My '79 project

DaneKirk · 03-17-2011, 03:32:16 AM

I just bought this 79 Camaro a few weeks ago and the plan is to turn it into one mean SOB, like most people on here I would assume. This last week when I got back from the middle east by buddy and I have been ripping into it as the pics will suggest and it is turning into one serious project. I have a 327 out of a 68 Impala I have had built by the local machine shop and should produce 330-360 hp or something close to that. I would list out the spec sheet but I do not have it in front of me. As of tonight we decided to get balls deep into this and take everything off the front end including the subframe and do things the right way. I will be ordering upper/lower control arms and a kit from PTFB here soon and also plan on doing the Corvette brake upgrade. There are multiple other things that I am looking into doing like the Mark VIII fan and all but that can be covered later. My friend is the one that owns the red third gen Z28 in the background and is the most knowledgeable out of the two of us since I have never owned a Camaro before so this is a good learning experience for me. Any advice and comments are appreciated.

tater_79 · 03-17-2011, 07:23:11 AM

Ziplock bags and a Sharpie! Sort and label everything. Your life will be so much easier upon reassembly.

conrracing · 03-17-2011, 07:53:30 AM

Nice start to your project, take lots and lots of pictures! If you plan on doing the bottom of the car you may want to look into a rotisserie. Good luck

DaneKirk · 03-17-2011, 10:43:46 AM

I understand the labeling part, we were gonna take care of it today but I just got alerted to an emergency flight to Japan to take supplies for the nuke issues they are having. When I get back we will be catching up on organization because I think we were so eager to tear it up that we forgot about it.

There will be plenty of large high res pictures to come!

vfw_1168 · 03-17-2011, 10:57:46 AM

looks like a good start and welcome to the best site for the 2nd gen..... i lived in oak harbor wa when i was in the navy from 90 to 93

GOLF72 · 03-17-2011, 08:32:37 PM

Welcome

You have an excellent base for a good ride to come. I have my eye out for third gen Iroc Z28, 5.7 convertible.

david.cordle · 03-18-2011, 01:39:20 AM

Welcome to the site!!! Very nice 79, x2 on taking pictures. They can come in real handy. Besides, it's always cool to have the picture album laid out at the cruise-in or car show.

DaneKirk · 03-18-2011, 02:17:15 AM

Just the helper here posting another picture while hes in Japan. Felt the need to pull the rest of the body work off the front today. Looked like there was 1-2 inches of play in the subframe bushings when I set the frame back on the jackstands. All the more reason to pull it all apart.

z28rod · 03-18-2011, 02:35:59 AM

Looks Great , Keep The Pics Coming.

DaneKirk · 04-06-2011, 12:20:05 AM

Here is a update, still waiting on a boat load of parts from all over the states but in the meantime here is what has been done.

All that remains of the front half of the car is this dog.

Tore into the transmission and everything looks good so we slapped it back together with a B and M shift kit.

Wire wheeled the whole subframe clear of all but metal, had it proffesionally seam welded, and in this picture we went back and cleaned up the new welds and a little surface rust leftover from the welder.

Prepped and ready to paint.

First coat of POR 15 and things are looking good.

Motor should be done later this week or next and the most of the parts should be here. Will post more pictures when they show up.

mackthebulldog · 04-06-2011, 01:42:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by conrracing

Nice start to your project, take lots and lots of pictures! If you plan on doing the bottom of the car you may want to look into a rotisserie. Good luck

Best thing I ever did!
Good luck with your project and I will check your thread regularly.
Keep it up!!

Greetings from Holland.

conrracing · 04-06-2011, 08:06:24 AM

Looking real good! You guys got a lot done in a few weeks!

DaneKirk · 04-06-2011, 04:42:32 PM

We are trying to get everything put back together before I deploy for 4 months at the end of this month. The lower control arms from PTFB are going to be the limiting factor depending on when they can get them together and shipped. I have spent so much money these past few weeks it is crazy and more to come.

hoov81 · 04-06-2011, 06:29:15 PM

THANK YOU for the job you do for us. Keeping us safe. By the way good job on the Camaro too.

DaneKirk · 05-29-2011, 11:49:44 PM

Just a few more pictures. Finally got the rest of the parts from one of the online vendors here, only took almost 3 months to get all the chassis parts which were "in stock" except for one item which was suppose to take a month. So things are finally going back together and hopefully be mostly done in the next month. The pictures of the axles are how not to route the brake lines, so if you do custom brake setup dont route them over the top where the bump stops will potentially smash them off. They are now rerouted but I still need to reweld the line brackets. A helping hand flew up from Texas and knocked out a bunch of the welding for us which saved a ton of time and money. Enjoy!