So since we're seeing record temps during this first week of January and work is slow I've had a couple days off and have been able to get quite a lot of work done...

I got new piston rings put on, fully cleaned the block and heads, painted my carb, intake, heads, headers and block... the headers are baking in the oven right now... it calls for 30 min at 350, 30 min cool, 30 min at 400, and then 30 min cool to cure the paint... they barely fit in my oven...






I mocked up the engine temporarily to see what she's gonna look like and i've got to say I like it... wasnt sure about going fire engine red with the block but the black pieces really provide a nice contrast... (sorry bout the blurry pics)



gonna see about fully assembling the engine this afternoon!!! just gonna be missing two things... the oil pan, since i put a hole in this one, and the valve covers since they're center bolt heads and i have perimeter bolt covers, i'm hopefully getting a set of valve covers next saturday from the guy i got the engine from...

I'll try to post tonight and let u all know how it goes this afternoon

 

Well I ended up getting the long block almost fully assembled... minus one pushrod that I can't find...

And I got quite a few of the accessories painted as well

 

Just a few pics throughout the assembly process

painted intake and water pump


and the engine as it currently sits, gonna get valve covers on sunday and see if i cant get the engine dropped in the car... that is if i get the cherry picker fixed
got the transmission torn down as well... painting this weekend if possible




then i bought a few things including the 2nd gear that i broke teeth of




and i bought the 12 ton HF shop press to get the gear off and back on and tonight got it all changed out



now i just have to reassemble the guts into the gear box...

 

Man been building it awhile

 

Yeah, its tough to find time around 70-80 hour work weeks and 2-3 nights a month sleeping in my own bed

 

So it's been over a year since I have given an update on the progress of the Camaro. And in that time-frame a lot has happened, I moved, got injured at work, got married, had knee surgery, and through it all somehow had time to get some work done on the Camaro...

That most recent re-assembly of the engine worked out great for about 150 miles, had amazing power and torque, was tuned perfectly and had good throttle response until something went wrong when i finally drove it to our new house. A piece of debris inside the motor plugged up an oil passage at the front of the motor and ceased the front main bearing to the crank as i pulled up to a stop sign. I was only 4 blocks from our new house so I got a friend to hook up a tow strap and get me there, where i immediately oulled it in the garage and ignored it for a couple of months while i got sent out of town for work.

Once i got her torn down I got the block checked out and measured and checked for cracks and everything passed so i began reassembly with all new bearings, crank, etc. reusing the pistons, cam, and heads since they have very little time on them since the last go round...

I have yet to get the motor put in since I ended up haveing surgery on my knee. They ended up opening it up to access the back of the knee cap. They drilled little holes in the knee cap and implanted embryonic stem cells into the divot to attempt to grow new cartilage, Full recovery time will be middle of next January... so i have a long road ahead of me


IMG_20130116_163221 by dfritz08, on Flickr

Theres a pic of my leg in the hospital a couple hours after surgery

Now onto the camaro pics of what has been done


IMG_20130408_182702 by dfritz08, on Flickr

Tore the seat covers apart to get templates for new material


IMG_20130408_182639 by dfritz08, on Flickr

Bottom seat cover made with new material


IMG_20130410_194904 by dfritz08, on Flickr

full drivers seat covers done


IMG_20130418_161059 by dfritz08, on Flickr

Both seats done and reassembled with brackets and slides painted


IMG_20130423_183518 by dfritz08, on Flickr

test fitting the harnesses my wife bought me for my birthday


IMG_20130423_133809 by dfritz08, on Flickr

back seat were a quick job, didnt feel like spending a lot of time on them since the only one who will be riding back there is the dog...


IMG_20130424_164446 by dfritz08, on Flickr

got the four point cage built and installed, 3/16" wall x 2 1/2" o.d. structural pipe


IMG_20130426_163607 by dfritz08, on Flickr

seats and harnesses installed

now onto the dash and gauge cluster install


IMG_20130425_115320 by dfritz08, on Flickr

built a frame out of 1/2 x1/2 square


IMG_20130425_115512 by dfritz08, on Flickr

gauge plate cut and pilot holes drilled so the holes for the gauges can be cut


IMG_20130425_160135 by dfritz08, on Flickr

Holes cut and plate painted


IMG_20130425_161740 by dfritz08, on Flickr

gauges installed - holes on the right are for the defrost fan speed control and temp adjuster


IMG_20130425_162408 by dfritz08, on Flickr


IMG_20130425_162422 by dfritz08, on Flickr


IMG_20130426_141729 by dfritz08, on Flickr


IMG_20130426_141741 by dfritz08, on Flickr

dash panels finished up


IMG_20130426_163553 by dfritz08, on Flickr

overall - gauges still need wired in - thats why all the wires are hanging down


IMG_20130416_104241 by dfritz08, on Flickr

and some tires i got off craigslist for free... SCORE

so thats all for the update for now... things will hopefully go better when the dr says i can do more with my knee... gonna be a long recovery and a lot of time doing nothing

 

Great update. Congratulations on getting Married. sorry to hear about the Knee, I hope the recovery goes well. That interior is looking great. Dash turned out really nice.

 

Same here, congratulations on the knee, and sorry to hear about the getting married. Wait, did I say that right?

 

well been a bit of time and recovery is going nicely, i'm walking without a brace, still cant step up with my leg or squat, but i can stand and walk...

anyways, got the motor dropped in and started on the body work, while doing body work I found a set of 2010 camaro 18" steel rims, with trim rings, hub caps, and almost new 245-50-r18 Goodyear Assurance tires for $150 on CL... Couldnt pass up a deal like that


IMG_20130527_164529 by dfritz08, on Flickr


IMG_20130527_164437 by dfritz08, on Flickr


IMG_20130523_150303 by dfritz08, on Flickr


IMG_20130523_145915 by dfritz08, on Flickr

got spacers 1.5 front and 2" in back, painted the trim rings and got them mounted up


IMG_20130530_121805 by dfritz08, on Flickr


IMG_20130530_121815 by dfritz08, on Flickr

Got the body work finished and got her primed


IMG_20130615_140039 by dfritz08, on Flickr


IMG_20130615_140052 by dfritz08, on Flickr

Put 4 coats primer on and sanded between each


IMG_20130618_165715 by dfritz08, on Flickr

4 coats black base


IMG_20130618_222254 by dfritz08, on Flickr

and 4 coats Matte clear


IMG_20130621_201514 by dfritz08, on Flickr


IMG_20130621_221523 by dfritz08, on Flickr

And here's how she sits in the drive right now...


IMG_20130622_123356 by dfritz08, on Flickr

Once I get the windshield in and hood done this week i'll get a pic of the work completed...

The paint job is FAR from perfect; but getting it to the point it is right now, was enough work for me, it looks GREAT at 20 ft good at 10 and you can see imperfections close up... good enough for me

 

well, I've gotten some work done recently and gotten things about wrapped up

got the door panels attached, the screws match what was done on the dash

http://www.flickr.com/photos/46490027@N05/9202571523/http://www.flickr.com/photos/46490027@N05/9202571523/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/46490027@N05/, on Flickr

bought a new windshield and got it test fitted and shimmed

http://www.flickr.com/photos/46490027@N05/9202575571/http://www.flickr.com/photos/46490027@N05/9202575571/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/46490027@N05/, on Flickr

got a "new" hood for 25 bucks and started sanding it down, PO spray painted it flat black and didnt use automotive paint so it didnt sand very easily, ended up clogging up a lot of expensive sand paper...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/46490027@N05/9202574319/http://www.flickr.com/photos/46490027@N05/9202574319/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/46490027@N05/, on Flickr

got it primed and test fitted

http://www.flickr.com/photos/46490027@N05/9205359458/http://www.flickr.com/photos/46490027@N05/9205359458/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/46490027@N05/, on Flickr

and got it painted and installed, and the windshield is also installed in this pic

http://www.flickr.com/photos/46490027@N05/9202572381/http://www.flickr.com/photos/46490027@N05/9202572381/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/46490027@N05/, on Flickr

and the next few pics are of the car wrapped up and road ready

http://www.flickr.com/photos/46490027@N05/9202570349/http://www.flickr.com/photos/46490027@N05/9202570349/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/46490027@N05/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/46490027@N05/9202569263/http://www.flickr.com/photos/46490027@N05/9202569263/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/46490027@N05/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/46490027@N05/9205354240/http://www.flickr.com/photos/46490027@N05/9205354240/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/46490027@N05/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/46490027@N05/9202566569/http://www.flickr.com/photos/46490027@N05/9202566569/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/46490027@N05/, on Flickr

what do you guys think of the rims? just curious... everyone i talk to loves them but i'd like some honest opinions from camaro enthusiasts, feel free to be mean if you like, you wont hurt my feelings, promise