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PostPosted:Mon Apr 29, 2013 10:25 pm 
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Big Block

Joined:Sun Jan 24, 2010 8:29 pm
Posts:425
Car Details:1988 IROC-Z, custom interior from the 90s.
:clap:

Looks like she'll be a beaut when you're done.
Really admire you guys that are taking the time and attention to rebuild your cars to this degree - I'd love to get into mine in such depth.
Roll on the Lottery win so I can jack in the day job and play with the car all day! ;)


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Re: Avon County rebuild of our 69 Camaro

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PostPosted:Sat Aug 24, 2013 9:35 pm 
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Big Block
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Joined:Tue Feb 01, 2011 12:47 pm
Posts:114
Car Details:Ex drag car Red Devil & Rampage 1969 Camaro registered in 1972 currently running a 350 / TH400 auto.
Location:Bristol
Well some four months has passed since my last post on here so time for another update and some pictures again. With all the hard work done in terms of cutting out the rusty old panels, roof, etc. on the rear end, the attention turned to the doors. As expected both were severely rotten in the lower corners with a huge amount of filler hiding all the problems..... Equally the bootlid, once the spoiler was removed showed extensive rust...... So, new door shells and new bootlid are on their way..... Decided to see if the wings were OK and started to rub down the nearside wing first. Using a nylon stripping wheel the first 'attack' revealed 15 layers of paint and primer.... and 8mm layer of filler..... no wonder the flipping wing was so damn heavy....

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After the front wing was fully stripped it was clear it had suffered extensive damage. I think you could say whoever repaired it must have used a 4lb club hammer and about 5kilos of filler. So I have decided we now need a new pair of front wings.... I've also decided that the bodyshell will now go off to a mates bodyshop where they can do all the alignment of the new panels/roof etc and welding to the back end of the car - its just going to be so much quicker for a full time bodyman to nail it all back together rather than me spend the next 4 months trying to do it one day a week. They were always going to paint the car anyway so it makes sense they do the whole bodywork from the start.

So the work now concentrated on getting as much else stripped from the shell as possible and get the engine and gearbox out. Radiator panel was removed and that had been cut about so a new one of those is on order as well..... So the front end is now ready to pull the engine out, with the exhaust & gearbox x member removed.

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The only thing remaining intact now is the bulkhead so I started stripping all the paint away back to bare metal...... I knew the screen / dash corners were a little rusty...

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And the leading edge of the dash panel where it is welded to the rear of the bulkhead (and where the windscreen bonds) was quite rusty and badly pin holed in loads of places along its length. Due to the multiple layers of metal in this seam there is no point trying to patch it up, so the dash has now been cut out......and a new one is being ordered........ Here we are with the complete dash now removed. The remaining bulkhead panel whilst looking rusty is good enough to be patched up and new pieces will be welded in at each end.

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The inner bulkhead panel which is behind the dash (see above photo) and the door pillars are all very sound and solid so this is where all the cutting out of rusty old stuff should end...... However it was a mystery as to how come a 1969 Camaro had a 1967 instrument panel in it. Well, with the complete dash out of the car and on the workbench the mystery is solved. You can clearly see the joggle joint and welding where a new 1967 instrument panel had been joined to the original dash top.

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And with the centre console now stripped out I don't know if this looks like an original manual gearbox hole or not

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So the only decision remaining now is what dash panel do I order for the car. A proper 1969 dash panel or a 1967 dash panel. The 69 panel will mean I need all the gauges and switches and maybe a new wiring loom to go with it as well.............And then that should be the end of the bodywork.........

_________________
See the sort of stuff we get up to here https://www.facebook.com/colin.fox.359# ... tos_albums
Its only a hobby that keeps us off the street !!


Last edited by raven68 on Tue Oct 27, 2015 11:29 am, edited 2 times in total.

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PostPosted:Mon Aug 26, 2013 10:19 am 
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Big Block
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Joined:Mon Feb 09, 2009 12:41 pm
Posts:2451
hi Raven, if you're buying new fenders, doors etc I might be interested in buying your old panels if the price
is right. :thumbup: I'm on hols at the mo with limited internet connection, so won't be able to replyfor a while

cheers...Nige

_________________
Too much power...not enough hands!!


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PostPosted:Mon Aug 26, 2013 6:23 pm 
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Small Block

Joined:Sun Nov 23, 2008 9:57 pm
Posts:8
Location:Watford
Hi Raven nice work being done but please be aware that the steering column and parking brake pedal assembly
are different between 67-68 to 69 as well


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PostPosted:Mon Aug 26, 2013 8:59 pm 
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Big Block
User avatar

Joined:Tue Feb 01, 2011 12:47 pm
Posts:114
Car Details:Ex drag car Red Devil & Rampage 1969 Camaro registered in 1972 currently running a 350 / TH400 auto.
Location:Bristol
Quote:
Hi Raven nice work being done but please be aware that the steering column and parking brake pedal assembly
are different between 67-68 to 69 as well
Cheers for that caution. Pretty sure this is a 69 shell with original steering column and parking brake. Are there any key identifiers so as I can check and make sure?

Nige - was going to put the old doors and wings up on here up due course so you can have the first shout for them if you want. I've got some pics of the doors I can put on here. I'm not in any rush to get rid of them at the moment as I don't want to strip the old doors till the new ones are here and then I can directly transfer everything from the old to the new. If you're not in any particular rush then I'll give you a shout sometime and see if we can get the price right?

cheers, Colin

_________________
See the sort of stuff we get up to here https://www.facebook.com/colin.fox.359# ... tos_albums
Its only a hobby that keeps us off the street !!


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PostPosted:Fri Aug 30, 2013 10:10 pm 
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Big Block
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Joined:Tue Feb 01, 2011 12:47 pm
Posts:114
Car Details:Ex drag car Red Devil & Rampage 1969 Camaro registered in 1972 currently running a 350 / TH400 auto.
Location:Bristol
More good progress today and I am now pretty sure that it is the original Red Devil / Rampage shell. In stripping the paint off the shell there is a layer of yellow paint which I believe is the Rampage yellow. Today we removed the engine & transmission from the shell and there was clear evidence of severe damage to the transmission tunnel and bulkhead where the engine and transmission must have pushed back. What with the damage to the front wings, a severely dented roof and badly replaced rear quarter panels I'm happy this is the original shell. I've also had a note on Rods N Sods that confirms the damaged Rampage shell was not a total write off and was sold on for repair
A few pics from today for you all
Engine and gearbox out in one piece without any hassle at all...

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Evidence of yellow paint layer on the bulkhead - is this the Rampage yellow.....plus the damage is clear to see

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Close up look at the damaged transmission tunnel and bulkhead area to the right

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Not much left of the old shell..... back to bare metal all over now and then its off to be welded up..

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_________________
See the sort of stuff we get up to here https://www.facebook.com/colin.fox.359# ... tos_albums
Its only a hobby that keeps us off the street !!


Last edited by raven68 on Tue Oct 27, 2015 11:36 am, edited 1 time in total.

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PostPosted:Sat Aug 31, 2013 9:05 am 
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Big Block
User avatar

Joined:Tue Feb 01, 2011 12:47 pm
Posts:114
Car Details:Ex drag car Red Devil & Rampage 1969 Camaro registered in 1972 currently running a 350 / TH400 auto.
Location:Bristol
Just been on Google to see how people smooth out the firewall and found several pictures like this where their Camaro has exactly the same dents in the transmission tunnel. Clearly its not accident damage but manufacturing folds from the press! Even the new replacement panel has the same weird 'dents'.... happier now that I don't have to try and panel beat them out, phew !! Lots of other imperfections to solve but I am happier knowing that clearly the Camaro did NOT suffer some major punishment or accident damage.

Image

_________________
See the sort of stuff we get up to here https://www.facebook.com/colin.fox.359# ... tos_albums
Its only a hobby that keeps us off the street !!


Last edited by raven68 on Tue Oct 27, 2015 11:41 am, edited 1 time in total.

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PostPosted:Sat Aug 31, 2013 10:42 am 
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Big Block
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Joined:Fri Mar 19, 2010 1:35 am
Posts:2566
Car Details:79' camaro road & track day toy. 383 stroker, 5 speed TKO trans, lots of suspension stuff, 13" Vette brakes, 18" wheels.
Location:Luton
Great looking work, and getting it down to bare bones now..

Yep, those creases in the trans tunnel are standard :D Scared the hell out of me when i first spotted it too, as I assumed the same... crash damage !!
I'm guessing it's to do with strengthening the trans tunnel with the the ripples, I suppose like a corrugated roof works.

_________________
“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”


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PostPosted:Tue Sep 03, 2013 12:27 pm 
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Big Block
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Joined:Tue Feb 23, 2010 12:40 pm
Posts:3245
Car Details:'79 Camaro, 350 V8
Location:South Bucks
I saw in NPD's catalog that they do a panel for a smooth firewall. whenever i've seen it done the tend to put a large piece of sheet metal across, about an inch forward from the factory firewall and then drill out holes for the steering, pedals etc. I used to be a fan of smooth firewalls but i think unless you do a whole custom engine bay (will find pics for examples) then i'm not sure if i would want the extra weight in there? I had the same thing with the trans tunnel, though it had been in a wreck lol. Makes sense what Chevy Stu says though, extra rigidity etc

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PostPosted:Tue Sep 03, 2013 3:17 pm 
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Big Block
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Joined:Mon Feb 09, 2009 12:41 pm
Posts:2451
I forgot that I did this, but I welded up & smoothed out the firewall on mine. All of the wiring is also hidden under the fenders, but no-ones ever noticed these mods as far as I'm aware. Maybe it's because it looks "right" :thumbup: Obviously the wires aren't hidden in this pic :lol:


Image

cheers..Nige

_________________
Too much power...not enough hands!!


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