Aaron's 76 Type LT Project

6 minute(s) of a 383 minute read

Been a few weeks since I had a meaningful update. I was able to get the metal under the pass side 1/4 panel blasted. I went with Black Diamond media and it worked well.  

You'll notice that I cut the bottom of the door jamb brace and bent the metal out. The welds to the rocker panel were being "difficult" so I cut the brace down low and bent the outer brace to access the welds to the rocker panel. I will bend it back and add in a patch, which shouldn't be too difficult.

I had a few spots that needed patch repair. The first was along the back of the outer wheel well

The other major problem spot. This area was like this before I began removing the outer 1/4 panel. I made a sad attempt to fill in some of the holes but decided a patch was a better idea. I spot welded the top seam first and then held the bottom edge flush with the surrounding sheet metal using some vice grips.

5-9-2011

Just wanted to give an update about the lack of updates. Wife and I decided to start looking at new homes in our area. Long story short, we aren't going to build on our 1 acre lot we own for different reasons, so we decided to look at what options there were in our area because we want to stay close to our family (both our parents are like 10 min from us). We have been doing a lot of "tire kicking" and discovered that there aren't too many options that fit our needs. However, we finally found a neighborhood that we like and put a hold on one of the lots (90 day hold). So progress on the Camaro will resume soon, as we would be building a home on this lot from scratch if we end up actually buying, which means early 2012 move-in.  

But that means I need to get some work done!! I doubt I'd have the engine in before we move (assume we move), but can get a lot of other work done in the meantime. If I can get her painted this fall, then that would be great.

Hope everyone is doing well and making actual progress unlike me.

Thanks guys. I know I won't be dropping a motor in until next year (need to save the cash for now), so at least that pushes the time line back some. I have my old 350 I can put on some cheap motor mounts to put some weight on the suspension while I install the front sheet metal on and get it all measured up.  

It's been a hectic past 6 weeks with NO work done on the Camaro, but that's life. It's bugging the crap out of me though. Good news is that we aren't going to my MIL's family reunion on May 23rd, which would have been an all day affair

5-30-2011

Nobody could afford my rates  Hell, I can barely afford my own rates! Thanks for the kind word man.

Finally got the passenger side 1/4 panel trial fit over the weekend. I had some small patches to weld in here and there, but got that done in time. My goal is to get the 1/4 panel welded into place within the next two weeks. Then I can move on to (hopefully) more straight forward work, particularly fitting the rest of the body panels. I might go ahead and get all the brakes and remaining suspension installed too to get it on the car. With us moving into a new home in early 2011, my main goal is to have the car painted before we move. That means having it ready by Oct or so when conditions should be good.

11-29-2011

Just checking in to say that I haven't done jack squat on my Camaro in awhile. The combo of building a new house, getting into rental properties and other stuff has sucked up pretty much any free time I've had. Good news is that I will have a lot of time off in Dec, so should be able to do some more work.  

Quite frankly, I am 99% sure I won't finish my 76 until 2013, so that kind of zapped my motivation to keep at it every single weekend (not that I have much time right now). I'd like to have the body assembled by the time we move next spring, so that is my primary short-term goal with the Camaro. When we get into the new house, I'll have way more room to work, which I am looking forward to. Below is a shot (as of 11/27) of the garage setup in the next house. The Camaro's garage will be the one on the right

Hope everyone is doing well!