56 Cameo Science Project

[dhutton]

I don’t normally post my stuff on this forum but thought it might give some ideas to like minded backyard hacks working on a tight retiree budget.

I bought this Cameo on eBay back in 2018. It was rough but had all the rare cameo parts.

Don

[jarhead]

Looking forward to this Don, I have had a "thing" for these since I was a kid.

[dhutton]

Once I had it home I started digging around to decide how I wanted to build it. My 69 Camaro has an Art Morrison IRS and I am a big fan of IRS.

I started looking at AJ’s Camaro and thinking if I could do something similar. I also came across Todd’s 59 Apache build but that chassis option was beyond my budget.

Then I came across the adaptors made by Dobbertin Performance. Some quick measurements showed that I could fit full width C5/6 cradles between the stock Cameo frame rails with some slight tweaks. I ordered them and started looking for a donor. I found a C5 roller on Craigslist and closed the deal for $1500. Only thing missing was the engine, all the rest was there.

[dhutton]

The Cameo was tore down and with a quick mock-up I determined the torque tube needed to be stretched by roughly 12 inches. I moved the front wheels forward a skooch to better center them in the fender.

I sent the torque tube off to Gamel Street Rods and they turned it around quickly for a reasonable price.

I also picked up a “low mile” LS6 on eBay to complete the drivetrain.

Progressive Automotive sells a frame brace and frame boxing kit and I installed them on the frame along with their brake pedal and master setup.

The adaptors are quite wide and there really isn’t a lot of room left to integrate them into the frame so the fabrication isn’t as elegant as I would like but it’s heavily braced and fishplated.

Final frame with drivetrain installed. The only non OEM Corvette parts are the Ridetech shocks. Springs, sway bars, rack etc are all C5. The C5 motor mounts and batwing oil pan are also used. I also found a used C5 Corsa exhaust system that I will use with extended tail pipes. Looking forward to that Corsa sound.

[dhutton]

With that done I turned to the body which needed rust repair in the lower cowls, floor and kick panels. The cab corners were actually solid. The fenders needed dog legs and eyebrows.

I blasted all the undersides etc and everything received two good coats of my favorite SPI epoxy. Underside surfaces were also sprayed with SEM bedliner.

[dhutton]

This project was done over the past four years with roughly two months per year so things were sometimes done to facilitate moth balling.

With all the parts in poly primer I assembled it for storage. I was targeting a 5” rocker height, same as a Corvette. I think it’s close.

[dhutton]

This February I dragged it out of storage and dove into the body work. I have to admit the amount of effort that went into getting decent gaps and reasonably straight panels was far more than I anticipated. The fiberglass bedsides took an enormous amount of work to get straight.

You can see the small minitubs I added to allow a 285 tire on a stock C6 wheel. The bed is also raised four inches to accommodate the suspension.

[dhutton]

With everything in final primer it was time to shoot some color. I went with a black bed and red body using the stock Cameo paint divisions. SPI paint, my favorite, of course.

The bed wood is cheap yellow pine and was sealed with epoxy and then I applied six coats of SPI black single stage which was then cut and buffed. I told my wife I was shooting for a piano finish. Close, but no cigar….

The bed sides were painted with SPI red which is a version of Viper Red.

The bed was then assembled. Cameo pickups use retractor cables and tailgate latches instead of the usual chains and hooks.

[dhutton]

With the bed done I turned to the cab and front end. More SPI red and a little black around the rear glass and door glass.

[dhutton]

After a cut and buff it was time for assembly. I also picked up some nice used stock C6 wheels and fitted them with some Falken Azenis tires. I am limited to high offset Corvette wheels but I am happy to give up a little wheel lip for this package.

[dhutton]

Just before putting it back in storage I had the smoked glass installed. Glass installation is one of the few things I farm out and he no showed three times before he finally got it done.

I hope to complete it this fall including wiring and interior etc. Looking forward to cruising with my wife….

[F'in mine]

Very nice job Don! Working on these old vehicles is in your DNA.
Good score on the Vette donor car.
The contrast of the slick two-tone really pops. What are your plans for the interior?

[dhutton]

Very nice job Don! Working on these old vehicles is in your DNA.
Good score on the Vette donor car.
The contrast of the slick two-tone really pops. What are your plans for the interior?

Thanks Simon. I’ve got TMI door panels, headliner and seat. Lokar floor shifter and Dakota Digital gauges. Vaporworx fuel pump controller. Vintage Air, New Relics power windows, E-Stopp etc. The harness and ECM are from Speartech.

Don

[Roscoe03]

Amazing work! I never knew the cameo bedsides were fiberglass. I had always assumed they were steel. Hat's off to you for tackling this on your own.

[214Chevy]

Don...Wow!! I'm a fan. This thing is beautiful. Excellent work.

[dhutton]

Don...Wow!! I'm a fan. This thing is beautiful. Excellent work.

Your favorite color Marcus… :lol:

Don

[Ricochet]

Absolutely beautiful build and amazing workmanship! Thanks for sharing! Look forward to seeing more.....

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

[camcojb]

absolutely beautiful build and amazing workmanship! Thanks for sharing! Look forward to seeing more.....

Sent from my sm-g960u using tapatalk

x 1000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Musclerodz]

I have built one Cameo and several 55-59 trucks. The fitment of the sheetmetal on those trucks is bad enough to start with before adding a cameo bed to the mix. Plus adding all the nomad parts and trim for the cameo bed and these trucks can gobble time like a station wagon can.

[130fe]

Great looking swap Don! I want to do something similar with a 68 chevy i am looking at.

[Chevelle]

Super cool!

[WSSix]

Wow! Very nice work, Don. Enjoy the cruising.

[qnitro]

Be careful with my Cameo Don... Man she is AWESOME!!

[jarhead]

Don, How's the pick up coming along?

Joe

[dhutton]

Don, How's the pick up coming along?

Joe

Hi Joe. It’s been mothballed while I do some rust repair etc on a 67 Camaro. Should be back on it next month. In the meantime I picked this up for a little extra credit on my science project. 59 double deluxe Apache fleetside big back window with a 283 and Hydramatic transmission. Running driving truck. No idea what I’m going to do with it. Just wanted one for a long time. This is the truck that replaced the Cameo in 59.

I would like to put it on a Roadster Shop Ride Line chassis and compare the ride etc to my Cameo. Now that would be a science project… ;)

Don

[214Chevy]

Sweet find Don!! I love it. Can't wait to see you doctor on this one too. :king:

[Roscoe03]

Very nice! What's up with the gold and black 60's era chevy/gmc pickups in the first picture?

[dhutton]

Very nice! What's up with the gold and black 60's era chevy/gmc pickups in the first picture?

That’s where I bought the truck. The guy had a half dozen 60-66 pickups. They are what he preferred.

Don

[jarhead]

Nice find Don , this will be a looker too!

[dhutton]

Little bit of progress. Got the tailpipes on the C5 Corsa exhaust modified. Took me quite a while to get the tips reasonably lined up. Looking forward to that Corsa exhaust note.

Don

[camcojb]

Looks awesome!

[BBPanel]

Don, your PM box is full. -Bob

[dhutton]

Don, your PM box is full. -Bob

Fixed it.

[Cramer4918]

That is a beautiful ride! You have mad skills sir! The body and paint are smooooooth! I'm looking forward to further updates. :thumbsup:

[dhutton]

That is a beautiful ride! You have mad skills sir! The body and paint are smooooooth! I'm looking forward to further updates. :thumbsup:

Thanks. Pics make it look better than it is in person.

Don

[214Chevy]

Love the Corvette style exhaust tips Don...

[dhutton]

Love the Corvette style exhaust tips Don...

Those are the original Corsa tips. :) I was able to remove them, rotate and stretch the tail pipes and reattach them. So the tips say Corsa across the top. They polished up pretty nice.

Don

[214Chevy]

Those are the original Corsa tips. :) I was able to remove them, rotate and stretch the tail pipes and reattach them. So the tips say Corsa across the top. They polished up pretty nice.

Don

Top notch craftsmanship...

[dhutton]

Door glass and power windows installed. Installed the Lokar shifter and MacGuyvered the shifter cable linkage to work with the rear mounted transmission. On to the most dreaded phase, wiring. Who would have guessed an electronics engineer would despise wiring? :D

Hope to have it wrapped up soon. Interior next and then ready to start.

Don

[WSSix]

lol, I'm a mech engineer and I love wiring. It's relaxing for me. You just go methodically through the process. No biggie.

[dhutton]

lol, I'm a mech engineer and I love wiring. It's relaxing for me. You just go methodically through the process. No biggie.

I mostly just hate the dash wiring. It’s like trying to stuff 10 pounds of chit in a 5 pound sack with all the stuff we add to these cars. Then add in the mess of vintage air ducts and it’s a real fight trying to keep it looking decent and serviceable.

Don

[WSSix]

Yeah, I can understand that. I try to keep my stuff simple and clean for this reason. I'm not much of a tech person either so I don't want all the fancy add on electronics which helps.

[dhutton]

50 miles on the Cameo. Ride quality and handling is excellent with all the C5 underpinnings. Performance is a little lackluster with the base 2.73 gears but it’s a good cruiser. 1500 rpm at 60 mph.

I had to swap out the springs for Z06 springs to raise the ride height a little. Ride quality is a little firmer but still good.

Don

[camcojb]

Beautiful truck!

[WSSix]

Congrats! Glad you're enjoying the drive. Get that rear changed out for a factory manual rear which is 3.42. It won't be lack luster then. It will still cruise great on the highway, too.

[dhutton]

Congrats! Glad you're enjoying the drive. Get that rear changed out for a factory manual rear which is 3.42. It won't be lack luster then. It will still cruise great on the highway, too.

I thought about that but rear end swaps are not trivial with the Corvette platform. Have to drop the complete suspension and cradle, the exhaust, and then the transmission/differential has to come out. Takes a bit of time. DAMHIK…. :)

Maybe next year…

Don

[214Chevy]

That truck is gorgeous Don. I love it!!

[Jimbo1367]

I agree. Gorgeous

[WSSix]

Do you have room for the drive line to tilt before hitting the firewall with the engine? On a lift, I was doing rear end swaps on C5s in 4 hours. Transmission stays in the car the whole time. You pop the upper ball joints leaving the upper control arms in place so you don't have to deal with realigning anything to drop the rear cradle. It's quite easy actually. No lift is no good though. Those cars are not meant to be worked on while on the ground.

[dhutton]

Do you have room for the drive line to tilt before hitting the firewall with the engine? On a lift, I was doing rear end swaps on C5s in 4 hours. Transmission stays in the car the whole time. You pop the upper ball joints leaving the upper control arms in place so you don't have to deal with realigning anything to drop the rear cradle. It's quite easy actually. No lift is no good though. Those cars are not meant to be worked on while on the ground.

Hi Trey. I have a lift but the gas tank would prevent the rear end from sliding back far enough to clear the transmission output shaft. Can’t angle it down much due to firewall.

Thanks,
Don

[WSSix]

Ah, ok. I had forgotten about the fuel tank. Yeah, not a fun time for you, then.

[dhutton]

Bit of an update in case anyone decides to use the Dobbertin adapters. I finally had to give up on the stock Z06 springs and went with JRI coilovers. It made a significant improvement.

I also decided the cam was not a good fit with the stock tune so I borrowed HPTuners and sent a log file to Pat G to generate a custom tune. He nailed it. So much better now.

BwTra9bYbqU

Don

[srode1]

Awesome! And where did you find that cool Gulf gas station?

[214Chevy]

Don....that is one beautiful truck. I love it!!

[dhutton]

Awesome! And where did you find that cool Gulf gas station?

Beautiful downtown Gainesville Texas. :) There is a couple of classic cars parked inside.

Don