My 1969 Camaro SS Project - This has been a 20+ year project for me, though most of that time it has sat in storage. Restoration began in earnest in the spring of 2005. Things have been going slower than I had hoped so I bought a new toy to drive while I continue the restoration...
Make: Chevrolet
Model: Camaro SS Coupe (clone/tribute)
Exterior: Frost Green a.k.a. Lime Metalic (59), Black vinyl top, X11 Style Trim
Interior: Midnight Green Standard Interior (723)
Model Year: 1969
Build date: Sep 1969 (09D) Engine: 350ci - 1971, stock pistons and heads, 8.5:1, COMPCam XE256H cam kit, 4bbl Quadrajet, Crane Cams XR-i HEI (hidden in old distributer)
Exhaust:Flowmaster American Thunder 2.5" with Summit Racing ceramic headers
Trans: M20 Muncie 4 speed
Rear end: 12 bolt posi 3.31 gears
Wheels: 14X7 steel YJ Rally rims, E70-14 Widetrack Super 70s (c. 1984) - yes these tires will be replaced!
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First a little history:
I bought this 1969 Camaro in 1983 from a little old lady (seriously). It was a plain jane 307ci auto. I picked up some rally rims and put on some cheap white letter tires. Cool! I drove the car for about a year then came across a 69 SS that had been damaged in an accident. I was able to buy that car for $500 and stripped everything off that I could. (Yeah, if I was smarter then, I would have kept the SS and restored it instead of parting it out...) The next winter I installed the 350ci, M20 4-spd, front disc brakes, and other assorted SS package items. Several years later I installed the 12-bolt posi, new multi-leaf springs, and coil springs.
The car moved around with me as I got married and eventually bought the house that I'm in today. Yes, I would drive it each time I moved! I would work on things every once in a while until...
In 2004, I finally got the garage in order and started working on it again. When spring of 2005 rolled around, I was eager to get started with the full restoration.
A couple of before shots:
The restoration begins...
During 2005, the interior has been removed (check out the mouse nest in the headliner), the passenger floor pan repaired (see page 2), and work done to the trunk and rear quarters (page 3).
The rear quarter skins are installed. I'll get to the filler later...
Now it's 2006 work continues as more of the car is in boxes and scattered around the garage. The front clip is gone and the interior completely removed.
May 2006 - The car is now almost completely disassembled. The subframe is ready for restoration. Found another mouse nest - this time it was in the bellhousing. Just house, no body parts. I guess they were never home when I started the car.
July 2006 - The undercarriage and subframe have been painted. The front end assembly has started with many new parts.
The interior has been primed.
Finally got a coat of primer on the body.
2007 - entering 3rd year of restoration...
Restored the gas tank
Stripped and primed the SS hood - nice to see that it was near perfect
Did some work on the interior
Fitting the front end sheetmetal before fixing the doors
Reskinned both doors, rebuilt hinges, and doing LOTS of test fitting. Also primed some panels and drilled holes for emblems and trim.
The 350 rebuild is just about complete:
The engine and transmission installation:
Dual Flowmaster and Summit headers:
New steering wheel and new chrome on the shift handle:
The engine compartment is looking good. It runs good too!
Getting the panels all aligned and gaps just right:
NEXT: More body work and paint prep.
Check out the links below to the other pages.
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HERE ARE SOME LINKS:
Pictures from the mid-80s
Pictures from the ongoing restoration
My Cardomain.com Garage (more cars)
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INDEX TO OTHER CAMARO PAGES:
Page 2 - Floor pan repair
Page 3 - Trunk & rear quarter repair
Page 4 - Body restoration
Page 5 - Interior Restoration
Page 6 - Door Restoration
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Inspiration... This is close to what it will look like when complete
