67 Camaro Build

[7dee2]

Originally Posted by rgunlock

That's a monster! Bet you were at least a little nervous the first time he took it up to 6K. I know I would have been. I'm excited for you. That's going to be so much fun in that Camaro!

Thanks Rick, I was a little anxious at first but Fastlane just killed it, those guys are the best. Hoping to have as much fun as this old guy is in his V-Gate equipped Mustang, check out the grin on that man’s face! https://www.youtube.com/shorts/8X1sld3zeAk

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

Man..that's killer..!!!!

Thanks Greg! It's a really big motorvator to get our Camaro done.



It took just over 19 months of work, parts acquisition, machine work, assembly, and finally the break-in and dyno tune. Here’s the now truly “Good to go!” 511 back home all mummified from the trip. Had some wet weather for the ride home so Mark gave me a hand shrink wrapping and weatherproofing.

If you didn’t catch it in the final video here’s the dyno printout. Horsepower is just shy of 575 @ 5800 and torque is 590 @ 4600 on non-ethanol 91 pump gas. Yes, triple bonus points for naturally aspirated, pump gas and doing it with the old L-88 style parts. I’m very pleased, should make a reliable and fun street engine for the Camaro.

Ha, anymore powah and we might’ve had to start rethinking our transmission choice. I’ve heard and run across comments (link) on this cam grind saying It’ll show no mercy to manual transmissions. In fact, it is starting to get close to the recommended max of what our trans can hold (builder Paul Cangialosi when asked said it would do 650 ft-lbs). I’m sure it’ll be fine since this is a street car and it’s rarely going to hook up well enough to be a problem.

https://www.claysmithcams.com/hr-920...rpm-5800-6200/

[joesscamaro]

That is awesome. Glad for the good break-in/dyno runs and the very stout numbers that it produced.

[7dee2]

Thanks Joe, me too. It’s been a while (since last May) but I’m still stoked about the outcome.



Perks strips the EDP coating from the new panels in order to ensure proper adhesion with the BASF Glasurit products that they use. Chris is a stickler on this, no shortcuts.

It turns out that Kelly is a 1st Gen Camaro fan, he’s decided he wants our old parts car and jig. I can’t think of a better home and look forward to seeing what he does with it. It’s great having the space in the garage but strange to not have it around at the same time.

[7dee2]

Would you look at that, our stripped down bare-naked Camaro has moved over to the Perks paint building!

[72 tigger]

I’m staying tuned for the next exciting update!!!

[regan wilson]

Looking nice

[7dee2]

Originally Posted by 72 tigger

I’m staying tuned for the next exciting update!!!

You know it, exciting times with the motor done and Perks making some good progress on the body!

Originally Posted by regan wilson

Looking nice

Thanks Regan.



Bang, it’s gray now! Me and the Mrs.’s after seeing it in person all sealed up and ready for the first blocking.

[7dee2]

I’ll quote Chris from the Perks FB page “How straight are brand new panels?”

https://www.facebook.com/PerksAutoRe...7186237427620/

[7dee2]

Got a new set of seat belts for the Camaro. My research (link) found 1967 is unique in that the standard configuration only came with 4 lap belts, 2 up front and 2 in the back, rather than the usual 3 in back. Also, the 67 Camaro was the only year with either the Fisher Body carriage or the GM release button in the standard buckle. The deluxe buckle came with the Fisher Body carriage only in 67. Our 55-year-old standard buckle originals have seen better days, but we only had 4 of them, and they did have the carriage buttons.

For whatever reason, some vendors lost or didn’t renew the GM License and now use a starburst on the release button. The OER set ordered came this way and Mr. Picky Pants (yep, that would be me ) wasn’t having it. I did locate some carriage buttons from another vendor and swapped them out. In addition, a not so stock looking tag attached with white thread was just not going to fly either. Tags are gone, and the seat belts got a done stamp and went back in the boxes for later.

http://www.camaros.org/seatbelt.shtml

[7dee2]

Made the trip down to Fastlane Machine to share the 511 dyno sheets with Mike & Larry. Found our second engine (“Why build one when you can have two at twice the price 489.” ) in process. Mike says he’s pleased with this core also and was working the main caps a little (stretched #3 the most) to fit the saddles better prior to the line bore process. They've set the bar pretty high with the 511, it’ll be interesting to see how our 489 for the C10 does.

The guys requested I bring them the tins for this motor next time. So, it’s time to pull the machine shop, traveling, dyno set of valve covers off. I lucked into this very lightly used chrome Moroso set off our local classifieds for $50. After adding some baffled grommets and the breathers they worked perfectly for dyno round #1, we’ll reuse all the hardware, rubber gaskets, etc. for dyno round #2.

[CAMAROBOY68SS]

Originally Posted by 7dee2

Got a new set of seat belts for the Camaro. My research (link) found 1967 is unique in that the standard configuration only came with 4 lap belts, 2 up front and 2 in the back, rather than the usual 3 in back. Also, the 67 Camaro was the only year with either the Fisher Body carriage or the GM release button in the standard buckle. The deluxe buckle came with the Fisher Body carriage only in 67. Our 55-year-old standard buckle originals have seen better days, but we only had 4 of them, and they did have the carriage buttons.

For whatever reason, some vendors lost or didn’t renew the GM License and now use a starburst on the release button. The OER set ordered came this way and Mr. Picky Pants (yep, that would be me ) wasn’t having it. I did locate some carriage buttons from another vendor and swapped them out. In addition, a not so stock looking tag attached with white thread was just not going to fly either. Tags are gone, and the seat belts got a done stamp and went back in the boxes for later.

http://www.camaros.org/seatbelt.shtml

I was laughing a little at this, because I can confirm all of this from having a couple of 67 and 68's. I have always found the middle belt in the rear seat to be funny because I have never been able to shove 3 people in the back of my 68 and that middle area has really no spring or foam there. Your pretty much riding on the tunnel.

All the 67s that have passed through me all had the carriage in the buckle. I will say with that hokey tag on the belt, at least the put in the about the same area as the originals had their tags.

Love camaros.org. lots of great info and a decent forum as well.

[joesscamaro]

Funny comparison picture! Got to feel good seeing it in the early blocking stages.

[7dee2]

Thanks, making progress on the Camaro always puts a smile on my face.




Here’s an off-topic “Squirrel” moment! A friend acquired this 66 Vette with perfect patina out of Colorado. Reminded me so much of our old car (link) I had to share it. The plan is to rebuild the 427, make it run and drive and leave it crusty.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...&postcount=127

Fast forward a few months and that’s exactly what happened, the 66 got a fresh rebuild and he was able to drive it home. After a few more months went by this same friend has just recently revealed his latest (and greatest) find to the world. It’s blowing the minds of the Corvette community, 1953 Corvette vin number 001!


Here’s a few articles on this amazing find.
https://www.corvetteblogger.com/2023...-rediscovered/
https://www.streetmusclemag.com/feat...make-the-call/
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/fir...lCf0fe8XLLMPY0

[69cam]

Read the articles. Wow! What history and a great find. Used to work in a body shop. The owner had several Ford Skyliners, but the last couple years I worked there he bought, and we restored, a very nice 54 Corvette. It was a lot of fun.

[joesscamaro]

Both vettes are really cool but the story on that '53 is amazing. Thanks for sharing!

[7dee2]

Yep, really cool stuff I’m sure we’ll hear more on the first 53 Corvette as time goes on. Corey's current plans are that he'll take the car to some major events and let people see it in its raw state before any restoration takes place. I believe a reveal is being arranged at the National Corvette Museum for later this year.




It's time to get back to the steering column, we left off by blowing it apart and ordering in a very nice rebuild kit (link). Took some reference pics of the firewall mounting plate so I can try and get it close on reassembly. Before and after going through the blast cabinet, no special media just sand. Used a wire wheel and some sandpaper on the inner sleeve and column to knock off all the surface rust.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...&postcount=266

[7dee2]

The Camaro has moved back over to the main building and is getting some more bodywork. They're just starting to work the roof to quarter panel seams, etc.

Sent the old M/T’s and some extended hex nut hold-downs out for polish and wow, they turned out great! Everything matches the polish on the breathers now, long time local vendor Metal Masters does a great job.
https://www.slcmetalmaster.com/

[7dee2]

Continuing on with the steering column parts getting some paint and a clear coating for the bare metal stuff. Several coats of rattle can Rust-oleum Satin Canyon Black & Satin Clear are what was used.

[72 tigger]

Chrome and column are looking great!
Cool Vette stories

[Troy Sr]

I may have missed it, but are you a collector of Hurst Shifters?

[7dee2]

Ha, I didn’t think so but I’ve got a few. It all started off just wanting to run our very nice Mr. Gasket Vertical Gate that I bought years ago (1st link). Then I switched to the Hurst Ram 4 when we figured out Mrs. 7dee2 couldn’t shift the V-Gate in a side by side comparison (2nd link). That led to building the best one I could (just cuz) and before you know it, I’ve got 4 of them (3rd link), Jimmany Christmas!

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...&postcount=119
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...&postcount=254
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...&postcount=276




One of the challenges with the roof to quarter panel transition is the inner drip edge. Factory cars have a raised area right before the bottom of the gutter. With our aftermarket panels, this was not consistent from roof to quarter panel or even left to right, each side being a little different. Kelly is making sure these areas are uniform on all sides.

[7dee2]

Here’s the reveal molding collection with some additional OE pieces that were acquired to replace the worst stuff (almost 2 sets). Also, an original drip edge molding which was not quite as good as I’d remembered. The boxes in the bed are all new reproduction pieces, this could be a molding overload!

With the body shop making every effort to make the car fit better than new, my question is what’s going to fit the best? The right side wing window was a problem in the initial fitment so back to what was said earlier, and is still holding true. We’re not assuming anything fits correctly and this is the first time these pieces have been tried, fingers crossed.

Since it’s a reproduction body and everything on the exterior will be a repro I am leaning towards the new moldings. Another thought is that original pieces always seem to need additional work and are getting harder to acquire if needed in the future.

[CG]

Pertaining to 67's (dont think I mentioned it here yet), a buddy has had a 67 just sitting at his place forever. Just a shell, from the doors back, and the back half had been modified (poorly) to run larger tires. No seats, engine, trans, nothing.

He decided to sell it, figured he'd start at 7500 bucks, you know, ask for the moon. Phone rang off the hook and first caller couldn't get out there fast enough to get it. Crazy times.

Im enjoying watching your progress.

[Lost in the 60's]

Originally Posted by CG

Pertaining to 67's (dont think I mentioned it here yet), a buddy has had a 67 just sitting at his place forever. Just a shell, from the doors back, and the back half had been modified (poorly) to run larger tires. No seats, engine, trans, nothing.

He decided to sell it, figured he'd start at 7500 bucks, you know, ask for the moon. Phone rang off the hook and first caller couldn't get out there fast enough to get it. Crazy times.

Im enjoying watching your progress.

You certain that was a '67 shell, not a '69 ?? No vin tag/title with it ?

[CG]

Originally Posted by Lost in the 60's

You certain that was a '67 shell, not a '69 ?? No vin tag/title with it ?

I know the differences in all three years, and it does have the vin and it does have a free clear matching title. Well it did, now it is in someone elses name.