I know...:crazy:

My issue is that I become somewhat bored of a project once it's been completed and usually end up moving them along. It's like, OK what's next. There's no doubt the car is a quality piece, I was simply thinking it's time to try something else after completing what is now my fifth Z/28 restoration. It's now my third one in the past 6 years, and thanks to Covid it is the fastest I have ever turned one around.

I was also tempted to list this one on BAT just to see where it would land. The listing would have included a few hundred choice pics and a host of narrated video clips to really showcase the car, and then sit back to see what it would pull for bids? That was, until I looked back and saw all of the effort I put into this one. Viewing this thread again really made me appreciate the car on a new level. For at least the time being, it'll stay where it is while I look for my next project to restore.

Maybe it's time for a 69 or 70 Chevelle? Going to keep my eyes open for the next project? :dunno:

For those who haven't had enough Daytona Yellow, here are a few pics taken out along the Rockies last week while we were out for a good rip in the car. I stopped to cool it off while getting a great backdrop to shoot the car with.


https://i.ibb.co/M2KNV21/IMG-8710.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/yfQrDWh/IMG-8723.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/kD66gLf/IMG-8728.jpg

Simply breathtaking. Both the car and the scenery!

I hear the sentiment of getting bored after completing a restoration from other people too. I don't have that problem...I never complete any of mine, only customers at work and I'm usually way beyond ready for them to leave...:rolleyes2: I would LOVE to get a few of mine to a level of completion that they are nice drivers.



Don't you have room to keep it and feed your need to work on something with a new project ? A '69-70 Chevelle would be a cool project, but anything fairly clean and solid seems to be rather expensive just to start with.

Yes I have room, and yes...certain projects are expensive to start with. :scholar:

I tell everyone, I'm a hobbyist...not a collector. In saying that, I do like building solid lifter cars. More often than not, they end up being restored well into the 6-figure range, and rather than beat on them when they are freshly done, I'm more likened to moving them along and perhaps trying to recoup my costs when a car is fresh.

It's a strange yet addictive hobby (and an expensive one most of the time). Sometimes I question my own sanity when it comes to starting another frame off restoration, as I know full well where that's gonna end up.

Upside down. :worship:

Now, on the lighter side of the hobby...

Here are a few more pics to showcase the 714 yellow interior and the paint work now that I've had some time to get it outside in the sun. Ron really did do a remarkable job with the paint on this one. It does need a bit more polishing in a couple spots, but the body and paint are simply excellent on this one. Also included is one more V75 trunk shot for good measure. :cool2:

Click any image for the high res versions.

https://i.ibb.co/7YxdXq7/IMG-9027.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/qjTRVqg/IMG-9011.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/gJtX0xd/IMG-9020.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/bNZW2TT/IMG-9015.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/b1xQdD7/IMG-9007.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/QrNfWY0/IMG-9005.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/Xjm1K74/IMG-9029.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/x5Qr1hm/IMG-9030.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/898cyMD/IMG-9061.jpg

Awesome build! Said it before and I'll say it again... you saved this Z!

Thanks Dan. :beers:

Always feels good saving another real Z car. :flag:

Is this the car from Apollo, PA?

Yes. The car was purchased from the previous owner in Apollo PA last year and was then shipped up to Canada where I restored it over a 12 month period.

Love it, beautiful Camaro. How does it drive with those tires?

Thanks Bud. The car drive's really good with this setup. Hard to believe from a set of staggered bias ply's...but surprisingly well I would have to say. That reminds me...weather is great here today so it's time for another fall cruise before the snow starts to fly.

Cheers Mark! :beers:

12 months! Congrats job very well done!

Thanks for the info. I've been debating doing the swap to Bias Plys on my car and getting N50's, but you've got me leaning that way now. Appreciate it!

Re: bias plys, I think we’ve gotten used to radials being able to mask or cover up a variety of ills, be it bad alignment, worn suspension, etc. With a fresh rebuild, good shocks and proper geometry, I’m not surprised NorCam’s Z drives well on the bias tires.

----Radials depend on the quality of the tire. Same with bias-ply. Just don't think that any radial is going to better for your car than the correct bias-ply. The Goodyear Bias-ply's seem to me to be ahead of the rest of the pack. I love my Blue Streaks on my 67 Corvette for instance. I do temper that with the fact that I have driven bias-ply's most of my driving life (roughly 60 years as I drove when I was 14). I am very comfortable with the typical quirks of even good bias-ply's so maybe my thoughts aren't the norm!.....Bill S

You made me chuckle there Bill. :haha:

As Tom mentioned, a lot of it can likely be attributed to the car being fresh and the alignment being right on. Having quick ratio power steering doesn't hurt matters either. In fact, i'm sure that compensates to some degree.

I simply like the look of the sidewalls on the Bias Ply tires Mark. Nothing wrong with radials, but if it needs to look period correct, Bias Ply is the way. If I could get a set of Polyglas or Wide Ovals right now, I'd be ordering a set for my YH wheels...but it's hard getting any kind of tires these days.

Earlier today, I decided to uncover the car and shoot a cold start video to show just how easy this engine starts, as well as a roll out video to demonstrate how well it rolls off the clutch. The video also shows how well the motor shuts down and does so without any sort of run on. At the same time, I rolled the car out front of my place to get some better pictures out in the sun and have added a few of those to the the video. The car is put away for the winter and will stay parked now until spring. Maybe that will afford me some time to get my tach issues resolved. (lol)

Enjoy the video. (there's the link for those with older browsers)

Many thanks for posting the extra link. Never get tired of hearing that baby run

Looks and sounds great - well done. Thanks for sharing.

I was just looking through this thread again when I noticed some of the dates when Ron started painting the body. It was exactly 1 year to the day. Then I saw this post Tim, and realized yours was post #302 on the same date. Kinda cool so it is.

:youguysrock:

Arghhh.

It's 56 degrees here today, and the sun is shining brightly as the white stuff has been held to higher elevations. It is however all white in the Canadian Rockies and that means it's inching closer up here. Still...I am tempted to uncover the car and head out for a rip today. :smile:

In the following pic...there's a DZ 302 motor sitting off to the corner. That's heading out next week to be balanced and blueprinted ahead of going into this car at the end of next season. At that time, this solid roller motor will be transplanted into another 55 Chevy project.

Also noticed today that this thread has now surpassed a quarter million views. I'll add some more pics to it as the 302 is being rebuilt. :biggthumpup:

https://i.ibb.co/k8WYMBK/IMG-9090.jpg

Has said "'55 chevy project" already been procured, or will the next ~12 months be a hunt ...:smile:

Nothing procured yet Mitch. I have an option on a decent 210 roller project but still looking around in case I find a better 210 car to build. Planning a black and white 210 Delray street machine build. Waffle interior, bench seat, stick, 456 posi and will transfer some of the day 2 parts onto it as well.

Do you have something available? :Can-I-Have-It:

I have a super clean '54 210 2 dr from Wyoming...:tongue:
Mostly original paint and patina "to die for"...:grin:
I know, wrong year for most people. I'd like to keep it, but I probably won't live long enough to finish building it to running/driving.
It DOES have a '55 rear axle under it...

Nope...gotta be a 55 Delray. :biggthumpup:

Great build Graeme. I have enjoyed following along. Everything is all tucked away here in the prairies too. I was wondering what brand of cover that is on your car. I am looking for a new one.
Thx
Oliver

Thanks Oliver.

Onyx indoor car cover. I like them so much I bought two of them. Check around and normally you can find a deal w/ free shipping in the US. I got two of them shipped to Montana with my parts orders and picked them up down there to save on shipping. (eBay Link)

Maybe email them and ask if they can ship it Parcel Service with USPS from Michigan.

Check out the 210 next to my Z... that thing is huge ! You might want to consider adding some more horses :rolleyes2:


Attachment 206843

Bigger car, just more air space. Check out the shipping weights of a '69 Camaro and a 1955 Chevrolet...identical at 3,300#. Yes, there will be slight differences for engine and trans combo's but, but nothing to warrant more hp than he will be installing...:cool2:

Yup, I built one about 10 years ago and found the weights were very similar to Camaro's.

I am very happy that the Can/US border has reopened to us now. I made my way down to Montana today and picked up some needed engine parts for the 302 along with some new tires. Big thanks to Scott and Rich for the parts, and a huge thanks to Mr. Day 2 for intercepting the rally wheel at MCACN before packing it up and arranging to have it shipped over to me. Great packaging and this was very much appreciated!!!

Now to get the rubber mounted onto some Rally Wheels. (Early Christmas)

https://i.ibb.co/0Y3xsRd/IMG-9904.jpg

Hey Graeme, the dust shield (3843943) is still available from The General for less than 20 bucks. Is there any diffence between this and the original ?


:dunno:

Yup. These originals were the ones that always vibrated and squeaked. Shortly after being issued, GM fixed that with the little tabs added near the middle. They help space it and align it off the oil pan to stop the dust shield from vibrating and rattling from the harmonics of the crank. That super annoying little squeak the originals were know for. And these annoying ones like this are super hard to find now days.

Top one has tabs like the current GM offering.

https://www.autopartsdb.net/assets/i...497_354497.JPG

And below is the Corvette Specialties Copy of the Original w/o Tabs
https://www.corvettecentral.com/prod...32118.main.jpg

Now that the parts are here, today I started getting the DZ Motor ready to head off to the machine shop. Also rolled the car outside to warm up the engine and move some fluids around before the deep freeze sets in for the great white north. It was mild up here today at 38 degrees, but it's surely gonna get cold soon? The first day of winter is only 10 days away now. Brrrrrr

Was going to try and sell the car, but the more I think about it, the car will be staying where it is.

GLWS Graeme, the quality of this build will make any new owner feel very proud to be the next caretaker! :beers:

Finish reading all 1039 posts.

Great thread, great car, great job!