"The wifes car" Version 1.0

[dhondagod]

Figured Id start somewere. We bought this car Dec of 06 with intent of building a driver/road car. Something with long legs that we could take out of town traveling and enjoy at car shows with. The car will be built in three phases starting with Version1.0 that Im doing now.

Version1.0 will consist of making it safe to drive, wheels/tires, 9" rear from Merc Marquie with factory disc, front disc install (GM OE style). Install the cowl hood/carpet kit/headliner and fix/install side windows all from Steves Camaro's in San Bruno Ca.
Also will be installing 3rd gen PS box, replacing missing AC parts, general cleaning and fixing misc small items throughout the car. Planning on spraying car with satin black and will do body work one 1/4 at a time as schedule permits.

Should wind up with a decent driver at that point.

Some quick pics of what we started with after a wash.

[dhondagod]

Going to keep the green interior but add power 4th gen seats (picked them up yesterday) and once the car is painted it will be black with a green pearl to allude to its factory color. Second pic shows cheapo headers that melted the AC box. They are gone now in favor of stock manifolds.

[dhondagod]

Good solid Calif. car to start with. Very little work (at this point) to straighten it up.

[dhondagod]

Previous owner assembled the suspension and painted it so it looks nice. :goofy:

I dont think Ill be keeping it like that though. Red just dosent to it for me. :lol:

Last pic show where the hack exhaust shot WELDED the hangers to the body. :mad: That is gone and will be repaired.

[dhondagod]

The prior pics were all taken Dec of 05. These were taken this week while the car got its first REAL bath. No more dust blowing around while driving it anymore.

[dhondagod]

Here it is after drying it out a bit. MUCH nicer to work in now.

[dhondagod]

Front wheels are on, (TT2's) rears will go on after the 9" is installed. Hood is on as well... Ill update this thread as progress continues.

FWIW Version2.0 will include a 95LT1, 700R4, subframe detail, suspension/big-brake upgrades and basic paint job/detail.

Version3.0 is total strip-down, blast and full detail, paint (again) and any upgrades that arent done along the way. This wont be for a few years at the earliest. We want to enjoy the car now and I have 5 other large scale projects under way as well.

Feel free to ask any questions or just say "hi". :lateral:

Chris

[XcYZ]

Cool, keep us posted. :cheers:

[montessaj]

Can you take a close up pic of those wheels on the car. Love the project. I'm excited to see the 3.0 stage. Keep us posted.:)

[whytry]

Nice project you got there. Where are you located? I got several parts for my 68 from Steve as well, really nice guy always willing to help out. He even delivered my cowl hood to me at home... He's a stand-up guy.....

Good luck and keep us posted on updates...

[mdprovee]

I too have delt with Steve, great guy, always helpful. Looks like you have made good progress. Enjoy!

[68MaroSam]

Looks like a fun project. Congrats.

[dhondagod]

Can you take a close up pic of those wheels on the car. Love the project. I'm excited to see the 3.0 stage. Keep us posted.:)


Yea Id like to see V3.0 as well but unless someone has alot of extra $$$ to donate I dont see it happening for a few years. :(

Pic of wheels as requested. Rears are ghetto Cragers, fronts are TT2's. I have the rear set waiting untill the rear end is swapped.

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/8862/img2729smallcn8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/4391/img2730smalljr8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


Chris:cool:

[dhondagod]

Intalling the 9" rear from a 76 Mercury Marquie with factory disc. Now for the people that are going to ask why not using Baer or PBR or ????? brand instead, the answer is budget. The rear axle was free and for the V1.0 this is what Im going to use. After paint/body etc. I can worry about weekend bolt on's. Making it a driver is priority.

Out with the old... Then attacked the third, axles and bottom of car with oven cleaner from the dollar store and the pressure washer. Stuff works good but sucks when you get it in your eyes. :wow:

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/94/img2710smallro3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Third and axles cleaned and ready to go in

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/1808/img2717smalldq9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Axle housing painted and ready to stuff

http://img240.imageshack.us/img240/6189/img2718smallyy3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Calipers cleaned up, blasted and painted.

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/8892/img2719smallzy3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[dhondagod]

More

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/6990/img2724smallhq7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img240.imageshack.us/img240/6041/img2728smallhe6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/461/img2720smallhf2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Chris:cool:

[dhondagod]

Housing in, third in, abutments in, wheels on. Keep in mind the spring plates, u-bolts, rotors and other items are there for mockup. Not in their final configuration.

http://img240.imageshack.us/img240/2797/img2733smalljr7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img240.imageshack.us/img240/1803/img2734smallst4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/2536/img2735smallrr2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Driveline appears to line up good. Will get a u-joint that will allow the camaro driveshaft to attatch to the ford yoke or a different yoke. Whichever I find first.

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/8821/img2736smallnr7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Chris :cool:

[dhondagod]

On the ground finally!

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/782/img2737smallrx5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/4680/img2739smallew2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The Ford rear is approx 1.75" narrower than the Camaro rear. I orderd offset wheels (4.65" i think) that allow the typical 17-9.5 wheel but with a deeper lip. Looks pretty cool. (Thanks to DriversInc for helping me get the correct offset on the wheels) :cheers:

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/6643/img2740smalltc5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Chris:cool:

[dhondagod]

Last couple for tonight. (I really need to lower the front about 2") :(

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/992/img2742smallvm4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/5833/img2743smallqk5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


Open to suggestions, comments, opinions, ideas.... Feel free to offer up what you got!


Chris :cool:

[dhondagod]

Got the front done. Stock style brakes with new parts. Will be fine till able to upgrade. Oven cleaner and the pressure washer to clean up a tad, followed by the rattle can to dress things up a bit.

She likes it so Im happy.

pics.
Stock
http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/5255/img2744smallbp6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Oven cleaner doing its thing
http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/5576/img2767smallrd1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/7852/img2768smalljx8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


Chris:cool:

[dhondagod]

Finished front.

http://img383.imageshack.us/img383/6425/img2769smallvm2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img363.imageshack.us/img363/6226/img2770smallvt4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Ill get some pics of the car back on the ground soon. Looks much better after lowering the front almost 3" and the back 2"

Chris:cool: