Subframe got a fresh coat of paint to cover the chips and scratches from moving it around in the back of a truck. Once dry, it installed so nice and easy, used a socket in the dowel location to line it up.
My 1978 Z28 Camaro (I Know Not A Firebird)
- Thread starter 70formula
- Start date
Trunk got a good vacuuming out...The more I mess with this camaro...the more thrilled I am to be building something thats nearly rust free. Will be able to clean it and respray some undercoating and be good for decades more.
Installed both doors roughly. The drivers side lined up really nicely, the passenger side is close, but I need to do a few adjustments to get the gaps a bit tighter. Feeling very happy to see them on the car, and how nicely the windows rolled up and down. Door panels have seen better days, but for now, they are staying
I am never, ever rebuilding control arms again lol. The money saved not buying tubular control arms is quickly forgotten fighting the new bushings and ball joints. Not having a press and using a big ass breaker bar to manually get the components had my hernia repair pretty pissed, but...the bastard ball joints, and control arm bushings are in, so that battle is done. Lower control arms also got bolted in. Tomorrow, I hope to have all the springs and brake components install and have her sitting on front tires.
Always takes longer then I expect...but that's the way these cars go I suppose. Front suspension is finally back together. I have a had feeling if I end up putting an ls in this car I may need to redo this and put drop springs or cut a loop or so out of these springs... But I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.
Knightrider189
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2018
- Messages
- 163
- Reaction score
- 160
- Points
- 43
Another day of solid progress on the Camaro. Really feeling excited about how its looking, and how there seems to be an end in sight.
Today I disassembled the nose cone and radiator support and starting restoring the components. The radiator support was first up, and got a heavy wire wheeling. After that, I lathered on koreseal, let it dry, then did one heavy coat of satin black paint. Once it all dried, I installed the rad support onto the subframe.
Today I disassembled the nose cone and radiator support and starting restoring the components. The radiator support was first up, and got a heavy wire wheeling. After that, I lathered on koreseal, let it dry, then did one heavy coat of satin black paint. Once it all dried, I installed the rad support onto the subframe.
couldnt help myself...with the core support on it was begging me to set the fenders and hood on. Not bolted down or anything, just hanging there, but man alive, sure looks more like a car!
I know, boring details, and not exactly the most exciting part, but part of the process regardless. I personally feel though, these details are so important as they really standout when its all said and done. Anyway, progress is progress, so enjoy the boring photos or not lol.
More forward progress...
Brackets for the nose and hood latch reinstalled, fiberglass inner nose is reinstalled. Its crazy how different building this camaro feels compared to the firebird...the z28 I feel like has a nice end in sight...while the firebird just was feeling unending mountain range of work. It hasn't sold yet, even at a bargain price, so looks like its going to just go into storage.
Brackets for the nose and hood latch reinstalled, fiberglass inner nose is reinstalled. Its crazy how different building this camaro feels compared to the firebird...the z28 I feel like has a nice end in sight...while the firebird just was feeling unending mountain range of work. It hasn't sold yet, even at a bargain price, so looks like its going to just go into storage.
Knightrider189
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2018
- Messages
- 163
- Reaction score
- 160
- Points
- 43
Well, I got the rear end back from the sand blaster, and can now see the stamping codes...not finding these codes anywhere online, dont suppose anyone can help id?
Well, I couldnt find the codes I needed...So I went ahead and popped the cover off it. very happy to see firstly, all the fluid came out was old, but very clean with no chunks metal or flakes. The teeth looked clean, no chips or broken teeth, and after both counting to verify, and seeing the stamping 13-42 figured the rear end is a 3.23 Posi. I was worried that it was going to be some 2.2 or 2.4...but seeing 3.23 made me a happy camper. Also means if I ever wanted to go up I have the bigger series type so can go up to a 4.11 or something if I wanted to / get a 6 speed.
Well, we are over the big push, and the pile of sheet metal is now all bolted onto the car, and I gotta say, I'm pretty damn happy with how it looks. There's a little body work to do, but miniscule compared to my firebird, and I think for now, Im going to hold off on the body work, as we are coming into Oregon winter...and exposing bare metal and removing factory paint in Oregon humidity winter means instant rusting.
Im now on the hunt for a motor...Im aiming to find either a LS w/ 6 speed from my brother in law for scrap prices from work, or Ill buy a 454 I can hear run and slap my other brothers 4 speed behind it and drop it in.
Im now on the hunt for a motor...Im aiming to find either a LS w/ 6 speed from my brother in law for scrap prices from work, or Ill buy a 454 I can hear run and slap my other brothers 4 speed behind it and drop it in.
Well, its amazing how 9 days can make a huge difference. 9 days ago she was a shell, now...shes a roller with rubber hitting pavement in all 4 corners.
Well, have some mixed feelings about this post, but I ended up parting ways with the 70 formula. She was a fun project, and I learned a lot, she taught me to weld, and a lot about how to pick projects and buy them...news flash...site unseen from across the country is a bad idea lol. But, shes going to an excited guy who plans to restore her. We ended up trading across, he came and got the bird and towed her home to washington, and left in her place a running driving/ daily driver C4 Corvette. Not sure yet if Ill just sell the vet or not, but for now, shes been fun to drive and has taken the sting outta seeing the bird loaded up. My in laws are thrilled to have one less project car at their house, and I was able to return their vehicle Ive been borrowing and driving for far to long. So it was really a win all around. Having my 78 z28 to work on still, and now a daily driver on top of it, and a pretty fun one at that, cant complain to loudly.
