My 1971 Camaro Project

[1971CamaroGuy]

Hey All,
I wanted to go ahead and document my 1971 Camaro resto and show you guys what I am working on. I originally started out with a 1976 Camaro that I traded for a 1988 Trans Am in 2009. Hence my original name 1976camaroguy.
I drove the 76 home and started tearing into it, At the time I realized that the car needed quarter repair, drop offs, and inner fenders. I actually started trying to put quarter skins on (using a HF flux welder) and botched it up and got disgusted with it.
I got another 76 body and started on that….but had issues at the time with the title…it was in a dead guys name that was signed by the current owner. I needed a bill of sale to go with the title….hard to get from a dead guy. The dmv clerk fiddle with it a bit and ran the title as a “no sale” transaction.
Still unsure if this was going to work and somewhat disgusted I threw another ad on craigslist looking for a 1970-1973 Camaro body with a clear title instead….not thinking it was going to amount to anything.
Sure enough I get up the next morning and someone had emailed me with a offer for a 1971 body with a clear title about three hours away.
I grabbed a trailer and headed over there and picked up the car…these cars are getting harder to find and I got a clear title too. real nice guy and awesome to deal with.

I plan on swapping most of the 76 stuff over including one fender, my current drivetrain and some of the interior.
Here’s what I got

[1971CamaroGuy]

I started doing some rust repair, starting with the rear section first, I replaced the tail panel and the trunk area with repop pieces...fit pretty decent...not perfect...but decent

[1971CamaroGuy]

[1971CamaroGuy]

[1971CamaroGuy]

Not done, just wanted to throw the taillights and trunk lid on and admire my progress

[1971CamaroGuy]

Engine going in the car, 2004 5.3 with f body accessories and a 4L60e tranny. Car also has a posi rear end and I plan on putting g-braces and subframe connectors on as well

The engine is what I already had put together for the 76 project



Picked up some morris belts for the front too

[1971CamaroGuy]

Taking a week off next week....hope to get a lot done then

[krabben1]

That tail looks great.Better than stock I think.

[POS71RS]

I've been following your progress in all the tech sections! You're doing some great work. I'm very impressed with the quarter-tailpanel edges.

Originally Posted by 1971CamaroGuy

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Something about this pic just makes me giggle. "Hey dude, you have a tree there, where you fender goes..."

[1971CamaroGuy]

Originally Posted by POS71RS

I've been following your progress in all the tech sections! You're doing some great work. I'm very impressed with the quarter-tailpanel edges.






Something about this pic just makes me giggle. "Hey dude, you have a tree there, where you fender goes..."

Thanks!


Lol...there WAS a tree growning where the engine was...the car sat for 10 years, the owner was fixing up another one that was currently in primer...he used a lot of parts off this one.

His thinking was that he was getting sad to see this body rot away from sitting so long so this timing was perfect between the both of us....he worked at 3M and gave me several boxes and rolls of 3M wet dry and DA paper as well as grinding discs too....I filled up a small tote with what he gave me.

Surprisingly the floor looks great in the car except for the area under the rear seat....the toeboards are nice and solid too.

[1971CamaroGuy]

Originally Posted by krabben1

That tail looks great.Better than stock I think.

Thanks, it went pretty good...the only thing I don't like is the edge on each side of the roll pan..little bit of a gap....but I think I can dolly it a little flatter

One thing I am suprised with is the fit of the trunk lid...it actually fits and looks good as-is and I haven't done any real work on it yet

[1971CamaroGuy]

Kind of stumped on the color choices...the car was originally a light white color and tan interior

Going with a black interior since I already have 99% new stuff bought already in black.

My original plans was silver with black stripes.....but I am leaning towards citrus green and black stripes, for some reason that color is speaking to me....i am just afraid it's going to either look too dated, it's a color that you have to get used to.

Another color I like is a colbalt blue color like on late gmc trucks

[POS71RS]

I've always enjoyed the idea of visiting a dealership. Check out the colors in person. Many of the newer cars these days are getting shot in some gorgeous colors.
And the citrus green can be nice. (I like this project: http://www.nastyz28.com/forum/showthread.php?t=240990 )

But I'd re-think the black stripes. Maybe a silver or white, etc.

[Bnsixx]

1971-

Looks like a great project you've got, good luck! Where did you find the replacement sheetmetal that the trunk hinged weld to? I ended up using a used one out of a '79...

[5spd540]

Awesome work