Good times (a father son build)
#1
12-23-2011, 04:03 PM
Good times (a father son build)
my son worked hard all summer mowing lawns and such. he saved his money and told me he wanted to build his first car with me. we went looking to buy a first gen camaro but it wasnt for sale. however the guy turned us on to a good second gen (1977) camaro. weve stripped it down and found some rust but nuthin to bad. Im getting new panals to repair the rust my dad gave the boy ( saving me $2k) a 425 (factory) HP 454 that we are adding EFI to it and maybe a cam Im thinking of using this EFI system
it should wakeup and put out somewhere between 500 and 600 HP when done. the plan is to put a home built TH400 behind it / planning 308 gears with positrac rearend (which may already be there).
the engine will look like this (we have to go to AZ to pick it up)
Ill try to get some pics of the car up soon if anyone is interested Im really excited about this project as Ive waited my whole life (as a Dad) for one of my kids to show an intrest in building/racing machines
it should wakeup and put out somewhere between 500 and 600 HP when done. the plan is to put a home built TH400 behind it / planning 308 gears with positrac rearend (which may already be there). the engine will look like this (we have to go to AZ to pick it up)
Ill try to get some pics of the car up soon if anyone is interested Im really excited about this project as Ive waited my whole life (as a Dad) for one of my kids to show an intrest in building/racing machines
#2
12-23-2011, 06:19 PM
thats awesome that your building this with your son... some day i hope to build a 74 Z28 with my dad (thats what he had back in 77) and giving it to him... hope to see some pics and follow this
#3
12-23-2011, 07:32 PM
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Portland, Or
Posts: 9,097
Welcome to the forum!
Very cool! I had my son and my grandson helping me at the final assembly days on my Camaro project. They'd have loved to have been even more involved but they live 6 hrs. away, and can't easily be here that often.
Very cool! I had my son and my grandson helping me at the final assembly days on my Camaro project. They'd have loved to have been even more involved but they live 6 hrs. away, and can't easily be here that often.
#4
12-23-2011, 09:15 PM
thanks guys Ive waited my whole life for this to start happening ( I also have a daughter want ing to build with me) so I guess we should get this thing rollin. we got the car for $500 no engine and missing the front seats but the body looked pretty stright with some fill.
Ill start with the ugly. upon removing the fill we found some rust not as bad as some but still ugly. the PO didnt do any prepwork before laying the fill as the metal was rusty underneth.
in front of both wheel wells
a little on the back end of both front fenders
the rear valance
the drivers side floor has been penitrated
the repair panals are 30 to 40 bucks apop or I could do whole quarter panals (90%coverage) for 90 bucks a side so not too bad
Ill start with the ugly. upon removing the fill we found some rust not as bad as some but still ugly. the PO didnt do any prepwork before laying the fill as the metal was rusty underneth.
in front of both wheel wells
a little on the back end of both front fenders
the rear valance
the drivers side floor has been penitrated
the repair panals are 30 to 40 bucks apop or I could do whole quarter panals (90%coverage) for 90 bucks a side so not too bad
Last edited by A2TURBO; 12-23-2011 at 09:25 PM.
#5
12-23-2011, 09:21 PM
from the front
I removed the upper and lower valances a couple weeks ago but Ive been too busy to get the front clip off Id better get my finger out!
you can see zx900 A2 turbo lurking off to the side
the engine compartment is in pretty shape but I still plan on pulling the front clip and subframe off and sand blasting it to make it as clean as possable
the PO chopped the a/c box and removed the evaporatior and fan housing so we need to decide if we want to replce the a/c or if we're just gonna get a new heater box but defo not gonna leave it as is.
also slated are new upper and lower control arm bushings, ball joints, inner and outer tie rods ,and idler arm. while the front subframe is off Im replaceing the body bushings with either polyurethane or solid alli ones along with subrame connectors to tighten everything up so it should handle like its on rails.
I removed the upper and lower valances a couple weeks ago but Ive been too busy to get the front clip off Id better get my finger out!
you can see zx900 A2 turbo lurking off to the side
the engine compartment is in pretty shape but I still plan on pulling the front clip and subframe off and sand blasting it to make it as clean as possable
the PO chopped the a/c box and removed the evaporatior and fan housing so we need to decide if we want to replce the a/c or if we're just gonna get a new heater box but defo not gonna leave it as is.
also slated are new upper and lower control arm bushings, ball joints, inner and outer tie rods ,and idler arm. while the front subframe is off Im replaceing the body bushings with either polyurethane or solid alli ones along with subrame connectors to tighten everything up so it should handle like its on rails.
#6
12-23-2011, 10:20 PM
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: The 'Burbs of Chicago
Posts: 18,306
Cool, father and son projects can be fun. I wish my son was a more willing participant, as I don't enjoy working by myself as much. He's helped on my cars before, but his true interests are elsewhere.
I'm moving this thread to the projects section, where it will feel more at home. Be sure to keep up with the progress reports!
I'm moving this thread to the projects section, where it will feel more at home. Be sure to keep up with the progress reports!
#7
12-23-2011, 11:35 PM
Gonna be a good project, the motor looks nice. Looking forward to seeing the finished product. I love building cars with my dad, im 17 and weve built a 69,72 and 79 cutlass, and now were in the process of finishing my 79 camaro. We pulled my motor today, dropping it back in tommorow. Its always a good time
#9
12-24-2011, 09:17 AM
brings back memories i loved helping my dad work on his 80 tahoe blue transam,he had the badest and faster transam around,thats where i learned how to build hot rod engines.ive built 2 427 sbc and im working on building a 406 for my 87 iroc l,love working on my camaros and yes with my dad.