German Camaro Restoration
#1
German Camaro Restoration
Here is my 1967 German Spec Camaro. I am going to list the steps of the rebuild from start to finish. As the progression moves, I welcome any suggestions.
I purchased this car in Mainz Germany the day the Challenger Space Shuttle went wrong. I wasn't looking for this car at this time; I guess you could say it found me. 14 years, several jobs, a bad divorce, a couple of houses, (the last one went with the divorce), The car was the only constant, and reliable thing. It deserves to get more than a Makeover, it deserves a Restoration.
I am not doing a 100 point thing; I want a driver, not a shelf setter. If I wanted something to set on a shelf, I would build a toy model. The car was Butter Nut Yellow from the factory (Y-2); it is going to be Victory Red. I just can’t make it yellow. I have chosen Victory red because it is just a shade off of Bolero Red, and I am color blind in many shades. Red is safe. It had a Black Vinyl Cancer from the Factory; Sorry It will never have a Vinyl Cancer Hat Ever Again. When I bought the car for a whole $600, it had been a Race car in Europe from the day it was new. It needed a lot of work even then.
I purchased this car in Mainz Germany the day the Challenger Space Shuttle went wrong. I wasn't looking for this car at this time; I guess you could say it found me. 14 years, several jobs, a bad divorce, a couple of houses, (the last one went with the divorce), The car was the only constant, and reliable thing. It deserves to get more than a Makeover, it deserves a Restoration.
I am not doing a 100 point thing; I want a driver, not a shelf setter. If I wanted something to set on a shelf, I would build a toy model. The car was Butter Nut Yellow from the factory (Y-2); it is going to be Victory Red. I just can’t make it yellow. I have chosen Victory red because it is just a shade off of Bolero Red, and I am color blind in many shades. Red is safe. It had a Black Vinyl Cancer from the Factory; Sorry It will never have a Vinyl Cancer Hat Ever Again. When I bought the car for a whole $600, it had been a Race car in Europe from the day it was new. It needed a lot of work even then.
#2
Do you like the Nifty turn signal lamps? It is a German requirement. This is a 4P car, 12 bolt rear, and a Square Torque Arm on the passenger side of the Axle connecting to the floor under the passenger side rear seat.
The rear Quarters are another thing all together. The flared Quarters are filled with expansion foam to give them support. This is a Very Bad Idea. It held moisture against the metal, allowing the rust monster to eat them.
I took the time to gather most of the parts I thought I would need for the restoration, getting as much Dealer New steel as I could. After researching body shops, I found Indy Powdercoating in Speedway Indiana. It is on Main Street just south of the Indianapolis 500 track by 3/4 mile. The body shop part is called Main Street Bodywerks. It is one stop for everything. In one building they do the powder coating and paint.
http://www.indypowdercoating.com/index.php?P=fac
They charge by the worked hour on your car. It made it possible to do this.
The rear Quarters are another thing all together. The flared Quarters are filled with expansion foam to give them support. This is a Very Bad Idea. It held moisture against the metal, allowing the rust monster to eat them.
I took the time to gather most of the parts I thought I would need for the restoration, getting as much Dealer New steel as I could. After researching body shops, I found Indy Powdercoating in Speedway Indiana. It is on Main Street just south of the Indianapolis 500 track by 3/4 mile. The body shop part is called Main Street Bodywerks. It is one stop for everything. In one building they do the powder coating and paint.
http://www.indypowdercoating.com/index.php?P=fac
They charge by the worked hour on your car. It made it possible to do this.
#4
I sent the Speedometer, a 200kph european model to Bob's Speedometer svc to be rebuilt and refinished. They did a great job. Looks like new.
http://www.bobsspeedometer.com/1/120/index.asp
http://www.bobsspeedometer.com/1/120/index.asp
#5
Main Street Body Werks
I pulled the dog house of of the car, and the engine and transmission out. I delivered the car to Main Street Bodywerks (Indy PowderCoating).
They took all of the new sheet metal and aligned it to spec. The Doors from NPD fit great, but the fenders from Golden Legion had the inside structure welded too far back. We had to drill out the welds, mount the inner structure to the car, then line up the fenders correctly, and then reweld them. The lowers were too far back for proper alignment, so the body man had to make cuts and draw it in till the top was correct. These cuts will be welded up when the fenders are removed and detailed.
The hood is a Classic Industries Yenko style hood. I chose not to use the Cowl induction hood that came with the car because everyone has a cowl induction hood. I like the look of the 68 Yenko over the Stinger, mostly because the Stinger is another over done type of hood. The 68 was the least used hood, and I think it screams 60's Muscle.
How About that gap?
Notice the Rust at the windshield line. Remember this in the future.
They took all of the new sheet metal and aligned it to spec. The Doors from NPD fit great, but the fenders from Golden Legion had the inside structure welded too far back. We had to drill out the welds, mount the inner structure to the car, then line up the fenders correctly, and then reweld them. The lowers were too far back for proper alignment, so the body man had to make cuts and draw it in till the top was correct. These cuts will be welded up when the fenders are removed and detailed.
The hood is a Classic Industries Yenko style hood. I chose not to use the Cowl induction hood that came with the car because everyone has a cowl induction hood. I like the look of the 68 Yenko over the Stinger, mostly because the Stinger is another over done type of hood. The 68 was the least used hood, and I think it screams 60's Muscle.
How About that gap?
Notice the Rust at the windshield line. Remember this in the future.
#7
That's an interesting car you have there, psy4s.
#8
GM had factories in switzerland where they produced firebirds and afaik camaros too.
http://www.camaros.org/foreign.shtml#swiss
wasn't going for any swiss jokes or something...
http://www.camaros.org/foreign.shtml#swiss
wasn't going for any swiss jokes or something...
#9
The Hood is OER which is Classic Industries. They make some great stuff. Just do not expect to bolt it on and paint it. Well you could, but if you want it to look good, even the factory stuff needs some TLC. Remember, Blocking is your friend.