My 79 Camaro Attempt

[Greene79]

My name is Ricky. I recently got a 79 Camaro from my brother that used to be our dad's. Our dad died when he was 32, I was 12 and my brother was 10. My dad was a total gear head. He could build anything and fix anything that had a motor. Me on the other hand, I'm more of a body guy. But, I really wanna learn the mechanical know-how.

My brother held on to it for a long time (I'm assuming he was hoping to have a little boy and rebuild it together). He had 2 beautiful little girls and never got to doing anything with the car. So, it sat inside a barn for 17 years after my brother locked up the little 305 my uncles had put in the car, when they give the car to my brother when he turned 18, because the engine my dad had built (I heard was a 302 Chevy, never seen it though) that was in it scared them and they swapped it for a 2 barrel 305.

I'm really wanting to get this thing restored (not looking to make it all original, just a bad ass ride.)

I don't currently have an engine, not sure where I want to go. Although I really like the 400 SB, but I'm pretty much an idiot when it comes to mechanical stuff (besides the obvious easy fixes lol). It's got traction bars, 350 trans, not sure of the rear end.

Anyways, my story is all over the place. It's gonna take some time and money and little by little it'll get there. I'm not the smartest but I'm willing to really put in the work for it and I'm hoping that with the help of you all that I'll get this car looking and running like it should be.

I honestly just have no clue where I should start. Any advice would be so greatly appreciated.

Oh, before I forget, my brother lost the keys, any tips or advice on trunk/door locks and unlocking the steering wheel? Be best to just call a lock smith? If anyone needs more info or pictures of something just let me know. If it will help you, help me, then I will do it.

Thanks in advance for reading my story and/or any help. It's genuinely appreciated.

 

[hot72rod]

As for the key, best thing to do is pull the lock out of the door and carry it to the lock smith. The last one I cast me $5 compare to the $45 if they would of came to my place. I know on the early cars the door key and column key is the same and then the glove box and trunk key was the same.

 

[72BIGBLOCK]

I really don't think the door is the same key as the ignition, on the 79 if I if I remember correctly the 79 has a squarehead key and the doors and along with the trunk are round head

Last time I lost my key I had AAA come out and luckily the guy had a bunch of old keys he put one in and it started then he just gave me the key and made a few copies of that one

 

[hoppin5478]

I checked my 78 and the door key is different from the ignition, totally different tooth pattern. As 72BigBlock recommended it is really inexpensive to have keys cut if you take out the lock cylinder and take it to a lock smith. You'd have to pull the ignition cylinder and one of the doors or trunk. I believe the doors and trunk are the same but can't verify because my trunk lock cylinder was replaced at some point. If I remember correctly the 79 I had as a kid had the same key for the door/trunk.

 

[Zspoiler]

I have a 1979 Z-28 RS Camaro .And the Door and the trunk key are the same .A round key.And the ignition keys are a square key.New locks are still available. Pull the door panel and remove lock. And the ignition key assembly can accessed by pulling the steering wheel and horn assembly. All else fails just pull the steering column and take it to a locksmith.

 

[Twisted_Metal]

On a 79... Glove box, doors and trunk use the same (round) key.
Ignition is the square one.

Good luck with your project!

The body looks pretty straight and solid!

 

[PFZ28]

Hi Ricky, welcome to the game! You'll find lots of good info on this site, and plenty of folks willing to help. Just remember, you'll screw up as many times as you get things right. Don't worry about that, it's just part of the process. Good luck with your project!

-Patrick

 

[PFZ28]

And the ignition key assembly can accessed by pulling the steering wheel and horn assembly. All else fails just pull the steering column and take it to a locksmith.

There's a trick to it like pulling the steering wheel, setting the turn signal lever to indicate a right turn, then drilling in a specific place. You end up reaching a spring latch to release the ignition switch. I'm sorry I don't remember how to do it, but maybe I've given you some key words for a search of your own.

 

[Carinsulation.com]

Good luck with your project Ricky!