Well, some may have seen my 70 Formula project that ended up being sold, and since people wanted to see the new build, I figured I would make a new thread for the Camaro as well.
My 1978 Z28 Camaro (I Know Not A Firebird)
- Thread starter 70formula
- Start date
Day 1 - picking up the 1978 Z28 Shell with my brother.
At this point, I still thought I was cutting the roof off to fix my rusty 70.
She was a Cali car that was stored indoors.
One tiny pin whole of rust in the floorboard from a screwdriver, but everything else is fully rust-free and solid.
At this point, I still thought I was cutting the roof off to fix my rusty 70.
She was a Cali car that was stored indoors.
One tiny pin whole of rust in the floorboard from a screwdriver, but everything else is fully rust-free and solid.
The back seat area has some sealant or something that collects red clay dirt.
It looks rusty, but you can tell it's just dirt in person, and the floorboard is solid.
It looks rusty, but you can tell it's just dirt in person, and the floorboard is solid.
That looks amazing!
No corrosion, can't see any dents, let alone accident damage.
You could prep & paint that shell in a week!
I can't wait to see how this pans out & a factory 4fourspeed from what I can see.
No corrosion, can't see any dents, let alone accident damage.
You could prep & paint that shell in a week!
I can't wait to see how this pans out & a factory 4fourspeed from what I can see.
took a road trip out to washington and scored what i would think to be a good deal...280 bucks total..all off a 1978 z28 like mine so will bolt together really nice. no need to worry with oem parts.
got a solid gas tank
Subframe - sandblasted and recoated already.
Everything off the subframe minus the steering box - needs to be sandblasted but all solid and off a running driving car.
Very solid, no rips or tears that i could find, rear bumper.
Clean driver quality tail lights.
Seems like a good deal to me!
got a solid gas tank
Subframe - sandblasted and recoated already.
Everything off the subframe minus the steering box - needs to be sandblasted but all solid and off a running driving car.
Very solid, no rips or tears that i could find, rear bumper.
Clean driver quality tail lights.
Seems like a good deal to me!
yep she was a factory 4 speed. will be putting in a 4 or 6 speed. Depending on what my brother and I can find motor wize. She is easily the most solid body I could hope to find...very happy to be building this car up as I think shes going to be a much more solid, daily driver capable car much much faster and more solidly.That looks amazing!
No corrosion, can't see any dents, let alone accident damage.
You could prep & paint that shell in a week!
I can't wait to see how this pans out & a factory 4fourspeed from what I can see.
Knightrider189
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You got a good deal of $280 for all that!
Nice job.
1989 Pontiac Formula Firebird, 5.7, all OEM
Nice job.
1989 Pontiac Formula Firebird, 5.7, all OEM
found the build sheet....pretty nice set of options and if I was ordering it new....probably what I would have picked as well. funny how the universe works.
A01 Soft Ray Tinted Glass, all windows
A51 - Bucket Seat (standard equipment)
BS1 - Body Insulation
BW1 - Delete Deck Lid Emblem
BYI
***
B37
B85 - Molding - Belt Reveal
D88 - Z28 Stripes
B89 - Ornamentation - Reveal Molding (Z28)
B93 Molding - Door Edge
CC1 - Roof Panels, removable glass
D80 - Spoiler, rear
F41 - Suspension, Special Performance Front & Rear
G92 - Rear Axle, performance ratio (1978 - 1981)
J50 – power brakes
LM1- 350 V8
M21 – 4 speed trans
N33 tilt steering wheel
N65 space saver tire
P06 - Wheel Trim Ring (std. on Z28)
Qrz
T93 - Special tail lamp (Z28 only, has black stripe through center of lense)
UM1 - Radio, AM with stereo tape
UN9 - Radio, Suppression Equipment
U14 - Special Instrumentation
U27 - Lamp, I/P Compartment
U35 - Clock, electric
U75 - Antenna, power
Vm3- front Lic
V01 - Radiator, heavy-duty
yr2- deluxe front seats
Ys2 deluxe rear seats
Y10 - Custom Trim
Y11- cusc br
Z28 - Special Performance Package
A01 Soft Ray Tinted Glass, all windows
A51 - Bucket Seat (standard equipment)
BS1 - Body Insulation
BW1 - Delete Deck Lid Emblem
BYI
***
B37
B85 - Molding - Belt Reveal
D88 - Z28 Stripes
B89 - Ornamentation - Reveal Molding (Z28)
B93 Molding - Door Edge
CC1 - Roof Panels, removable glass
D80 - Spoiler, rear
F41 - Suspension, Special Performance Front & Rear
G92 - Rear Axle, performance ratio (1978 - 1981)
J50 – power brakes
LM1- 350 V8
M21 – 4 speed trans
N33 tilt steering wheel
N65 space saver tire
P06 - Wheel Trim Ring (std. on Z28)
Qrz
T93 - Special tail lamp (Z28 only, has black stripe through center of lense)
UM1 - Radio, AM with stereo tape
UN9 - Radio, Suppression Equipment
U14 - Special Instrumentation
U27 - Lamp, I/P Compartment
U35 - Clock, electric
U75 - Antenna, power
Vm3- front Lic
V01 - Radiator, heavy-duty
yr2- deluxe front seats
Ys2 deluxe rear seats
Y10 - Custom Trim
Y11- cusc br
Z28 - Special Performance Package
Step 1 of getting the car off blocks and back to a roller - suspension components all sand blasted. Next ill be removing the bushings and ball joints, then will get them powder coated. I cant decide on color...
Im torn between keeping the black paint or painting the car seductive cherry. Which means...powder coating wise I am kind of thinking having them do red coating...church it up a bit over plain black...but not sure yet will have to weigh pros cons... seems the black would hide grease and road **** more, while red at car shows clearly screams that it's all be redone and would be sexier while clean.
Im torn between keeping the black paint or painting the car seductive cherry. Which means...powder coating wise I am kind of thinking having them do red coating...church it up a bit over plain black...but not sure yet will have to weigh pros cons... seems the black would hide grease and road **** more, while red at car shows clearly screams that it's all be redone and would be sexier while clean.
Have you heard of Herb Adam’s? He was a GM engineering wizard who developed the 70-81 F body suspension packages.
As well as competing himself he wrote loads of books & tech articles on chassis engineering & development, worth checking out some of his wisdom on the interweb before you invest any dollars in to parts
As well as competing himself he wrote loads of books & tech articles on chassis engineering & development, worth checking out some of his wisdom on the interweb before you invest any dollars in to parts
I know, boring update...but an update, nevertheless. not having a press sure makes removing old bushings from control arms a fun job. But a couple beers later and the suspension already to be recoated. The ball joints came out way easier then off my 70, but were also factory original, as they still had rivets not bolts.
It's the little projects that I gotta focus on for a big build....one bite of the elephant at a time.
Biggest Goal - Have the Camaro ready to drive to car shows next summer.
Big goal in that mission- Rolling chassis again.
Smaller progress towards that today - Suspension parts are all clean, wire wheeled into all the bushing and mounts that the sandblaster didn't reach, degreased, dried, now into primer.
Biggest Goal - Have the Camaro ready to drive to car shows next summer.
Big goal in that mission- Rolling chassis again.
Smaller progress towards that today - Suspension parts are all clean, wire wheeled into all the bushing and mounts that the sandblaster didn't reach, degreased, dried, now into primer.
Nothing quite like freshly painted parts. going to be able to get the subframe reassembled soon.
Looks very good.
You have a fantastic work ethic.
Keep it up!
Are you using poly bushings?
You have a fantastic work ethic.
Keep it up!
Are you using poly bushings?
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Well, I am thinking I might end up leaving the car as a "just" 78 as I got connected with the old owner of this car, and he has the doors, fenders, hood, nose with core support, dash, column, and several totes worth of stuff and for 350 bucks, I can get it all back. Happy days
Knightrider189
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Well...I have no clue what ratio it is atm, but I scored a posi read end today. Dropped it off at the sand blaster and will get it all cleaned up and go from there.
It was out of a 78 trans am ws6 with a 400 and and automatic...does have the posi tag on it...but I suspect being behind the auto the ratio is prob not ideal for a 6 speed. Will have to investigate. Got it for 100 bucks
It was out of a 78 trans am ws6 with a 400 and and automatic...does have the posi tag on it...but I suspect being behind the auto the ratio is prob not ideal for a 6 speed. Will have to investigate. Got it for 100 bucks
Well, another piece of the puzzle located...z28 rims with beauty rings. Tires aren't the size I'd pick, but I only paid 250 for the set and the tires are like new. I've officially got everything lined up parts wise to get this shell transformed into a rolling chassis again.
Well, I made the long drive up from Springfield Oregon to the Seattle subdivision of Bremerton Washington and literally filled a u haul trailer with parts and drove home. Deal of the damn century. 350 bucks was all i paid, wasn't convinced it was going to really pan out until I was loaded up. The whole way I was half expecting to be ghosted or to get there and him be like I meant 3500 or 1500 or something. But I really truly got hooked up
Steering Box and shaft.
Steering Column w/ key and wheel
Z28 Nose still attached to core support with all brackets, bolts, headlights, bezels, etc
Radiator w/ all bracketry and top plate
z28 fenders - 1 quarter size hole in one, but others very solid.
Inner Fenders.
z28 hood - very solid
Hood Hinges
4 speed pedal setup
Complete Doors w/ windows, door panels, arm rests, window cranks trim etc etc.
Dash - can't believe the shape its in for the age, no rips tears and still very clean
all the interior plastic, and chrome trim.
Tail lights
Clutch / pressure plate
2 totes filled to the brim with "stuff" bolts labeled in baggies
Decklid and spoiler
Radiator
Drive shaft
Steering Box and shaft.
Steering Column w/ key and wheel
Z28 Nose still attached to core support with all brackets, bolts, headlights, bezels, etc
Radiator w/ all bracketry and top plate
z28 fenders - 1 quarter size hole in one, but others very solid.
Inner Fenders.
z28 hood - very solid
Hood Hinges
4 speed pedal setup
Complete Doors w/ windows, door panels, arm rests, window cranks trim etc etc.
Dash - can't believe the shape its in for the age, no rips tears and still very clean
all the interior plastic, and chrome trim.
Tail lights
Clutch / pressure plate
2 totes filled to the brim with "stuff" bolts labeled in baggies
Decklid and spoiler
Radiator
Drive shaft
