Received a couple vintage model kits (more toys on the way):
Still working on assembling the first one I started. Finding time has been difficult lately. I did order some Testers spray paint which I am still waiting on. I am also finding it difficult assembling some of the smaller engine components – I may have to wait until after my cataract surgery.
A pair of 1970 NOS Exterior Door Handles arrived today! Sweet!
I believe I have all of the engine parts painted. Just need to glue the parts together. Waiting until my model tool kit arrives on Tuesday to use the tweezers since the parts are too small for my fat fingers. Once the engine is complete, I mount it to the subframe, so I started painting that along with the headers, tomorrow I will do the other side. Already went through the paint thinner included in the paint kit – glad I bought a couple more larger bottles of the stuff!
Now that I have the posting issue fixed, a couple more pics from the mini-build… Engine and all the small parts are almost complete – will post updated pics tomorrow. Just like the main Camaro build, having to buy tools as I go along: paint, thinner, glue, paint brushes, tweezer kit and I am sure there will be more…
Slow going… Figure out what color to paint (if any), then paint and let dry, then glue and let dry and repeat. Just doing a little each day.
Also making a list of to-do’s on the main Camaro project as time permits, but with work lately, this is what I have time for and it get’s me a nice break going out to the garage… The main goal for this summer will be the undercoating and start on the block sanding. It will be a couple more years before I start making large ticket purchasing – new furnace and water heater this year along with some new furniture… It is those unexpected expenses that throws things off schedule. Thinking I may bring the engine home after undercoating so I can start it more frequently.
Note: This is a few days old as an update temporarily broke my posting capabilities. Should be resolved now, so giving it another go and will post more updates if this posts without issues.
Started on the build now that I received the paint kit and glue. Painted the wheels and glued the block together. Will let things dry over night before continuing. Loki (my dog) came out to the garage to hang out with me. Little-by-little will spend more time out there now that he is old enough to be out there without getting into everything.
Side Note: Major design changes to the blog…. Taking a while to get used to the changes.
Santa brought me another smaller project to work on in between the main one. Need to order some glue and paint and get a dedicated space to work on it… Thinking of a workbench in the garage if I can clean enough space!
I received my OEM GM Big Block Fan Shroud. I am including comparison photos of the repo fan shroud from OER. The fins are larger and the plastic is heavier. Very happy!
OEM one:
GM Part Number stamped:
Repo on left – notice the fin size and on the repo, the hole isn’t pre-drilled
OEM on left
GM on left
Received my NOS A/C Condenser today! The OEM Big Block Fan Shroud should arrive tomorrow – excited! I was able to find and buy both of them on the same day!
So perfect weather with highs in the low 70’s. I took Friday off and wrapped up the painting of the firewall. There is no more bare metal on the shell now! I did make one mistake though. I used the Satin Black finish which was different from the earlier paint! I think it will be ok if I scuff a little and re-apply it, but most of what I painted really isn’t visible, so I am not too worried about it yet. I can think about it over the winter and fix it next year.
So I had to un-mount the rotisserie to paint where it was mounted to. Then strip away the old paint:
A little bit of masking (including the bottom of the floor:
Then a coat of gray primer, then black, then a 3rd of gray primer (all Epoxy) and finally seam sealed:
Then 2 coats of Eastwood Extreme Chassis Black (Satin):
Now you can see the mis-match (uh-oh!) – easy enough to touch-up and fix:
Next weekend I will re-attach the rotisserie so I can move it around over the winter. There may be a few smaller projects I tackle over the winter, but nothing too much until next summer when I finish the undercoating. We will see what time permits and what I can fit in between now and next summer.
Labor Day is next weekend and the summer has flown by. Between work, home priorities, etc… I did not get as far as I had hoped with the Camaro this summer. I gave myself a deadline of Labor Day this year for the undercoating. That will have to wait until next summer. I will update more after Labor Day, but I was able to unhook the front of the Camaro from the rotisserie, Stripped the remaining parts of the firewall including where the rotisserie mounted to. Cleaned the metal and applies some picklex to it and have masked it off. This next week will be final preparations, then over Labor Day weekend, apply primer, seam seal, and paint the remaining bare spots of the firewall and brackets before winter.
There are a couple odds and ends I might be able to do over the winter, but nothing too big. Next summer will be undercoating, block sanding and body work and a few odds and ends. Then in 2020 start on the suspension if everything goes as planned.
Hopefully more pics and another update after Labor Day!