spinedoc

This will most likely be a long process, if my past projects are any indication. I have a 70 camaro I bought in 88. I used it like a street drag car for most of it's life. It started out as a Citrus green, 307 powered, TH350, open 3.08 rear car with over 100K miles on it.

It morphed through several motors into a 468, TH350, 4.10 posi rear, cranberry red car. With kids and life and such, it sat for most of the past 5 years.

I have no desire to drag like I used to, and I want something I can put the miles on and enjoy regularly. After reading Mark Steilow's book about building his 69 Camaro, 'The Mule', I decided to go LS power.

I just picked up a rusty 98 Z28 out of New York to be the donor. Tonight I started stripping the 70 down. Criminy! How will I remember where all this stuff goes? I plan on taking it down to the shell for media blasting to see how bad the body really is. I forsee lots of plastic bags, bins and digital photos in my future.

Is there an assembly manual available for these cars? I used one to do a corvette and it was invaluable. I hope to locate one.

I can't promise quick progress, but I hope to chug away at it as I can.

Any advice or suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks

The 70, undergoing the slow gutting process






The victim

sick-hatch

nice..should be interesting

spinedoc

The deconstruction has begun. I go the front end off, and pulled the motor. I haven't found too many surprises yet.


https://imageshack.com/i/gh7kebj


http://imageshack.com/a/img208/7623/qmrr.jpg

spinedoc

spinedoc

ls1nova71

iTrader: (4)

Just curiour, but why did you take it all apart before test fitting the new engine? If you notch the subframe about an inch in the back of the crossmember the F body pan will fit and the engine won't be crammed against the firewalll.

Jimbo1367

There is no need to notch the subframe for the Fbody oilpan to clear when you use the 1" setback swap plates. The CarShop plates seem to be the standard swap plates used.

spinedoc

Good point. I guess I don't know why. It is cold and the 98 is sitting out and I hadn't really thought of pulling the motor yet. Also, my plan is\was to have the body media stripped to see what kind of body work was needed.

So I was going to strip the car to the shell, have it stripped, then bring it back to the garage to do the metal work, whether it be quarters and such or subframe mods. I do admit I thought about that just as I took the body bolts out. I probably just made more work for myself, rats. But at least it will be cleaner when I work on it?

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks. Eric

murphinator

iTrader: (2)

that 70 looks pretty nice to begin with !

I have had a couple 71's in my past one sbc one bbc . love the body style/nose

you mentioned the donor came out of NY I cant see plates on any of your vehicles to see what state your in , why would that interest me? your donor appears to be black ( might be midnight blue ?) if its black and it going to get parted out I am looking for a decnt black front bumper cover and drivers fender for a no winters 98 z I picked up this fall that those panels are in primer....

spinedoc

Car is NW PA. You are welcome to what you need after I strip it.

ls1nova71

iTrader: (4)

Well that way will work too, but like you said , might be just a little more work. It will be cleaner to work on, which is never a bad thing! If the one inch set back plates will let it clear the frame then its a moot point anyway. Not sure how much firewall clearance you would have though, and I don't like having the engine super close to it, but that's just me.

What color are you going to paint it? I actually like the citrus green, but that's probably because my Nova is the same color, only in '71 they called it lime green, same color and paint code though.

spinedoc

I am not sure what mounts I will use. Whatever works the easiest I suppose. I have done 'some' research, but basically I know there are mounts that fit, so I will figure that out when I get it back. I thought about mounting the engine\tranny in the subframe, then rolling it under the car to see how it lines up.

It is definitely going back to Citrus green. I painted it 20 years ago that dark red, but have regretted it over the years. This is my chance to strip it down, repair the body and put the original color back on it.

ls1nova71

iTrader: (4)

Cool, ill be following along. The citrus green is a fairly uncommon color. Good luck with the build.

Razor

F body oil pan and carshop inc 1" set backs here. Puts it in same location as SBC.

73turbo53

[QUOTE=Razor;17992896]F body oil pan and carshop inc 1" set backs here. Puts it in same location as SBC.[/QUOTE

X2 these are the way to go. Great build looks like a solid start.

Cape T/A

good luck with the build!

1981TA

iTrader: (7)

Do you plan on switching the heads on the LS?

spinedoc

The slow process of dismantling the Camaro continues. I have hundreds of pics, lots of baggies, and have labeled most everything large with masking tape and a Sharpie.

http://imgur.com/rpUjp2Y

<a href="http://imgur.com/rpUjp2Y"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/rpUjp2Y.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" /></a>

spinedoc

The subframe. I will reuse it as a new custom one is wayyyyyy outof my budget. I think I will weld the seams, as I have seen others do, and powdercoat.




The old 468, destined to power an engine stand.



I am getting a nice pile of parts to catalog and keep track of.



She's almost ready for the rotisserie


Out with the fuel cell, in with a repop tank.

spinedoc

So, speaking of rotisseries, any help on mounting the shell?

In the front I am going to bolt the arms to the front subframe mounts, but in the back, I am not sure. I was going to use the leaf spring shackles, but they pivot, and bolting to the frame is too low to clear the rear valence panel. I looked at attaching to the bumper mounts, but am not sure I would do that, and it would make it hard to do bodywork on the rear.

Any advice with pics would be very appreciated. Thanks.