Guys project 74 Z28 by olstyle

11 minute(s) of a 380 minute read

After getting back from Bob's to get the old tires off my rallies I figured I might as well start to sandblast my rims. They fit in the blasting cabenit, but bareley. A few cold ones and almost 2hrs latter I got 1 done lol

12-9-2009

Nothing to exciting. There is snow on the ground, so it is official.............the camaro is in the garage till spring!
Finally got the box cribs built. Putting her up on them was easier then I thought it would be. First I put her up on 4 jack stands. Then did each front wheel, then the back. Only needed one 2x4 betweeen the jack n the diff.
I like it..................lots of room to work under her

12-10-2009

Got the exhaust off in preperation for pulling the trans, and ya know what means.............................Open header vid  
Someday I will get a bigger memory card for the camera, I hate these one minute vids.

12-11-2009

Got the trans out today and pulled the side cover. Looks to be in pretty good shap to me, but I am no trans guy. The reverse gear is alittle worn and seems to me to much play in the input shaft bearing. Hopefully have the trans guy over to look at it in a couple weeks. I pulled it cause it was grinding while down shifting into 2nd and was making weird noises in first gear with the clutch down sometimes. Ive had this trans for many years but this is the first time I had it in a car. It came out of a 78 or 79 rs. Was my bosses car at my old job and I know for a fact he drove it hard all the time.

12-20-2009

Finally........................mark one item off the winter list  The headlights n fan relays are done! While I was at it, I moved the harness from the top of the wheelwell to inside the fender top of wheelwell. Looks cleaner.

12-21-2009

Just a little added finishing touch to the relays.

12-23-2009

I stopped at Radioshack and got a fuse holder to fuse the line that feeds the relay assy. $3 is a pretty good insurance policy.

1-3-2010

Winter update...................

Nothing going on worth pics but I got 2 major items marked off the winter list. Got the trans back in and the rear end gear changed to 3.08, thanks Russ(rustover).
I never did call the trans guy cause I think I found out what was wrong by myself. After deciding the trans looked to be in good shape, I took off the bell housing n clutch assy. and found the pilot bushing was worn big time(huge)in the center. Finished today getting her all back together. I ran her thru the gears up to about 60mph on jack stands a few times, I know there is no real load but she shifted good with no noises, chattering or grinding. Will see how she is in the spring. Hopefully in the next few weeks I can get the tailpipes, then get her back on the ground, then maybe start the cut n buff.

1-10-2010

Well, this no smoking thing is cool for the pocket book! Instead of buying smokes this last payday, I was able to buy some cut n buff supplies  Figured I would start with the trunk lid since that was the worst part on the car. I thought I might have to respray it cause I forgot to tack rag it before the clear, which made the clear full of junk. I started with 1000 grit then went to 1500. Polished with Presta Ultra cutting creme light 133432 with a white twisted wool pad, then Presta Swirl remover 133632 with a yellow foam pad. Still has a couple tiny spots that didn't sand out, but hey................. it is my first paint job lol  Hopefully tomorrow I'll start the roof.

After 1000 then 1500

Last 3 pics are done

1-11-2010

I could have finished the roof tonight if I wouldn't have torn the yellow foam pad when putting it on the buffer  
These pics are after the cutting compound, hopefully get another foam pad tomorrow to finish up with the swirl remover. You can see I did find one high spot and sanded thru the paint, but that's ok. I need to fix the crack in that sail panel anyway. That is not a stress crack from torque. It appeared 3 days after I painted the shell. The only thing my son-in-law could figure was I must not have let the last skim coat of filler totally dry before painting and the paint got sucked into the crack.

1-13-2010

Thanks guys
I think it is amazing how wet sanding n buffing makes the paint come out so flat n shiny. Especially on the trunk lid, even with all the junk it had in it. So I guess when they say "that will buff right out" there not kidding lol.

I am doing great on the not smoking..................today is day 13 I will give it a few months then call my life insurance company and get a non-smokers rate

Like Laine says I should be able to keep it contained to the pillar for paint n clear. Last year my son-in-law said I would need a clear that will blend. So after it is done n painted I will look into that.

Well, if this ain't enough to make ya sick, I don't know what is................................................but it had to be done!!!

Forgot I am out of hardener or I would have got some when I stopped to get a good yellow foam pad for the swirl remover. Here is a pic of where the crack was and a pic of the roof after the swirl remover.
I will get some hardener tomorrow and get the filler on.

1-15-2010

Ok, got the crack all filled n sanded. I tried to put on to much filler to not have to put on a second coat. There is only one tiny small spot that did not get sanded due to shrinking. Maybe this is where I made a mistake last time. I would have filled it more now n sanded to get ready for primer/sealer. I will wait till tomorrow to fill the small spot, then sand and leave for a couple days to really dry before the next step(which at this point I am not sure what that is).
Not sure if I should put on some 2k then sand then sealer then paint n clear??? Or just seal then paint n clear???
Also need to find out about blending the color n clear I hope I do not need to shoot the roof n both quarters with color n clear. Gonna ask in the body forum n see what the paint guru's have to say.

1-16-2010

I got the hood finished with the cut n buff and started on the left rear quarter panel. When I got 1/2 way on the quarter I snapped a pic for before n after cut n buff. The difference still amazes me lol

1-17-2010

Thanks BP, no problem here ya go. I have a Vector vec236 7" variable speed sander/polisher. I got it for a birthday present, I think they run about $50 or so. It came with the white wool pad n back up plate. All I bought was the yellow foam pad from a local auto parts/paint supply.

1-18-2010

Back to the sail panel repair

Ok, got the 2K primer on. Gonna let it dry for a day or two before sanding. Gonna call my paint supplier tomorrow and try n get him over here to look at the repair and give him a small list of supplies. Hopefully if my plan goes right, I will put on the sealer Friday then color n clear on the weekend.

1-21-2010

My paint supplier will be here Saturday, so I figure I'll keep busy in the mean time. Got the driver door done

Thanks zapper

It is kinda hard to get a good pic with a good reflection but here is one,