Project "SWISS CHEESE" the 68 Camaro

[nuke1]

Mike, you have helped me immensely! I appreciate it so much. That is more than I would have ever expected. Thank you so much! This is why I love this forum, everyone is so good. Thank you again. At least I can start on the shell this weekend now. Everything should work fine, otherwise I will ph you. Thanx
Posted via Mobile Device

[mcbassin]

Originally Posted by nuke1

Mike, you have helped me immensely! I appreciate it so much. That is more than I would have ever expected. Thank you so much! This is why I love this forum, everyone is so good. Thank you again. At least I can start on the shell this weekend now. Everything should work fine, otherwise I will ph you. Thanx
Posted via Mobile Device

No problem. Happy to help. I know you would do the same for me. Please feel free to call me direct if you have any more measurements you need. I really don't mind at all. Just an FYI I took all the measurment from the 67. It really doesn't look too bad from what I saw today. Its the first time I have had the trunk open, found a couple of tail lights and spoiler I didn't know were in there
I will be out there working on the rust bucket every evening except Thursday. BTW, I will need all the help I can get from you when I roll the 67 or 68 into the garage......

[nuke1]

Anytime Mike I will help, I love helping ppl, you know that. I wish I was closer to so many of you in the states just to visit and have a good ol' time. up here I have a couple friends into this, but mainly they all rely on me, whick kinda sucks. I won't be working on the car till this weekend as I ahd to pull the transmission out of my new truck. hopefully got her back together by thurs or friday. That is kinda cool that you found parts in the car you never knew were there!! I like those suprises!! Have a great day!

[Dieselwrencher]

Usually the only surprises I find on my projects are not good and cost me more money.

[nuke1]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Usually the only surprises I find on my projects are not good and cost me more money.

LOL, so true!

[nuke1]

Ok, so I am gonna have a long winded few posts here. with LOTS of pics. First off with the help of Mike (mcbassin), I got the measurements i needed for the camaro, once I got thoses I was able to get the shell in place with the floor. I got the inner rockers in place where they are suppose to be and then just set the outer rockers in place . I then proceeded to measure the shell for its place to where it should be. Once I got the shell in the proper place, height and length, I screwed the wheel tubs together. I then measured where the outer rockers were to go, from the front leading edge to the door jamb. got them in place and then slid the wheel tubs in place. Well with a little prying and tapping then went right into place!! yah!!! So far so good!

[nuke1]

Some more pictures. Just make sure that when you are buying metal to buy from the same company, I mean the company that produced the metal, if not, you have more problems. Different stamping dies........

[nuke1]

Now for the fun part, TEST FIT TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I Had Mike drop the shetet metal off for the car and it was now time to officially make it look like a car once again!! I got all the rear sheetmetal on the car and Thankfully everything lined up great!! Took a bit but it looked like a car once again, , for a short period of time at least.

[nuke1]

Once I was happy with the fitment it was now tear down time and time to start welding the chassis together!! I got the rear shell uprights at the back seat welded in first with the sheetmetal in so the height and side to side movement would be gone. then got the inner rockers welded up. ONce this was completed I had to figure out what got welded up first at the front firewall, got the inner rockers to firewall welded, then the inner cowl and the outer cowls welded in. then the firewall and inner dash. IT is starting to look like a car once again.!! whoop whoop And of course my little helper!!!!!!!! that's my girl!!

[nuke1]

A few more of the other side!

[nuke1]

And the rest for now, tonite to get the rear rails welded in and the outer rockers hopefully. Any questions just ask

[PHAT TONY]

I have a question; why only one beer can on the bench? And if you wanna borrow a pair of visegrips let me know lol.

[nuke1]

Originally Posted by PHAT TONY

I have a question; why only one beer can on the bench? And if you wanna borrow a pair of visegrips let me know lol.

lol, you got some more visegrips for me!! I can always use more!! hehe. BTW Tony, look by the drill press, there is a few more, empties of course.

[Dieselwrencher]

Very nice resurrection! That is a lot of work and I'm sure the lining up of all of this wasn't as easy as the pics make it look. Great work once again!

[mcbassin]

Very nice work James! I'm impressed with how fast you work. I will have questions for sure but not till I start working on mine.
oh and you're just showing off here:

[nuke1]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Very nice resurrection! That is a lot of work and I'm sure the lining up of all of this wasn't as easy as the pics make it look. Great work once again!

It sure is coming along nicely, and it took a bit of work but overall not bad at all.

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Very nice work James! I'm impressed with how fast you work. I will have questions for sure but not till I start working on mine.
oh and you're just showing off here:

Me showing off, never!!!!!!!!!! hehe I just had to make sure it all fit proper.

[noonzor]

just looking at all that metalwork makes my head, hands and eyes sore! looks good though dude, good job. you have far more patience than I!

[Dieselwrencher]

By the way, you have a very cute little helper!

[BMERDOC]

Im stunned! I was worried about a little rust in the cab of my truck! Your doing both an amazing and respectable job. Anyone who would tackle a job of this magnitude deserves the utmost in respect. My hat is off to you sir!

[nuke1]

Originally Posted by noonzor

just looking at all that metalwork makes my head, hands and eyes sore! looks good though dude, good job. you have far more patience than I!

Both my head and hands do hurt! You are very correct there sir!

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

By the way, you have a very cute little helper!

Thanks, she is a great helper for sure.

Originally Posted by BMERDOC

Im stunned! I was worried about a little rust in the cab of my truck! Your doing both an amazing and respectable job. Anyone who would tackle a job of this magnitude deserves the utmost in respect. My hat is off to you sir!

Thanks! I really appreciate that. It is defiantly quite a job, but it is also a great experience!
Posted via Mobile Device

[mcbassin]

You make this metal work so easy. It looks like the quarter panels and deck lid fit good. What company makes them and how do you like them? Are they the oem thickness?

You have a cute little helper!

[hgs_notes]

Yikes, I can't think of a single person I know that would do this job, and I know a lot of car and body guys. ust curious, what is that tool on the bench in front of your helper? Looks like a multi sheetmetal fab deal, but would like to know more.

[dan42]

Wow. That's all I can say. You are basically building the car from scratch. Stunning. I'm glad I came over here to look. Please continue to post lots of pictures!

[nuke1]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

You make this metal work so easy. It looks like the quarter panels and deck lid fit good. What company makes them and how do you like them? Are they the oem thickness?

You have a cute little helper!

Most of the metal is from DII, everything fits ok, there will have to be some fixes if Mike wants it, but otherwise it will be ok for a driver. I would probaly put another 150 hours into the gaps and everything if it was mine, but I am a perfectionist!! my bad. The thickness is close to OEM, you will never find a actual OEM thickness panel anymore. different metals and....... but close. And thanks, she is my little angel!

Originally Posted by hgs_notes

Yikes, I can't think of a single person I know that would do this job, and I know a lot of car and body guys. ust curious, what is that tool on the bench in front of your helper? Looks like a multi sheetmetal fab deal, but would like to know more.

Yah, up here I do not know anyone that would take this job on, nor did Mike, that is kinda why I am doing it, I felt bad for him. oh well. it is what it is. It will all be good once done. That tool is a roller, break, and a shear all in one. it does 20 gauge metal and CAn JUST do 18. works of for what it is for sure. got it at Princess Auto, kinda like your guys Harbour freight.

Originally Posted by dan42

Wow. That's all I can say. You are basically building the car from scratch. Stunning. I'm glad I came over here to look. Please continue to post lots of pictures!

LOL, Thanks! Yah I am basically building the car from scratch, not much there at all. I will post lots of pics no worries there. And I am glad you came over for a peek also!

[northern 85]

This guy is really lucky to have you building this car!!! NICE NICE NICE JOB!! I picked up a 68 camaro and cant wait to play this year