1976 Camaro RS Resto
 

Ok, so I deleted my first thread because I didnt know how to work the pic upload but I figured it out with the help of some much smarter people than me who helped me out on this site...so we will start fresh from the beginning again...here it goes...I hope you all like it...

I bought this car with my older brother in Tennessee back in 1988...it was a bumble bee when we got it...he through a bunch of money at it and made it real nice (see attached pic) but kept it mostly stock...He sold it to a friend of mine (who is now my Godfather) and he drove it twice and put it in the garage for 12 years...He and his wife gave it to me 2 years ago...yes gave it to me...unbelievable...(thnx Roy and Orphie, I love you guys)

This was her before she went into rehab...It is now going through a full frame off resto at R&M Performance in Cambridge, MD...





the goody list: Schafiroff Racing 540 BB HHR w/ Callies Dragonslayer Crank upgrade, Detroit Speed Quaddra Link suspension, Detroit Speed front suspension race kit, Moser 12 Bolt w/ 410 Gears, new 33 spline axles, Rockland Gear "Son of Tranzilla" Tremec T56 6 speed, Global West Sub Frame, Bonspeed 18" x 9.5" w/ Nitto NT05R Drag Radials, Vintage AC, Billet Specialties Tru Trac Pulleys, Harwood Cowl Hood, double 15" Fostgate Subs in the trunk with 4x Fostgate 6"x9" inside w/ Alpine sound system, removed big rear bumper and installed 69' bumper and had it split...so its a split rear bumper...pretty cool mod...oh and a 10 point roll cage...cant forget that...safety first...

1976 Camaro RS Resto
 

The first day at the R&M Performance rehab center back when I still had some money in my pocket...(they took care of that)

www.randmperformance.com

1976 Camaro RS Resto
 

Then the real work began...(and my pockets started to bleed)

1976 Camaro RS Resto
 

and off to media blasting she went...and came back nice and clean...

1976 Camaro RS Resto
 

They didnt waste anytime cutting and replacing the junk...you wouldnt know it from seeing that nice red paint job but underneath was a lot of rust from sitting in a closed unventilated garage in Houston, TX. in that 120 degree humidity for 12 years...it ate her up from the inside out...good thing i got there when i did and rescued her...found a lot of bondo in both the rear quarters as well so all that had to go...

1976 Camaro RS Resto
 

The quarters being replaced/installed...these guys at R&M PErformance definetely have mad skill...

1976 Camaro RS Resto
 

Now that we have the rear quarters restored we can move on to other things...



Like the wheel wells inside the engine compartment...

Wow that is going to be one very nice big bumper car! What are your plans for paint? are you going back with the RS two-tone paint?

1976 Camaro RS Resto
 

So I wanted something unique and I couldn't stand the rear bumper (sorry to all the big bumper fans) sticking so far out and away from the car and they were not able to move it in much like they did with the front bumper (which looks 1000 times better now) so we decided to get rid of it all together and install a 1969 bumper and in my infinite wisdom decided to cut and split...so now my 1976 Camaro has a 1969 split rear bumper...I thought it was quite an awesome mod and love the way it turned out...

sorry about the big bumper thing 77RS...see the next post...I am going back and forth on the paint but i have several schemes in mind...I still have some time to decide...I wont spill it now and give it away...but I will keep posting till the bitter end and my wife throws me out for spending my sons college money...LoL

1976 Camaro RS Resto
 

Then the new hood came in...Man I gotta tell ya, I love it...I didn't want the typical big cowl hood...Driving a 2nd Gen is so cool from the driver seat with that big front hood and those clean lines...I really wanted something that kept the cool feel but I needed the space for the new 540 BB going in...so we fit it and installed some new hinges...I didnt go with the billet...so damn expensive...I know what everyone is thinking...With all this I cheaped out...and its true I did...but there are so many other things to spend that money on I just couldn't justify it for that...the prices for them is borderline criminal...(notice the front bumper tucked in a little closer to the car)

1976 Camaro RS Resto
 

Then the goodies started to come in and I was looking for a second job, a free meal from anyone willing to feed me, and a new wife...(cuz she was threatening divorce)...actually I want to tell you all that I have the coolest wife...she did not want me to do this right now but she supports it to the bitter end...she said if I am going to do it I have to make this thing the way I want it with no regrets later...props to my wife for putting up with me...

The Detroit Speed "Quaddra Link" w/ Moser 12 Bolt, new 33 spline axles, and 410 gears...



We didnt waste time taking care of the fabrication end of things and fitting in...

1976 Camaro RS Resto
 

Then more goodies came in...The Rockland Gear "Son of Tranzilla" T56 Magnum 6 speed, Detroit Speed front race suspension kit...am waiting for the 13" Baer Brakes which should be arriving soon...

1976 Camaro RS Resto
 

I should have some new pics in a few days to update the status and bring the project current...everything you see so far I did since November...I hope to have this thing ready by end of April...

So I hope everyone enjoys this build...I am really having a good time with it for the most part except for that weekly bill the shop keeps persistently sending...I have been checking out a lot of the other builds on this site and I was very impressed with some of the DIY guys...I dreamt of doing this resto myself but who am I kidding...I dont have the tools nor the time...Desire I have plenty...oh well...but definetely some cool cars on this site and everyone has been very helpful with tips and know how...thnx to all...

Great story about the car! Empty pockets lol!! It's fun tho Nice right up Love the rear bumper Idea!!! can't wait to see that pic when painted!!!!!!