Author Topic: The story of my 67 Z/28 now undergoing restoration  (Read 35210 times)

plasiter

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The story of my 67 Z/28 now undergoing restoration
« on: January 12, 2008, 07:53:57 AM »
Greetings CRG Members.

This is my 1st post to this board, although I believe several of you may know a little about my story already, and I've been lurking about reading your posts for quite some time.  For those who do not know me and my story - here's a little bit about my baby.  Way back in 1984 when I was a senior in high school, I bought my 1st car, a 1967 Camaro.  That's all I knew about the car at the time.  I was 18, and wanted a Camaro.  Thank God I stumbled onto the one I did when I wrote the check.  I didn't know very much about these cars at the time, other than they looked very cool, and had the ability to go very fast - in proper form of course.  Apparently , the guy who sold me the car didn't know much about Camaro's either.  I remember him telling me "I'm going to buy a Porsche" at the time.  I do recall one thing that my father told me when I broght the car home, "Son, trust me, never sell your 1st car."  Obviously, I'm glad I listened to his advice...

After buying the car, I could never quite figure out what, exactly,  I had.  The car had an "SS" gas cap on it, a 327, power disc brakes, 4 speed, and a 12 bold rear end with a traction bar.  It also had a "Z/28" fender emblem from a 68 car mounted to the air cleaner.  (Weird...)  That much I knew - but at the time (and for several more years unfortunately) that was all I really knew.  Everything I saw told me this was at one time a big block SS car.  I saw the square traction bar, and noted a reference in a camaro book (erroneous) that stated only big block cars had the square traction bar.  So (and this is a hard part to read...) I began "upgrading" the car to its original big block status.  (Or so I thought)  Out went the 3 core radiator, out went the 4 piston brakes, out went the small block (327 thank God it was not the original engine) and in went a host of other "better" stuff.  (4 core radiator, 396, single piston brakes, etc...)

One day 12 YEARS later I got the bright idea of writing down the codes on the cowl tag and took the piece of paper down to Classic Camaro in Huntington Beach, CA to see if someone who knew what they were doing could help me figure out what all of those codes meant.  Well, after looking at the piece of paper, the guy behind the counter told me to sit down.  I thought he was going to tell me that the car was stolen or something like that.  Instead, he informed me that I had a 1967 Z/28 Camaro, and there were less than 200 of them thought to be in existence at the time.  Holy cow.  I could not believe it.  About 12 people in the showroom started yelling and slapping my back.  I was in shock.  To some degree I still am. I got in conact with Jerry MacNeish who gave me a bit more information about my car, including the very interesting fact that it is the only 1967 Z/28 that's currently known to have a factory "Special Order" paint job.  The paint code is O-O, and the original color was "Tangier Orange", a GM truck paint code 516 or 546.  So, not only did I have a rare 67 Z/28 on my hands, but apparently a one of a kind Z/28 to boot.  Pretty neat.

Since 1996, I have been "undoing" the damage I did, and the damage that other previous owners had obviously done to this car.  The hunt for orignal parts began thanks to the help and guidance of Jerry MacNeish and Jon Mello.  I will be forever grateful to these guys for their countless hours of help in finding the parts I needed.  Thank you both once again.  I've been on one long, expensive scavenger hunt that has finally put me in a position to begin the restoration of this car.  In November of 2007, I shipped my car back to Ken Lucas (CRG Member SS375HP) of Lucas Restorations to begin the restoration.  So far I've put the pieces together for a cowl plenum air cleaner, most of the engine and related components, DF wheels/trim rings and a few other hard to find parts.  From what I understand, the things I have "left" to find to complete the restoration are not the "ultra rare" parts.  I've been real fortunate thus far in finding the "hard" stuff.  You can see some pictures of the car in its current state here:  http://lucas-restorations.com/pauls67z.aspx 

That's a brief introduction to me and my car.  So when you see posts from me looking for some help now and then, you'll know why.  I am still on the hunt for a few items.  Brakes, radiator, 2-piece rotors come to mind immediatley.  I am sure Ken will be letting me know of other items that I'll need as he gets to work!

I look forward to getting to know more of you as time goes by.

Paul

 
1967 Z/28 - Factory Special Order Flambeau Red Paint (Close to Hugger Orange) in 1967!

TDWZ28

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Re: The story of my 67 Z/28 now undergoing restoration
« Reply #1 on: January 12, 2008, 01:51:35 PM »
Cool story Paul. Good luck with the hunt for parts.

Leonard1

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Re: The story of my 67 Z/28 now undergoing restoration
« Reply #2 on: January 12, 2008, 03:48:42 PM »
Very cool story!  Welcome to the board.

BillG

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Re: The story of my 67 Z/28 now undergoing restoration
« Reply #3 on: January 13, 2008, 02:54:02 AM »
Wow! a factory orange 67 Z28!  I can't wait too see it when you're finished.  Lucky guy!
Bill Garrett

1968RSZ28

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Re: The story of my 67 Z/28 now undergoing restoration
« Reply #4 on: January 13, 2008, 04:42:20 AM »
Welcome Paul!  I guess you can say you own the very first Hugger Orange Camaro Z/28 ever built!  How cool is that!     ;D     ;D     ;D

Paul

william

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Learning more and more about less and less...

jeff68

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Re: The story of my 67 Z/28 now undergoing restoration
« Reply #6 on: January 13, 2008, 06:29:19 PM »
Great story.  I remember how excited I was when I realized that my original owner numbers-matching 68 convertible was an L30/M20.  You must have been REALLY excited!  Have fun with the restoration.
68 L30/M20 Convertible, Ash Gold
N10, F41, N34, Z21, ZJ9, Z87, D55, G80, P01, U17

70lt1z28

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Re: The story of my 67 Z/28 now undergoing restoration
« Reply #7 on: January 20, 2008, 12:32:30 PM »
great story paul, and a super car. keep us posted

Jon Mello

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Re: The story of my 67 Z/28 now undergoing restoration
« Reply #8 on: January 24, 2008, 04:20:34 AM »
Paul,

It has been my pleasure to help you in your efforts to find the correct pieces for your car. I look forward to seeing the car completed. I know Ken will do a great job for you.

-Jon
Jon Mello
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RickH

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Re: The story of my 67 Z/28 now undergoing restoration
« Reply #9 on: January 25, 2008, 03:47:39 AM »
I have the pleasure of judging with Ken Lucas at Carlisle every year and have seen his restoration work up close. You will have one fine car when it's completed.
Good luck and keep us alll posted.

Rick H.

plasiter

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Re: The story of my 67 Z/28 now undergoing restoration
« Reply #10 on: February 02, 2008, 12:02:20 AM »
Thanks very much for the warm welcome.

Since my original post, I've been able to pick up brake calipers/rotors (although the rotors are WAY thin...), a restored AM/FM radio and the replacement A226CW CP filter element.  But there's still more to go!  If anyone hears of original weahterstripping coming available, I'd love to hear about it.  I did pick up a right side NOS door weahterstrip a while back - but still need the left side and the trunk.  Geeez that stuff is expensive.  Still on the radiator hunt too.  I just hope the car turns out nice in the end.  Its good to hear that Lucas Restorations has done good work.  I did see a few cars "in progress" and complted last October - all looked GREAT.  Thanks for everything guys - more later.

Paul
1967 Z/28 - Factory Special Order Flambeau Red Paint (Close to Hugger Orange) in 1967!

Camaro Camaro

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Re: The story of my 67 Z/28 now undergoing restoration
« Reply #11 on: February 18, 2008, 11:29:23 AM »
Nice find , awesome story. Unique colour. I sure would like a 67 Z28 ..... Oh well one day maybe if I work hard enough and finish some of my other projects first ;D ;D ;D Keep us posted on the progress.

plasiter

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Re: The story of my 67 Z/28 now undergoing restoration
« Reply #12 on: May 30, 2008, 06:08:25 PM »
Hello Again.

Well, things are definitely moving along.  For those of you that haven't seen the latest pics on the Lucas Restorations website - the car is totally disassembled and is now in the body shop.  So, we're making progress.  If you take a look at the pics on the website - you can clearly see the original orange everywhere.  That's pretty neat. 

Since my last update, I found brakes/rotors (although the rotors were way thin...) and also picked up an orignal trunk weatherstrip.  That was very $$$$, but I think its worth it for this car.

I am still looking for an original drivers side door weatherstrip.  So if anyone out there knows where I can find one, please let me know.  I also still need a radiator.  If anyone can help...that would be great.

I'll be going back east in June to see the motor get broken-in on the dyno - that too should be a great/fun day.  I'll also be going to the Camaro Nationals to see what that's all about.  I've never been to one of these events before, so I'm sure I'll learn quite a bit.

Thanks for the help.

Paul
1967 Z/28 - Factory Special Order Flambeau Red Paint (Close to Hugger Orange) in 1967!

fireZ

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Re: The story of my 67 Z/28 now undergoing restoration
« Reply #13 on: May 31, 2008, 05:10:19 PM »
Great story Paul and what a find. Look forward to talking to you
1968 Z28 LA Built
LIC # RPO Z28

plasiter

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Re: The story of my 67 Z/28 now undergoing restoration
« Reply #14 on: June 23, 2008, 09:29:09 PM »
UPDATE 6/23/08:

I just returned from the east coast where I had the pleasure of seeing my engine started for the 1st time.  We went to the dyno on 6/19 and after break-in had a best pull of 356 HP at 6200 rpm and 331 LBS Trq at 5000 rpm.  Best of all - it held together just fine - and sounded simply amazing.  We still have a problem with the coil - so I'll need to find a new #202 in the coming days - leaving room for some improvement.  Pretty nice for a little 302.

I also was able to visit Lonny Gordon at East Coast Muscle Cars to check up on bodywork progress.  The news over there was all good.  Very, very few problems in the body (the blessings of a west coast car) mean that all fo the original panels will stay with the car. So that's pretty cool.  The most exciting news of the trip came in the original color department.  Until now, I had believed that the original color of the car was a GM truck color code 516 "Tangier Orange" or something like that.  Well - we can put that thought to rest - that color was nowhere close to the original color.  Lonny located several spots of original paint that were in pristine condition that were covered up and saved (forever...) from the blaster.  The closest match based on several of these spots was actually....Hugger Orange.  In 1967.  Pretty neat.  The computer-matched color was just slightly different from Hugger Orange, but the difference was virtually undistinguishable.

So all of that was great.  After that we went to the Camaro Nationals where I was able to meet several of you.  That was a real kick.  I have never seen so many 67 Z's in one place at one time.  I think the final count was 8.  That just doesn't happen in California.   Pretty cool.

OK guys - I still need a radiator and some NOS driver side door weatherstripping - somebody point me in the right direction!

More later....       
1967 Z/28 - Factory Special Order Flambeau Red Paint (Close to Hugger Orange) in 1967!

 

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