Author Topic: Firewall Help? 1968 z28  (Read 6369 times)

ronnieg

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Firewall Help? 1968 z28
« on: July 07, 2008, 11:47:01 PM »
Ok heres my delema.  I have to replace my firewall and upper cowl due to damage from a clutch explosion. It must have happened a long time ago, the upper cowl was cut open and bondo was poured down into the trans tunnel part of the firewall. My problem is i have the numbers matching engine and i am going to have to remove both hidden vins during restoration. I have tons of pictures of the areas and numbers. What do i need to do to keep this car as original as possible? I really dont want to restamp the numbers, but what do you do?

Dave69x33

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Re: Firewall Help? 1968 z28
« Reply #1 on: July 08, 2008, 12:24:12 PM »
Are the sheet metal areas where your VIN's numbers are stamped in okay?  If so, you could cut them out and welded in to place on a donor car.  Good body shops can weld the patches in and grind flush the weld.  Cut the patches out larger than needed so they can be trimmed for a good fit.

This process is similar to what is done when door handles are "shaved" or removed and patches installed for a smooth look, and remote door openers installed.  You see this often on street rods.

Since you have photo documentation of your original car, this will tell the story about your car and restoration.  It is important to offer this type of documentation in our hobby to prevent counter fitting "numbers matching" cars.  However, a well trained and experienced enthusiast can still find odd clues that would indicate a possible miss representation of a car.
 

Good luck.

firstgenaddict

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Re: Firewall Help? 1968 z28
« Reply #2 on: July 08, 2008, 02:38:51 PM »
Better yet just cut and patch the damaged parts... post some pics of the damage and see what others think the best course of action would be...
James
Collectin' Camaro's since "Only Rednecks drove them"
Current caretaker of 1971 LT1's - 11130 and 21783 Check out the Black 69 RS/Z28 45k mile Survivor and the Lemans Blue 69 Z 10D frame off...
https://plus.google.com/photos/112392262205377424364/albums?banner=pwa

ronnieg

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Re: Firewall Help? 1968 z28
« Reply #3 on: July 08, 2008, 07:57:56 PM »
i thought about that. But it seems like it will look as if i cut and pasted the vins.  i will attach a couple of photos. This is why you need a blowproof bellhousing on these cars!! I found chunks of the bellhousing in the Y heater duct.

ronnieg

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Re: Firewall Help? 1968 z28
« Reply #4 on: July 08, 2008, 07:58:44 PM »
Look out Foot!

ronnieg

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Re: Firewall Help? 1968 z28
« Reply #5 on: July 08, 2008, 08:00:06 PM »
Where cowl was cut. Notice the white paint in the cowl area. It is a Norwalk car.

ronnieg

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Re: Firewall Help? 1968 z28
« Reply #6 on: July 08, 2008, 08:00:48 PM »
It hit the subframe hard!!

firstgenaddict

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Re: Firewall Help? 1968 z28
« Reply #7 on: July 08, 2008, 08:17:19 PM »
Yea... the black 69 Z survivor has a scattershield and the remnants of a nightmare for someone... we found a shrapnel hole behind the accelerator pedal... someone was damn lucky!
I just hammered them flat and used a tig welder using filler rod as little as possible to fuse the rips back together. (unless you know where to look you would porbably not even see the repair... and I didn't even touch up the paint) 
James
Collectin' Camaro's since "Only Rednecks drove them"
Current caretaker of 1971 LT1's - 11130 and 21783 Check out the Black 69 RS/Z28 45k mile Survivor and the Lemans Blue 69 Z 10D frame off...
https://plus.google.com/photos/112392262205377424364/albums?banner=pwa

KurtS

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Re: Firewall Help? 1968 z28
« Reply #8 on: July 22, 2008, 02:54:45 PM »
I agree with James. Repair them and be done with it. So it has some war wounds - so do most of us. :)
Kurt S
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firstgenaddict

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Re: Firewall Help? 1968 z28
« Reply #9 on: July 22, 2008, 03:09:55 PM »
All the repairs etc... if done correctly add credibility to the car's story...
It was like ZL1 #1... they knew it was the right one when they found the hole through the door or quarter where an axle shaft let loose and punctured it... all of those things combined make the car more believeable... and adds to the legend and mystique of the cars being beat on ad raced back in the day!
James
Collectin' Camaro's since "Only Rednecks drove them"
Current caretaker of 1971 LT1's - 11130 and 21783 Check out the Black 69 RS/Z28 45k mile Survivor and the Lemans Blue 69 Z 10D frame off...
https://plus.google.com/photos/112392262205377424364/albums?banner=pwa

 

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