The PatriotDream.org 68 Camaro project - Page 8 - F-Body Online

4birdman · 12-18-2007, 09:36 PM

Got a lot done tonight! My wife and I painted the first coat of POR-15 on the front subframe! Tomorrow night we'll do the second coat and then it'll be ready to install the suspension this weekend, and then back on it's wheels when I get the spindles back from being modified for the LS1 brakes by Ed Miller!

I also fabbed up a bracket and mounted the Wilwood adjustable prop. valve. I was going to bend the brake lines tonight, but they sold me the wrong fittings at the store, so I gotta go back tomorrow and get the right ones.

4birdman · 12-27-2007, 12:03 AM

Big day today! I had the day off of work, so my brothers came over and we knocked out a lot on the car. I finally got my welder back from the shop and got the seat support all welded in. We also got the final coat of POR-15 on and a topcoat of Rustoleum semigloss black and then installed it on the car with the new Prothane bushings. Also had to run around town trying to find the right fittings for the LS1 brake booster before I realized I had a spare ABS module in the attic and could get the fittings off of it. I also started working on the subframe connectors and rear frame, I hope to have it all tacked in and mocked up this weekend. I told myself I'd have it rolling by the first of the year, and that could be a real possibility!

We also got a set of Bilstein shocks for the car donated by G-Machine!

4birdman · 12-30-2007, 10:45 PM

Bilsteins donated by G-Machine!

I also got some of the rear chassis worked out. I used the Competition Engineering SFCs with the built-in spring pockets. I measured it all out and notched the drop crossmember 1/2" to recess them in there to make them fit tight. Should be really strong with them set into the crossmember and welded to the floorboard. Don't mind my ugly tack welds.

I also fit the LS1 brake lines to the 1st gen brackets. I just painted them for now, but I'll powdercoat them later. It was pouring rain out and I didn't feel like having a powder cloud floating in the shop while I worked. I also used some stainless bolts on it.

4birdman · 01-02-2008, 09:23 PM

Ran into a major snag tonight. With the suspension and chassis setup the way we were installing it, there is no way we're gonna fit a stock gas tank in there. If anyone has any advice or can hook me up with anything, please let me know! For right now, we're just going to install it as far apart to get as big of an aftermarket tank in there as we can. He'll still be able to fit some big meats under there if Shawn ever wants to.

We did get in some goodies, though! Goodmark donated some inner wheelhouses, a radiator support, and a driver's door shell!

I also bent up a brake line for the front subframe. I need to get a junction block for the driver's side, but I got the crossover done. I used insulated line clamps and stainless bolts to fasten it down.

And last but not least, I got the rear leafs painted and installed the Prothane bushings!

FirebirdPhil · 01-03-2008, 10:04 AM

Looking very good thus far!

4birdman · 01-07-2008, 09:01 PM

I wish I had more progress to post, but a lot of the things I've been doing have been things not worthy of pictures! I powdercoated up the rearend parts, worked on the axle I'm using for mockup cutting off the spring perches to shorted the spring width on them, and just some other small stuff.

I had it all set up so I could install the rear frame, suspension, and axle and have the back rolling this weekend. Of course, my brand new Hobart welder broke AGAIN and I am not sure if I'll have a welder for this weekend. Needless to say, I am PISSED!

Anyway, if I get lucky I'll have a welder for this weekend and then all my front suspension and steering parts will be here by next week and then I'll be rolling by next weekend.

Powdercoated spring hangers, spring plates, and a-arm washers:

I finished up the other taillight, too.

And I even had some help from Shawn's wife on Sunday. I taught her how to powdercoat and let her try it out on the dash bezel that was looking rough. She did a great job.

4birdman · 01-12-2008, 06:56 PM

I spent a large majority of today on sandblasting and powdercoating. The door hinges on the car were in ROUGH shape. They were incredibly rusted and the rollers were bent and broken, not to mention the pins were bad off, too.

After much sawzalling, hammering, sandblasting, straightening, swearing, and PCing, here are the finished products.

The red is the color we will be painting the car. My powder supplier has a line of automotive paints that matches their powders, so we picked a red we liked and bought a bunch of powder.

And I also powdercoated the rear calipers that RPM donated to the project. I went with a silver PC on the brackets and a Anodized Blueberry over a silver basecoat on the calipers. Tomorrow I'm going to do the front ones I have here.

FirebirdPhil · 01-12-2008, 08:18 PM

Is that the same shade of red that the car will be? If so very sleek and sexy looking.

4birdman · 01-12-2008, 09:17 PM

Yep, same shade. Took us forever to pick it out. I wanted a red that didn't have any orange in it and had some blue, but not too much blue. This is a deep red with just the right amount of blue in it.

4birdman · 01-14-2008, 11:01 PM

Got the steering stuff all put together. We blasted and painted the center link in semi gloss black and then I painted the tie rods with gunmetal. The Prothane boots really set off the part, too. I'm also replacing pretty much every bolt and nut with either stainless of grade 8 stuff. I'm also eliminating all the speed nuts that I can.

And I powdercoated the front calipers. The slider pins were crap, so I didn't bother assembling them yet.

And in other news, we're gonna be on TV! A NC show based out of the Charlotte area called Cruise Control TV is going to be doing monthly segments on the car, out first interview is this coming Monday! I'll keep you guys posted on the air dates.