Page 1- New and recent pics
Page 2- Pre-2006 pics
Page 3- Mod pics

Page 4- New 2009 Pics

-The Red Baron's Daily Driver-
1999 Chevrolet Camaro SS #2914

I have been a HUGE fan of the mighty Camaro for many, many years and at the top of my wish list were a '68 RS/SS 396 and a '96-02 SS model (preferably a '98-99 with a LS1). A '68 RS/SS was kinda out of the question for me at the time, especially since I needed it as a daily driver, so I turned my attention to getting a 4th Gen SS.
I had owned two Camaros prior to my current one (a '98 V6 and a butchered and beaten '83 Berlinetta with a 350 and Z28 wheels), but the Camaro that I planned on buying was going to have to be a Z28 with an LS1 or an SS. The V6 car was better for gas economy, but I wanted a nice V8 that would SCREAM and damn those gas costs!! The Berlinetta was okay and a good project car, but it had too many problems and wasn't realiable at all at the time and I really had no time to work on it.
I began to look for a '98-02 Z28 (at the time, that is all that I thought that I could afford) but this SS happen to land in my lap. I NEVER thought I would own a red car (I didn't want that color), but the deal on it was too good to pass up! I bought my SS in June of 2002, just before Chevrolet decided to stop making them. At first, it was going to be an everyday, daily driven car, with little upgrades done, but once I caught the mod bug, I couldn't stop! Also, after a few weeks of owning the SS, I started to notice signs of abuse, mainly by the hands of the previous owner (he beat it up pretty badly). This was my dream car, so I couldn't let it go on like that. Also, the Camaro had almost 72,000 miles on it at the time and all those miles started to show a lot on it.

In May of 2004, after many months of thought and a few mods, I decided to give the car a semi-theme. The Red Baron was an obivious choice, given of the color of my SS and also I wanted to evoke some of the spirit of the legendary German WWI fighter ace into the car. I added at that time some vinyl graphics of an Iron Cross on the hood and some lettering along the ram air scoop to see if I liked it before I decided to go with paint.

The Iron Cross and "5.7 LITER RAM AIR" logos are both painted. They are NOT vinyl decals. I get asked that question a lot.

Currently, here is a rundown of the Camaro...

-5.7 Liter LS1
-4-Speed Automatic Transmission
-3.23 Zexel-Torsen Limited Slip Posi
-SLP Air Box Lid and Smooth Bellows
-SLP Performance Exhaust w/Headers and High-Flow Catalytic Converters
-Flowmaster Delta Flow 40 Series Muffler
-Bilisten Performance Shocks and Struts
-Eibach Prokit Springs (1 1/2" drop)
-Race Concepts Cross-Drilled and Slotted Rotors
-Sphon Panhardrod Arm
-BMR Strut Tower Brace
-AutoMeter A-Pillar Pod Gagues (Oil and Trans Temp)
-K&N Air Filter (given! LOL)
-Custom Fuel Rail Covers
-Kenwood MP922 Deck
-Infinity 62.7I Speakers (Front and Mid), Monsoon 6x9 (Rear)

Like the hood, I did the Iron Cross using Crystal FX by Alsa. I started with a light Silver Metallic basecoat, added the Crystal FX, and then finished it with a gloss black basecoat and clearcoat.

As you can see in the pics, I did a lot of paint work to the Camaro. I refinished about 90% of the car, due to wear and tear, a bad refinishing job from the body shop that did the work previous (all the hues were off in the paint in each panel), and adding the accents and effects. The SS is still painted in the original color though, which is GM WA 8774-Right Red. There are about 4 different tints to this color and mine landed between two of them... hence all the trouble I had matching the color. The wheels have also been painted. I used Sikkens Auto Base Plus and PPG paints w/ Sikkens Autoclear III to seal it, as well as Crystal FX from Alsa for the Iron Cross effects. I also did the Air Box Lid with the Iron Cross and the Crystal FX to match the top of the hood. The only vinyl left on the car is the KISS MY SS decal on the underside of the hood, which I clearcoated over. I liked the decal just the way it was and decided to keep it. Also, I deleted the side plastic mouldings to give the Camaro a more streamlined look. The mouldings don't really work for what they are intended for anyway and they started to look more faded than the rest of the finish on the SS.

New grille and I added matching SS logos to go along with the other SS logos on the Camaro.

I did all the paint work at Clover Park Technical College in Lakewood, WA while I was a student in the Auto Restoration Program. I spread the work out over two years and just completed this round of paint work in April of 2006. Eventually I will refinish the engine compartment to match the exterior, refinish the rocker panels, sail panel, and the door jams. I do plan on doing more engine mods, but I am waiting for the engine to tire out. I would rather build and add parts to it then, rather than possibly replacing the same part twice by adding it now. Also, with the new Gen LS motors from Chevy, it is hard to decide which route I would like to go once I do decide to do an engine swap. But currently, the SS still screams like the day I bought it (actually more so!).
As mentioned eariler, this car for over three years was a daily driver, and having now over 130,000 miles on it proves it. It still runs like new and has not given me any major problems (knock on wood! LOL) to date. It has been very realiable, and most of all, a HUGE kick-in-the-ass FAST and FUN car!

Owens Beach in Pt. Defiance, WA-April, 2006.

In the rain at the A&W Drive-In F-Body Show- Port Orchard, WA- April, 2006

Baydo's Chevrolet Camaro Show- McKenna, WA- May, 2006

At the Cruz'n The Harbor Car Show-Oak Harbor, WA- April, 2006

The wheels have also been changed. The ZR1 wheels that came with the car were badly warped and would not balance. Also, the original owner had two aftermarket wheels with the OEM wheels, one of which he had powdercoated and didn't match the rest of the wheels. A friend of mine still had the original OEM ZR1 wheels off of his '98 SS (he went with Torque Thrust II) and I bought those off of him. In 2005, I decided to paint the wheels along with the other paint work that I was doing. I went with black to add more accent to the rest of the SS.

Pics of the new finish on the fuel rail covers.
I just did these a few weeks ago (5/7/06). I think that they look better than the old look and they match well with the airbox lid and the top of the hood. I was not very happy with the finished product from the company that made them and this is the way I wanted them done in the first place.


Special HUGE Thanks to these people that has helped me with the SS over the years:
86James Hilton, Ray Ortiz, Greg Richards, and Ricky Repp. Also, big props to Big Gene and Rotwiler B. for always willing to lend a hand!

Of course, Special Thanks to Colleen for all her love and support over the years and putting up with my obession!

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