'69 Camaro in So Cal

[Scubachef]

Hello, I thought I would introduce myself. My name is Mike, I'm a professional Chef and live in Orange County,CA. I have owned my camaro for about 10 years now. It was always my dream car growing up. It has unfortunately been sitting for about 4 years while marriage moving twice and a daughter pushed the car to the bottom of the priority list...but it's back up the list now.

Before it got parked I built a 355 using a setup Super Chevy mag came up with called Danger Mouse as a model. It is balanced and blueprinted, and was the first motor I built completely from the ground up! I have just put the car in poly primer to get going on finishing bodywork. I have replaced some metal in the quarters and replaced the hood and passenger fender.

I'm hopeful that I will be in paint within the next month or two and then will begin attacking suspension and handling issues.

Th forum has been a great learning experience, I hope to be a productive member!

[Spiffav8]

Welcome to Lateral-G!

[GregWeld]

Post up some pics Scuba! And WELCOME!


By the way --- I ASSume you cook AND dive??


There's several members here that are in the same area you're in.

[intocarss]

Welcome and what do you cook? I'm hungry!! Pics of car please :rules:

[tubbed69]

:welcome3: we do like pics,good luck with car

[Scubachef]

Post up some pics Scuba! And WELCOME!


By the way --- I ASSume you cook AND dive??


There's several members here that are in the same area you're in.

I do dive as much as possible. Definitely a big part of my life! And for all those hungry people out there, I'm always willing to trade my knowledge or services for the knowledge or services of others :D

Here are some pics of the current state of the car

http://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j339/chefsamurai/018_zpsade28255.jpg (http://s1080.photobucket.com/user/chefsamurai/media/018_zpsade28255.jpg.html)

http://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j339/chefsamurai/017_zps9a59cecb.jpg (http://s1080.photobucket.com/user/chefsamurai/media/017_zps9a59cecb.jpg.html)

http://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j339/chefsamurai/015_zps12c034f2.jpg (http://s1080.photobucket.com/user/chefsamurai/media/015_zps12c034f2.jpg.html)

And then the saddest picture

http://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j339/chefsamurai/006_zps0c209708.jpg (http://s1080.photobucket.com/user/chefsamurai/media/006_zps0c209708.jpg.html)

The first two years of the car sitting was outside until I got a garage... so the engine definitely got weathered. :bang: The plan is to pull it out and clean everything up, new valve covers, etc. and while it is out I will rip out the heater box and associated stuff to prepare for a vintage air somewhere down the line.

The budget for this car will be anemic, so I will be quite a small fish in this pond. I promised my wife I would not spend any of our money from our accounts so the car will be funded with whatever I can get from selling parts, selling other projects, doing side jobs, etc. So it will be slow going and me building whatever I can versus buying.....but that will be pretty rewarding when it gets going!

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone!

[Ron in SoCal]

Hey Mike...welcome! Lots of guys here and in SoCal willing to offer advice.

:cheers:

[GregWeld]

Start diving for pearls!!!


Or Abalone!!


LOL


I'm an Advanced with specialties.... big whoop! But I love to dive (as long as we're in warm water climates). Have done many cave dives - deep dives - sunken ships - scooters etc. It's the next best thing to driving on the track.


Cars are a HOBBY -- and should be treated as such. You do what you can, when you can, and make the entire process enjoyable. The hunting and the gathering is just as much a part of it as is the finish work - like cooking - selecting the ingredients -- then prep -- and then plating.... it's all good! A great burger can bring as much joy as a great steak. Don't worry about budgets - everybody has one and nobody gives a shizzle around here.

[DFRESH]

Welcome to the site bro----you've come to the right place for sure.

Where are you located in So Cal?

Doug

[Scubachef]

GregWeld- Let me know if you want to ever dive my area. Lots of reef system only the dive community realizes is just off shore of Orange County. I regularly head to a cave where a large swell sharks lives and check in with her...becoming one with nature and all that!

D-Fresh- I'm in Ladera Ranch. Thanks for the welcome!

[GregWeld]

I remember years ago (was cert in 1989) asking my dive master why he carried two knives -- a simple response -- "in case I drop one". Okay. Then "why do you need a knife"... "Well, in case I see a shark". UH OKAY. Then what do you do? "I poke you" he says. Now I carry two knives.


I was going into a cave dive in Maui -- and it's dark -- about 35' -- small hand held flashlights... and low overhead so we're just skimming bottom and trying not to kick up silt.... and I'm being "bumped".... it's the reef sharks departing as the three of us are coming in. Pretty cool little spot -- you pop up into a pocket of air in the lava formation -- and pop your mask off and talk like Donald Duck.

[Greg from Aus]

I remember years ago (was cert in 1989) asking my dive master why he carried two knives -- a simple response -- "in case I drop one". Okay. Then "why do you need a knife"... "Well, in case I see a shark". UH OKAY. Then what do you do? "I poke you" he says. Now I carry two knives.


I was going into a cave dive in Maui -- and it's dark -- about 35' -- small hand held flashlights... and low overhead so we're just skimming bottom and trying not to kick up silt.... and I'm being "bumped".... it's the reef sharks departing as the three of us are coming in. Pretty cool little spot -- you pop up into a pocket of air in the lava formation -- and pop your mask off and talk like Donald Duck.

Ah the budy system, stab your budy and swim for it, gota love it :bitchslap:

[DFRESH]

Ok, I am your neighbor here in Lake Forest, so not that far away from you.

I have some parts that you may be interested in for your 69 that have come off of mine---rear 4 bar suspension with Coil overs----if you are a bit of a "do it yourself" kinda car guy. They will be cheap to buy.

Glad you will be able to start your build process---even if it is slow to get going---at least you are working on it---and that's truly half of the fun for me.

D

[Scubachef]

Thanks for the offer. I am definately a DIY kind of guy. I will send you a PM.

[LS7 Z/28]

Looks like a great project, good luck!