Happy_Meal's Never-Ending Rustbucket

[Happy_Meal]

I've been on this site for a few years now, and owned my '80 Berlinetta for about 5 years. Had I known how much of a handful this car would be I might have reconsidered buying it, but now I've grown too attached to it to quit (call me crazy). Anyway, I'm finally in a position to get some real work done in the coming months so I figured I'd go ahead and start my project thread.

This car apparently lived a pretty rough life, and was eventually impounded sometime in 2005. When nobody picked it up, one of the tow truck drivers took it home and "fixed it up".

Here she is right after I bought her from the tow driver, complete with all the options: air shocks, mud flaps, skull stickers, and naked lady air fresheners



Well I ripped all that stuff out pretty quick and drove it around for a couple years doing general maintenance, little things here and there, and acquiring parts.

Here's how it looks today, not much different on the outside yet:



Real progress started late last year when I put together a 350 for the old girl:



Ugly, I know but it cleaned up real well and got some new internals as well as externals:





Out with the old:





In with the new!



I know you guys like videos so here ya go

[Happy_Meal]

I forgot to mention the car also received a brand new TCI Turbo 350 and TCI torque converter. I finally got around to having the rear gears swapped from the factory 2.73s to Richmond 3.42s as well.

Earlier this year I did the S10 rear disk conversion:

New backing plates:



All assembled:


Just thought this pic was kind of cool so I'm sneaking it in:



Thats pretty much the highlights so far. This summer I'm planning on:

1. Rebuilding the front and rear suspension with Hotchkis springs, new rubber bushings, Moog ball joints, IROC steering gearbox, new tie rod ends, 17" N90s or 5 spoke Z/28 wheels from YearOne, and probably some other goodies.

2. Getting the bodywork done. I'm toying with the idea of spraying it John Deere Blitz Black since it lives outside and gets driven a lot.

3. Installing A/C (finally!). I'll probably go the Vintage Air Gen IV route as soon as I find out all the adapters I need.

4. New heads for the 350. Not sure what kind yet but thinking about GM Performance Vortecs since my cam is on the smaller side.

That about sums it up for now. Its a bit of a ratrod for the moment (or just a beat up looking old camaro) but hey, for some reason I just can't give up on the thing!

[vfw_1168]

looks like you done alot already.... you will have it done in no time at all .. keep up the good work

[brooksman9]

Looks good. Was there something on that hood in the first pic?

[Happy_Meal]

Thanks guys, its been a bit of a love/hate relationship over the past few years but its finally time to give this car the attention it deserves. Plus the fact that its not original or rare gives me the freedom to do all the upgrades I want.

Originally Posted by brooksman9

Looks good. Was there something on that hood in the first pic?

Good eye! The previous owner had glued 2 non-functional hood scoops to the factory hood .

[hoov81]

Great aerial view

[arick793]

If you think that's a rust bucket, don't EVER buy a new york car!!!

[Happy_Meal]

Updates:

Started on the suspension and steering last week:







Hotchkis springs, new rubber control arm and sway bar bushings, Moog ball joints, IROC steering box, and replaced the centerlink, idler arm, and tie rod ends.

[Paul1979]

Looks good!

[Zagadka]

Best of luck with the build Happy Meal! Always loved the Berlinetta even though its not the most sort after. I like the look of the '90 Iroc wheels on her!

Originally Posted by arick793

If you think that's a rust bucket, don't EVER buy a new york car!!!

Oh amen to that! My first Berlinetta is a New York car & the poor thing has alot of metal work in her future! Going to be one hell of a learning experience thats for sure!

[Bastid81Z]

Looking good! Those IROCs do look great on the car.

[Happy_Meal]

Thanks guys I actually feel the IROCs are out of place on second gens, but wheel choices aren't at the top of my list right now. I've been plodding along grinding all the rust off the front end pieces and painting them in the past month:





I still have some work to do on the wheel wells, but they're coming along





Back of one fender ready for paint:



My passenger quarter/door jamb was mostly bondo so I knocked it all out to get a better look:





Not pretty, but I have a donor door jamb and quarter panel patch I can use. That one is definitely going to challenge my welding skills!

[Happy_Meal]

I started grinding down the cowl and firewall and found out that the cowl panel is totally rotted out.



I went ahead and pulled the windshield out and started drilling the spot welds out on the cowl the other day.



Unfortunately I completely botched the windshield removal (don't buy the cheapest removal tool you find) so I'll have to add a new windshield to my list.

[arick793]

what happened to the old hood scoop?

[americanhandy]

coming along nicely, good work.