAT,AFPR,TB h2o bypass
March Underdrive Pulleys
otherwise stock 5.0TPI
700r4, 10 bolt 3.23 g92 axle, 4 wh. disc brks.
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Old Apr 30, 2001 | 11:02 PM
  #17  
eightTfourTA's Avatar
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From: Western NY
Car: 84 T/A
Engine: 305HOL69
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Found my '84 TA on the side of the road with a for sale sign in the window, on my way to work one day. It came from Massachusetts, and has some rust to prove it. I was told it belonged to a guy who owned it originally for a summer car, then years later it allegedly went to a kid who used it to market drugs. Then it came to FL and belonged to a hack mechanic for a year.

Engine didn't run right, the tranny was toasted, the brakes barely worked, it had been repainted by some one-step-wonder-weiner, and they didn't even remove the original stripes and decals. It even had STICKERS all over it, including a "350 Custom" decal from a Dodge truck (still has the original 305HO) and the stupid "Ain't Skeered" from AutoZone, complemented by cheap aftermkt stripes to cover the bulges in the paint from the old ones. Someone must have thought it was a Honda. The interior also was a really sorry sight, rust stains and cigarette burns in the carpet, cracked panels, Recaro seats tossed out in favour of 4thgen Camaro seats, shoulder restraints were CUT, cheap Legacy stereo hacked into the dash with a blown-up Pioneer amp in the back. My friends saw it and dubbed it "The Pontiac Trash-Can".

Today it has a strongly-rebuilt 700R4, new rear gears, whole new cooling system, new carb & distrib and new computer, I was able to piece the wiring back together, probably a new brake system tomorrow, new interior, and a lot of new parts on the original L69, plus all kinds of other mods. I pulled off the stickers and cheap body stripes so the car can be repainted when the money gets here. When the L69 gets tired, it will be relieved by a new 400cid engine and the necessary structural improvements.

Total cost? Car cost $3,500 to buy (dumb mistake to pay that much) and about $3,000 has been invested so far. I'm expecting to put in around another $4K. But hey, i've gotten it to the point where it'll pull away from a 1999 BMW 3.28si at higher speeds, so i'm happy for now.

------------------
DR Stevens
1984 Trans Am 305HO L69
sucks gas, hauls ***
1991 Firebird 305 LO3
for days when I need a/c
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