New 1980 Camaro project.
 

So I had a 1980 Camaro RS follow me home a few weeks ago. It's a true time capsule. 28000 original miles. Zero rust. Interior is great. I had to replace the head liner. Dash has no cracks. Steering wheel is not sticky. Front and rear rubber bumpers are very nice. I bought it from the son of the original owner. He wasn't a car guy and he wanted it to go to a car guy not a flipper. It has some nicks and scratches but I'm not painting it leaving as is. All glass is very nice. Never been hit. The son gave me the original invoice ($7400 out the door), window sticker, owners manual, 1980 sales brochure and I found the build sheet under the rear seat and it was a Van Nuys build. By far the nicest project car I've done so far.
So so much for the good. The bad is it has the 229 V6 and 3 speed floor shift. The V6 was junk in 1980. Lucky I have L92 LS/4L60E in my shop. Front sheet metal is already off. Engine and trans comes out this weekend.
See a couple of pics.

Re: New 1980 Camaro project.
 

I'm definitely in to watch......

Re: New 1980 Camaro project.
 

Wow...that's a nice one for sure..!!!

Re: New 1980 Camaro project.
 

I’d love to have that car.
Subscribing to this one.

Re: New 1980 Camaro project.
 

Yeah for the first couple of days after I brought it home in the shop I had a couple of cold ones and just stared at it. The car was Zeibarted when new which was good and bad. It kept away the rust but it was applied to the firewall and all nuts and bolts. So I've had to soak all bolts with PB blaster to soften the under coating. Removed the exhaust, drive shaft, trans bolts, shift linkage other stuff tonight so tomorrow the V6 lump is coming out.
Local salvage yard is happy to take it off my hands.
Subframe and related parts will come off next for sand blasting and powder coating.

Re: New 1980 Camaro project.
 

I guy That worked at the same place I did when I was 14 had one, same color, but all blue, It had a inline 6 in it, So it might have been a 78-79.
Cool car.

Re: New 1980 Camaro project.
 

Will be a sweet sleeper. Following along

Re: New 1980 Camaro project.
 

I love it! Cool find.

Re: New 1980 Camaro project.
 

So project update.
Sub frame is off. All four bolts came right out. That was my biggest worry. Those caged nuts like to strip.
Next few days is cleaning the fire wall.
Sub frame and a bunch of parts are going to the sand blaster Thursday.

Re: New 1980 Camaro project.
 

Nice, clean car. A perfect project for a driver. I don't just like it, I love it! So many second gen camaros where turned into dirt track cars you just don't see a good example in my area very often.

Re: New 1980 Camaro project.
 

Looks like a great foundation for a great build.

Marc

Re: New 1980 Camaro project.
 

Nice. I wouldn't know how to start a project that was that clean, LOL. It sure would make disassembly easier and less messy.

Re: New 1980 Camaro project.
 

Its so cool when every bolt comes out with out breaking or stripping. Cleaning the bottom of the car starts this weekend. Not a lot of fun but needed. Gas tank out tonight.

Re: New 1980 Camaro project.
 

Very nice 2nd gen! You definitely have a sweet one to start with. When I removed the sub frame on my 71, the nuts didn't strip out but the cages that hold the nuts spread out and I had to cut the floor to access the cages to fix them. Great fun. Haha You're going to have a fun little ride there!

Re: New 1980 Camaro project.
 

So the good. After sand blasting the parts were rust free due to the Zeibart rust proofing.
The bad is I took all the parts to my local powder coat place.
As they pre-heated the parts to remove all grease and oil the Zeibart inside all the parts changed back in liquid form and leaked out in various spots. So much for powder coat.
So I will liquid paint all the parts.
One step maybe a half step back.

Re: New 1980 Camaro project.
 

Oh man, that sucks!

Re: New 1980 Camaro project.
 

Wow that's clean for a MN car.

Such a cool factory paint job.

I didn't even know you could get a V6 in those. I know a lot of people hated the 301? in the firebirds.

Are you going with the 4L60? or keeping it a stick?

Re: New 1980 Camaro project.
 

Not the end of the world in regards to the powder coat. On my 68 C10 project the powder coat shop I use was just swamped with in house work so I used a couple quarts of Rustolem and it turned out great.
People back in the day bought into the V6 having better gas mileage the the typical 305 which was total crap.
I have a L92/LS3 small cam motor ready to go and yes it will be a 4L60E built to handle the 6.2.
So firewall is painted. New heater core and blower motor installed. I welded up a few holes in the fire wall I won't need since the L92 will be DBW.
Most other small parts out for sand blasting.
Overall it has been a great project.

Re: New 1980 Camaro project.
 

The girl I dated in HS had an '80 model 229/3spd manual trans. Solid copper color w/tan (camel) interior vinyl seating/door panels. Manual window/lock car. No rear spoiler. same wheels in body color. Absolutely no guts even after her dad & I put in a fresh replacement long block.

I wanted the car & asked for 1st dibs when she decided to upgrade but she wound up using it as 'trade-in value' toward a new Nissan Maxima. It was such a clean car.... I hated I didn't get a shot @ it.

Re: New 1980 Camaro project.
 

Soo clean.....

Re: New 1980 Camaro project.
 

Couple of project pics. Subframe back in. Test fit for the L92.

Re: New 1980 Camaro project.
 

Nice..!!

Re: New 1980 Camaro project.
 

X2! Looking good! :metal:

Re: New 1980 Camaro project.
 

Engine and trans in for good. Rear end is done. Went with 3.73 gears and Tru Trac. Test fitting headers. Seem to have good clearance. Couple of pics.

Re: New 1980 Camaro project.
 

Sub-frame looks a little different as well....