Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Post Info TOPIC: 1968 Camaro SS - Sheet Metal Work Starting


Brantford Ont Member He is that Chevy-Guy

Status: Offline
Posts: 79
Date:
1968 Camaro SS - Sheet Metal Work Starting
Permalink  
 


Hey guys/gals

Finally starting to make some progress on the car i purchased close to a year ago. 

Really hasnt been much done to it through the summer. Been rocking the LS swapped third gen having a blast.

But we are right at the edge of the cliff right now. The point where things have the potential to go wrong real quick

We started by cutting the bottom of the door hinge pillar on the passenger side. Looked pretty rough, but fixable.

Then pulled the cowl off. Upon cleaning the flanges up, the complete piece I bought didnt fit quite nice, typical of the china junk. No biggie

We are deciding what to do next. The rocker panels on these cars are the main structure. The car is braced up good, but with nothing to attach new pieces to,

its hard to decide where to go from here. We are thinking of removing the cowl and the lower door pillar pieces off of the drivers side, and then from there, removing

the complete fire wall. We would be putting multiple locating points to flat points, bolt holes etc on the old metal. This part is crucial in the alignment of fenders, upper cowl panel, subframe, hood etc.

The experiance we have is more piece by piece style, not remove the whole front of the car at once and hope it goes back properly. We havent decided 100% what to do yet.

Ill post the pics of the mess...ill update on our decision and whatever work we get done in the future. Hopefully we can roll along a little better now that the winter time is coming.

 

 

Pieces just temporarily clamped in. not sure if you can see the space between the cowl assembly and the door hinge area flange or not, but its about 1/2'' out at the top



__________________


Clarington Ont

Status: Offline
Posts: 164
Date:
Permalink  
 

Great work Ben! I love following your build threads, most impressive work young man! Keep it up and continue to keep us posted...

__________________

Whitey

 

 



Brantford On, Hooked on Nova's

Status: Offline
Posts: 246
Date:
Permalink  
 

We have been off the job on this project lately due to many reasons but we also had to try and come up with a good way to hold this rust bucket while we rip into it.  The car cradle and even the jack stands are not going to work because there is literally nothing under the car to hold it up.  We have to take out some major structure to start repairing the car.  Our idea is to make an adjustable rack that will hook to the frame rails in the middle of the wheel wells and the front will be bolted to the upper door hinge area.  Front and back will be tied in together.  I will be making adaptors to mount dolly wheel to the rack as well.  I machined the feet to have a fine adjustment to level all four corners.  This is all new to me and Ben but I hope we are on the right track.

 



__________________


Race starter St.Thomas Drags Rod-side Aylmer On Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 1409
Date:
Permalink  
 

Large version of  a Machinist's  Jack; should work for you Rich.

Holy shasbatt that car is perforated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Junoir



-- Edited by Junior on Sunday 25th of December 2016 01:43:43 PM

__________________

Government is a broker in pillage, and every election is sort of an advance auction sale of stolen goods. HL Mencken. 1919.

"If you want a vision of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face - forever." George Orwell 1984



Brantford On, Hooked on Nova's

Status: Offline
Posts: 246
Date:
Permalink  
 

More pictures coming soon. The new stand is working well so far and is holding the car up as we speak.

__________________


Brantford On, Hooked on Nova's

Status: Offline
Posts: 246
Date:
Permalink  
 

 



__________________


"Fatchuk" Rod-side member Board administration & clean up guy

Status: Offline
Posts: 1786
Date:
Permalink  
 

If you want to borrow a rotisserie at some point .. I have a very well built heavy duty one I would lone you..Keep up the good work slow and steady and measure three times before the welds are  too hard to cut apart.. Great looking work so far ..



__________________

There is no elevator to success — you have to take the stairs. 

 

 



Brantford Ont Member He is that Chevy-Guy

Status: Offline
Posts: 79
Date:
Permalink  
 

Thanks for the offer on the rotisserie.  Dad has one here that he welded up a few years back.

 

 We managed to get the upper firewall and the upper dash fitted.  We will be getting the lower firewall fit next.  Upper dash was taken back out at time of picture.  We also had the passenger side cowl assembly fit on.



__________________


Brantford Ont Member He is that Chevy-Guy

Status: Offline
Posts: 79
Date:
Permalink  
 

More rusty junk cut off!

 



__________________


Brantford On, Hooked on Nova's

Status: Offline
Posts: 246
Date:
Permalink  
 

More rust cut off.


 



-- Edited by slab on Tuesday 10th of January 2017 04:48:26 PM

__________________


Race starter St.Thomas Drags Rod-side Aylmer On Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 1409
Date:
Permalink  
 

You guy's sure know how to 'DO IT' when it come's to replacing sheet metal!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Junior



__________________

Government is a broker in pillage, and every election is sort of an advance auction sale of stolen goods. HL Mencken. 1919.

"If you want a vision of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face - forever." George Orwell 1984



Brantford On, Hooked on Nova's

Status: Offline
Posts: 246
Date:
Permalink  
 

Thanks John. I joined a Camaro forum and found it surprising how many guys are working with junk like this. LOL

__________________


Brantford On, Hooked on Nova's

Status: Offline
Posts: 246
Date:
Permalink  
 

The destruction continues.  

Thanks Glen for the plasma cutter.

We quickly hung the firewall to fill the hole and make us feel a bit better about the lack of car.

 



__________________


St.Thomas On Rod-side member

Status: Offline
Posts: 495
Date:
Permalink  
 

You guys have got balls made of brass. Keep at it. ,

__________________

if you don't like the way I drive, stay off the sidewalk.



Clarington Ont

Status: Offline
Posts: 164
Date:
Permalink  
 

Awesome work guys, I love following your builds...they are most inspiring!

__________________

Whitey

 

 



Toronto On Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 75
Date:
Permalink  
 

Impressive work on the Camaro and worth the time spent reading the updates.

__________________


Brantford On, Hooked on Nova's

Status: Offline
Posts: 246
Date:
Permalink  
 

Thanks for the comments.  More rust found.



__________________


Hamilton On Rod-side Member Amsoil Dealer

Status: Offline
Posts: 417
Date:
Permalink  
 

Didn't realize there was that many repair panels available but considering the popularity of the car it makes sense.

__________________


Portland On Rod-Side Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 166
Date:
Permalink  
 

HI RICHARD : You definitely RE-INVENTED the word courage -- GREAT looking work -- Stay with it , and good luck along the way . LATER --- DON / FLEET 51


__________________


Foxboro On Rod-side Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 870
Date:
Permalink  
 

parklane wrote:

You guys have got balls made of brass. Keep at it. ,


 no sh!t on the brass parts, wow.



__________________

"if you are not the lead dog, the view is all the same"



Brantford On, Hooked on Nova's

Status: Offline
Posts: 246
Date:
Permalink  
 

I know it's been a while since we posted anything new on this project but the kid bought a 1 ton diesel truck to drive and it needed a restoration as well. Pictures of that will probably be going up soon as he is hoping to get it safetied this week. It (as usual) turned into a way bigger project than expected. Thanks for the positive comments. This Camaro is a long term project and we are hoping it will be done around the same time as Ben is done his Millwrighting apprenticeship.
Cheers

__________________


Brantford Ont Member He is that Chevy-Guy

Status: Offline
Posts: 79
Date:
Permalink  
 

Well after finishing a dually, getting a new truck, doing exhaust and some other bolt on stuff for the 87 Camaro, fixing the new truck, ls swapping the new truck........

Finally did something to this car. If youve followed my dads "New Project" thread, youve seen the camaro more recently as well, since photobucket decided to be a jerk...

Ill essentially start over, post some pictures where its at right now. Finally made the patch i was grieving over, where the pillar attaches to the cowl structure. Ill post pics after from my phone, but it will clean up nice.

Rockers got cut off too. We mounted datum lines under our rack, found the front of the car to be about 1" twisted or tweaked somehow. They werent exactly holding anything anyways...

Regardless, hopefully sandblasting the inner structure this weekend so I can weld the patch on and epoxy the back of the dash and inside of cowl areas.

If all goes south, and I fail at getting it straight, ill think of something. The "Nascarlo" episode of roadkill comes to mind... drop it on a full frame hack it up and drive the snot out of it.

__________________


Brantford Ont Member He is that Chevy-Guy

Status: Offline
Posts: 79
Date:
Permalink  
 

20180113_161053.jpg



Attachments
__________________


Brantford On, Hooked on Nova's

Status: Offline
Posts: 246
Date:
Permalink  
 

The kid is blasting!IMG_20180120_141827086_HDR.jpg



Attachments
__________________


Clarington Ont

Status: Offline
Posts: 164
Date:
Permalink  
 

certainly was a beauty day yesterday for it!

__________________

Whitey

 

 



Brantford Ont Member He is that Chevy-Guy

Status: Offline
Posts: 79
Date:
Permalink  
 

Finally getting something done. Hit it with SPI epoxy primer. Now I can start putting pieces back on soon. 

20180120_173244.jpg20180120_173251.jpg20180120_173253.jpg



Attachments
__________________


Race starter St.Thomas Drags Rod-side Aylmer On Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 1409
Date:
Permalink  
 

Nice work Ben!!!!

 

 

 

junior



__________________

Government is a broker in pillage, and every election is sort of an advance auction sale of stolen goods. HL Mencken. 1919.

"If you want a vision of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face - forever." George Orwell 1984



Brantford Ont Member He is that Chevy-Guy

Status: Offline
Posts: 79
Date:
Permalink  
 

Thanks. Really excited to move forward and see some black welded on.

Heres a before picture too it wouldnt post earlier.

20180120_164727.jpg



Attachments
__________________


Clarington Ont

Status: Offline
Posts: 164
Date:
Permalink  
 

Well done young man!

__________________

Whitey

 

 



Tin basher Metal shaping guy

Status: Offline
Posts: 414
Date:
Permalink  
 

Sweet.

__________________

PUGSY



Brantford Ont Member He is that Chevy-Guy

Status: Offline
Posts: 79
Date:
Permalink  
 

20180203_180140.jpg20180203_180149.jpg20180203_180133.jpg20180203_180155.jpg



Attachments
__________________


Tin basher Metal shaping guy

Status: Offline
Posts: 414
Date:
Permalink  
 

Wow, what a project.

__________________

PUGSY



Clarington Ont

Status: Offline
Posts: 164
Date:
Permalink  
 

Great progress Ben!

__________________

Whitey

 

 



Brantford On, Hooked on Nova's

Status: Offline
Posts: 246
Date:
Permalink  
 

Even though it is all just clamped together, it gave a big motivational boost. It will come together.

__________________


Brantford On, Hooked on Nova's

Status: Offline
Posts: 246
Date:
Permalink  
 

Clamps and screws but everything is fitting up pretty well.  Some parts needed some convincing.

IMG_20180217_092706852.jpgIMG_20180217_092720808.jpg



Attachments
__________________


Brantford Ont Member He is that Chevy-Guy

Status: Offline
Posts: 79
Date:
Permalink  
 

Things have been slow, but should be back on the car soon. Got the inside of some panels painted before I go to weld them on for good. Closed in some gaps on the rocker panels. Little details count more than I would have thought.

20180308_195359.jpg

20180308_195425.jpg20180308_195324.jpg20180308_195350.jpg



Attachments
__________________


Brantford On, Hooked on Nova's

Status: Offline
Posts: 246
Date:
Permalink  
 

Welding it back together has begun.

IMG_20180331_154421109.jpgIMG_20180331_180103420.jpg

 



Attachments
__________________


Brantford Ont Member He is that Chevy-Guy

Status: Offline
Posts: 79
Date:
Permalink  
 

Front and rockers all welded up. Test fit the floor and looks like things line up reasonably well so looks like we did our job well. Fitment conclusions are based on the new firewall lip which was located with the trans tunnel, and i cleaned the truck seam and framerails and it lines up real nice. 

 

20180407_163427.jpg20180407_165527.jpg20180407_165535.jpg20180407_170015.jpg20180407_165543.jpg

 

So again everything is flipped on its side, if anyone knows how to fix lemme know



-- Edited by ThatChevyGuy on Tuesday 10th of April 2018 07:23:08 PM

Attachments
__________________


Brantford On, Hooked on Nova's

Status: Offline
Posts: 246
Date:
Permalink  
 

IMG_20180407_145605546.jpg

IMG_20180407_171639087.jpg

IMG_20180407_171648763.jpg



Attachments
__________________


Clarington Ont

Status: Offline
Posts: 164
Date:
Permalink  
 

Just awesome work Ben! She is really starting to take shape now, I hope you are feeling good about the progress!
Question, who is the manufacturer of the floor pan?

__________________

Whitey

 

 



http://lightspeedmetaldesign.com/

Status: Offline
Posts: 307
Date:
Permalink  
 

Nicely done Ben. All the planning and prep work with the body jig really paid off.

__________________


Brantford Ont Member He is that Chevy-Guy

Status: Offline
Posts: 79
Date:
Permalink  
 

Thanks a lot guys. Youre right about the planning I was honestly surprised how close everything is.

Whitey, the floor is Goodmark. Pretty sure 90% of the pieces are goodmark to be honest.

__________________
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.



Create your own FREE Forum
Report Abuse
Powered by ActiveBoard