1973 RS/LT/Z28 4spd - Gold/Parchment Restoration

[firstgenaddict]

This is my brother's car my dad is restoring and I guess I am going to paint it.

Numbers matching car he bought in the late 80's to replace his 73 LT/Z28 which was bought new at Stott Chevrolet in Tryon NC. - Quain Stott is a current IHRA pro mod guy. (Stott also sponsored Jim Little's ZL1 powered 70 Camaro formerly owned by our own Kim Howie)

anyway here are some pics...

http://inlinethumb49.webshots.com/48560/2850601610059464720S500x500Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb29.webshots.com/47900/2893821410059464720S500x500Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb11.webshots.com/46410/2100098860059464720S500x500Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb55.webshots.com/47798/2771717290059464720S500x500Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb61.webshots.com/48188/2107904450059464720S500x500Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb27.webshots.com/47898/2958552660059464720S500x500Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb03.webshots.com/47426/2716452640059464720S500x500Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb29.webshots.com/47900/2315474490059464720S500x500Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb47.webshots.com/26798/2136878260059464720S500x500Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb30.webshots.com/49117/2161709390059464720S500x500Q85.jpg

[firstgenaddict]

Most would kill to start with a car this SOLID...

http://inlinethumb26.webshots.com/49241/2648542420059464720S500x500Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb64.webshots.com/48191/2605419750059464720S500x500Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb17.webshots.com/49232/2126072790059464720S500x500Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb01.webshots.com/26176/2127186730059464720S500x500Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb23.webshots.com/48214/2052612910059464720S500x500Q85.jpg

[mockingbird812]

Nice solid dry car. Congrats to your bro. Keep us posted!

[firstgenaddict]

Some details...

http://inlinethumb53.webshots.com/40692/2453049230059464720S500x500Q85.jpg

G marking on Rear end.
http://inlinethumb08.webshots.com/25543/2813953620059464720S500x500Q85.jpg

Z28 only front A-arm bump stop.

http://inlinethumb56.webshots.com/46135/2522453680059464720S500x500Q85.jpg


NOS front tie rods and center link I picked up YEARS AGO for nothing...

http://inlinethumb44.webshots.com/49003/2998460000059464720S500x500Q85.jpg

[njsteve]

Nice! Gotta love that red oxide, dipped primer and non rusty metal. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif

[firstgenaddict]

I think he is going to go your route Steve, have the kids do the paint marks.

[RichSchmidt]

I think the same G was found on another 73 F body. I dont know if it was a real real low miles Camaro or a Trans Am. It would be interesting to see if that letter varied based on what was in the rear.

[92646]

Any more updates on the 1973 RS/LT-Z/28 4speed? These have always been one of my favorites.

[scuncio]

Neat car James.

[firstgenaddict]

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/usergals/2012/09/full-254-982-07.26.2012_027.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/usergals/2012/09/full-254-983-07.26.2012_025.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/usergals/2012/09/full-254-980-08.27.2012_191.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/usergals/2012/09/full-254-981-08.27.2012_194.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/usergals/2012/09/full-254-979-08.27.2012_189.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/usergals/2012/09/full-254-978-08.27.2012_195.jpg

The car was VERY solid however two blocked drains caused rust through on the rear of front drivers fender below the lower trim and a half dollar sized hole in the pass rear quarter which turned out to be very thin about 6 inches out so my dad replaced the pass lower rear quarter and trunk drop off. I fabbed a patch for one the fender and welded up holes from an old slide hammer pulling party on the pass door but that is about the extent of the metal work required.

It's been mostly just the grunt work, stripping, light blasting, prepping the sheet metal, priming, and blocking...
The car is in full prime now and I am going to block it with 320 to make sure it is flat, seam seal it, one coat of epoxy sealer and then base clear.

[firstgenaddict]

My brother was fortunate in picking this one up, his first 73 Z28 was totalled in a freak accident. t-boned while in a parking lot at my brothers work put the pass door almost to the console. My brother was in working, he freaked out and all this while my parents were in Hershey for the fall AACA meet.

This is actually a better car being a Born with Engine 4 spd RS LT Z28.

[mockingbird812]

<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif neat story!

[firstgenaddict]

The day we brought the first one home, this was the car bought new from Stott Chevrolet I found it in 1986-1987 paid $450 ORIGINAL PAINT...
original engine had been replaced with a 75 model 350 and missing the Z28 wheels.

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/usergals/2012/09/full-254-1014-277270_4134280674334_1861251592_o.jpg

After we stripped and painted the car... not too much else other than exhaust, Z28 wheels and tires.

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/usergals/2012/09/full-254-1015-201491_4126596642238_587254209_o.jpg

Right after the car was painted, the LT trim breaking the black and blue wasn't even installed.

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/usergals/2012/09/full-254-1016-327350_4134261673859_363908337_o.jpg

AFTER the CARNAGE!!!!

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/usergals/2012/09/full-254-1017-464509_3628843638724_1351031442_o.jpg

[firstgenaddict]

Enough about the old one... back to the current Gold over Parchment car...

This is what it looked like when we bought the Gold car in 1989-1990 paid 5 times what we did for the first one!
Saw it at the Charlotte NC Fall show at the fairgrounds and ended up buying it the next week.

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/usergals/2012/09/full-254-1020-209116_4134260473829_15951262_o.jpg

[XXXGoldL34M20]

In my honest opinion those 1970 to 1973 Camaro's look way better as an RS model.

To me thats going to be an upgrade over the blue one you used to have.
Good luck with the resto. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

By the way who owned that RS Z28 1969 car pictured in the back ground or who has it now?

[firstgenaddict]

Yes the Gold car is an upgrade RS numbers 4 spd, D80. The blue was a non matching auto without spoilers, but a better color IMHO.
I kinda like the no stripe look that came when ordering the LT. It is much stealthier, especially since the side markings just say Camaro 350.

The 69 belongs to a friend, yes he still has it.
His father had a wrecking yard with nothing but 55-57 Chevrolets, 67-73 Camaro's and 64-72 Chevelles. He also sold and stocked GM sheetmetal for the early cars in the 80's-90's. We would pay $125 for NOS 67-69 Fenders, $175 for 67-69 Quarters and $75 for 2nd Gen fenders all in the GM boxes...
Wish I had a time machine that was the size of a COSCO ship.

[firstgenaddict]

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/usergals/2012/09/full-254-1021-09.26.2012_092.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/attachments/usergals/2012/09/full-254-1022-09.26.2012_099.jpg

[hubleyman]

Excellent car to restore and it looks like you are making some very good progress! I happen to be very partial to these cars and am (very slowly) trying to finish the frame off on my own 73 RS/LT Z/28 4 speed with A/C - Silver with Black interior.

When you get around to restoring the frame hose clamps (like the green one you showed a picture of), here's some info that may be helpful. After a fair amount of searching, I ran across some paint that matched the color of my original hose clamps exactly - Rustoleum American Accents - Summer Squash and Seaside Green. These paints were purchased at Orchard Hardware Supply a few years ago, so they may or may not still be available.

http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k560/hubleyman/1973%20Z/Fuellineclippaints1.jpg

Here's a couple pics of my project (hopefully I get this to work correctly) to give you some inspiration on yours (and maybe prompt me to get off my butt and make some more progress on mine). <span style="font-weight: bold">Keep up the good work!</span>

http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k560/hubleyman/1973%20Z/Passsidefuellines1.jpg

http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k560/hubleyman/1973%20Z/undertrunk.jpg

http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k560/hubleyman/1973%20Z/reardifffromback.jpg

[MosportGreen66]

Charles, good going! Those belly shots looks great.

I'm sure James will use them as inspiration

[firstgenaddict]

No doubt, thanks for the color matches on the clips.
The belly pan shots look awesome.

[firstgenaddict]

When color matching clips, primers, inspection marks etc I use a set of PANTONE color chips as a standard. Pantone Matching books are available worldwide as the printing/graphic arts industry uses them religiously. If you have ever picked out colors for a business card at a commercial printer... you've used it.

The RED-BROWN primer...

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-uTqJqj0oZVY/URL5feYaSZI/AAAAAAAABZI/5RYCZ3Ns5P0/s640/Clips_screws_PMS_colors%2520047.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-e-hq8Fn-p5w/URL5waaCLDI/AAAAAAAABZQ/Va3T5wfA_fg/s640/Clips_screws_PMS_colors%2520056.jpg

New sub frame bushings and cushions, Double checking everything for panel alignment....

After I get my alignments I mic the shim packs and write the figure down on a copy of the assembly manual page that has fender attachments.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yo9qebCkXHU/URLzvts-aYI/AAAAAAAABXw/JFj_uFEG_SA/s640/0206131745.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-nsU8g9qKfy4/URLzyY7o1aI/AAAAAAAABYE/SaptTFShtUs/s640/0206131748.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xQ8b0P50LAY/URLzyZcTd2I/AAAAAAAABYA/HXi4koY7QfQ/s640/0206131747a.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--9UOC_bdBU8/URLzvi9uUFI/AAAAAAAABXo/T-TiC9V6kt4/s640/0206131746a.jpg

I'm waiting on the NOS urethane nose to check everything then we are going to give her some color...

[Alss]

sweet! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/drool.gif

[mockingbird812]

For a guy who is a &quot;first-gen-addict&quot; you sure are passionate about 2nd gens. Great work James. Looking good. I like your attention to detail. Dennis Cumby turned me on to Pantone chips when I was looking for the correct color on my Ansen scattershield form my '70 Nova. Good stuff! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

[firstgenaddict]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mockingbird812</div><div class="ubbcode-body">For a guy who is a &quot;first-gen-addict&quot; you sure are passionate about 2nd gens. Great work James. Looking good. I like your attention to detail. Dennis Cumby turned me on to Pantone chips when I was looking for the correct color on my Ansen scattershield form my '70 Nova. Good stuff! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif </div></div>

It takes a NICE 2nd gen to get me interested as we drove/raced/wrecked these in high school and parted out real Z's nicer than the 6 cyl cars guys start with now.

Was going through parts and found a bunch of trim rings...
We also picked up a set of embossed bowtie NOS center caps.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-30sZKjVhZt0/URQkK48O5KI/AAAAAAAABas/syA7ohvwMsU/s640/2013.02.07%2520015.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-omYWrzPB2Js/URQkJDa4CiI/AAAAAAAABaQ/YKn1E0NRD8I/s640/2013.02.07%2520011.jpg

[firstgenaddict]

Going through boxes of parts that have been collected over the years...

NOS Bowtie Center caps --2 Different styles-
I have 5 raised logo lighter blue centers &amp; 4 of the Dark Blue Flat centers.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-3-EhlDE-po4/USATMaTGl4I/AAAAAAAABzM/55w11br45NA/s576/2raised_1later.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TfdhzxMJ9os/USATOzZDt6I/AAAAAAAABz8/zxMeus8JnNQ/s640/raisedLeft_flatright.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-7zZDtghZFLA/USATOhoK6qI/AAAAAAAAB0A/WkijolGJUmE/s640/flatlogo_1989box.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-VXTKcT2PWwM/USATPPeTGpI/AAAAAAAAB0I/oVdzVlG54cA/s640/raisedlogo_1984box.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-sk_4BPl6qGc/USATOgY22wI/AAAAAAAABz0/MhAZUa7lAbE/s640/centercapprofiledifferneces_raisedleft.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s5Hu446vRMs/USAUwfvlFEI/AAAAAAAAB0k/1LR-wj5GdBQ/s640/Bowtie_center_flat_logodetail.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-zdssVppLkCo/USAUwwsmk1I/AAAAAAAAB04/9UOSJcSWudQ/s640/Bowtie_cneter_flat_centerprofile.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-6_eTdQ_D1b4/USAUw9mC4EI/AAAAAAAAB0w/48dLg5bCyxw/s640/Bowtie_raised_center_logo_detail.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-F3dGRpyFqgg/USAUxLBd1SI/AAAAAAAAB08/R6uypS1Y7O4/s640/Bowtie_raised_centerprofile.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ZuKkN5IM9OM/USAUyNHsYqI/AAAAAAAAB1U/yIp62HBaL2E/s640/raisedlogo_centerprofile_detail2.jpg

[firstgenaddict]

<span style="font-weight: bold">NOS Upper Radiator Hose
Z28 and HD Cooling ONLY</span>

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-txHzd3G_fgM/USAUwiDx-rI/AAAAAAAAB00/xZNGMvE_Zaw/s640/2013.02.15%2520409.jpg

[firstgenaddict]

JACKPOT!
NOS RS Nose

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-TjkbaExrhoM/USEOHNJPgiI/AAAAAAAACDo/CK0D_bgOgtU/s640/0215131543.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-AfVT0Rr8Jj4/USEOGs4UuQI/AAAAAAAACDg/3Z8wXppNHMc/s640/0215131542%25281%2529.jpg

[MosportGreen66]

WHOA... James, please keep the pics coming!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: firstgenaddict</div><div class="ubbcode-body">JACKPOT!
NOS RS Nose

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-TjkbaExrhoM/USEOHNJPgiI/AAAAAAAACDo/CK0D_bgOgtU/s640/0215131543.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-AfVT0Rr8Jj4/USEOGs4UuQI/AAAAAAAACDg/3Z8wXppNHMc/s640/0215131542%25281%2529.jpg </div></div>

[firstgenaddict]

More Progress...
The ruddybrown primer to mimic the bath which the car shells were dipped in prior to color coats.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-UtKeNkNjjHE/UfGY1AxZE2I/AAAAAAAAEHA/7pmoSQni2F4/w631-h473-no/100_3355.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ZGt7UxzTOj0/UfGY0u_7QnI/AAAAAAAAEHA/e9Yr_bwr38c/w631-h473-no/100_3348.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RpxduKVdqPg/UfGYzeEB33I/AAAAAAAAEHA/-XGanp_4fiE/w631-h473-no/100_3347.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-WEjO278iVbY/UfGY1hdBffI/AAAAAAAAEHA/gm-S3lFZ63g/w631-h473-no/100_3362.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--TRWLm-jAwU/UfGY1jEa83I/AAAAAAAAEHA/egGDtmUItCM/w631-h473-no/100_3363.JPG
Seam sealing the floors and other hidden places

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DNgtfm-5I-o/UfGY21lHz8I/AAAAAAAAEHA/f3KJHfWHZQ0/w631-h473-no/100_3371.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Phmmi9YjC2w/UfGY3DcPaRI/AAAAAAAAEHA/oidwfaEqse8/w631-h473-no/100_3372.JPG

Black Flowcoat primer for the remainder of the body panels.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gLcu01Q3w40/UfGY4xV7YFI/AAAAAAAAEHA/0iZamKsGvbw/w631-h473-no/100_3377.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/--GBrTOx7KbM/UfGY3zTSP3I/AAAAAAAAEHA/oD3UpwYYyeE/w631-h473-no/100_3374.JPG

[73RSLTZ]

My brother is the best.

[73RSLTZ]

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/08/full-4867-5974-img_20110726_113515.jpg

[mockingbird812]

Great update, coming along nicely! Gold over parchment will be KILLER! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

[Bill Pritchard]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mockingbird812</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Gold over parchment will be KILLER! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif</div></div>

x2! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/worship.gif

[firstgenaddict]

CODE 60 oversprays...

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9TNfE5jFkSs/UglBKpLskcI/AAAAAAAAEM4/3kBqBXK6RoY/w1164-h873-no/100_3558.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-mAEBHzPmjeM/UglBKJvr09I/AAAAAAAAEMg/LGt52Ztvjz8/w1307-h873-no/100_3561.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rVgM9KX_kHk/UglBKz3NG_I/AAAAAAAAEM0/j9gS-1i6psw/w1164-h873-no/100_3617.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ZHr-pu-dmZk/UglBMTPiQ8I/AAAAAAAAENA/n7b999WvEsw/w1164-h873-no/100_3618.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-mm9I-Ul7CAg/UglBMh9nhzI/AAAAAAAAENE/7ZYS5FPG9Hs/w1164-h873-no/100_3620.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-XUFjw2aaDg0/UglBZPGiqXI/AAAAAAAAENU/s6LfjPX2hyY/w1164-h873-no/100_3550.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-oGtsC03SGf8/UglBYkarwWI/AAAAAAAAENM/necW65mAC18/w1164-h873-no/100B3530.JPG

[Bill Pritchard]

As a former 73 Z28 owner (bought new and kept it for 27 yrs) I am looking forward to subsequent updates <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif

[hubleyman]

Excellent progress! I'm enjoying the action photos...

On my '73, the rear fenderwells were a little tricky to figure out the painting sequence. First layer was primer, then body color of course (which got completely covered over on my car), then a blackout layer from the lower rocker blackout paint, then the undercoating. It took a long time to slowly strip the car to see how they did mine.

My interior had minumal overspray, so I tried to copy what they did.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/08/full-3493-6118-p1010012.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/08/full-3493-6119-lr_wheelwell.jpg



Keep up the good work! Charlie (hope I got this picture thing working right)

[firstgenaddict]

The silver is gorgeous...

[firstgenaddict]

The color match on the original Light Copper Metallic has been a bear.
After getting it pretty close I got some metallic tints and spent a few hours with a gram scale getting the proportions VERY close.
What do you guys think?

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L6OwLReCDVw/UizoBkmm4LI/AAAAAAAAEd0/V8OgwI6KsdE/w1200-h811-no/1973_RS_LT_Z28_code_60_Sprayout.jpg

[markinnaples]

That looks pretty much spot on; nice job and you must have the patience of a saint.

[firstgenaddict]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: markinnaples</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That looks pretty much spot on; nice job and you must have the patience of a saint. </div></div>

I have been asking for patience for many years... maybe I have finally achieved some level of it.

[firstgenaddict]

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-N2VNxpd9RtE/Ujt0v0ai-aI/AAAAAAAAEig/WfMxkNU9JdQ/w1103-h827-no/pass_decklid_up_jambs.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pDzuyquqd00/Ujty8muk6BI/AAAAAAAAEhg/dIy2zL8FmsE/w1103-h827-no/100_5383.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-p-GEjqNOXSI/UjtxunP0MCI/AAAAAAAAEfQ/LudvoG2Idtk/w1103-h827-no/100_5380.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6CZHbt085lU/Ujtxu1slsLI/AAAAAAAAEfU/AaqHVHP9zuc/w1103-h827-no/100_5386.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JR10IoWODRA/UjtxtqlQjxI/AAAAAAAAEfM/_TlC8ne_Ufg/w1103-h827-no/100B5320.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/--s-Vj8oAcXM/UjtyW-dM2bI/AAAAAAAAEgI/KSuFvoywB60/w1103-h827-no/100B5350.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-M4UVrx3eqX0/Ujtys1z4q7I/AAAAAAAAEhA/RmcSf9RZllw/w1103-h827-no/100_5382.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pDzuyquqd00/Ujty8muk6BI/AAAAAAAAEhg/dIy2zL8FmsE/w1103-h827-no/100_5383.JPG

[Xplantdad]

Looking good James!

[Bill Pritchard]

Not sure if anyone else has already asked, but... <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/Can-I-Have-It.gif

[73RSLTZ]

Uh No!! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/haha.gif

[Bill Pritchard]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 73RSLTZ</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Uh No!! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/haha.gif </div></div>

Well, at least I can thank you for the prompt reply! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif

[73RSLTZ]

http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/oo37/ssinsane/100B5860.jpg (photobucket

[73RSLTZ]

http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/oo37/ssinsane/100B5951.jpg (camaro

[73RSLTZ]

http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/oo37/ssinsane/1004131813.jpg (buffed

[firstgenaddict]

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ZUA2ghL4lTo/UmCn7KZ7OtI/AAAAAAAAEq8/XyIP3EaFUio/w769-h577-no/Mirror_refelction.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-j8IWWBzAso4/UmCn7wz9MKI/AAAAAAAAErM/COpNDtySVjA/w769-h577-no/drviers_door_deep.jpg


https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-SaM6jOxcWCM/UmCn8gMcibI/AAAAAAAAErU/zDqS1S2BXv8/w769-h577-no/pass_door_reflection.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Q7pu3M__KD0/UmCpaSTsBpI/AAAAAAAAErc/SSCXJqrCCzs/w769-h577-no/102B6800.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-YzHcBtvVNNo/UmCpf-S4TcI/AAAAAAAAErk/uQxeFLItrtY/w769-h577-no/102_6780.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CFzOS5E4otA/UmCpkBnc9HI/AAAAAAAAErs/0QOkU5nOjU8/w769-h577-no/102B6831.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jD0c3mXAvEc/UmCqPKT4CmI/AAAAAAAAEr8/impXmF3jXKg/w769-h577-no/102B6811.JPG

[kwhizz]

Beautiful........Lots of Blocking went on there!!!!

[napa68]

Wow!!!!

[73RSLTZ]

I cant wait to start putting it together.

[firstgenaddict]

Some details I have been posting regular updates on this over on the 2nd gen boards... NASTYZ28.com http://www.nastyz28.com/threads/1973-rs-lt-z28-4spd-matching-nums.255144/

I set up a zinc plating tank and started plating a bunch of stuff for the car.
Just been collecting parts and making progress.

[firstgenaddict]

Replated the TCS relay and the Horn Relay, tons of nuts and bolts and restored, cleaned terminal ends, washed the plugs, replaced wires, rewrapped the wiring harnesses.
honed and rebuilt the original brake calipers.

[firstgenaddict]

Inside fresh air ducting, harness gutters, antenna lead, dash mat (firewall pad), brake line clip refinishing (pantone color match number), details details details are what makes them assembly line correct.

[McCune]

Awesome car James! I wonder what the different color "G" markings on the rear end mean? Yours is orange and mine is blue, our cars are a month apart yours being older.

[sixt9rsx33]

Nice work James.

[Bill Pritchard]

Looks great....That is going to be stunning when completed.

[firstgenaddict]

Looks great....That is going to be stunning when completed.

I am looking for about 6 yards of neutral (REAL) comfort weave if anyone has any leads...

[x77-69z28]

James, wanna come to New York and help me finish my 70Z? Beautiful work. I wouldn't expect anything less from you!
Buddy

[firstgenaddict]

All the machine work is done on the engine, born with block and heads, intake is stock, looking for a 4 spd carb dated december or Nov oct. 30 over stock 9.0 : 1 compression, stock heads, 10 10 on the crank. going to assemble it soon.

Really deciding what to do about the interior more than anything.

It is 788 LT Neutral comfort Weave - the reproduction is a stamped pattern VS an actual woven pattern... I KNOW THE DIFFERENCE, which is SIGNIFICANT.
I found an original ITW lift reverse shifter and rods.
The original LT door panels are going to be pretty good if not better than that, there is only one small split in the drivers upper which I can fix from the back, put them on new FLAT backings and they will be very good original Neutral LT door panels,(Just Dashes is said to do the door panels at 1500 a pair.)


Gotta get this one done so I can do another... either the 68 HO 4spd GTO I have had for 15 years Alpine Blue over Parchment headrest buckets - Rally II's, redlines, hideaways, 3.55 M20 console rear antenna rear defog, Hd cooling (4 core rad and temp control 7 blade fan), HD aircleaner. all born with matching with original warranty card and recall letter for the fast idle cam on the carb.

OR would like to find a real 72 RS Z28 4spd... ha ha ha...

[McCune]

If your engine parts are original and the machine shop hand cleans the connection rods, they should be pink rods.

[firstgenaddict]

They are pink, however I would have assumed they were full floating rods but they are pressed pins... I have a couple of extra sets full floating 69 Z rods however we just used the originals.
Looking for a late 72 dated carb for a 4 spd. - 7043213 with somewhere around a 300-350 julian date for 1972

[firstgenaddict]

Door Dates - Quarter Dates-
Original wire harnesses corrected removed plugs, cleaned terminals, threw the plastic in the dishwasher and then refitted all the plug's and connectors after replacing missing and wrong wires, colors, & sizes then re-wrapped or re-sheathed in plastic conduit.
NICE Original dash plastic with Argent Trim -
Replated the ash tray -after cleaning realized it was the dated original - 11-72 unbelievable.

[firstgenaddict]

Emissions evap duct?
Horn Relay - replated cover and stud
Wiper motor - replated screws and washer brackets
Original Evap canister... is 354 the julian date?
Core Support
detail of light overspray down the fenders - from being on a buck with small gap between fenders and hood.
Firewall and front end
Interior Ducting and seals
The original EVAP lines - white lettering - and Yellow Lettering Yellow Stripe.

[big gear head]

Wow, great work.

[firstgenaddict]

I am looking for any REAL Neutral Comfort weave material that anyone may know about....
I believe early 70's

First two are the original door panels which had been MARHYDE painted black, I cleaned them with a tooth brush and Goof Off, it took over a half gallon to remove the Marhyde.

The second two are an ORIGINAL low mile Neutral Comfort Weave interior - code 788 - I can only hope the interior turns out anywhere close to this nice....

[markinnaples]

Man, that is going to be killer. I love the old Gold colors and you rarely see them so I'm excited to see how this comes out. Keep posting up your progress, thanks.

[hubleyman]

This project sure does inspire me to finish my '73... (working on it slowly, but finally making some progress).

On the evap canister date code question... You made me go look at mine.

Yours: 354 with an 01A car body.

Mine: 039 with an 02A car body.

Appears to be a date code as you suggested...

Keep up the great work !

Charlie

[firstgenaddict]

This project sure does inspire me to finish my '73... (working on it slowly, but finally making some progress).

On the evap canister date code question... You made me go look at mine.

Yours: 354 with an 01A car body.

Mine: 039 with an 02A car body.

Appears to be a date code as you suggested...

Keep up the great work !

Charlie

Thanks... that pretty much confirms it as a julian date.

[firstgenaddict]

Been working on the dash and restoring the gauge cluster..

[firstgenaddict]

Polishing the Aluminum Trim and stainless tail light rings
AFTER REMOVING THE ANODIZING

[BCreekDave]

Nice work for sure. If you can fix the stock lens its the way to go. I've heard, no experience, that the OER lens are bad. I used a headlight restore polish and it worked well as a followup to the sanding.
What are you going to do to protect the polished aluminum? Shoot with clear coat and polish?
Did you rechrome the gauge bezel or silver it?

[BCreekDave]

How's your clock? I had to rebuild mine a replace the electrical contacts with some silver ones I got on eBay:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Tattoo-machine-sterling-silver-contact-points-40-For-use-on-existing-springs-/332658847323?hash=item4d74032e5b

Glued them on with this:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/MG-Chemicals-8331-14G-Silver-Epoxy-Adhesive-High-Conductivity-10-min-working-/112999624335?hash=item1a4f4d6e8f

[firstgenaddict]

The AL TRIM:
Thinking about having the Aluminum clear anodized.
Was thinking about anodizing them myself, however the sticks for the doors and over the front and rear glass are 3-1/2 - 4 feet so it would take a fairly large tank to anodize. CLEAR is pretty simple, the question is the amount of current and whether a rectifier would be required or would a battery charger supply enough current?


The Lenses,
I used dripping water along with palmolive and
1. Wet sand 1500 on the worst scratched lenses
2. Wet sand all with 2000 until the scratches were all the same...
3. Wet sand with soap 3000 trizak until consistent
4. hand polish with soft cotton cloth balled up using fine cut Meguires
5. hand polish with NEW cotton cloth using with swirl remover

My printed circuit board was DELAMINATING so after removing it.
1. I got out a sheet of parchment paper (NOT WAXED PAPER) and
2. an old clothes iron, set it to the lowest and worked up until somewhere around 180 deg.
3. Put a hand towel on the granite counter and
4. laid the circuit board down over the towel
5. laid the parchment over the plastic circuit board

and then IRONED it back together...

It took a while as I worked slowly with as low a setting on heat as would make it stick back together rather than risk melting it. (the first time it was only 125-130 deg and it was not hot enough.)

[mockingbird812]

Nice innovation!!:biggthumpup:

[big gear head]

That's awesome. Pretty smart!!!

[firstgenaddict]

I flattened the original dash pad using a 3 foot stick of 1" square tubing.
Clamping the dash pad sandwiched between the edge of the granite counter top and the stick of tubing.
Heating the dash pad structure using (3) 300 watt halogen lamps. I used heavy aluminum foil over the dash pad edge which rolls over the front to keep it from heating up too much and used the lamps pointed inside the dash pad upside down on the counter. It doesn't take too long to heat it up if they are 5" from lens face to surface which is about 7-8" from the actual bulb. -- if you have it clamped taught and are heating it you will feel the clamps noticeably looser.
Which you can then tighten a little at a time until it is flat across the front.

FWIW this works with a 69 dash pad as well... HOWEVER the 69 front lip is not anywhere close to as sturdy or thick as the second gen front lip and many times is already chipped cracked or missing pieces.



ANODIZING
HEAVY DUTY oven cleaner removes anodizing so you can polish aluminum trim if anyone did not know... otherwise it streaks when polishing and appears to have a residue on parts. if needs to looks really dull like the part shown on the left above when you start polishing or sanding scratches out or it will not be easy to polish evenly.

[BCreekDave]

For me the straightening was the easy part. I used a hot air gun, a 4 foot level on the undersides and a series woodworking bar clamps to slowly flatten it. My problem was the shrinkage of the original cover. This can be seen in your second photo down in post 71. The leading edge where it curls around is uneven. I heated and stretched and heated and stretched and finally got mine to wrap around somewhat to satisfaction. Not perfect, but close. Did you get yours better than the photo in 71?

[firstgenaddict]

Did you rechrome the gauge bezel or silver it?

The originals are vacuum metalized... like a plastic potato chip bag then it is blacked out.
I use silver leaf put the glue down then burnish silver leaf onto the surface.

I couldn't get the wood grain off without fear of damaging it or I may have sent it out to have it metalized.



As an aside the original 69 tire pressure decals are not on foil or on paper they are on vacuum metalized paper - which appears to be wet strength metalized paper. It was originally developed for beer bottle labels thus it has wet strength in the paper.

[BCreekDave]

The wood grain is a pain to remove. Every inch of it has adhesive. Took me about 4 hours with a real thin blade. I then sent the thing out to be metallized and then had to mask off the edges with petroleum jelly. Then spray black. Got about 20 hours in the thing. I did this on mine about 20 years ago and it is holding up well.

[McCune]

I am going to try this out on my bezel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqZgAy6kRG0&t=60s

[BCreekDave]

I've got one of those pens, just haven't gotten around to trying it on anything.

Here's the one I got:
https://www.amazon.com/Molotow-ONE4ALL-Acrylic-Marker-703-102/dp/B01E7EG3NM/ref=pd_nav_hcs_rp_t_3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=1PAT5WWG7T5S3R3RP2E5

Here's another vendor:
https://alsacorp.com/

And a video of what appears to be magic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GY0iNcApC8s

I was going to try this stuff on the dash corner vents. 70's were one year only on the vents. Impossible to find NOS.

[firstgenaddict]

For me the straightening was the easy part. I used a hot air gun, a 4 foot level on the undersides and a series woodworking bar clamps to slowly flatten it. My problem was the shrinkage of the original cover. This can be seen in your second photo down in post 71. The leading edge where it curls around is uneven. I heated and stretched and heated and stretched and finally got mine to wrap around somewhat to satisfaction. Not perfect, but close. Did you get yours better than the photo in 71?

I was afraid I was going to rip the cover after it started to split at the sharp angle to go over the edge after working it so much.
I used a halogen lamp and a few pairs of sheetmetal pliers with the WIDE clamping area and pulled it over.
Part of it was really good... the part I did after fixing the backing.


I first tried to stretch the drivers side about 2 months ago, prior to straightening - then straightened it and then pulled it over on the pass side. It cover was a good inch short from

I am going to get another screwed up pad and try a few things...
If I had an oven large enough I would have heated the entire thing up to about 200 or so...

I was thinking that in a black bag in the southern sun for a few hours would make the entire thing pliable.
If I were going to do a couple I would weld up a jig to hold them in the correct position so they could be straightened and stretched.

[firstgenaddict]

Some photos of the relaminating the cluster circuit board

[firstgenaddict]

There was an entire corner and half of the screw hole which were missing... I taped up the wood grain and used 3M automix repair material to build up the area and worked it back down.
The lighter gray color is all replacement material

[firstgenaddict]

HA I just picked up one of those at Hobby Lobby over the weekend.
Mine has a finer point with a metal collar half way up the writing tip... probably a 1 mm tip

[BCreekDave]

Nice work! I actually like the detail work better than the body work and engine stuff. It can be a challenge especially when you don't have many practice parts.
On the dash pad, did you flatten your or did you leave a bit of an arch? I didn't flatten mine completely as the dash on mine has some curve

[Mr70]

Pick up the bigger Molotow refill and save yourself some money.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MR2KER3/ref=asc_df_B01MR2KER35486199/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=395033&creativeASIN=B01MR2KER3&linkCode=df0&hvadid=242017695311&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7742652685172349540&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9021672&hvtargid=pla-360766397241
Air brush it on in light coats and see how incredible it mirrors chrome.
The amount of paint they put in those felt tip pens is ridiculously small.

[firstgenaddict]

Pick up the bigger Molotow refill and save yourself some money.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MR2KER3/ref=asc_df_B01MR2KER35486199/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=395033&creativeASIN=B01MR2KER3&linkCode=df0&hvadid=242017695311&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7742652685172349540&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9021672&hvtargid=pla-360766397241
Air brush it on in light coats and see how incredible it mirrors chrome.
The amount of paint they put in those felt tip pens is ridiculously small.

Thanks I wondered if it would airbrush or not...
IMHO it looks JUST LIKE vacuum metalized. especially when you are only seeing a small amount, it would be perfect for a chevelle gauge cluster.

THE DASH PAD I realized after the first fitting about the bow on the edges - that I fixed.

The air vents I took apart so I could tighten up the vent blades and then made a hand rivet tool from a pair of hole punchers to rivet them back together.

[JRSully]

If you are using the Moto PEN, make sure you have the tip "soaked" and make one pass if you can. if you go back over it to "touch it up" it could cloud up the shine. Experiment with it, doesn't take long to become an expert. This is great stuff

[Mr70]

Watch this.

vGKQwylEihw

[firstgenaddict]

That should work great on Vent balls etc...

[firstgenaddict]

Had the radiator boiled out
Then I spent 5 hours and Straightened the fins using wooden sticks and tweezers.
Sprayed with Catalyzed Enamel color matched.
All the pulleys, motor mount cups, and power steering brackets.

[firstgenaddict]

Not too bad for a first shot... I thought the runs in the corner may have to be fixed, however after looking at a few low mile trunks I saw the same patterns.

[markinnaples]

Looking good.

[ZLP955]

Awesome attention to detail James, as ever.

[firstgenaddict]

The interior kick panels and rear inner side panels.
Also the roof rail weatherstrip retainers and the foam seal for the "gap" originally they have a similar seal installed at the factory... these eliminate the wind noise and sealing issues which plague many restorations.
First gens use a polyurethane saturated foam seal, not the wider black foam of the 2nd gens.

[firstgenaddict]

Picked up a nice low mile (12k) 1973 model Z28/L82 take off - intake - original carb, EGR 7040299, TCS vacuum solenoid, and idle stop solenoid.
The cover on the divorced choke spring has an AZ ink stamp and the Idle stop Solenoid has a
DP1997409 ink stamp.
This was one of the last LARGE items I was in search of...

[Bill Pritchard]

Will this beauty be for sale when it's completed?

[BCreekDave]

Where did you get the Z87 cowl seals? Mine are in basically good condition, just hae some wrinkles. Any suggestions on how to iron out the wrinkles.

[firstgenaddict]

1Will this beauty be for sale when it's completed?

No... this one will in all likely hood never be sold.
The owner, my brother, has had this car since approx 1990 ~ AND IT WAS Purchased as a replacement for his first 73 LT Z28, which was totaled back in the late 80's while he was working at a local grocery store... He was meticulous and parked the car between a telephone pole and the GUY wire for the pole so no one could door ding or get near it... WELL Until the Senior Citizen hit the accelerator instead of the BRAKE and T boned it... buckling the roof and putting the pass door to the console.

Those are the original Z87 seals, I just cleaned them using Kaboom Foaming cleaner and a scrub brush.
I laid them out in the hot sun to flatten them out.


IF anyone knows of a 1972 Z28 4 spd or a 72 LT1 Vette I am looking for the right car.... must have paper and born with drive train... No Greens or Reds.

Considering a 72 LT1 A/C vette BECAUSE 72 Z28's are like HENS TEETH.

[Bill Pritchard]

With the level of detail you are achieving on this car, I really doubted that it would be for sale, but you never know unless you ask....:wink:

You're right, 72 Z28's are a rare bird.....IIRC, the 2nd lowest number built with something like only 2575 :dunno:

[firstgenaddict]

With the level of detail you are achieving on this car, I really doubted that it would be for sale, but you never know unless you ask....:wink:

You're right, 72 Z28's are a rare bird.....IIRC, the 2nd lowest number built with something like only 2575 :dunno:


IMHO - The best compliment anyone could have on a restored car is to have it mistaken for a survivor.


I enjoy the process of determining the exact way something was done... like angles of approach, how did that overspray reach that crevice or why is the mist this way... like rockers... gun were on reciprocating rails... watch the videos of the cars being painted in Fisher Body plants. They traveled side ways across the top of the car Left to right as the car moved beneath and on the side there were no tilted guns shooting the bottoms of the rockers.
I spend hundreds of hours inspecting every photo of every survivor car I can find... make model and year are of little consequence... 1922 Oldsmobile Super Sport V8 with 2500 miles to a 1990 Triple Black L98 Vette Roadster with 10k miles...

NOW HOWEVER I DO prefer anything ZORA had a hand in creating... 57 Airbox vettes to 1972 ZR1 vettes. Solid Lifter Chevrolet's - specifically

Bill Yes 72's are hard to find... I looked for a long time in the 1980's as my father wanted to get my brother and me Z28's for the year we were born...
The first 73 LT Z28 (Blue totalled one) I found was built the week my brother was born and sold new at Stott Chevrolet 40 miles from the hospital. (as a side note Quain Stott and I have become pretty good friends due to some other racing and cars) however we never were able to find a 72... we scoured Hemmings for years between when I was 13-16. Then after I bought a 69 vette and then went to college we really just gave up on it.

[firstgenaddict]

Working away, installed the kick panels, the rest of the vent assemblies and defroster ducting.

Placed a large order for carpet and under-layment, the plug wires, battery cables, rad rubber insulators, tons of misc little parts valve cover rubber elbow, etc...

I am looking for someone to plate the front and rear bumpers using only Nickel Chrome like the originals... Anyone know of anyone?

ALSO if anyone has or HAD a 73 Z... what are your wheel dates?

I have almost 3 sets of wheels and none are 1973 MY wheels.

4 are dated Jan for 1971 model year... K-1-1
4 are dated Sept 1971 Model Year K-1-1 9 30
2 are dated Nov 1971 Model year. K-1-1 11 22 & 11 24
1 is dated Feb of 1972 model year K-1-2 2 11

I would love to trade for 1973 Model year wheels manufactured in late 72.

Tipped off to a starter by a guy on the Nasty Z site (McCune) 418 starter dated 2M14 PERFECT!

[olredalert]

----Why do you say the bumpers are nickel plated? Im pretty certain they are chrome plated. They may have had a nickel underlayer,,,,Maybe?...….Bill S

[BCreekDave]

Factory plating was nickel over bare steel followed by the chrome layer. It resulted in not as good of a luster finish. Most chrome shops add an initial layer of copper that is then polished. This tends to fill the microscopic pits better and the subsequent nickle-chrome is much brighter and smoother. This then falls into the category of "over-restored". I would say that any competent chrome shop can skip the copper layer.

[BCreekDave]

On your dashpad, is the area around the gauges black or te brown of the dashpad? I always thought that on the original pads the area around the gauges was supposed to be black.

[firstgenaddict]

On your dashpad, is the area around the gauges black or te brown of the dashpad? I always thought that on the original pads the area around the gauges was supposed to be black.

I have never seen a colored dash pad with the area painted black.
I have some more photos of other low mile cars I will check them as well...
This is the original brown dash pad, it is dated 11/30,

My 71 RS with neutral interior had the same dash color configuration. no black recess.


Does anyone know how to determine whether the CAMARO script on the dash was silver or not?
LT includes Deluxe interior which has argent trim.

[hubleyman]

Well.... I’ve been trying to keep up the assembly pace on my personal 73 with your project but you are working just too darn hard and fast… Here’s a few comments / questions:

Wheels: My car is a 02A build date. The wheels are K-1-3 2 “valve stem” 1 AU, except one is a K-1-3 1 “valve stem” 22 AU. The odd thing is all my wheels are painted black inside as well as on the back side (original paint), except the one wheel with the earlier date code is painted gray on the inside and back side. Maybe this happened to be a transition date for changing from gray to black at the wheel factory?

Chrome: Just got my parts back from the chrome shop (ouch – you don’t want to know the $$$ on that) and they look incredible! They don’t have the over shiny chrome effect of reproduction chrome parts. Not sure what layers they used but I am very pleased. Even the inside of the bumpers are lovely. The inside of the back bumper had numbers stamped in it repeated over and over. Looked pretty neat once the plating was done… P.S. Chrome is difficult to take pictures of...

Roof rail moldings: Your recent picture shows the vertical roof rail weatherstrip retainers, but it doesn’t look like it has the second trim piece on the car that wraps over the edge of the body (see my pics)? Do you not have those items or am I just not seeing this correctly?

Keep up the great work and posting of all your progress! Your efforts are really motivating me to get mine done in the near future!

Charlie

[firstgenaddict]

It's difficult to get the kick panels in with the dash in...
I ended up taking the dash back out in order to put them in without scratching anything.

Your wheels are 1973 MY and 1/22 and 2/1

This car has RS but NOT EXTERIOR STYLE TRIM,(so no body color door handle stripes, no hood edge trim roof rail, tail light inner rings, or rear trim) they were separate options in 1973.

[BCreekDave]

Here is what I was referring to for the dash color:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=602920309719049&set=a.354970574514025.94813.100000032574261&type=3&l=49999673f6&theater

That is Scott Kiehne's 70 L78 car.

also can be seen in Franks Arone's 70 Z28 with Green Dash:

https://www.hemmings.com/magazine/mus/2017/08/1970--frac12--Chevrolet-Camaro-Z28/3751057.html#PhotoSwipe1533613472352

See what I mean? Maybe a 70 only thing?

[firstgenaddict]

----Why do you say the bumpers are nickel plated? Im pretty certain they are chrome plated. They may have had a nickel underlayer,,,,Maybe?...….Bill S

Cu Ni Cr
Copper Nickel Chrome... Copper plate to fill in surface irregularities then polished, then nickel plated, then chromium - the chrome is the thinnest layer and the Nickel is what is polished and then chromed in order to produce the luster.

[firstgenaddict]

Here is what I was referring to for the dash color:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=602920309719049&set=a.354970574514025.94813.100000032574261&type=3&l=49999673f6&theater

That is Scott Kiehne's 70 L78 car.

also can be seen in Franks Arone's 70 Z28 with Green Dash:

https://www.hemmings.com/magazine/mus/2017/08/1970--frac12--Chevrolet-Camaro-Z28/3751057.html#PhotoSwipe1533613472352

See what I mean? Maybe a 70 only thing?

Wow that is NEWS to me... I have never seen that, it may be unique to the 70 model, I have never owned or worked on a 1970 Camaro at any time.

[BCreekDave]

Posted this question over at NastyZ28 and come to find out it is yet another 1970 Camaro oddity.

[firstgenaddict]

Dave - Classic has the Z87 Cowl seals, I am not sure if they are exactly the same as originals however they were in the cat.

[firstgenaddict]

Replated the tail light sockets and replaced the lower steering shaft boot and lower steering column bearing... (same as a Jeep Grand Cherokee)

started putting the tar and jute underlayment in and carpet as well...

[73RSLTZ]

Will this beauty be for sale when it's completed?

Absolutely not!! My wife has instructions to pour my ashes through the carburetor when I’m gone..

[73RSLTZ]

I just want to thank my brother for restoring my car. James’s attention detail is insane!! Thank you brother!!

[firstgenaddict]

Progress... headway... or ?
Ha ha...
Coming along nicely, I plated more parts... the insert sleeve for the back drive bell crank - stamped with SPI.

[firstgenaddict]

More details...

[Dave Rifkin]

I have a feeling you're going to have the nicest restored 1973 Z28 in the world when you're done. Outstanding attention to detail.

[Bill Pritchard]

I have a feeling you're going to have the nicest restored 1973 Z28 in the world when you're done. Outstanding attention to detail.

x1000 :headbang:

[73RSLTZ]

I have a feeling you're going to have the nicest restored 1973 Z28 in the world when you're done. Outstanding attention to detail.

Thank you I hope so!!

[cook_dw]

Excellent work James. Always a treat to see updates to things you are working on. :cool2:

[L16pilot]

Good to see correct PS hoses...are the PS hoses NOS, re-plated originals or have you figured a way to produce new hoses with the correct-style crimp?...hopefully the latter :)

[x77-69z28]

Good to see correct PS hoses...are the PS hoses NOS, re-plated originals or have you figured a way to produce new hoses with the correct-style crimp?...hopefully the latter :)

Yeah, what he said!
Buddy

[73RSLTZ]

Good to see correct PS hoses...are the PS hoses NOS, re-plated originals or have you figured a way to produce new hoses with the correct-style crimp?...hopefully the latter :)

I think they are the original hoses.. James put the gas tank in today.

[firstgenaddict]

Original Power Steering Pressure hose which I replated the fittings.

FWIW there was someone on the CRG board about 5-10 years ago who made a set of dies for making the correct CRIMP on the Air Conditioning Pressure Hoses. The dies were made from an old set of weatherhead dies If I am not mistaken.

I sold the hose fittings and machines to crimp hydraulic and pressure lines 15-18 years ago, this is something which could be accomplished "fairly" easily.

[firstgenaddict]

Original 8901855 SV Negative Battery Cable is the correct negative for a 72 Z28 according to the assem manuals... cable was never offered OTC, it was obviously used on this 01A car.

[L16pilot]

Thanks for the response James. I just sent two original sets of '70 hoses off to be re-plated, but was hoping there was a "new" source for the correct crimps. From the few individuals I've spoke with, no one really wants to do single crimps due to potential liability issues.

[firstgenaddict]

Thanks for the response James. I just sent two original sets of '70 hoses off to be re-plated, but was hoping there was a "new" source for the correct crimps. From the few individuals I've spoke with, no one really wants to do single crimps due to potential liability issues.

after looking at it... it's a leaf type die with multiple wedges which squeeze together in a cone type hydraulic press drive the cone in further it crimps tighter and tighter. The shape of the die leaves which contact the collar is an elongated ellipse with the ends lopped of. EASY if someone has an old set of dies. IF SOMEONE has DIES they can be reshaped on the ends even if you have to weld them then reshape them by hand.

[njsteve]

Is there overspray on the tank straps? If I recall correctly, they were installed and hanging when the car body went through the paint booth so the will have a strange overspray pattern. Here is the underside view of my untouched, white 73 SD455. You can see that the overspray comes from the sides of the car and a little from the rear

[firstgenaddict]

probably not enough steve... but there is some there...

[73RSLTZ]

It’s getting closer to being done. I really have to thank my brother firstgen addict!!

[hubleyman]

Really enjoying the progress on this car! Can't wait to see it all together...

Couple of minor tidbits to mention.

My 02A 73Z still has the original 854 battery cable. Yours might be one of the last of the 855's that were used, or perhaps they just installed a leftover cable that was still a correct fit?

Also, I believe the Z87 splash shield on the side of the cowl gets installed on the front side. Mine was upon disassembly. I'm sure others could chime in and verify if it should be that way...

Keep going !!

[McCune]

Also, I believe the Z87 splash shield on the side of the cowl gets installed on the front side. Mine was upon disassembly. I'm sure others could chime in and verify if it should be that way...

Keep going !!

Correct, the gasket seal is bolted from the front side.

[BCreekDave]

On my 70 they were in front

[firstgenaddict]

Some shots of the color for the wheels...
This was mixed using the old PPG Lacquer formula tint names TRANSFERRED over to same tint names in AXALTA in the same quantities.
NO FLATTENER YET and NO TEXTURE

SEM TEXTURE COAT SHOT FIRST!

[Ricks72Z28]

Seen a few cars where the straps are the body color, based on having the Z21 option. Search the topics at Nasty Z28 as it was discussed in length a few years back.

[firstgenaddict]

Added 30% by weight of Coarse Poly Metallic to lighten the mix...

[firstgenaddict]

Bought a car to get the accumulated NOS parts along with parts of the interior... JACK POT on the NOS RS parts...

[firstgenaddict]

More NOS parts...
Plus been working on the wheel color.

[SPEEDYB]

Wow

[firstgenaddict]

Got the bumpers back, took asking the right questions and TIME to find someone to do them like the factory. R & D does work for a Vette restoration shop in Florida that takes cars to NCRS meets. - he knew EXACTLY what I wanted!

I AM VERY PLEASED and WILL SEND THE NEXT JOB TO THEM.
If anyone is interested...
R & D Finishing in Elizabethton Tenn.
Turn around was a month - dropped them at fall autofair in CLT - received them today.
2 bumperettes
1 rear Bumper
1 shifter handle
$840 FOB Eastern TN.

These are not highly polished - NICKEL CHROME ~ NO COPPER ~ they have the sanding scratches and nice sharp crisp edges, the backs are nicely finished as well.
When I dropped them he drew out illustrations of the tooling marks and scratches and replicated them.

[73RSLTZ]

Put the back bumper on and installed Carpet. It’s getting there.

[NorCam]

Liking the bumpers for sure. Great attention to detail and killer work.

[firstgenaddict]

Some more details of the bumper I cannot tell you how pleased I am with the PRODUCTION QUALITY CHROME PLATING by R&D Metal Finishing. http://rdfinishing.net

[firstgenaddict]

Painted the engine minus the waterpump which I am awaiting... grrrr
Spent the day outfitting, plus cleaning and getting the valve covers ready...

[McCune]

Is that the timing tab that car came with?

[firstgenaddict]

Thats the cover that was on it... it was dated 12 - ?? the last numbers were not stamped deep enough to make out... I assumed it was correct because of the 12 date.

[McCune]

Thats the cover that was on it... it was dated 12 - ?? the last numbers were not stamped deep enough to make out... I assumed it was correct because of the 12 date.

I have not seen that cover on any other73s? looks like a 1969 cover.

[firstgenaddict]

Was the timing tab attached to the original cover or was it separate and bolted on?

[McCune]

The timing cover timing tab is spot welded on.

[firstgenaddict]

MY brother will have to live with the points deduction. I have put hundreds of uncompensated hours into research for his car and have tried over and over to get him to chase correct parts, he would rather put hundreds of hours into chasing BAMBI.

[McCune]

I doubt it will be a points deduction.

[cook_dw]

Excellent work and attention to detail James. :beers:

[copo69]

Wow , I don't know how I missed this thread but just saw it today. Beautiful work, I have a 07E '73 Z/28 RS, white no stripes, auto car that I've owned since '75 with 16k miles. I had modded the car somewhat but returned it to stock condition in early 80's. Thank goodness I kept everything I took off as lots of these parts were unobtainable back then. I have some incorrect paint on undercarriage, because made it a "show car", we thought all black was the way to go back then along with the Cragars, air shocks, headers, etc. If I hadn't been in school at the time and had some money it's hard to tell how bad I would have screwed it up. lol Anyway, decided to return it to original stock condition. I spent a lot of time acquiring paint for the wheels at the time. Finally found an old guy who owned a paint store who prided himself in matching paint. Took him a wheel and said match this. He said whatever amount of paint he ended up with would be the quantity and there was no formula. I think I ended up with about 3/4 gal., gave a qt to a friend and still have some left that's probably not good. He hit it right on the head and in the 80's restored 2nd gen Z's had all kinds of different colored wheels at shows. Didn't see anyone else with correct color for several years. I still have some original wheels and tires(spares) I collected at the time and I don't know about a suede additive to the paint. It looks to me as a lot of the texture is due to painting technique as these wheels are hard to paint and paint was put on rather dry and thin. All my wheels were black on the back too. Some things were still available from GM, (able to get a complete exhaust). I can relate to the detail on the parts,your work is great. I was having stuff cad plated and doing research on correct finishes. Back in the day restored muscle cars were just starting and have come a long way in techniques and correctness. My car is far from perfect but I really enjoyed the process. By the way James, I visited you and I think it was a friend who had a black '69 some years ago when I was visiting my daughter who was going to school in the area. Looking forward to seeing the car completed.

[firstgenaddict]

The Black RS/Z survivor which we drove the hell out of... took it to the Camaro Nats in 2007 or 2008 and had it judged in Vintage Certification... I never really cared for 69's until an original paint Black RS Z with cowl and endura came along...

[firstgenaddict]

BTW do any of my wheel colors appear close?
I still don't have the wheel color acceptable.

[McCune]

A 07E Z28 must be one of the last Z built.

[L16pilot]

"BTW do any of my wheel colors appear close?
I still don't have the wheel color acceptable."

James - I have a couple quarts of the original Ditzler DLL-32961 formula. If it would help, I can provide you a spray out card in the next couple of weeks. Looking at photos, t's really difficult due to various lighting effects, so hopefully having a fresh spray out card with the correct material will help.

[firstgenaddict]

"BTW do any of my wheel colors appear close?
I still don't have the wheel color acceptable."

James - I have a couple quarts of the original Ditzler DLL-32961 formula. If it would help, I can provide you a spray out card in the next couple of weeks. Looking at photos, t's really difficult due to various lighting effects, so hopefully having a fresh spray out card with the correct material will help.

That would be AWESOME...

[L16pilot]

No problem and easily done. Do you have a time frame?...I should be able to a spray out in the next couple of weeks if that's okay...mainly want to wait for a low humidity day.

[copo69]

A 07E Z28 must be one of the last Z built.

So far it's the baby on the '73 registry. It has a unique item, green pinch clamps rather than Witeks on the smog hoses. The guys on the 2nd gen site told me there was no way , they had to have been replaced but I took them off when I first got it. Another guy with a '73 chimed in about a late '73 Chevy p/u a friend of his drove to work. Turns out it was a late build truck with the same clamps on it. Took one off and sent it to me.

[firstgenaddict]

No problem and easily done. Do you have a time frame?...I should be able to a spray out in the next couple of weeks if that's okay...mainly want to wait for a low humidity day.

next couple of weeks is more than fine... thank you again.

[firstgenaddict]

Dropped the engine and trans in today...

[73RSLTZ]

Looks great. Thank you Bro. I appreciate everything you do. Deer season is almost over.

[x77-69z28]

James, when I did the wheels on my 70 Z project two years ago, The Parts Place was still selling the correct lacquer formula in quarts. My wheels are perfect with texture!
Buddy

[firstgenaddict]

NOW I can start assembling the rest of the sheet metal!!!!

[Kurt S]

The Parts Place was still selling the correct lacquer formula in quarts.
The wheels were the only thing painted in the factory in enamel, btw.

[x77-69z28]

I did not know that!
Buddy

[firstgenaddict]

progressing...

[Lynn]

Very nice James.

I should know this, but I don't. Can I put an RC33 radiator cap on my 69 Camaro radiator, run the overflow hose into an expansion tank and have a closed system on my 69? I know it isn't technically correct. Is there something different in the neck that would keep it from working as a closed system?

[firstgenaddict]

Lynn,
I do not believe there is anything different, the cap is incorrect in appearance though, if you want a closer to correct look the RC 26 is a big eared closed system cap.

[firstgenaddict]

Does anyone know the correct hardware for the shifter levers and shifter mounting plate to trans bolts?

[firstgenaddict]

Installed the fan and shroud as well as the overflow tank...

In the mean time I painted a 48 FORD Pickup... beautiful 1986 Ford Metallic Blue

[big gear head]

Nice!

[L16pilot]

That would be AWESOME...

James and McCune,

Weather is looking good to do the sprayouts of the wheel paint this afternoon/tomorrow. Please contact me at [email protected] or 443-521-3158 to get your shipping addresses.

[Dave Rifkin]

When are you putting the "Caution Fan" sticker on the shroud for the Camaro?

[firstgenaddict]

When are you putting the "Caution Fan" sticker on the shroud for the Camaro?

Thanks for the reminder... I surely would have neglected that critical detail...

[njsteve]

I'd be happy to assist you with the proper incorrect placement location as I do own a ford product now, I'll have you know!

;-)

[firstgenaddict]

I had the card scanned and then did a spray out which was light, so I added a little black tint and I believe it is pretty close, though the texture is a little odd, am spraying the sets tomorrow so I will report back with the exact amount of 806J added &
the Chroma Premier complete mixture ratios.

[L16pilot]

Wow James...that looks spot on. How did you get the texture with modern materials?...just dust the last cost? Awesome job.

[firstgenaddict]

The texture on the card you sent is more even with less noticeable grain than mine.

I originally tried SEM texture coat but it is like 60 grit sandpaper... WAY too rough, then I tried Rust-oleum texture coat first then shot the mix over the top which is what is pictured above.

I am going to do lay down a wet coat then dust them with the mixture needle run close to all the way in for a mist tomorrow.

[firstgenaddict]

Here are a couple more to try to get a better feel of the color.

The last TWO ARE A WHEEL with ONLY SILVER TEXTURE trying to show the texture prior to the dark gray color.

[firstgenaddict]

I think I nailed it this time...
I used 6 ounces of the mixed paint - shown in the photo below.
Added 75 ml of 806J
Then added 2 Ounces of Flattener
Catalyst
3 ounces of chroma reducer -
I sprayed it with a 1.4 needle and nozzel with the volume almost off from about 10" moving fast - I ran gun passes using my wrist to swipe the inner area from the rim lip to the center down the lower part the ribs dusting over so as not to get too much build -

[Mr70]

That looks great.

[firstgenaddict]

<<If the moderator could replace the above formula with the one listed below I would appreciate it - the mixing ratios above are WAY OFF.
I didn't have a scale where I was shooting the wheels and I shouldn't try to estimate from memory using mixing cups...

OK
I got a spray out card from someone who had some of the original lacquer.
I had it scanned then did a couple of tests for texture and color after a little work I have the formula worked out in Chroma Premier and will explain how I shot them.

Chroma Premier runs about $110/pint -
4530S 58.2g
813J 40.8g
808J 30.9g
802J 26.0g
806J 88.8g
819J 7.4g
891J 3.9g
864J 2.5g
62320F 162.2g
62330F 112.1g
This makes slightly over a pint.

I mixed the following for shooting the wheels -

6 Oz above paint
2 oz Flattener ***
3 oz Chroma Basemaker reducer
2 oz Catalyst

***WITHOUT FLATTENER it will not have the correct sheen -ALSO if you don't use flattener the color will also be off SIGNIFICANTLY *** flattener actually lightens because is is really just talc.

I used a SATA knock off and shot it from 20" or so away - 20# at the gun with the trigger pulled -(across the pressure drop).
I closed the volume completely then opened until it just began to spray then 1/4 more open --- It took 10 coats to get complete coverage. started on the lug nut areas and the deep pockets first because I knew that would be the difficult part getting coverage without making them look odd.

It would have been difficult to have the coverage be too heavy... resist the temptation to open the volume!

[firstgenaddict]

I can't tell you how satisfied I am with the wheels... I threw a center cap and trim ring on it and took some pictures... The lighter ones are with flash the other's are without flash.

[x77-69z28]

Looks great James!
Buddy

[73RSLTZ]

Here is a daylight pic no filter shot with and iPhone

[73RSLTZ]

We should be starting the Camaro today!! Video up today

[73RSLTZ]

Got it started breaking in the new motor..

[73RSLTZ]

https://youtu.be/Z6AUKp-VgyU

[73RSLTZ]

https://youtu.be/Rc6DBoBnOo0

[73RSLTZ]

https://youtu.be/QN8uo_8Efd8
More videos of the Camaro

[Charley Lillard]

In the first video the smog tube has no check valve. Did you plug the tubes ?

[73RSLTZ]

In the first video the smog tube has no check valve. Did you plug the tubes ?

Yes, I asked James the exact same question.

[Dave Rifkin]

Car sounds a lot throatier than any 73 I remember.

[73RSLTZ]

Car sounds a lot throatier than any 73 I remember.

It has joeys exhaust on it. I don’t know it’s been since 1992 since the last time it ran. Back then it had headers and cherry bombs i think.

[L16pilot]

Your car is coming along nice and sounds healthy. Any chance you can ask James to send me the wheel paint spray-out card back to me? He has not responded to my emails.

[73RSLTZ]

Your car is coming along nice and sounds healthy. Any chance you can ask James to send me the wheel paint spray-out card back to me? He has not responded to my emails.

Absolutely. I will tell him or I can get it and send it back to you. Thank you so much for the spray out.

[L16pilot]

Thanks

[73RSLTZ]

Your car is coming along nice and sounds healthy. Any chance you can ask James to send me the wheel paint spray-out card back to me? He has not responded to my emails.

I have the spray out card already packaged up it will be in the mail tomorrow.. James came over today and we started cleaning on the Black car.

[L16pilot]

Thanks...very much appreciated.

[firstgenaddict]

Some paint detail photos of area inaccessible with an assembled car...

[firstgenaddict]

Photos of original vacuum hoses, actuators, heater hoses, emissions hoses, alternator stamp - WK ink stamp on Transmission - Steel shim head gaskets and freeze plugs without any markings.

[firstgenaddict]

Patent Distributor Cap- 2nd and 3rd quarter of 1972 Wires - Exhaust clamps, pipes and extensions are all factory original - mufflers were replaced with GM replacements prior to 1990- (dated 1987) Rear valence date 8-24-72
Wiper motor 193 day 1972 - crossmember grease pencil mark - Spring tags

[L16pilot]

I have the spray out card already packaged up it will be in the mail tomorrow.. James came over today and we started cleaning on the Black car.

Just got the spray out card today...thank you very much and glad it worked out for your 73Z :)

[firstgenaddict]

Installing RIV-NUTS and putting together the front sheetmetal...

[firstgenaddict]

A - pillar moldings with foam anti rattle anti squeak "buffer".
I really like the interior color in the car... KILLER.
SMS made the seat covers and although it took 4 months longer than they said THEY ARE NICE and are REAL COMFORTWEAVE.
Vacuum lines EVERYWHERE

[73RSLTZ]

Got the seats done

[napa68]

Looks great!

[73RSLTZ]

https://youtu.be/JepFJy_yRas

[napa68]

Try this for a link...............

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JepFJy_yRas&feature=youtu.be

[dykstra]

Sounds great!!

[73RSLTZ]

Try this for a link...............

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JepFJy_yRas&feature=youtu.be

Thank you couldnt get it to work

[napa68]

Thank you couldnt get it to work

You're welcome. I love the work you and your brother are doing!

[73RSLTZ]

You're welcome. I love the work you and your brother are doing!

Hell its all James. He is insane how his attention to detail. Thank you. Should be driving in a few weeks

[73RSLTZ]

Ok update scheduled to be finished week of Christmas..

[Bill Pritchard]

:Can-I-Have-It:

[Mallard]

Very much looking forward to an update on this project.

[firstgenaddict]

The other day my brother blasted and then did the Manganese phosphate plating from Palmetto on the hood hinges, latch, and other small parts.
Which I believe came out VERY NICE!

https://nastyz28.com/attachments/184532df-41e3-4ad7-9d46-0de7ec506bb7-jpeg.110585/

The wheels look SO good on the car, really happy with the color and finish on them.
https://nastyz28.com/attachments/resized_20201222_165208-jpeg.110317/

https://nastyz28.com/attachments/resized_20201222_165233-jpeg.110316/

https://nastyz28.com/attachments/resized_20201222_165156-jpeg.110315/

https://nastyz28.com/attachments/resized_20201222_165243-jpeg.110318/