1981 Z28 Camaro Project

[ChaseDale3and8]

Originally Posted by ERASER5

Just because I am the curious type, what are the head and cam specs? Are those angle plugs?

Looks like a this is going to be a very nice project.

First off, let me say thanks for all the compliments and comments guys! It keeps me motivated to keep this car project going! I had a pretty good day on it Saturday, and as rough as the right rear quarter panel was, I think it's just about ready for some 2K primer surfacer to see exactly what I've got now. It was the worst spot on the car, so I decided to start there. Figured if I got that part done, the rest of the bodywork would be a piece of cake.

The heads are Dart Iron Eagle cast iron. They have 230 cc runners and 72cc combustion chambers. I picked them to keep the compression where it should run on pump gas with the 2 valve relief Keith Black pistons. The cam is a Comp Cams Mutha Thumpr hydraulic flat tappet with the matching valve springs and valve train. Specs are here on Comp's website:

http://www.compcams.com/Cam_Specs/Ca...?csid=108&sb=2

Video of idle in a '69 Camaro:

YouTube- 1969 Camaro SS - Comp Cams Mutha Thumpr...

[JHT67]

Nice to see a good restoration on that body style. I grew up in the back seat of an 81', it wasn't your typical family car but thats how we rolled. Next to the 69' these are my favorite body style. Because of Camaros , when I was a kid I always thought 4 doored cars were so big and ugly.
One reason I believe you don't see too many of this body style (around here especially) is that a lot of them get gutted and turned into round trackers.

[ChaseDale3and8]

Originally Posted by JHT67

Nice to see a good restoration on that body style. I grew up in the back seat of an 81', it wasn't your typical family car but thats how we rolled. Next to the 69' these are my favorite body style. Because of Camaros , when I was a kid I always thought 4 doored cars were so big and ugly.
One reason I believe you don't see too many of this body style (around here especially) is that a lot of them get gutted and turned into round trackers.

I never have liked 4 door cars either. My favorite is the '69 Camaro. I have always loved them ever since I was a kid. Wish I'd have bought that gold with black hockey stripe RS/SS that a friend of mine offered me back 20 years ago. It had a 327 and Muncie 4 speed. Could have bought it for 4 grand back then. Solid and rust free, but the drive train had been abused. Imagine that! Still, it was a runner, and had a good straight body, and it was the body style I wanted.

He just offered to sell at the wrong time. I was knee deep in a 4x4 build at the time, and was more into the trucks right then. You are right about a lot of these were turned into dirt track race cars. Others were built for the strip and thoroughly abused, and many, actually the majority, have rusted out and have been crushed already. There are a few survivors though, and although mine wasn't complete when I bought it and likely will never be a numbers matching example, it's still a survivor. I haven't made any progress on it in the last few days, but I plan to get some more done soon, so stay tuned. .....Joe

[JHT67]

Can't wait to see more pics of any progress. When I was a youngin' my dad had 2 69's, one was a z11 pace car, and i cried the day it got towed away. I hope for a miracle some day to own it. My dad still has a registration, and i've posted the vin on a pace car forum, but so far no luck. My buddy got rid of a 79' z a while back, and me with no funds I join in on the ones that got away
Good luck on the build.

[ChaseDale3and8]

Made some progress this week. Almost have the right side done and should be moving over to the left side this coming week. I only have a few minor dings left to do on this side. The top of the fender was as wavy as a 4th of July parade from somebody either standing on it, or putting their big fat belly on it, and no, it wasn't mine!

The left side is going to be the same thing. Skim coat of filler on top and all should be well. This side had that nasty dent in it, and I had it close with the hammer and dolly work that I had previously done, but it wasn't perfect. Looks pretty good as it sits right now, but the first coat of primer will tell the story. I'll post some more after I get all of the right side done, and start on the left. ...Joe

[VA72C10]

looking good. keep up the progress. just got paint on mine today...

And like you said....primer definitely will show you any defects in the body work. We ended up doing three coats of primer with icing in between to make it as close to perfect as possible.

[ChaseDale3and8]

Originally Posted by VA72C10

looking good. keep up the progress. just got paint on mine today...

And like you said....primer definitely will show you any defects in the body work. We ended up doing three coats of primer with icing in between to make it as close to perfect as possible.

I've been watching yours too. It is really looking great! Can't wait to see it after you get done. ...Joe

[ChaseDale3and8]

Some more pictures to update this thread. I still have a little more to do on this side, but it's coming along pretty well. 20 years ago I would have already had the whole car done and painted by now. I'm really slowing down in my old age! ...Joe

[VA72C10]

Keep on plugging away. It's getting nicer with each update!

[Mil-Spec]

Great progress!!

This year and body style first caught my attention when i was stationed in Penscola Florida. I had bought a 75 Camaro and just got the rebuilt 350 installed and running the day before I transferred. I left the camaro in the barracks parking lot while I travelled to Norfolk. A couple weeks later I went home on leave and talked a buddy into driving me down to P-cola to pick it up. While staying in a off-base motel I noticed also parked in the motel parking lot a Cherry Red '81 Z-28. From what I could tell it was stock and super clean, with the z28 decals and Z28/MonteSS wheels. I was smitten, truely and beautiful car. In fact later I bought some Monte SS wheels for my 75, but it was never the same.

Keep us posted and best of luck

[ChaseDale3and8]

Those wheels are the N90 option. They are nice, but now are very expensive if you can find a good set of them. I have seen that red Z28 somewhere before! I either saw it on nastyz28.com or on eBay for sale, and now I can't remember where, BUT I know I've seen it before! My car is missing so many of the original parts that I'm not going to worry about getting it that close to perfect. I'm just going to do a sort of resto-rod theme on it. More like what my other one was back in the 80's! I have a set of Rev Wheels Torque Thrust 2s in chrome for mine. They are 15x7 front, and 15x8 rear. Rev Wheels are owned by American Racing Wheels, so they are the same except the name on the center cap, and the price! I'll be posting some pictures of them up sometime in the future. Below is what I'm shooting for i the end on mine. The one with the red stripes has the same wheels that I have. The one with the silver stripes is what mine is going to look like when body and paint are done. ...Joe


my wheels look like these:

my car when it's done will look like this:

[Jonboy]

A friend of mine was telling me that someone (Year One, or G body parts maybe) was getting ready to repop those wheeis in 15" sizes, with 16 and 17" sizes to come later. He is restoring a Monte SS, and the larger stock wheel would be perfect on his car. It would look sharp on an F body, too.

[JohnC]

It's looking good man. My cousin bought a 81 Z28 a couple of years ago and is tinkering with it some. I'll try and get some pics of it on here next time I'm out at his place.

[JHT67]

Updates

[spudz]

I like it! I am picking up a 81 t-top z28 body and a 79 hardtop parts car from a friend. I been wanting another older fbody since I sold a 77 TA I had in high school. Plans for mine are simular to yours. Mine is more crusty then yours but cheap. I will be in need of all a/c stuff since they busted the box when they pulled the motor and all the rest of the a/c stuff is gone. I'd like it to atleast be as fun as my 2000 TA with more style.

[fryer1979]

Hey man, cool Camaro project. As a fellow late 2nd gen owner, it makes me smile to see another one getting some attention. I've owned my '79 for almost 11 years now, and while progress has always been slow, she has been a pure joy and has becomes my #1 baby. I'll enjoy following along on your build as well. Keep up the good work.

Here's a shot of my '79. Not at her cleanest, but pretty much is how she looks now.

[Pop's C-10]

I love 2gens..i don't know which to build 1st pops C-10 or my 78 type-lt

[ChaseDale3and8]

Thanks for the comments and compliments guys. Nice Camaro there fryer1979! I haven't made a whole lot of progress on it lately since I have some health problems and haven't been feeling the greatest. I did get started on the left front fender. I have about 95% of the bodywork done on it now. I'd like to strangle whoever thought that walking on top of the fenders was a good idea!

I had to do the left side just like I did the right. Straighten it the best I can, and skim coat it with filler. After I got what is done in these pictures, I found yet another small dent down low behind the tire. That's why I stated that it's about 95% done, since I thought it was done until I found that dent. I didn't feel like messing with it that day, but I'll get to it once I work on it next time.

I bought some tires for it even though I'm a long way away from needing them. Firestone had a sale at the end of August on their Indy 500 tires. They were buy three get one free. I got all 4 mounted, balanced, and new chrome stems for $330. Not bad. They are stacked, wrapped in plastic, and ready as soon as I am. Front size is 215-70-15, and rears are 275-60-15. The wheels, I bought over a year ago since I got a good buy on them as well. They are Rev version of American Racing Torque Thrust 2s in chrome. They are the exact same wheel as the American Racing TT2 since American actually owns Rev. Fronts are 15x7, and rears are 15x8s.

Old school size and looks is what I'm after here. None of that gawd awful bling bling 20s or bigger on my Z28! I've seen some done that way, and I think they look ridiculous! Anyway, here are a few more pics. Wish I had more done, but I'll eventually get it there. ...Joe

[ChaseDale3and8]

Wheels and tires.

[JohnC]

Coming along nicely man. The wheels and tires will look good on there.

[VA72C10]

[JHT67]

I've gotta do it.

More updates, Pleeeease

[cable666guy]

Lookin good!! I had a few of these way back when...Nice motor , too, by the way...good luck with it!!

[ChaseDale3and8]

Got the 383 started. This was the second start up. The first time, the Skip White aluminum timing cover leaked oil like a sieve! I pulled it off and replaced it with a GM Performance Parts chrome with red and black lettering version. No leaks this time! I need to add the radiator to the stand now and break in the cam and seat the rings. Then it will be ready to drop in when I'm ready and I'll have one less thing to worry about. Made this short video of it running, and have more pictures over on photobucket of the latest progress on the body. My screen name over there is ChaseDale3and8. ....Joe