Anyone know anything about restoring Camaros??

[Marina-Del 10]

Del is trying to find information about how to properly restore his 1972 L-type Camaro.

I'm always telling him that I find lots of information on here so he wanted me to ask if anyone knows anything about it.

We'll go on to ask more specific questions if anyone admits some knowledge!

Thanks!

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Del is trying to find information about how to properly restore his 1972 L-type Camaro.

I'm always telling him that I find lots of information on here so he wanted me to ask if anyone knows anything about it.

We'll go on to ask more specific questions if anyone admits some knowledge!

Thanks!

Do a google search for Camaro forums. You will find more info than you will ever be able to read. There is a huge amount of info and parts available for these cars. Enjoy the project. I owned a few of these in the past, a 1970, 1974, and 1978.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Del is trying to find information about how to properly restore his 1972 L-type Camaro.

I'm always telling him that I find lots of information on here so he wanted me to ask if anyone knows anything about it.

We'll go on to ask more specific questions if anyone admits some knowledge!

Thanks!

There are lots of forums out there. Just do a google search. I know some things about Chevy's. I will leave it at that. There used to be a place in Los Angeles called Marv's Chevy Only, for getting those hard to find parts.

Edited May 31, 2009 by Mister_Bill

[cheeky^Wolf 0]

My husband is also restoring a Camaro, and swears by a forum called nastyz28.com. He says everyone is really friendly and helpful on there, they'll answer any questions you may have.

Happy restoring!

[NickD 203]

Does a Model A count? While I thought I had a bunch of tools, first thing I learned I didn't have anything, needed machines, body equipment, sand blaster, air tools, hoists, welding equipments, a sewing machine that would do six stitches per inch, etc., etc., etc.

And like anything else, get tired of it, sitting in my garage for about 15 years, so I sold it, after about 18 months, was only lucky enough to get what I paid for the car and the parts I put into it, my labor was free. Like spending an entire week on my spare time just rebuilding the carburetor, casting had to be sanded with a mirror finish, so you could see your smile when looking at it. Rest of the car was about the same, like sanding spoked wheels.

Maybe it was a piece of history, but certainly not a good investment, when you get involved with all of that parts chasing, cleaning, replating, mechanics, that's the easy part, body and interior restoration, that is where the work starts. Finished mine with 17 coats of hand rubbed lacquer, that also was a job. And also afraid to drive it after all that work, just a couple of parades. Also forgot about all the woodwork, the A had an oak frame under the body. Mine was in exceptional condition when I purchased it with only 19,000 miles on it.

My advice is to purchase one already restored, a lot cheaper than doing it yourself, but don't put any ethanol fuel in it, your fuel system wood corrode, also another problem not being able to buy leaded gas in 1972 prior models.

If I had to do it all over again, would have built a home, can make a fortune doing that and still get plenty of exercise.

[Marina-Del 10]

My husband is also restoring a Camaro, and swears by a forum called nastyz28.com. He says everyone is really friendly and helpful on there, they'll answer any questions you may have.

Happy restoring!

Thanks for the site! I'll pass that on to him when he gets home from work tonight! I'm not sure if I want him to become forum addicted though

And Nick....I know it's a huge time investment and there are lots and lots of little details involved, and thanks for the head up! Del is a high performance mechanic and has most of the equipment that he needs already in his garage (he works for a company part time and has his own garage part time as well). He knows a lot about restoration already, but there are always some questions! Plus his garage works almost exclusively on newer cars (Subaru's, Mitsubishi's, ect) but not because the guys don't like working on older cars, but because there just aren't that many muscle cars here in São Paulo.

When he bought the Camaro it had an engine (6 cylinder) and a transmission, ect...but we've totally gutted it now. We've since bought the proper transmission and are only missing a few parts before we can put it back in the car with our V8 engine that he's had sitting in the garage for this very day for a couple years now!!! But it's SOO hard to find parts (without paying out a fortune) here in Brazil. These types of things are expensive in the US, but they are crazy here!

Anyway, thanks for pointing me in the right direction! I knew I could count on you!

[pedroh 21]

it's a GM.. ask teh government, they might be able to fix it for free no?

[justashooter 430]

brazil? that's gonna be the hard part.

i had a '69 in white with black landau top and white interior on black carpet, with shark's gills and rally wheels. 350 and thydro 350. miss that car a lot, except for the ride. single leaf rear spring suspension was like riding on a rock.

[Marina-Del 10]

Yeah, it's really difficult to find things to restore the car here. We keep buying parts in the US and getting my parents to send them here, but we're pretty limited with what they can send because of weight and size, ect.

I keep telling him he should just wait until we get to the US and then it will be easier, hard still, but definitely easier!! He wants to leave this car here for his dad and just buy another one when we get back to the states.

He keeps explaining to me that it's not the same though. To have this type of car here is a pretty big deal, where is more "normal" in the states. It's not all about showing off, I swear, but that's part of having one of these cars in my opinion! The joy of driving it around and restoring it, plus showing it off to other people!

[tallcoolone 102]

I restored a 67 Camaro, a 68 SS Camaro, and 69 Chevelle.

Lots and lots of work involved.

I did mine back in the early 80's.

Now of days these cars would be worth a small fortune......

[The_Dude 1,142]

I've restored a 67 and a 69 SS/RS camaro and a 56 Ford F-100. What type of restoration is he doing? A reproduction or a classic restoration?

[Marina-Del 10]

Ideally a classic restoration...but we're in the easy stages yet. The outside of the car is almost perfect...it's on the inside that needs some work. Hold on, I'll find a picture and post it!! I can't answer or ask any exact questions now though since he's a work and I only know so much!

[The_Dude 1,142]

Ideally a classic restoration...but we're in the easy stages yet. The outside of the car is almost perfect...it's on the inside that needs some work. Hold on, I'll find a picture and post it!! I can't answer or ask any exact questions now though since he's a work and I only know so much!

It's going to be very difficult to find non-reproduction parts outside the U.S. for one of those. I'd suggest hitting up every junk yard you can. I've found original parts on eBay in the past, but It can be a ####### shoot sometimes with some people deceptively labelling original parts.

[Marina-Del 10]

These probably aren't the best pictures he has of the car, but they'll do for now!

[sandinista! 1,816]

i don't know anything about restoring camaros, but i highly recommend pants like these are worn for the restoration.