Butternut the Gumball Camaro

[AEGIS43]

Good afternoon, comment on the intake, if you'd like to improve the finish, I used acid wheel cleaner and the dollar-store stainless steel wire brushes to buff the finish, I then used a Dremel and stainless steel cupped wire brush for the tighter areas, the Victor Jr. I have cleaned up nicely with that technique. It's a little brighter than the original finish, but the brushes didn't add swirl marks or do away with the sand cast surface. Here are a couple of photos if you're interested 3045 is the most recent photo, the others are more than two years old, the car has been back together and driven a bit since October 2020.

@hd_cat , do you have 90° boots on both ends of your spark plug wires?

 

[MadMatt]

When you get it on the road please send a video! This is an awesome project! It’s not the project it’s the story!

 

[AEGIS43]

Really nice project, paint looks great. My .02s; loose the fog lights and install the bumperettes, otherwise perfect. The vette hood scoop is really a nice touch too.

Accessory fog lights on cars, CB radios & Trunk Antennas should be relegated to the 1970s'...

No fog lights. I'm toying with a cb, but not attracted to trunk antenna idea. I have the original straight bumper, and rear bumper. Well, technically the straight bumper that was on the blue nose. I like straight bumpers. I like bumperettes on non-RS cars, but not as much as straight bumpers. I'm not an RS guy on early 2nd gens. But I don't disparage those that are.

Oh yeah, I'll make some videos when it's on the road. Our IT guy at work has a drone and a GoPro, plus he likes Camaros.

 

[G72Zed]

You guys are making me tear up. In a way I have dedicated it to her. A little over 4 years ago she asked me if I thought I'd have it done by the time I turned 55. I didn't make it. That hurts when I think about it. I just took a pic of this picture I keep on my desk. In so many ways she was just so incredible.

Don't beat yourself up on the timeline AEGIS43, these projects take time, more than what most bargain for, even the "pro's" in this industry under estimate the time & money it takes...then at the same time, over estimate the speed at what they think they can get the job done and out the door.

She will be proud of you just for you to see it through to the end, get it finished the way you both wanted, then enjoy the ride and every feeling it brings you....she will be there with you in spirit.

Trust me, once your in it, driving down the highway, just enjoying the engines sound.....you will not even remember any arbitrary "timelines"...it's done, enjoy it.

I'm following this, I know first hand what it takes to get a project like this completed, if it was easy to do, everybody would have one. Took me 14 years to get mine back, my wife put up with me, supported and encouraged me, but it was not easy sometimes to get to the finish line.

Good luck, keep going and and update this thread.

 

[Spanky McWeasel]

Amazing undertaking! Lifelong fan of the movie and that car. Following

 

[xten]

Following too. Priceless story. Sometimes the timeline is regrettable, but real. You're moving forward, and that's what's important. I think we're all looking forward to the first ride.

 

[AEGIS43]

I mentioned earlier that the car didn't have its original seats when I got it, just those ratty '85 seats. That was a real bummer because '70 Camaro seats are one year only. Similar to '69, but IIRR, '69 seats had no headrest. In late 2013 my buddy Shawn in Spokane called to tell me he'd found a full set of '70 Camaro seats for $350. Sold. In 2014 I made a trip and brought them back.

In 2018 I bought seat foams and upholstery and had an upholstery shop recover them. The labor alone was $650. I don't remember what I paid for the foams and deluxe upholstery. I could find the receipt. A lot. It was always my intention to set them up restored like above and take another pic. Maybe the below is ok. You guys can tell me if I need to stage them like this for another photo.

 

[need-for-speed]

So after 4 and half years in paint jail (9 months, yeah right, ha ha ha) ...

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I went and got it

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I guess I worked on those suspension pieces after I brought it home, which was August 2014

Nice!!! How much does that shell weigh?

 

[need-for-speed]

I had a lot of help and my good friend and talented gearhead mechanic Tom Mobley (R.I.P) went through the axle assembly for me. He said it looked great and did a brake job including parking brake cables, etc.

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Then I hand sanded it for I don't know, 3 or 4 hours, wiped it down with acetone and let it dry in the AZ sun. Then I wiped it real good with a lint free towel and hit it with a couple coats of etching primer. Then used this stuff. I love the look of not rusty bare steel and cast iron. I also love brand new cast aluminum.

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I like that! Some parts do look great in cast iron.

 

[need-for-speed]

I agree. Someone built a movie car with my taste exactly. I could handle having a Daytona Ferrari and a Cobra in my garage, as well. A C3 Corvette, too ... if I had a bigger garage.

Like parts budget, garage never big enough !