Some new pictures
 

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...-50336-041.jpg
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...-50337-018.jpg
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...-50338-013.jpg
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...-50339-010.jpg

We had to push the car out yesterday for Dad to put the Harley away for the Winter, so I gave it a quick bath. First one in nearly six months.

Re: Some new pictures
 

Right, so it needs a carb and rear shocks. So what am I going to do tomorrow? Order Purple Hornies, of course! I figure if I don't buy them soon, the car'll never get them.

EDIT: It isn't getting them.

Question about M/T valve covers
 

I'm thinking about getting a set for the Camaro. It's a .575 lift cam. Will they clear? Holley says there may be. I figured I'd ask before spending $180 on a pair.

If the engine has roller rockers, they may not clear without doubling up on the gaskets. Easy to do in any case.

It's alive!
 

Finally got a new carb for it. Went from a 750 w/ vac secondaries to a 650 Double Pumper. The trans is slipping (probably from sitting, will wait and see if it solves itself) but other than that it's running great. It also feels a tad underpowered, which I still think is timing, but for now I'll just bask in the glory. I forgot just how much fun it is to be in this car.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRCke29yjhA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUVx2E0-H-E

I am a happy boy.

And a darn lucky one!

Don't I know it!
Only problem is, I can't wait to drive it again!

It's broken again.
 

Last Monday sucked. A trans line decided to let go while we were driving, and it puked every where. We fixed that, filled it up, and it was still leaking (no big deal- It just wasn't tight enough, but now the fluid's empty again) so it's sitting at my grandfather's right now. Which is fine, since my truck's in our garage because I'm redoing the interior. Sometime this week I need to get a battery (I'm sick of having to swap the one between it and the Chevelle) and then top off the trans fluid again and it'll be back up and running.

I won't be driving it my last day of school, because that was Thursday! I'm graduated!

Well, it runs again. I carried the battery over there (Don't do this. It was 40lbs. His house is half a mile. I'm out of shape. I had to stop and sit down every few houses and my arm hurt for 3 days).

I hope to take it to Graduation Thursday. So I have to get it out and give it a good cleaning.

Gave 'er a bath. It needed it. And then a bird s**t on it immediately.
Also gave the Mustang a bath. I've never posted much about it- It doesn't make for a good story, because it never breaks *knock on wood*

Both look good, and congrats on graduating.

Thanks!
I tried moving that Mustang. Holy cow the clutch is finnicky. I've been spoiled by my Dakota, which will happily roll along if I ease the clutch out. Within a 3 minute period, I must have stalled it 10 times.

I took my graduation pictures with it. It's still not my car. When putting it in position, Pappaw noticed just how bad the shifter is (we never really mentioned it for fear of hurt feelings) and decided it'll go to the shop this week. Also, after 2 years of putting it off, I finally ordered the air shocks for it. It'll be stinkbuggin' again in no time.

Congrats on the graduation.

Thank you!

Time to make it sit properly again.

I am amazed those are still being made. I am certain you have already been warned about this, but the shock mounts were never designed to carry the static load of the vehicle. Air shocks typically crack the upper shock mounts on A-body cars, not sure what happens on the F-bodies but just FYI.

(former chassis engineer)

I have them on my '68 Camaro as well, and I have considered putting a strut-type of bar between them that will hold the weight of the car instead of just keeping them bolted to the stock shock mounts. I had concerns like scuncio stated so I wanted to strengthen that area a little somehow.

The ones that were on it were okay for 30 years, so I'm honestly not too scared. Besides, it never gets launched hard, and they aren't full. I put about 80 lbs in them.
(If problems do arise, I will be the first one to admit you were right though.)

Oh, and the traction bars were originally Yellow as I thought (talked to the previous owner who put the 454/TH400 in- he also did the slapper bars, and most likely the old shocks which were also HiJackers).
I'm going to have to paint them Yellow again.

Also, for those in the Detroit area, the car will (possibly) be at the Barn show in Livonia this Sunday.

Washed it again since we're taking it to a local cruise night.
Gotta admit, it sits *much* better now.

Just a little tidbit on cleaning cars in general. Washing a car all the time seems like a great idea but if the car isnt driven the water that finds it way into areas you wouldnt realize. Driving the car after washing the car allows the water to be pulled out of those areas and to dry out. Washing and then putting in the garage will increase the speed of rust under the vinyl top and paint. Get some quick detailer in the spray bottle and a very good microfiber towel. I have not washed the green car in over a year and the blue 67 has been washed once since being finished back in 2015.

Also go to autogeek and do some reading on detailing. Especially about clay bar usage and paint polishes.

I appreciate your enthusiasm but unfortunately you could do more harm than good. Food for thought.

Great points from an expert Darrell, thanks for posting those up.

Noted! Thank you!


As an aside, OH. MY. GOD. This thing is brakesteering like you would not believe. So, no show for it this Sunday.
In addition, the shifter needs to be gone through (we ended up not sending it in- just never materialized)

"Now, one step foward and two steps back, nobody gets too far like that.
One step forward and two steps back- this kinda dance can never last!"

On a brighter note, I just ordered the NCRS/CMD report. Hopefully whatever dealer ordered it

A: Is the one that sold it
B: Kept records.

Report came in.

Official production date was March 19, 1968, ordered by Fairchild Chevrolet in Lakewood, Ohio.
The original location's now a Gordon Food Services. A newer location is now Pat O'Brien Chevrolet. I severely doubt they have paperwork from 1968. (Though it would've been unlikely either way). Damn, I'm never going to find out how it was optioned.

This is a very cool car. Although I own a '69 RS/SS 396 4 speed car, the '68 SS 396 has always been my favorite. I also love the color of yours, and the Cragar SS wheels and air shocks are very cool. Your Papaw has 2 of my favorite cars. I had a '67 SS 396 Chevelle when I was in high school and I love that car.

I've had experience with the Comp Cams Magnum 305 cam. I've piut them in a few big blocks and they are a bit on the radical side.

I don't know if you got the carburetor and timing fixed by now, but most of the time when someone brings their car to me and claims to have a carburetor problem it turns out to be an ignition timing problem. If you have not already done it try advancing the timing until the idle speed picks up. This is usually where you will get the best throttle response. With that cam you are going to need about 12 to 18 degrees of initial advance. Also, plug gaps with the HEI are .045. You need to find true TDC and install a timing tape on the balancer. Then find the total timing at around 3500 RPMs. It needs to be about 36 degrees. If it advances too much then you may run into detonation problems.

Have you checked the numbers on the heads yet? If you have the closed chamber rectangle port heads then you might need a little more timing.

You mentioned a burnout a while back. Although they are fun, I have seen several people destroy their cars while doing this. Be careful.

I never did the burnout. I graduated before I could do it. As far as the timing, I still haven't checked it. The brakes need work before I get to that. I'm also certain that it's either timing or simply the trans not putting the power down, because the shifter is super sloppy. Haven't checked the numbers on the heads, either.

What a beautiful 68 Camaro! Sounds like you are local to me as well. Maybe I'll see you at a show this summer :)

Maybe! Autos for Autism at Garden City Middle School is this coming Monday.

Also, my dad's never launched this thing in first. My grandfather did today.

HOLY (censored)! This thing is an animal! I'm still grinning like a goof ball.
The brakes STILL need work (we adjusted them, didn't fully fix the pulling), and it needs a shifter cable, but, MY GOD, it moves!
Also, I poked around a bit underneath it. It has
A driveshaft loop, which makes me feel better, just for the added safety
KYB Gas A Just front shocks (not really noteworthy, but I felt like mentioning it)
And, the exhaust has an H pipe. Which, again, not noteworthy, just something I noticed.

The car's going to the shop today, so no show tonight. I hope to take it to the Michigan Avenue Cruise on Saturday.

That launch in first gear convinced me that it's a hell of a lot closer to running properly then I thought. Engine wise, it runs more or less perfect, other than not idling till it warms up. Which is normal, so I'm not worried.

Judging by a few of the photos, I'd be willing to bet the brake problems are being caused by a failing hose. They tend to deteriorate from the inside causing a "pull" to one side or the other. Clearly the car was a stick so that shifter could be mounted improperly and/or the cable needs to be adjusted. It is imperative to find where the timing is set. That in itself could be the root of several problems you're experiencing including the overheating. I applaud you for being of the younger generation and showing interest in these old cars. So far, none of your setbacks warrant throwing in the towel, they are merely tweaks that need to be addressed. Keep posting and asking for advice; we've all been where you are and have figured out what works and what doesn't.

So, update few months later.

Brakes still aren't fixed. Shop's been super busy. About ready to say screw it and just go to discs up front. I've about had it with these drums needing attention every year. Plus, 454 and Drums don't really mix well.

Also, the thing has a bad, and I mean BAD, knock. It's had it for a while, but it's getting more and more pronounced. Probably a dead lobe on the cam/junk lifter, because I didn't know it was a flat tappet until two years ago.

It sucks, because that's money that I don't have, don't know if my grandfather has, and even if he does, I can't possibly ask him to spend it. So who the hell knows what's going to happen. We brought it back to our house for the Winter.

I must make it clear that I am simply day-dreaming here, and not actually planning on this, but I felt making a separate thread would be pointless.

SO....

If I got a stock look PerTronix distributor, would I be able to run a vintage Mallory Voltmaster Mark II coil with it?
(Keep in mind, I'm young. What may be obvious to the more experienced will be unheard of to me). And could I put an Accel cap on it?

Like I said, this is just day-dreaming.

EDIT: Also, looking back through this, it's crazy how silly some of my posts sound.

very nice Camaro always like seeing the SS side stripes painted correct and they are :beers:

Thanks! There's a couple imperfections. A little bit of bleed-thru around the end of the stripes on the door, where it goes to a point. But it's not a big deal to me. I just tell myself that it could've easily been done from the factory like that (if they painted them on- I don't know if they did)

(Also note that the car was repainted about 14 years ago, just to be clear)

Okay, so something kept bothering me:
The NCRS report said the production date was March 19, 1968. But I remembered the tag reading 07C. How could there be such a gap?

So I looked.
https://i.imgur.com/hnvQveu.jpg

Whoops.


What happened was I mixed it up with the Chevelle, which was an 07C car.
https://i.imgur.com/e0mcfyV.jpg
So, since I know its official birthday, shall I get a cake for it in the spring? Lol.
Also, an update:

I'm getting money for Christmas this year, so I'll be ordering a front disc conversion kit for the Camaro.
Tired of the front drums. They always seem to need something and I'd like the peace of mind discs bring. Don't worry, I'll be boxing up the drums and putting them away.

Today is its 50th birthday, so I started it up and let it run for a little bit.
https://i.imgur.com/fOU0G8R.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/SDH9FJT.jpg
^ Photo from October of 2004. I think it was the first time I ever saw it after the restoration. I was five.

https://i.imgur.com/G6QiuOz.jpg



Here's to the next 50 years.

Still looks great.