1968 GMC "Camillian"

[chevy88]

Nice work on shortening frame, bed and auto body work, you make it look so easy.
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[78bronzechariot]

Originally Posted by chevy88

Nice work on shortening frame, bed and auto body work, you make it look so easy.
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Thanks!

[78bronzechariot]

Not a whole lot of progress to report. I did want to say that I had switched from cheap Bondo to Evercoat Quantum 1. Part of this was because we had been using 3M platinum Plus at work, which I had never liked, but the shop has switched to Evercoat. The other reason I had used cheap bondo is because I had purchased a couple gallons a while back for $15 and I figured I should use it up. The cheap Bondo does the job just fine but it takes longer to sand, you burn up more sandpaper (which isn't cheap), You have to sand it with 80 grit if you ever want to get done, and then you have to cover it with a glaze coat (also costs $20-$30 a qt) and sand that to 180 before priming. The Qantum 1 seems expensive at nearly 4 times the price, but It only requires one step. You lay it on and it sands easily with 180 grit paper, doesn't wear paper out so fast, then once the contour is correct you can go straight to primer. The other things that make the quantum 1 so nice is that it has three options for catalyst: Low temp, Fast and Slow. This takes the guesswork out of miking filler, so that you don't over or under catalyze the filler in an attempt to make it set faster (when its cold in the shop) or slower (when you spread a whole panel). If anyone decides to switch, keep in mind the ratio of catalyst to filler is 4 times what regular body filler is. There are also two "formulas" that are available, I am using the " small repair" which is creamier and a little easier to spread, it is meant to be easier to spread in smaller imperfections, this doesn't mean it can't be used for a larger imperfection is strength and sand-ability are the same as the "large repair" formula. The large repair formula just is a little thicker to make it easier to spread into larger imperfections.

In other news I spread some Quantum one and sanded, still have more to do before the passenger side of the bed is finished. I also finished stripped the removable components from the frame. I need to do some minor repair to the passenger rear spring mount, install the C notches, and get it cleaned and painted.

[Rusbuilt]

Nice! Thanks for all the info on the evercoat.

[67cheby]

bed is looking good !

[78bronzechariot]

Originally Posted by Rusbuilt

Nice! Thanks for all the info on the evercoat.

Originally Posted by 67cheby

bed is looking good !

Thanks!

[78bronzechariot]

Finally have the passenger bedside blocked out in filler, now for a couple coats of primer, but I did decide to take a break from bodywork and turn my attention to the frame. The poor thing was just caked in grease along the entire passenger side and the center crossmember. The truck must have leaked since it was new. I also disassembled the front suspension so that it can be degreased and painted. Since i am trying to keep the budget under control, I also decided that I would make my own c-notches instead of purchasing the $150 (or so after shipping) kit. I went to my local steel supplier and purchased a whole $15 worth of 3/16" plate to make my notch with. I also figure that welding it in is stronger than bolting in the kit. Unfortunately, I ran out of mig wire before I was done welding the passenger side and I didn't want to waste an hour going to the store. So I set the bed back on to see about mounting my 'burb tank under it and to see how much I would need to shorten the panhard rod to center the axle at my planned ride height.

On another note, a '69 Camaro hood front valance and spoiler appeared in the back of my '67. My plan is to do an interpretation of what GM could have done if they had made an "SS" pickup. I am going to make a spoiler fro the tailgate basing its shape off the Camaro spoiler, Cut the hood lover mounts out of the hood and graft them into the truck's hood, and modify 68 Camaro bumpers for the front and back mounted over roll pans. I want to keep all '68 elements so I don't know if i will use the '69 Camaro valance as part of my front roll pan. The spoiler and hood louvers are the same from 68 and 69 so they keep in the '68 theme. Now you can see where the trucks name is going: Cameo for the raked tailgate, Chameleon like the lizard that changes its appearance, and a play on my name. (That is still a secret....)

[78bronzechariot]

The first Camaro element got installed today. Clearly a trunk spoiler off a Camaro wouldn't just fit. So I placed it on the tailgate to get an idea of what it would look like then I Bent a wire frame in a similar shape and hammered out sheemetal to fit, then welded it all together. A little bodywork and it should look like it was meant to be there...

[78bronzechariot]

A few more pics

[Rusbuilt]

Very cool!

[jmorri34]

Man this things gonna be sick, Im in!!

[67cheby]

WOW, nice fab work on the spoiler

[frmula505]

Great fab work, Subscribing to this thread to follow your progress.

[78bronzechariot]

Originally Posted by Rusbuilt

Very cool!

Originally Posted by jmorri34

Man this things gonna be sick, Im in!!

Originally Posted by 67cheby

WOW, nice fab work on the spoiler

Originally Posted by frmula505

Great fab work, Subscribing to this thread to follow your progress.

Thanks! Hope every sticks around to see it finished...

[78bronzechariot]

Didn't get a whole lot of time this weekend. I stripped the tailgate, filled in the GMC lettering to smooth to the gate and started bodywork on the spoiler.

[keh27]

looking good

[78bronzechariot]

Today was the first big swap meet of the year in this area. I scored a very nice original core support, a '72 cable type gas pedal, a front and rear 68 Camaro bumper and new inner fenders for $90 each. The inner fenders were a great deal since most places sell them for about that much, but then you have to pay at least $125 truck freight to get them shipped. I will still need at least one more rear Camaro bumper to donate to the others since the truck is wider than a Camaro. I had figured the swapmeet would take the whole day, but I got in and out early and it turns out that I was able to get a little more work done. I fixed the very small rust problem in the bottom of the "new" core support, cleaned it and painted it. I also did some more sanding on the spoiler for the tailgate.

[Rusbuilt]

Nice!

[78bronzechariot]

Doesn't look like much, but I gapped the doors, which took a little bit of hammering edges on both the cab and doors. Then I figured I should probably check the fitment of the repop fenders and inner fenders to each other, the doors, and the OE '68 Chevy grille and core support. Needless to say, they are on there, but I am going to have to do a bunch of work to get them all to fit as nice as I want them to. Lastly, I did some rust repair in the bottom of the tailgate and did a little more bodywork on the spoiler.

[Rusbuilt]

The door gaps look great!

[67cheby]

looking good !

[78bronzechariot]

Originally Posted by Rusbuilt

The door gaps look great!

Originally Posted by 67cheby

looking good !

Thanks!

I didn't get a whole lot done this weekend, just some more tailgate bodywork.

[ThreeQtr]

Nice work-and unique!
When I saw what you were going for, it reminded me of the truck GM built in the sixtys as a concept with a Camaro to match. I think 'Hot Wheels' even made a replica of it. Anyways, I tried doing a search with no luck. I did find this design for the Good Guys show truck - maybe something of interest to you. Either way keep at it. Looking good.

[78bronzechariot]

Originally Posted by ThreeQtr

Nice work-and unique!
When I saw what you were going for, it reminded me of the truck GM built in the sixtys as a concept with a Camaro to match. I think 'Hot Wheels' even made a replica of it. Anyways, I tried doing a search with no luck. I did find this design for the Good Guys show truck - maybe something of interest to you. Either way keep at it. Looking good.

I have seen that rendering before. There are some things I like about it and some things I don't. Most of what I don't like is the grille on the Apache SS. I have also seen the GM concept truck that had a RS Camaro grille and a RS Camaro on a trailer behind it. I am really trying to keep the appearance of the truck as close to what GM may have done as possible. My goal is to hit some car shows and have people wonder if an SS pickup was actually a production option. Thanks for the input and be sure to keep following the progress!

[78bronzechariot]

Finally had some time to work on the truck, we had been busy atwork finishing a car for the hot Rod power tour. Nothing exciting to report, more bodywork and Sanding. I finally got the passenger bed side and door ready for primer. Should be shooting primer in a few minutes.
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