Seems to be the nature of the interweb,people are different in person when there's no screen to hide behind.
It's not just car forums it's pretty much across the board with any discussion of any kind online these days unfortunately.


Looking forward to seeing the pics,I'll bet you are getting excited to see the finished project sitting there rumbling those beautiful big block notes out the exhaust saying lets go burn some rubber.

 

Great points guys... There are so many reasons for restoring any car and every enthusiast has there own way and try to push there opinions. There are those who restore to make money (true car or not), show car, race car, simple driver or just a hobby. There is the decision on what to do and then you get into nitty & gritty of the restoration and even the hardcore restorers get to arguing. Mine is sentimental and doing what my father wanted and I just happen to agree with him. I just let others give their rant on what to do. I'm patient with them be cause everyone has there own idea of what a Camaro should look and run. Some will be rude, some are pretentious and some just want to share ideas and some may seem pushy. Hang in there, stick to your idea of what you want Ricky to become. If you hear good ideas, make changes as you go. If you hear unwanted or bad ideas, just nod your head. Pretend your listening to your wife banter about how to load the dishwasher...

I very much look forward to your progress. I now consider it a race to see who finishes first. (for me that is, I need the push and challenge to get it done)

 

Well, hmm. OK, I get that some people feel safer writing to the masses, while being OK with saying things they would never say to your face. I personally find that a shame. But that’s just me. I go to great pains to write EXACTLY like I talk in person. If you read out loud what I write, you can hear me talking to you, only in your voice because you’re the one speaking my words. Many people would look at my lengthy entries and say perhaps I just talk too much, and that's fine. My wife says that all the time but it doesn’t seem to help, from her perspective. And I do try to put some content in there, if you look really hard. I do not say anything here that I would not say if I were talking in person to anyone who is reading this. That is a mark of respect for the reader, and we should all expect that of each other. That is owed, as a mark of being a civilized person. We need to stop being such savages, I think.

Regarding pics of Ricky in Cordovan Maroon, my friend the Painter said in a today email that he has two runs to fix, and once they are fixed and all coats are cured, he will send some hi-def pics. In the meantime, here is a lo-def taste.

 

Well, here's the thing, my friend. (and I really mean 'my friend'). I have NO PROBLEM with opinions. We all know the joke about what opinions are like, and I can be good-natured about disagreeing with an opinion about restorations, about what is the right and wrong way in somebody else's opinion. That is NOT what I'm talking about. My "rant" is about people who want you to feel bad about yourself because you aren't doing it in what they have decided is the RIGHT WAY. That is a way of being that I consider fascist. Someone else deciding what I should think.

I am more than willing to view anyone's project with hopeful and appreciative eyes, and hear them go on about what they're doing, and why. For instance, I love what your are doing to your wonderful toy. I wish I were 20 years younger, and still had my shop. Although I have my 200 amp Millermatic, and my Victor Journeyman torches, I realize I do not have the skill set, then or now, to do what has been done to my car. Still, I am jealous of you because once the big guy stuff is done, I could have maybe done most of the rest. Instead, I have to pay someone else, because of my reality. I just cannot tolerate someone out there telling me I'm doing it all wrong. That is NOT their call. A respectful remark to the effect that 'if it were them, they would do another way' is fine. Dictating to me that there is only one way to do it right, that they know that way, and I don't is what I can't stand.
Now, moving on to happier things, I am unable to race you, because I have no control over how fast these guys work. And I have told them repeatedly, I would rather have Ricky done right than done fast. The magnitude of tasks they have in front of them is mind-boggling. I have prepared a Project Management list of tasks, resources and dependencies to get Ricky from here to complete, and it is HUGE. They are telling me "mid-May" and while that is disappointing to say the least, it still means that if I'm alive then, I can ride in style this summer!!! In the meantime, here's a picture or two to make you feel good:




New sub-frame, new control arms, reconditioned steering box, all parts powder-coated, and you might note some clearance issues between the header pipes and the steering box. The shop is going to replace these 2" tubes with 1 7/8" which the Hooker rep assures them will provide increased torque at the expense of a bit of horsepower, but will clear the box. Given we are only looking at around 425HP, I'm OK with that. New carb, new HEI ignition, new Performer 2 intake, Hot Dog!

 

Wow... looking great. If these cars can lasted the past 50 years built by GM, can't imagine how many more years you have added. That is one more thing I like about doing these restorations. We are building them better than off the show room floor. Hope your family shares the same passion about your car and will pass down the generations.

 

Well here's an opinion from me on the subject.
I think much is in the lingo,many feel a restoration is taking a car back to completely original as it came from the factory and I tend to agree with that notion.
Bringing a car back but not stock is typically called a restomod,more often than not that means modern upgrades in suspension,brakes and usually a modern motor like an LS conversion but I'd say even with a period correct slightly modded from stock engine like your stunning 396 and a few upgrades like better brakes it's still a restomod.
Just my 2cts.

 

We're just going through 6 inches of snow, twice, and right now it is all the way up to 18 degrees, from a several day low of 6, with days of sustained wind (20-30 mph steady, 60mph gusts) and a wind like that at 6 degrees is an education for those of us who live at sea level, two miles from the Puget Sound. So, if I sound a bit grumpy, just smile. In a million years, I would never have thought I would regard 18 degrees as balmy, but after several days of 6... Anyway, I read your opinion with interest, and relatively good humor, considering my weather-battered mood.

I don't normally quote Juliet, but I just have to say, the first thing that came to mind was her saying "a Rose by any other name would smell as sweet." I'm pretty sure that when I stop by to give you a ride next summer, you're not going to say you wish I had performed a "restoration" instead of a "restomod".

I've repeated "restomod" 47 time in a row, trying to make the word sound good, but haven't succeeded yet. Restomod. Maybe it's just my tired old ears... I am "good natured about disagreeing with your opinion." (see above) I get what you're saying, I understand the technical distinction, and within the fraternity, you're certainly correct. I just never have heard that term, and think the word sounds ugly. I've hired a business (which by the way refers to their back building as their "BODY SHOP" and their front building as their "RESTORATION SHOP", not their "Restomod Shop) to perform a restoration on Ricky Camaro, taking him from the non-original nearly-junk car that he was to what I call "high grade ore". Restored from the grave to be a non-original car that will turn heads and hurt ears, all in a pleasing way. (Ahh, the sound of a big-block Chevy...) Since I bought him in altered form, and since NONE of us can say what his original configuration was, other than "1968 Camaro sport coupe, equipped with a V-8, painted Cordovan Maroon, and built near LA", he'll just have to be what he is, way cool. You are free to use the term "restomod" when you talk about him. I'll say he is a restoration, brought back from the grave, restored to life. So personally, while I like you a lot, I vote for Juliet. She knew her roses. And she was such a sweety.

p.s. You are going to LOVE the ride!!!

 

Of this I have no doubt having owned a big block powered 1st gen.

 

Well, a New Year! I notice a few people have been following this thread, but there's only two other participants in the give and take of discussion. This surprises me as I suspect my opinions are not widely held. I am not a participant in the worship of the "perfect original Camaro". Please consider this thread as open to anyone who wants to comment on this subject. I'm quite sure many will disagree with me, hopefully respectfully.

When I was a boy, we would occasionally find a hornet's nest high up in an oak, and we would come back in the middle of the night and shine a flashlight on it, shoot it with a 12 gauge 3" magnum, and then run like 'heck'. Young devils. I might note that shooting a 12 gauge 3" magnum straight up is not recommended. So, here's a poke at the hornet's nest occupied by those who lust for perfect and authentic Camaros of whatever vintage.

The Camaro was born around September of 1966, roughly 54 1/2 years ago. A long time for a muscle car to stay pure, authentic, unrepaired, unchanged... The first time I had the pleasure of riding in one was in the spring of 1968. A beautiful blue Z-28 that screamed! The toy of a college roommate whose daddy was richer than mine! These cars were incredibly cool, but relatively fragile, given their price points which did not allow for titanium-grade construction. Plus, their very nature invited abuse, given the age group and mentality they appealed to. There were Mustangs to eat!!! They died a lot, either crashed, or transmissions, rear ends and valve trains scattered, rods out through the sides of blocks. If possible, they got rebuilt, often in someone's garage via the junk yards and dealership parts counters. Over the years, further attrition came in the form of wear and tear for those that survived those first heady years. It came in various ways, like rusted out engine blocks in the thin metal between water passages and combustion areas, rusted out fenders and pan, etc. Kiss originality goodbye. Now we come along in these modern times and search enthusiastically for survivors that are pristine and seem to be perfect, appearing to be coming right off the dealer's showroom floor. Yeah, fat chance... Then get ANGRY when we find that the perfect Camaro we are looking at, over 50 years old, is apparently a FAKE!!! I think the odds of finding a perfect, authentically documented original Camaro, low-mileage and perfect, are somewhere between slim to none. Old cars broke and got fixed.

First generation Camaros were rude and crude animals, made to be flogged, and believe me, we flogged them. I bought Ricky when he was about 10 years old, already 'rode hard and hung up wet', and the good news is that I avoided side ditches and other cars at speed, somehow. Certainly not due to my driving skill! Today, these wonderful beasts still ask us to flog them, not worship them. To the extent that they live, I believe their greatest fear is that they will become a hangar queen. My advice, for the small amount it's worth, is to find one if you can, get out on the back roads, and turn it loose a bit. Don't forget to grin. So what if it's not pristine and perfect and exact? Get it and have fun. These cars were made to make you happy. Rude and Crude, indeed. Fun!!! I will not put them on a Pedestal.

 

Hello 1st Gen.
Nice to me you.
If I got better gas mileage in my 69, I'd drive up to Washington state and hang out with you.
I think we come from the same upraising....plus I'd love to go Squatch hunting up there.
I started off with a 69 Camaro, paid $850 for it and it had a 8 track player....those were the good old days.
Nice car by the way, had a 68 with a 327 T-400 12 bolt 4.10 gears, that I loved.