Rescued 73 Project

A73 · 05-21-2010, 10:46:19 PM

I had this shipped to me and got it yesterday. Arrived in enclosed trailer, on upper level, all the way to front, had 4 flat tires & no battery! I was so pissed I almost sent it back.
So, I call my friend w/ an airtank and got it rolling, had brought a spare battery, but wasn't greatest and had to jump it w/ my diesel. Finally got it going at 11:30pm, had to drive a mile w/o headlights and not knowing how much gas the guy put in it. Longest mile I ever drove!
Got it in the garage and went to bed. Couldn't sleep and had to be at work early. After work today, I took inventory and combed over the entire car to see what it needed. Do I start at suspension? Or do I get it painted first?
If I do one or the other I will not have much left to do both, so what do you guys/gals think? I was thinking of going Hotchkis TVA susp kit or just concentrate on body and making it like I want (RS, Z28 clone).
The Red is going bye-bye and was thinking of Fathom Green w/ Black stripes?
Keep Vinyl top? (supposedly new).
Comments?

RD400HP · 05-21-2010, 11:51:13 PM

Looks real nice A73, what state did your Camaro come from looks solid? My 73 had a vinyl top from the factory but its long gone so I wont be putting one on it, personaly I don't like vinyl tops. As far as your car goes if the viynl top is in good shape I would probably keep it. Nice interior I'm surprised there isn't red overspray on it, looks like they didn't care to much about it when they painted it. I wish my 73 was that close to being a driver nice ride.

Mark

78~CAMARO~KID · 05-22-2010, 01:53:08 AM

Thats a nice car. If I were you I would do the suspension first then all the body and paint work. If you keep the vinyl top, it will make your car just a bit different from the average 2nd gen. I like your color choice, I've got a green camaro myself and I love the color.

brooksman9 · 05-22-2010, 03:27:00 AM

Another vote for keeping the vinyl top. I like them on early models. kind of unique. Post up some more pics.

A73 · 05-22-2010, 07:11:04 AM

Thanks guys. I planned on keeping the vinyl top, but something about the bottom trim doesn't look right. It has a small piece in middle as a connector to the longer edge pieces. I think it should only meet in the middle for both longer pieces

.
The car came from OH and has some dirt underneath, but the pans look solid.

Mark, there is overspray on the door panels, eng compartment and trunk. Needless to say, I've started getting some of that off of the metal.

Kid, I'd like to see some pics of yours...what color green?

This car was orig White w/ red vinyl top and just a sport coupe.
Haven't ran the numbers on eng, trans & rear yet, but it's supposedly 355/350, double hump heads (doubt it from pulling the valve cover), A/C, P/W, P/S, P/B. Of course now I don't trust anything this guy I bought the car from told me about the car.

Damon23 · 05-22-2010, 07:22:35 AM

Mechanicals first. Then make it pretty. Nothing worse than a pretty car sitting on the side of the road.

global warmer · 05-22-2010, 11:10:47 AM

what he said

twozs · 05-22-2010, 11:26:36 AM

my 73 R/S Z28 with a white vinyl roof (paint code # 74 , dark red metalic)

LtRsZ · 05-22-2010, 12:24:00 PM

Not bad. If thats a factory pwr. window car it's rare. I think only 216 of the73's had it.

A73 · 05-22-2010, 08:52:39 PM

Interesting P/W option #. It looks factory, however, does anybody know if they made a separate door panel for P/W option? Mine has a plug (looks like a speaker tweeter) where the manual crank handle would go. I looked in the vendor catalogs and didn't see a listing for door panels w/o manual cranks.

I spent the day underneath the car scraping and wire brushing the floor pans and went very fast and everything is solid underneath!

I'm deciding if I want to spray the underneath black or I've seen the floor pans sprayed a red primer color on another resto car I saw. Has anyone else seen this color underneath?

twozs · 05-22-2010, 09:17:33 PM

73s should be red oxide primer unless its been undercoated which was popular in the day with ziebart or rusty jones was another popular one. norwooh had a elpo (electro-deposition) thank and the cars were dipped in primer not shot . all 73 camaros were from norwood . my 73 has been undercoated at one point which is probably why its still here and not in some bone yard . you can see the red oxide primer on the inside of the firewall in the picture

and here is the elpo tank at GMAD lordstown , OH with a vega taking a dip.

the paint had a negative charge and the body positive for adhesion

LtRsZ · 05-22-2010, 09:25:58 PM

I think I've seen 2 others with pwr windows. There is a guy on this site Iceburg something, look for his pics in the members list. He has a 73 Type LT, RS, Z28. His is triple black, pwr window car and I beleve it also has plugs in the door panels. I know your switches are correct in the console. Pwr. windows are rare partly due to being offered late in the year. What is the build date on your cowl tag? Mine is 04 D = April, 4th week. Mine is a Medium Red numbers matching Type LT RS Z28 with a 4 speed and some neat options like tilt, rear defrost, rear speakers as well as the normal Type LT upgrades. Do you have a good close up pic of your door panel plugs?

twozs · 05-22-2010, 09:43:50 PM

door pannels were the same. just the plug instead of the crank

A73 · 05-22-2010, 09:44:48 PM

My build date is: 03B

I just took this pic of panel.

1971BB427 · 05-22-2010, 10:19:31 PM

Very good looking project, and much farther along than most starters are. The power windows are a nice option! I'm not a vinyl top fan, but since it's in good shape I'd sure keep it.
I'd do all the little cleanup and paint removal and then get it 100% mechanically sound. After that I'd go for finishing the body and paint.