Restoring a '69 Camaro

[TehMac]

Short story is that I was talking to an older guy I know. We talked about cars, and he mentioned he had a 69 Camaro with a 4 spd manual at his garage. It'd been running great, but he hasn't touched it for the last 14 years and couldn't get back into restoring it.

Sounds tempting especially since he mentioned it has a 4 spd which indicates there is a good chance it is an SS with a V8 engine.

On the other hand, it could be an RS with an inline 6 with the 4 spd as an optional feature (but I'm not sure how common this option was implemented).


It sounds so tempting, but then I think of all the stuff I'd have to/want to do:

put on new brakes, put on new rims, put on new tires, put in new shocks/suspension upgrades, strengthen the Chassis, possibly tune the engine/put in new engine...

Then the niggles like:
Does the clutch pedal spring work properly? Does the transmission work? Does the ignition work? How shot is the battery?

And I'm trying to get through school, but I have lots of free time...it's so tempting yet its so repulsive at the same time.

 

[jlee]

It's a '69 Camaro..definitely worth restoring, IMHO.

I'd be a lot more concerned about the transmission working than the clutch pedal spring and the battery's condition..

 

[TehMac]

Well, I remember helping my friend restore his '68 convertible mustang. He had all sorts of problems with it, clutch pedal spring not cooperating, ignition failing. But yeah, the clutch will probably be a bitch.

I really want to take on this challenge, but I don't want to raise his hopes, plus I'm not a master restorer, and my friend is busy with his business, and I'm in fucking school ffs...so lots of excuses that are valid.

 

[Bignate603]

It's a '69 camaro. Drag it home and fix it. Or better yet tell me where it is and I'll take that problem off your hands.

 

[TehMac]

Well that's probably the biggest problem: This is merely an idle idea. He was interested to hear about how my friend and I restore cars, and thought maybe we'd restore it for him. I doubt I'd get any kind of reward, although obviously it'd be a treat to fix the car with not much to gain, there are other better things I'd pursue at this time.

There's always the chance he'd just give it away though...

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: TehMac
Well that's probably the biggest problem: This is merely an idle idea. He was interested to hear about how my friend and I restore cars, and thought maybe we'd restore it for him. I doubt I'd get any kind of reward, although obviously it'd be a treat to fix the car with not much to gain, there are other better things I'd pursue at this time.

There's always the chance he'd just give it away though...

Wait..he wants you to do all the restoration work and then he keeps the car?

Doesn't sound like a win situation for you!

 

[Iron Woode]

tell him to sell it to you.

Do you know how easy it is to get parts for a '69 Camaro?

this is a resto you can do in your sleep.

the 4 speed was an option behind every engine on the camaro.

I remember an article in an old issue of Hot Rod magazine about the guy finding a '69 camaro for sale. The old lady said the car ran funny and made noises. And the paint was crappy. And the automatic trans didn't work properly. The guy bought it cheap and discovered a few things: the 2 bbl V8 pinged like a bitch on regular gas. There was a hole in the floor board between the bucket seats that didn't line up with the shifter. Barely visible under the Earl Scheib white paint job were 2 paint stripes going the length of the car starting at the hood. Yup, that cheap car was a badly converted Z28. 11:1 compression 302, a missing 4 speed and a crappy paint job. Sometimes you never know what you will stumble on to.

 

[TehMac]

Originally posted by: JLee

Wait..he wants you to do all the restoration work and then he keeps the car?

Doesn't sound like a win situation for you!

Exactly my point


But I'd have to talk about it with him further, he and I respect each other greatly, I believe he is a former Marine or of some military background, but perhaps he's just a civilian interested in the military like me, I'm not sure.

It was idle chat, but I felt like bringing it up with AT Garage.

Originally posted by: Iron Woode
I remember an article in an old issue of Hot Rod magazine about the guy finding a '69 camaro for sale. The old lady said the car ran funny and made noises. And the paint was crappy. And the automatic trans didn't work properly. The guy bought it cheap and discovered a few things: the 2 bbl V8 pinged like a bitch on regular gas. There was a hole in the floor board between the bucket seats that didn't line up with the shifter. Barely visible under the Earl Scheib white paint job were 2 paint stripes going the length of the car starting at the hood. Yup, that cheap car was a badly converted Z28. 11:1 compression 302, a missing 4 speed and a crappy paint job. Sometimes you never know what you will stumble on to.

Haha yea, I was thinking about the guy selling off the Pontiac, haha. I definitely want to call the guy up and check it out, but I don't want to commit to something I have no idea wtf to do.

Plus I live with my parents atm frown: ) and they're rather against the idea, lol. My dad is a mechanic dynamo, but he's a bit frumpy and isn't much for cars, I doubt I could persuade him.

Plus, the equipment I'd need to change the tranny, fix engine, suspension etc, boggles my mind.

 

[BUTCH1]

Originally posted by: TehMac
Short story is that I was talking to an older guy I know. We talked about cars, and he mentioned he had a 69 Camaro with a 4 spd manual at his garage. It'd been running great, but he hasn't touched it for the last 14 years and couldn't get back into restoring it.

Sounds tempting especially since he mentioned it has a 4 spd which indicates there is a good chance it is an SS with a V8 engine.

On the other hand, it could be an RS with an inline 6 with the 4 spd as an optional feature (but I'm not sure how common this option was implemented).


It sounds so tempting, but then I think of all the stuff I'd have to/want to do:

put on new brakes, put on new rims, put on new tires, put in new shocks/suspension upgrades, strengthen the Chassis, possibly tune the engine/put in new engine...

Then the niggles like:
Does the clutch pedal spring work properly? Does the transmission work? Does the ignition work? How shot is the battery?

And I'm trying to get through school, but I have lots of free time...it's so tempting yet its so repulsive at the same time.

Could be a 327, 350, 396. Clutch pedal spring is the least of your worries and a battery is what, $50?. Although there is a LOT of aftermarket support for this car it's still costs a lot of $$ to do it right, if he gives you the car then it's worth it but to do it for free for him, no way, pass on that crap..

 

[Mike Gayner]

Wait, what? You're trying to decide whether to restore someone else's car? Do you have any idea whatsoever what kind of hours and money go into restoring a car? This thread fails hard IMO.

 

[lurk3r]

Lol there are at least 50 of us thinking "get me the guy's number". Seriously there is pretty much unlimited potential for this car, but it will not be cheap, just a simple refresh (brakes, rubber etc) will cost at least a couple thousand dollars. Even if the thing is a 6 cylinder, you can drop pretty much any crate motor in, $1900 for a 260 hp up on into the ~$12000 LS's.

Oh and I forgot paint, expect to pay around $3000-$5000 for a reasonable paint job.

 

[Vetterin]

It doesn't sound as though you are going to "restore" the car but only make it driveable and that is a big difference.

 

[TehMac]

Originally posted by: Mike Gayner
Wait, what? You're trying to decide whether to restore someone else's car? Do you have any idea whatsoever what kind of hours and money go into restoring a car? This thread fails hard IMO.

Yes I do, which is why I'm tossing it around as an idle thought.

 

[ChaosDivine]

Originally posted by: TehMac
Then the niggles like:
Does the clutch pedal spring work properly? Does the transmission work? Does the ignition work? How shot is the battery?

Why are you worried about the battery?
Even a Sears DieHard Platinum (basically and Odyssey in disguise) isn't that pricey.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

How easy is it to find parts for a '69 Camaro? Both Year One and Horsepower TV built all-new '69 Camaros recently. Zero old parts.

 

[hanoverphist]

Originally posted by: Bignate603
It's a '69 camaro. Drag it home and fix it. Or better yet tell me where it is and I'll take that problem off your hands.

same thing i was thinking.

 

[AMCRambler]

Well, if you've got a place to keep it and it won't break your bank to pick it up I'd say go for it. Just remember car restos are a money pit. Take whatever estimate you think it'll cost you to restore it and multiple by three.
If you can pick it up cheap and keep till you've got the time and money to throw at it I'd say do it. I had similar ambitions with my old 66 Rambler but living at home and having an old man not too receptive to having a car torn apart in his garage, I had to put it in storage. Once I get a house it's coming out of storage and I'll be able to work on it again. Assuming I've got the time!

 

[TehMac]

Originally posted by: ChaosDivine

Originally posted by: TehMac
Then the niggles like:
Does the clutch pedal spring work properly? Does the transmission work? Does the ignition work? How shot is the battery?

Why are you worried about the battery?
Even a Sears DieHard Platinum (basically and Odyssey in disguise) isn't that pricey.

I'm just listing all the issues I have seen my friend experience with his '68 Mustang. It looks like a rewarding experience, but I don't have much money or time.


And Vetterin:

Sort of. I have not yet seen the car, again it was all idle talk, but it probably needs a good paintjob, I was going to get a guy I know to airbrush it, but he relocated to the bay area. I definitely want to do more than just "yea let's drive it on the road."

I want to make it work, and work well, be able to utilize all the horsepower it has, not be clunk'd down with the tires they had back in the '60's.

 

[halik]

It sounds like you have absolutely no idea what your doing.

 

[BUTCH1]

Originally posted by: TehMac

Originally posted by: ChaosDivine

Originally posted by: TehMac
Then the niggles like:
Does the clutch pedal spring work properly? Does the transmission work? Does the ignition work? How shot is the battery?

Why are you worried about the battery?
Even a Sears DieHard Platinum (basically and Odyssey in disguise) isn't that pricey.

I'm just listing all the issues I have seen my friend experience with his '68 Mustang. It looks like a rewarding experience, but I don't have much money or time.


And Vetterin:

Sort of. I have not yet seen the car, again it was all idle talk, but it probably needs a good paintjob, I was going to get a guy I know to airbrush it, but he relocated to the bay area. I definitely want to do more than just "yea let's drive it on the road."

I want to make it work, and work well, be able to utilize all the horsepower it has, not be clunk'd down with the tires they had back in the '60's.

I would doubt that the original tires from 1969 are still on the vehicle at this point...

 

[coldmeat]

What's a niggle? Sounds racist.

 

[TehMac]

Originally posted by: halik


It sounds like you have absolutely no idea what your doing.

Think positive.

 

[mizzou]

I almost positively once I get older will have a classic car in a garage to play around with. My cheapo saturn that I have has been a great learning experience. The only thing preventing me from learning further is the limit of my surroundings.

1 garage, wife's nice car has to be in it. My truck and my beater car sit outside.

I'm not going to take an engine apart outside =). What I really want is a nice open level space that is covered on all sides so that I can sit the thing on blocks, and really get into the engine bay....or even a giant car jack like what real shops use =)

If you really want to do this, look at it in the following way:

How much of a pain in the ass is it to have this car laying around, not functioning at all?
Will you put insurance on it or just sort of leave it parked?
Do you have the space to keep it covered non-stop?
Is your driveway going to look like a trailer park?

 

[TehMac]

Yes mizzou, all great questions, and because I don't think I'd be able to take the car anywhere, idea is dropped. Until I get some cash, this will likely be nothing more than an idle fancy.