Show Posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.


Messages - althomas55

Pages: [1]
1
Restoration / Re: 68 Camaro Restoration Plan - Bodywork costs.
« on: December 13, 2023, 01:18:05 AM »
  I respect your desire to do this project ! I have done them , replaced every pc of sheet metal but the roof and firewall , not for the faint of heart !! If you're doing it yourself best have a good size garage for rolling things around and flipping over, a good mig welder, clamps and long reach vise grips ,metal fab and welding experience a couple years of spare time and lots of patience !! With shop rates at $ 100 plus an hour the  "normal" car guy can't afford much shop time and most body shops don't want restoration work and then you need to source a restoration shop for even more money ! Most projects sit in someone's shop for years before they come home ! If you can do the sheet metal , finish body work and paint is a small fortune today . I'm not happy that I'm old but most of my projects were done years ago when costs were a little more friendly. I think today I would seek out a decent driver for 25 or 30k while there still around vs doing a major resto but hey to each their own ,it's all in what you want and the time and effort to get there  , good luck with whatever you decide !!

2
General Discussion / Re: Need help 68 RS headlight assy
« on: September 09, 2023, 10:21:36 PM »
I'm assuming RS inner and outer fenders ? I had some issues with mine but too many years have dulled the memory of what I did. I know I had non RS inner fenders and had a template I needed to use for the proper holes ! Finally got all worked out but a lot of screwing around ! good luck !

3
Garage Talk / Re: Muscle Car Museum Closing
« on: January 12, 2021, 01:24:18 AM »
Been there twice over the past 10 years, wow what a collection !! was well worth seeing shame it's going away,another casualty of 2020 !!! :(

4
Maintenance / Re: Retainer for cable in dash - 68 camaro
« on: December 09, 2019, 02:16:03 AM »
worked on mine a couple times under the dash ,can't recall where that cable wrap pushes into, but do recall anything I ever did under the dash was a real PITA !!!!

5
Restoration / Re: Window felts - '68 w/ deluxe interior + reveal moldings
« on: October 01, 2018, 01:34:49 AM »
My cousin used a vendor out of windber Pa. by the name Restoration Specialties Inc.
He gave them his originals and they duplicated a set from what I recall and were to keep the info and pattern for future use.He has a 68 Z with deluxe interior and reveal moldings, I have used the re-pops myself and they don't fit worth a crap ! He was happy with the ones they made , don't recall much more as this was 8 or 9 years ago, I do know they are still in business though. May be worth a call.

Restoration Specialties Inc

Address: 148 Minnow Creek Rd, Windber, PA 15963
Hours:
Closed ⋅ Opens 9AM Mon
Phone: (814) 467-9842

6
  Some states have pretty tough laws and penalties for misrepresenting vehicles , I ran into this years ago when the wife purchased a 55 chev from a fellow in the state of Indiana. Long story short but the car was bought on ebay ( which didn't want to do anything ) looked good in pics  was stated to be in excellent condition and no rust through issues ,car was a rot bucket with nice paint ! You could reach up through the rear wheel house and stick your hand into the backseat.>:( We contacted an attorney from Indiana and the fellow was happy to refund about $7000.00 of the 20k purchase price rather than risk losing in court and facing a very stiff penalty in the state of Indiana for misrepresentation. I believe if it went to court he could have been forced to refund the full amount,pay a hefty fine and possibly jail ! I did't seek a full refund but merely wanted to pay a fair price for what we got rather than having my eye sockets gouged out of my head by some ebay scammer ! Had to pay an attorney a couple bucks to send this guy a legal jargon type letter but I was ( wife was ) into it for 20k already so what was another hundred or so ! ;)

7
General Discussion / Re: Muncie trans question
« on: August 08, 2018, 01:45:55 AM »
Thanks for all the responses, looks like I'll be pulling the trans. not what I wanted to do but was fairly sure that would be the case , not as concerned about the speedo issue as I am about the vibration felt in the shifter handle a couple times makes me envision something jamming up and destroying the tranny while I'm going down the road 60 mph !

8
General Discussion / Re: Muncie trans question
« on: August 07, 2018, 01:28:24 AM »
 Car is 68 but not sure of the trans year as car was in pcs. when I got it, car is not original , started life as a 6 cyl. now a 468 resides under the hood, 342 corporate gm 10 bolt rear with the 4 speed doesn't seem to lack for power , fun to drive , not so much fun to work on anymore ! ;D

9
General Discussion / Muncie trans question
« on: August 07, 2018, 01:01:53 AM »
 Speedometer stopped working ,( M-21) thought cable crapped out  pulled the speedo cable checked it out and not broken ! :( removed speedo bullet put finger in tail shaft and felt gear inside to be way forward of where bullet gear could engage it ,and can slide it back and forth quite far .Once or twice prior to speedo quitting I thought I heard a strange zingging ,whining type noise and slight vibration in the shifter handle but dismissed it as the radio, ( except for shifter vibration yesterday,vibration lasted couple seconds then quit ) as all seemed well with gear shifting and driving , no shaking,clunking,crashing or any other abnormalities ! In my 63 years never had a trans. apart and was curious as to why this gear could slide forward ( towards engine ) so far ? Do I possibly have a big problem brewing, does the tail shaft slide off easily as a turbo 350 does , or do I need to bite the bullet and yank the tranny  :-[ ? Thanks in advance for any insight !

10
Maintenance / Re: Oil
« on: July 31, 2018, 01:31:44 AM »
I've used the "Brad Penn"  green oil for several years in my 454 and have not had any issues,buying through Cumberland Truck  parts  here in Pa. around 5.00/qt.

11
Restoration / Re: 68 dashpad
« on: March 22, 2017, 01:06:23 AM »
Cousin had his 68 Z done at a place called Just Dashes out in Van Nuys Ca. a few years ago, looks top notch !  Seemed like it was 250-300$ rang at the time . About 15 years ago Ricks offered 2 pads and one was pretty nice but at the time availability kept slipping out into the future and I waited about 8 months or so to get one but never got to install it as the x got the car in the divorce ! Butternut yellow 68 rs !

12
Restoration / Re: RS Vacuum Hose Route
« on: November 28, 2014, 02:13:25 AM »
I believe that is correct,at least the way I also interprated the manual but mine is not original RS so it's only a 50/50 shot I got it right !

13
Restoration / Re: Still needing decent window felts for '68
« on: January 14, 2014, 03:04:58 AM »
You could try restoration specialties in Windber Pa. My cousin had the same issue several years ago on his 68 z with deluxe interior and the chrome beltline , he took them his originals and they made him a set up and supposedly kept a pattern for that style.Good luck

http://www.restorationspecialties.com/

14
General Discussion / Re: Harmonic Balancer
« on: May 08, 2013, 12:57:55 AM »
thanks for the info

15
General Discussion / Harmonic Balancer
« on: May 07, 2013, 06:28:11 PM »
I am trying to determine the correct part/casting number of the harmonic balancer that would have been used on the 68 MO 302 engine . Does anyone have one they would sell ? I believe this should be an 8 in dia x 1 11/16 wide balancer ? I have seen some with fins on the inside which I believe to be earlier vintage and some without fins but cannot seem to find info indicating which is correct for the 68  MO engine

Pages: [1]