in 2013 I'm planning on buying first gen Camaro. I'll definitely be doing mods to it, so I"m not quite sure if I will get something that's decent looking & running, or if I'll get something that isn't.

If you've done something similar, what was your experience?

6/29/2012 5:45:44 PM

Having a nice place to work makes a huge difference.

6/29/2012 7:06:45 PM

Start off with the nicest platform your budget allows if you don't plan to make extreme or irreversible mods. It's easier and more fun to work on a car without having problems/distractions in other areas to begin with.

[Edited on June 29, 2012 at 7:37 PM. Reason : .]

6/29/2012 7:37:20 PM

^this.

6/30/2012 12:03:07 PM

what end result are you going for?

just a nice fairly correct cruiser?

pro touring?

race car?

rat rod?

original restoration?

a combination of any of these? something different altogether?

6/30/2012 12:05:32 PM

fwiw, I've been working on a 77 Gremlin since last september.... some things to consider:


- brakes/wheel bearings verified first
- if you pull engine and or trans, pull both and have both rebuilt at the same time (I lost a lot of time not doing this very thing)
- go ahead and rebuild the suspension; bushings, springs, shocks

6/30/2012 2:25:54 PM

a nice fairly correct cruiser that'll smoke up the back tires if I get to feeling froggy.

and ^, I plan on doing all 3 of those things.

6/30/2012 2:58:56 PM

gas tank will need attention in some way early on...

6/30/2012 5:29:30 PM

that and every fucking flexible line/hose on the car

6/30/2012 8:55:35 PM

Wiring can be a bitch. The sheathing gets brittle and starts to fall apart. Add 30+ years of people adding/removing accessories, hacked together wires of varying colors, etc. and it can get pretty tricky to work on. If you're willing to rebuild the engine/trans and replace all the bushings/hoses you might as well gut the wiring and put in a new kit in the process.

7/1/2012 1:13:01 PM

^not necessarily... just the wiring that gets handled

7/2/2012 7:30:37 AM

the only thing that will hold you back from whatever you want to do is how much money you can drop into it.

more money = nicer ride obviously.

money determines the ride.

7/2/2012 3:03:17 PM

dont do this to it

kthnx

7/2/2012 5:50:00 PM

good suggestions in this thread

7/3/2012 7:51:37 AM

my 'generic classic gm' build would include the following:

- LSx engine, fuel injection equipped
- 6l80e, with full manual shift control
- air conditioning

7/3/2012 8:11:28 AM

i've got a 68 mustang that had engine/transmission rebuild done recently with minimal rust, but lot of other stuff needed work (suspension, brakes, that sorta stuff). i've been giving it attention as i have the monies/time to do so. i'm a relative novice, so some stuff i do myself, some stuff i pay others for. not the finest specimen, but it makes me

7/3/2012 11:07:22 AM

How much did you pay for yours?

I'd like a 67 fastback some day.

[Edited on July 3, 2012 at 12:00 PM. Reason : .]

7/3/2012 12:00:07 PM

8k, though it's an I6-coupe. by the time i get all the miscellaneous stuff it needs taken care of i'll probably have about 10k in it.

i do love the fastbacks but they were a bit out of my price range (ones in similar condition to the I6 i saw were 18-20) -- i'm not really concerned with speed, hence the I6 haha. maybe one day i'll trade up, but meh, i love the thing.

7/3/2012 12:16:45 PM

^yeah, who cares about the 6cyl stuff, old cars are fun to drive

7/3/2012 12:24:20 PM

yup.. manual brakes and steering were a bit of an adjustment for me when i first got it

[Edited on July 3, 2012 at 12:45 PM. Reason : these cars are definitely head turners tho]

7/3/2012 12:44:48 PM

dude i wanted to do an i 6 turbo before i got the 427.

which btw has a set of blue thunder heads on the way.


[Edited on July 3, 2012 at 12:49 PM. Reason : .]

7/3/2012 12:48:36 PM

I've had a 68 SS 396 camaro since I was 19. It's almost done.

Transmission was a frankenstein so I replaced it with a T56 a few years back. It let me keep the 4.11 in the back and cruise on the highway at <2000 RPM. Put in an aluminum radiator with electric fans a few years back which makes a huge difference. Put the cowl induction back in working order. Relplced a good bit of the electrical. That's just off of the top of my head.

Doubt I'll ever put AC in it.

7/3/2012 5:30:51 PM

that's what I'm looking to do. get a T56 transmission in it. dunno about engine yet, will have to see what I get when I buy it.

I love muscle cars/classic cars.

7/3/2012 6:33:30 PM

manuals are all fun and games until you go to the drag strip

unless you're a pedaling fool, in which i would envy you.

7/3/2012 6:46:59 PM

^^ big blocks are cool, but good lord do they burn through gas.

7/3/2012 7:08:30 PM

that's the fun part, just pedal to the metal, letting both carbs just open up and seeing the gas hand move steadily to E. hahaha

That's pretty much what I want. I ain't doing this for mpg, I'm doing it for hp & tire smoke. (b/c I think that shit is cool)

7/14/2012 5:18:57 PM

I bought a running 62 mercury meteor two years ago. On the drive home from Dobson NC to Wilmington the camshaft broke causing the block to crack in Siler City. So even if it runs and looks good you really never know til you get some miles on it. I got a great deal on it so even after rebuilding motor and lots of new parts still could make money on it if I wanted to sell which I hope to never have to do cause its such a rare/fun car. Just ttake your time and search every day there are still a lot of good deals out there.

7/19/2012 12:53:01 AM

I have a '69 dart 440 that needs quite a few things...

if you are serious, first thing create a budge in excel or MS project and follow it closely. I have no interior and if I were to start again, I would just pay extra to have a cleaner car inside. Small bits and pieces end up costing way too much when buying individually. More later...

7/19/2012 1:30:51 AM

budget, smudget.

7/19/2012 7:06:45 AM

It really comes down to what you can do yourself. I have stripped the underside and recoated, pulled the motor and rebuilt(shop did the rebuild). Stripped the truck and patched holes and resprayed and have completely stripped the interior/recarpeted/made new door panels. You dont necessarily need alot of moneyy as you do time but money definitely helps.

7/23/2012 11:35:11 AM

got mine back from the shop today

7/23/2012 12:54:31 PM

Looks good!

7/23/2012 2:57:12 PM

love the classic stripes. well done!

7/24/2012 2:43:52 AM