Project Obsession

[Todd in vancouver]

Project Obsession



"Hi my name is Todd, and I am a car and PT addict".

The timeline will be a little out of whack as I am going to do some cut and pasting to bring my posts here up to date. Please excuse the lumping of all the information in the begining to get caught up.


Actually I had joined the PT site and found a number of references to this site and I've got a lot of really great tips to help me build my car. I already had an idea of what I wanted out of this car but once I saw what some of you guys are building and the fact that some of you guys are doing these build right in your own garage I thought, "what the hell I can do it too".

I've decided to call this project Obsession. The definition is "the domination of one's thoughts or feelings by a persistent idea, image, desire, etc." and since starting to use this and other sites, I think about what I am going to do with this build and it is on my mind 24/7 and keeps me awake at night thinking how I can proceed and what I should do next.


I bought a '67 camaro right in the middle of building a V8 S-10. The S-10 went away and I started on the Camaro.
http://imageshack.us/a/img11/8296/cimg4846c.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img62/4264/29785016846054323858010.jpg

The engine is already built and ready to go;
355 SBC
10.8:1 compression
Steel crank, Eagle rods, forged pistons all balanced
Edelbrock RPM Performer heads
Crane roller rockers, chrome molley P/rods
Voodoo Solid roller cam
Stealth Ram MPI Fuel Injection
http://imageshack.us/a/img5/70/37662518096368198826689.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img515/1271/imagejgw.jpg

Mated to this is a is a TKO600 trans to a 12 bolt rear diff.

I've started collecting parts and pieces for the car like a complete TCI front clip set-up
http://imageshack.us/a/img855/2860/38390319616323046831150.jpg



I've started dismantling the car and getting ready to flatten the firewall. The whole reason I came accross this website;
http://imageshack.us/a/img844/2315/fw4e.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img694/5141/fw2i.jpg


I've stripped down the firewall and get ready start some welding;
http://imageshack.us/a/img203/4708/img01412201209221501.jpg


Time to test fit the TCI front clip and make sure it lines up before it goes out for powder coating;[/SIZE]

http://imageshack.us/a/img694/4817/img01425201209241802.jpg

Today I picked up a few tools I needed to proceed with Project Obsession.

A few basic hand tools that I somehow have managed without my whole life;
http://imageshack.us/a/img706/9262/img01474201210021710.jpg

and, the piece de resistance I have seen numerous times so fanally brokedown and bought a rotisserie;
http://imageshack.us/a/img835/226/img01472201210021642.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img195/3412/img01473201210021650.jpg



I finally start cutting out the firewall making the next step to start welding in new metal;
http://imageshack.us/a/img507/9267/img01477201210031643.jpg[/SIZE]

[Todd in vancouver]

So I continue my quest to flatten the firewall so I picked up some 18 gauge to start making my own template and weld in piece.
http://imageshack.us/a/img856/690/img01476201210031537.jpg

After looking at a bunch of other builds on Pro-Tour I took the jig saw to my firewall and swiss cheesed it.
http://imageshack.us/a/img266/274/img01482201210041719.jpg

Starting with some cardboard I built a template for the tin so it would match the firewall how I wanted it
http://imageshack.us/a/img339/1383/img01478201210031703.jpg

Traced out the cardboard template onto the tin
http://imageshack.us/a/img13/6947/img01481201210041705.jpg

Voilà I have a rough metal firewall layout
http://imageshack.us/a/img40/4879/img01483201210041804.jpg
A little trimming to get it to fit how I wanted and drilled a couple holes for the fender mount bolts and it is ready to weld in
http://imageshack.us/a/img33/1921/img01486201210041840.jpg


The firewall is ready to be installed and it's time to start welding it in. As I haven't done any welding in a long time I thought it best to take some of the sheet metal cut offs and do some practice welds before I start on the car.
http://imageshack.us/a/img842/6631/img01515201210101719.jpg

Once I was warmed up I started small stitch welds around the new firewall;
http://imageshack.us/a/img208/5613/img01516201210101821.jpg

[Ripped]

Nice to see another lower mainland car nut in here.

It looks like a very cool project.

Good luck with it and hope to see you cruisin' around soon :thumbsup:

[fleetus macmullitz]

Welcome Todd. :thumbsup:

Looks like a good start to your '67 project.

[strtcar]

Nice looking project

[Firebirdsteve]

Nice to see another lower mainland car nut in here.

It looks like a very cool project.

Good luck with it and hope to see you cruisin' around soon :thumbsup:

Agreed!!!

[214Chevy]

Welcome Todd!! :hello: You're off to a great start. Always envious of a man who can do his own work. Keep the pics coming!!:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[KPC67]

looking good so far Todd.
The running gear you have in store looks awesome!
What kind of rotisserie did you buy?

[FlameBroiled]

Welcome to the club.....waving at you from Delta :cheering:

[Todd in vancouver]

Nice to see another lower mainland car nut in here.

It looks like a very cool project.

Good luck with it and hope to see you cruisin' around soon :thumbsup:
Thanks and I'm shooting for summer 2014
Welcome Todd. :thumbsup:

Looks like a good start to your '67 project.
Yes but man is it going slower than I thought, must be age catching up with me
Agreed!!!
Thanks Steve, and your car is killer and makes me wish i stilled owned my '78 hurst Edition T/A
Welcome Todd!! :hello: You're off to a great start. Always envious of a man who can do his own work. Keep the pics coming!!:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Thanks, and I'm doing a lot of learning as I go as I'm not a pro, just a garage hack
looking good so far Todd.
The running gear you have in store looks awesome!
What kind of rotisserie did you buy?
yes my little 350 seems to be ready for the challenge but wait till you see the dyno numbers the little bugger pulled. Still want an LS427 though. The rotisserie is from KMS tools and the box had Auto Twirler Plus stamped on it
Welcome to the club.....waving at you from Delta :cheering:
Cool, another local guy. there is going to be a hell of a cruise night if we can all meet up


Thanks for all the comments guys, it is very motivating to keep going. Although it may appear like I'm blazing along I'm just getting the build thread caught up and you will see my progress come to a grinding hault once I get my typing caught up to my build :computer:

I did some more welding on the firewall. As someone else stated on their build this is great practice for the parts that are more obvious.
http://imageshack.us/a/img208/5613/img01516201210101821.jpg



Started laying on the mud
http://imageshack.us/a/img32/9776/img01535201210161511.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img836/8774/img01537201210161527.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img717/7950/img01554201210251747.jpg



Next step is to shoot some primer after a couple more rounds to straighten out the sheetmetal and then one more test fit of the TCI front frame before it goes out for powder coating.
http://imageshack.us/a/img717/824/img01553201210251747.jpg

[Todd in vancouver]

Today I hit a bit of a milestone in my build. The firewall is nearing completion and the TCI front end did it's final test fit before it goes out for powder coating. I wanted to get the firewall near completion and do one more test fit to make sure nothing has shifted during all the welding that I did on the firewall. To my surprise nothing has moved and the TCI frame fit and was in place in just moments once I got the procedure right in putting the bolts through the frame into the car.
After my last sanding I am overall pretty happy with how flat it looks.

http://imageshack.us/a/img28/9776/img01535201210161511.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img585/5061/img01536201210161511.jpg

Here the TCI front is going in
http://imageshack.us/a/img843/7784/img01550201210161620.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img580/5576/img01541201210161616.jpg



HINT : When installing the new TCI frame start with the rear bolts under the seats and move forward
http://imageshack.us/a/img200/7545/img01542201210161617.jpg



This is the best stuff I've ever come accross and all the in body nuts got a good dose of Gibbs before I put the frame in. I used this stuff when I took the everything apart and didn't break a single bolt. Amazing stuff.
http://imageshack.us/a/img40/6290/img01540201210161545.jpg


The final holes will get drilled and secured when the frame goes in for the last time as I still have a bit of finishing work to do. I am amazed how well put together this TCI front frame is. Someday I will weld this well.
http://imageshack.us/a/img32/7646/img01544201210161618.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img560/6651/img01539201210161544.jpg



Little more sanding to do when I take the frame out and send it off then I'll shoot some primer on it.

Made some progress on the firewall and decided to shoot some primer on it. For my first time doing a firewall and doing it in my garage with a cheap-ass 120 volt MIG, over all I think it looks OK. I'm not toally happy with the crispness of the line where the firewall meets the cowl and makes the 90 degree corner. I have applied a thin layer of bondo and sanded the top and side at a 45 degree angle with a long block numerous times trying to make a clean, crisp line accross the top and although it is close when I paint it I'm afraid it will look crappy.
http://imageshack.us/a/img69/9818/img01555201210251748.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img703/2831/img01562201210261001.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img46/7703/img01561201210261001.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img405/2930/img01556201210251940.jpg

[Todd in vancouver]

I've decided to take a break from the firewall and then go at it again later on to finish it off. Here is the body stuff that I used on the car so far.
http://imageshack.us/a/img19/3120/img01563201210271258.jpg


And here is the primer that I used;
http://imageshack.us/a/img51/8783/img01564201210271259.jpg


My only other thought is to use a filler primer when I get close to painting it but that will not be until Spring, I also watched some YouTube videos of guys shooting some black guide coat and blocksanding to find the low spots. I am now getting the car on the rotisserie and will start working on the bottom;
http://imageshack.us/a/img703/975/img01566201210271557.jpg


Last week I sent my TCI frame to the powder coat shop and should have it back in a couple weeks. After that my 350 goes to Richmond Engine in Langley to get broken-in and Dyno tested and then I can start the assembly on the drivetrain. Updates will now start coming much more slowly as it really isn't very interesting to see me cleaning and scraping the bottom of the car. In the Spring I'll order the TCI rear suspension and hopefully get the car back into rolling status.

Bit of an update. The TCI frame is back from powder coating and Kevin at Mayfair Signs and Powder Coating here in Chilliwack did an awesome job at a really reasonable price. I will be getting together some more parts to take over to him for powder coating.
http://imageshack.us/a/img824/7140/img00013201211181640.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img805/7870/img00012201211161630.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img809/6721/img00011201211161630.jpg


I did a bit of welding and made some rear mounts for the rotisserie that bolt to the original rear spring mounts and to the original arms of the rotisserie. Hint; ALWAYS check fit before you do your final weld, I spent over an hour undoing some welds from some bad measuring.
http://imageshack.us/a/img62/9018/img00007201211121519.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img706/4295/img00006201211121519.jpg



The Camaro is now hung on the rotisserie and I've started removing the final few parts of the interior and will remove all the glass. The final cleanup on the body is getting near and then the mini-tubs and new quarter panels. I'll also start assembling the front suspension on the TCI frame and the plan will be to assemble the complete front and mount the engine and trans after the SBC gets back from the machine shop for it's break-in and dyno test. It may be coming slow but atleast I'm making progress.
http://imageshack.us/a/img707/8017/img00014201211181640.jpg

[CHAZMO1986]

Awesome work man!!!! I'm subscribed :^)

[Rybar]

Lookin good Todd from another local here.

- Ryan

[Firebirdsteve]

Todd,

I think Ryan has a cruise for you when your finished!:D


Ryan...I'm registered!!!:thumbsup:

[Rickerbucks]

Watching along with you Todd. You have my admiration.

Shaun

[DaleTx]

Lookin good Todd... nice job :thumbsup:

[Todd in vancouver]

Thanks guys, it really is encouraging with feedback from so many people who have such nice cars. Like I said I'm still getting caught up transfering the information to here on Lateral-G but I have to say what a great group all of you are. :lateral: This next section is from mid December 2012

It's been slow going and I'm doing the really uninteresting stuff like gutting the doors, removing all the glass and stripping off the last of the original rear suspension. I've also not been feeling well the last few weeks along with some really hectic travel and working hours. So nothing really worth posting about and other than having the car mounted on the rotisserie it doesn't look to much different.

But, there is some cool news as I posted a picture on the Camaro Performers facebook page about installing my TCI frame and it is in this months edition of Camaro Performers firing back page. (note; Penny is the Facebook name that my wife and I share for our facebook account. Penny is actually our rescued Pit Bulls name)

http://imageshack.us/a/img12/3228/39185638357826505782410.jpg

Today thanks to the advice of a few of the very helpful other Pro-tour members I picked up a pair of rear quarter panels from a local guy. These are original GM panels that he has had sitting for 20 years. Sadly I had to shift the money from my budget for my TCI rear suspension savings but I just don't think these kind of items come along everyday.
http://imageshack.us/a/img32/5804/20130104143005.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img845/5140/20130104142956.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img14/5301/20130104142913.jpg


Nice sunny day here in Vancouver for January so got some stuff done on the car. Worked on finishing the pre-assembly of my TCI front end and do the guys at TCI ever build a nice set up. Everything has gone together without any hassles.
http://imageshack.us/a/img836/9324/image13wr.jpg

I really like the brake set up that they sold me with my front end kit
http://imageshack.us/a/img42/5168/image143w.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img9/944/image13wh.jpg

didn't install the tie rods as I still need to lube everything before final assembly
http://imageshack.us/a/img715/7947/image9ri.jpg

Thats it for today, and tomorrow I'll start getting the car car ready to flip on the rotisserie so I can clean the bottom side and get ready to order more goodies for the build. Also, started a new "Todo" list and what I need to take to the powder coaters that I forgot to take last time.

http://imageshack.us/a/img708/6572/image15h.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img856/9555/image11bl.jpg






Now I just have to get this baby back on its wheels so I can start cutting off the old skin and installing the new.

[Todd in vancouver]

Here we go with a small update. The Camaro is on the rotisserie and I'm finishing stripping the last of the interior out and getting it ready to spin so I can start working on the bottom. I thought I was at this stage a while ago but there seems to be an endless supply of little stuff to keep going.

So I started with pulling the rear glass out and all is solid around the rear with no hidden surprises;
http://imageshack.us/a/img202/6306/image215w.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img9/8180/24695071.jpg

Then I pulled out the windshield and somewhere along the life of this car someone thought it would be a good idea to metallic tape over the rust and then bondo and paint it black.
http://imageshack.us/a/img441/7625/image25y.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img59/8374/image27z.jpg




How is this for a chunk of bondo?
http://imageshack.us/a/img195/29/image211j.jpg



And they did it all the way across the lower part of the windshield
http://imageshack.us/a/img189/7158/image219q.jpg



Dropped my SBC off at the Dyno earlier this week so I hope to have those numbers this week.
That's it for now and I'll be back at it tomorrow and hoping to get her flipped on its side and start scraping off under coat. Yay

Jim at Richmond Engines just called me and my 350 SBC is running and they've done some light pulls. I'll be stopping in there tomorrow morning to do some full pulls and see what this little fella will do.
I also had concerns as I didn't want to be another one of "those" guys who over cam and over carb my car and wonder why it doesn't perform like it should. I did lots of homework before I purchased this camshaft and here are the specs on it. And, yes I will post the dyno sheet as soon as I get it in my hands from the shop. I'm hoping I'll be able to post some video as well once I figure it out tomorrow night.

Solid roller, rough idle. Good cam for high performance street or mild strip applications. Needs 2500-2800 RPM stall speed converter, 9.5:1 or better compression, aftermarket exhaust system and 3.73 rear gear ratio.
•Advertised Duration (Int/Exh): 267/273
•Duration @ .050 (Int/Exh): 237/243
•Gross Valve Lift (Int/Exh): .566/.578
•LSA/ICL: 110/106
•Valve Lash (Int/Exh): 016/016
•RPM Range: 2500-6800
•Includes: Cam Only


Part Number: 40120731
Previoius Part Number: 60131

http://imageshack.us/a/img515/1271/imagejgw.jpg

[Todd in vancouver]

[OK so I went to Richmond engine today and Jim ran me through the process and we did some engine pulls to see what my little 350 could do. In all fairness I was not expecting to much and my guess was that I would be in the 425hp range as there is really nothing at all special about this SBC other than I spent to much money on it and I could have bought an LS for what I have into it. All that being said I did use really good parts and the little beast should last without having any reliability issues.

Drum role on what it did...

473 HP & 433 F-lb Trq

http://imageshack.us/a/img248/9572/350camaroenginedyno001.jpg

Here is a video (if I can get it to work) of the dyno run.

http://youtu.be/1paieB0khEE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1paieB0khEE&feature=youtu.be

So overall I`m a happy boy with this little engine but I would never recommend someone do this as I said in another post you could have more LS power for what i spent but it easy to work on and a guy could, in a pinch, McGyver this thing to run if you got stuck. I will look at changing this over to a 427 LS down the road if nothing else just to change the emblems on the car from 350 to 427. there is a few more HP to be had with additional jetting and fine tuning but we had to call it quits at some point and this was more than what I was expecting so this was the best pull we had. I will get some more pictures posted when I have the engine and trans assembled in the TCI frame on my garage floor in the next couple weeks.

For now, back to scraping off undercoating

[Todd in vancouver]

FINALLY! the car is flipped on the rotisserie and I've started working on the bottom of the car. It's another step in the progress of the car because now that I'm working on the bottom I will be starting to get the car ready for the rear suspension and mini tub install which means I'm actually starting on the assembly of the car. Everything up to this point has been about taking the car apart, planning and prepping.


From this point forward my work will be about fitting and assembling the car. It's really great to have reached this point and it feels like getting a jolt of motivation. Here are a couple pictures of the car flipped on its side;
http://imageshack.us/a/img703/2518/cr1l.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img28/2259/cr2nj.jpg

Wow I had no idea how much work it was going to be to clean the undercoat off the bottom of my '67. I'm using these to chip off the undercoat and a heat gun when needed to get the hard spots clean. It's actually chipping off easy but it as a big chunk of area to cover with these.
http://imageshack.us/a/img441/2586/imagezqtm.jpg


I've also found some damage under the undercoat in my floor as it looks like the car may have at one time drove over something and damaged the bottom.
http://imageshack.us/a/img834/2589/image19xa.jpg


Overall the floor is not bad but the driver side is not looking great. I'll have to decide if Im going to put some time into fixing them or just cut them out and replace the drivers side.
http://imageshack.us/a/img402/6079/image15yk.jpg


Here are some new parts for the mini-tub that I picked up from a local supplier who has a good amount of goodies in stock and giving me some decent pricing.
http://imageshack.us/a/img59/7971/image3qx.jpg


Hoping tomorrow to get the car flipped around and I'll be starting the other half of the bottom. Living the dream my friends, living the dream
http://imageshack.us/a/img833/8731/cr1hf.jpg

AND THAT'S IT! All of you are now up to date on where I am as of today. I hope you all have enjoyed my 6 months worth of work in two days of down loading. Now things will go at my natural pace which will be painfully slow compared to what I've been posting. Thanks all for looking and please feel free to post any comments or ideas as I gladly accept all the help I can get. That includes scraping undercoat so feel free to come on over and grab a chisel. :thankyou:

[Blake Foster]

Well you made a good choice with the engine builder!! i have used Jim for a few years ( he built the motor in ResurreXion and i have yet to have a problem with anything that has come out of his shop.

not the cheapest buy any means, but probably the best in Vanocuver

[Chicken Louie]

Great progress pics, I like the name of your project, it sums up our hobby quite well!

[coolwelder62]

Welcome aboard!!!!!You have a great project going here and are you are doing really nice work.:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[jlwdvm]

I'm installing Chassis Works mini tubs in my 69 firebird right now. I don't know why they don't send better directions with their tubs, they just direct you to a site where they are installing DSE tubs. I'm just about to weld in the drivers tub, and it looks like the front of the tub where it meets the floor pan will need some metal fab work.

[Todd in vancouver]

Well you made a good choice with the engine builder!! i have used Jim for a few years ( he built the motor in ResurreXion and i have yet to have a problem with anything that has come out of his shop.

not the cheapest buy any means, but probably the best in Vanocuver

Hi Blake, and yes Jim is an awesome guy and I would recommend him to anyone. He may just be the guy to help me go to an LS in my Camaro when I decide I need more power. First, I have to upgrade my driving skills.

Blake, did you ever end up selling that '67 Camaro shell in my neck of the woods?

Great progress pics, I like the name of your project, it sums up our hobby quite well!

Thanks, and I should have called it Project Obsession and loads of $$$ :G-Dub:

Welcome aboard!!!!!You have a great project going here and are you are doing really nice work.:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Thanks and that means a lot coming from someone like yourself as I really admire the work you've done

I'm installing Chassis Works mini tubs in my 69 firebird right now. I don't know why they don't send better directions with their tubs, they just direct you to a site where they are installing DSE tubs. I'm just about to weld in the drivers tub, and it looks like the front of the tub where it meets the floor pan will need some metal fab work.

I'm not far behind you but if you look on YouTube there are some really good videos. Also, I'm going to send you some paperwork a friend sent me that lays it out really nice. Make sure you let me know if you don't see it.

Really appreciate all the comments guys and I will keep posting pics as they come up. I'm just getting the car ready to get sandblasted but to date I haven't found anyone local that I'm confident handing my car over too. I will try and get some video of the sandblasting and post it here for all to see.