If you want to get to the core of this forum, please skip to the second paragraph. If you want to read my 'confession', proceed below.

My name is Hank. I am 20 years old. Ever since the first time I saw the word "Camaro" in the automobile section of our paper, I fell in love with it. It rolled off my tongue every time I said not unlike the first time your mouth says what you really feel to a woman, before your brain has time to proof-read it. I've had dreams in the past, dreams the innocent mind of a hard working adolescent boy has: big league baseball player, world shaker (Cool Hand Luke style), finding true love... But this dream is different. I know it has to happen, and it will. Aint nobody gonna tell me diff'rnt because I believe that what that guy said in Cool Runnings holds water: "All he has to do is know what he wants, and work hard for it - and if he wants it bad enough, he'll get it." The reader is promised this, I will get my Camaro, and it's gonna be the visual of the rush of emotion the American Underdog gets as he accomplishes the unlikely, the improbable, the impossible... The last thing I buy will be the rear view mirror - after I drive my Camaro through the streets of my one horse town. The exhaust will laugh for me. It will emit an echo far more satisfying than my lips ever could. And with a rush of Autumn leaves dancing behind me, I'll drive away, not taking advantage of the newest, and final addition to my dream. I do not expect you to understand the meaning of this confession, only to recognize why I had to finally articulate it into concrete form. Phase One is now complete.

I'm doing research on my future Camaro, and I need some advice and tips from people who know what they're talking about. My mechanical background is limited to oil changes, tire pressure checks, and how to drink a 6 pack while installing a CD player. I am certain of only one thing, that I want a standard transmission. Every other detail is fair game for you guys to persuade me to. I'm interested in which year ('68 or '69) I should get and why, which engine, which transmission, Yenko or no... you get the idea, everything. This car will be my daily driver. I do not care about the cost of gas or insurance, I just want the fastest set of wheels in town. I want to keep it original looking, but with eardrum exploding exhaust and an outstanding stereo system. (One that plays only classic rock.) Please pour your knowledge and opinions out as I am more than happy to read them. Thanks for taking the time.

 

Well it sounds alot like me. My very 1st car back in 1986 was a 67 camaro. I didnt have it for very long but that indeed became my 1st love. Not the guy I was dating but the car itself. Now many years later I am going back to my 1st love of a 1st gen and building a 69 camaro. Did I think it would take 2+ years....no not exactly. But I am so close I can see myself driving it to work everyday. Which is infact what Im going to do. No matter the gas or ins. I did have a superfab guy do the body restoration, but everything else has been me & my hubby. And I work on wedding gowns for a living.

When going into this project I did not worry about numbers matching, or the originality of it, I just want to get to the finish line and drive it. I do not care about car shows or awards of that nature. Its to be my daily driver and something I can sit in on days when I want to throw in the towel and listen to some Metallica. This will probably be my last car until they take my drivers lisence away.

We are putting in a 355 with a 700r4 tranny, power door locks and alarms system with a kill switch, satalite radio, and some kickbutt sound deadiner. I picked the corvette magnetic red for paint. Im sure if I thought about it there are more updates to what it was originally but you get the gist that I am making it into what I want and can afford.

That would be my 1st question......how much do you want to put into an old camaro? When done I will have about 31k in it from day 1. Why a 69.....its what fell into my lap the day after we decided to restore one. I do like all of the body style features of it but did add a spoiler that my 67 had. It was a must for me. I hope all of this rambling helps. I could sit and talk about it all day.