Grandfather's 68 SS Camaro.

[JRC99]

(I'm probably gonna rant a bit so this might sound harsh- please understand I'm simply venting)

If that's the case, this pile is just going to sit for ten more years. I'm tired of cars at this point. I can't afford a rebuild. I can't *really* afford a cam and lifters but it sounds a lot less (immediately) expensive than a full rebuild.

I don't have the knowledge, the money, or the energy and patience to tear it apart further. I'm sick of every car I'm working on turning into a million more projects. I know they're old. I know it's never easy, I know that's just how it goes, but it wears me down. I also am coming to realize I'm not my grandfather and I (at least feel like I) have no business messing with this crap.

(I'm also in a crappy mood because I just found out the tailgate I bought for my Ram was only rust free because it's already been filled with bondo. So between that and just an overall crappy day, I'm over it all)

Again, I don't want to seem like I'm lashing out- y'all are right, it does probably need to come out and be fully redone- but I'm exhausted. And then I look back and realize how downright simple most of the issues it's had are to people with knowledge and experience, and I feel like a dweeb making mountains out of molehills. Feels like almost anyone else would have had this car running like a swiss watch 10 years ago

I don't know, I'm rambling and I'm tired. I guess frustrated is the best word.

The amusing part? This rant means nothing- in two days I'll be optimistic again.

[Too Many Projects]

You have every right to be frustrated and angry over this. You were looking for a car you could drive and remember your Grandfather in. Instead you got an all too common issue with a bad cam.

What part of Michigan are you in ?? If on the mainland, there are MANY people who would probably be willing to come help you remove the engine, pull the pan and bearing caps to see what it really needs. If you can get by with just replacing the bearings/oil pump and the cam and lifters, it would be a lower cost to do than plan a full rebuild. If I recall, wasn't this a fresh build ?

You don't have to do this alone. Having experienced help will take a big load off your chest and they can help you make informed decisions as to a new cam whatever parts it needs. Then you can take the time you need to pull them all together and have them help reassemble and break it in. I don't mean to be rude to Rally, but I would never take his advise on how to go about that. I'm happy for him that it works, but it doesn't seem to be the normal for the rest of us.

[JRC99]

Originally Posted by Too Many Projects

You have every right to be frustrated and angry over this. You were looking for a car you could drive and remember your Grandfather in. Instead you got an all too common issue with a bad cam.

What part of Michigan are you in ?? If on the mainland, there are MANY people who would probably be willing to come help you remove the engine, pull the pan and bearing caps to see what it really needs. If you can get by with just replacing the bearings/oil pump and the cam and lifters, it would be a lower cost to do than plan a full rebuild. If I recall, wasn't this a fresh build ?

You don't have to do this alone. Having experienced help will take a big load off your chest and they can help you make informed decisions as to a new cam whatever parts it needs. Then you can take the time you need to pull them all together and have them help reassemble and break it in. I don't mean to be rude to Rally, but I would never take his advise on how to go about that. I'm happy for him that it works, but it doesn't seem to be the normal for the rest of us.

I appreciate that.

A couple things I want to make clear- this cam has been bad for a while, long before Pap passed away. I knew it most likely ate at least one lobe. I just wanted to fool myself into thinking I could 'send it' and unfortunately, those who do know better must break the bad news to me, admittedly to try to save me heart-ache in the long run (hence why I took a LONG time to type that rant, because I did not want to seem like I was bitter towards anyone simply offering good advice). The engine in it was actually built in the 80s, which is precisely why I personally take the blame for it eating the cam- it from what I remember was fine until we did an oil change a few years back and didn't know anything about flat tappets or zinc.
Actually, now that I think about it, the car's most used seasons were 2011 and 2014. I vaguely remember just the slightest, most vague lifter tick starting around 2014, (unless I'm thinking of the first couple weeks after the oil change going by a video I put on Youtube). Then the oil change in 2015. I know you're not supposed to go ages between oil changes so that didn't help but the car never had more than 100-200 miles put on it a year in the 19 years Pappaw had it (and most years it had exactly 0 put on). If I had to guess, the last change before 2015 was probably 2011. When did they scale down the zinc in the oils?

All the issues before that were timing and carb related- stuff dad and I don't really understand, and things Pappaw's body wouldn't let him spend hours on the car fixing anymore. But between I'd say 1987 and 2014 or 2015, the cam never made an odd sound. Until we did that oil change.

As far as help, that's another problem. Not to get too deep into the psychology of me (lol) but whenever someone helps me, the 'help' turns to me standing around watching while they do everything. I do not think that's fair to anyone and I need to learn how to jump in. I did not pull the intake- my good friend from South Carolina was up and he 'helped' do it. I'm currently talking to him, he's doing a rather good job of calming me down lol

Sure, I'll probably get to it eventually, I did always want to freshen up the block visually, it just sucks that it's more work than I fooled myself into thinking it was the other night.

[Pro Stock John]

You mentioned some '66 Chevelle seats you were going to repurpose for video game seats. Maybe look around and see what parts you have that you will never use and put them for sale on here and on FB.

[JRC99]

I still have those. They're actually '64 Impala seats and I stuck em in the rafters of the garage.

Selling parts is a smart idea I won't lie but I don't have a whole bunch and also every time I've tried to sell something it's been such a pain I won't bother lol

We'll see how my tax return looks next spring lol

[L_e_e]

JRC99,
I am not too far away from you, if you are motivated I am willing to teach you what you need to do and I have a bunch of BBC parts to donate to the project. Send me a PM.

[WILMASBOYL78]

Originally Posted by L_e_e

JRC99,
I am not too far away from you, if you are motivated I am willing to teach you what you need to do and I have a bunch of BBC parts to donate to the project. Send me a PM.

Classic example of the SYC family and how we help each other.

[olredalert]

----Lee and I are good friends and I can say that he can more than do what he offered. Lee knows his stuff!!!.....Bill S

[JRC99]

Originally Posted by L_e_e

JRC99,
I am not too far away from you, if you are motivated I am willing to teach you what you need to do and I have a bunch of BBC parts to donate to the project. Send me a PM.

Words can't say how much that means to me. We'll see here- I know exactly what I want to do with it, I just need to save up first. I want to keep the combo exactly as it is- I want it to be the car I grew up with, just fixed and dialed in right. Maybe come tax season we'll see where I'm at lol

[BJCHEV396]

Originally Posted by L_e_e

JRC99,
I am not too far away from you, if you are motivated I am willing to teach you what you need to do and I have a bunch of BBC parts to donate to the project. Send me a PM.

Very gracious and generous offer Lee!