So I just bought my son a 1984 Z28. Body is straight and lots of stuff is there, but I've never restored a car this new before and this will be his first time. Any advice on what to watch out for with 3rd Gens? This car no longer has the 305 it can with, instead it now has a 350. I'm not sure if he'll be patient enough for a frame up resto, so trying to figure out where to start and how deep to go.

 

Project scope creep.

Figure out what you want to do, up front; and STICK TO IT. Be real careful about "might as well".

Next biggest problem will be budgeting. "Rebuilding" engines runs into this all the time: people will make up a parts list (pistons, bearings, rings, cam, lifters, etc.), and forget COMPLETELY about machine work, fluids, little parts on the side like water pumps and hoses and sen-sores and all such as that; and by the time they're done, they're into it for about 3 times what they had originally "planned".

Next problem behind that will be, concentrating on the big sexy attention-getting things like engines and paint jobs, and forgetting about things like brakes, rear axles, tires, and other minor but unavoidable details.

And last but not least is the hallucination of driving it AND restoring it AT THE SAME TIME. For anything remotely resembling a "restoration", better have a 2nd car, just to drive.

Note that NONE of this has anything to do with 3rd gens, as such. They're just typical 60s/070s/early 80s cars, not too many surprises, except for what fits from other cars, and what doesn't.

 

Post a few pics, it sounds like it will be a fun project. I fixed up a car when I was in high school with my Dad and it was a lot of fun but hard work too and a lot of memories. Sofa nailed it on what to expect.