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#1
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Freddie 1969 Camaro RS/SS396 (427) 4 speed Last edited by big gear head; 09-11-2020 at 07:33 PM. |
#2
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Still working away with things and had a better look at all of the original interior upholstery today to see what can be saved. We are confident that the rear covers can be saved and we pulled them off the frames today so I can start deep cleaning the vinyl. Once scrubbed down, they will head off to the dry cleaners to see how the fabric cleans up. From there, my upholsterer will sew new piping onto the patterns to bring them around.
![]() The rear covers are filthy, but they really look like they will clean up. ![]() Once the vinyl is clean, the covers will go to the dry cleaners. ![]() The frames will be stripped down and soaked in evapo-rust to restore them before rebuilding them. We can probably save the front vinyl too...but the drivers seat will require a couple of custom made repair panels and likely a little dye work to make it all match up once the covers are deep cleaned. I am in need of houndstooth fabric for the centers and need to flip some stones to see if I can find a set of original rear covers to graft some original cloth from (anyone know of a set or original rear seat covers???). The rear patterns should fit the bucket inserts so I am really hoping someone has kept an old set of rear covers that I can purchase? If that fails then new fabric will be used for the centers and the vinyl will then be rebuilt as mentioned above. Also found a couple used seat backs that will dye up nicely to match the yellow vinyl after its all cleaned and restored. ![]() If I can find another set of rear covers, the material can graft into these buckets??? ![]() These frames will also be cleaned up once the covers are off to be worked on! Someone has already done some clean up on the slides. I'll make them better! ![]() Found these rear seat backs in the upholsterers pile of spare parts. These will dye rather nicely and should be easily matched up. Once all the tedious work is done, these will head over to Chad at Fibrenew. He's a vinyl repair master craftsman who can patch and dye just about anything.
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I like solid lifter cars, big cams and cars w/ 3 pedals in them. ![]() Last edited by NorCam; 07-25-2020 at 01:15 AM. |
#3
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In other good news, it looks like we can save the original door panels and the head rests as well. A previous owner dyed some of the ABS stuff with SEMS black and I already started testing a few spots to see if I can remove the black, and I can. The yellow color underneath is the right shade of yellow and for whatever it takes...I will spend the time needed to bring them back. They will also head over to Chad at Fibrenew for a few vinyl repairs and some new carpet along the bottoms once they are cleaned up.
The rears can also be saved but we may try some new vinyl on the back panels and again dye it up to match at the same time as doing the seat backs. The head rests are actually in really good shape and trust they will also clean up once the black dye is removed. I'll then get a couple new sets of white hinge covers and some new finger cups for the doors which will also be dyed yellow. I'm thinking the interior is going to look right at home when this Air Force Brat is brought full circle. I'll add pics of the door panels a little later this evening and will post some progress pictures as they are being cleaned. Won't be easy...but it'll be done right! ![]() Door panels before they are steamed and deep cleaned ![]() A little test spot to see how the black dye can be removed ![]() Original rears that will receive new vinyl and some dye work to match ![]() Original head rests which are in really good shape overall ![]() Both sides are dated and these should clean up nicely (fingers crossed)
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I like solid lifter cars, big cams and cars w/ 3 pedals in them. ![]() Last edited by NorCam; 07-29-2020 at 12:30 PM. |
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#4
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Righteous effort going on right there. Can't wait to see the results!
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SOLD 1969 427 COPO Camaro Lemans Blue/Black, M22 4 speed, 15,800 original miles |
#5
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Did some background digging on the car this past week and got in touch with a couple previous owners. I talked with a previous titled owner (William F.) of Brainerd Minnesota where I knew the car had made a brief stop in the late 80's. Turned out he owned it for a few years and then sold it to a friend (Larry C.), who moved it to another friend (Jay D.), who later sold it into PA where it landed with another Camaro guy. He then sold it to Fred L. (previous owner to me) who had owned it for the past 25 years before selling it this summer.
As best as William could recall, the car has been off the road since the early 1980's from what he knew. He's the same age as me (54) and said when he owned it from about 86-89 that he wanted to restore it as he knew what he had, but said he was young and that funds were a bit tight as he already owned other car including a Chevelle which he has kept all these years. He also told me who he bought the yellow Z from, and who had owned it prior to that. Both guys were local and he said both of them were total car guys. He then went on to say the first of the two guys had a few hot cars back in the 70's and 80's and he was known for hell raising around Brainerd MN with his cars. In fact, he told me that this particular owner used to roast the tires right in front of the local police station in Brainerd. I laughed because you know the cops are going to have your number when you're driving a yellow on yellow car. From what was discussed with William, it sounds like these guys drove their cars hard, and apparently had some fun with their street machines around the little drag race town. In the past few weeks, I've gone through the car thoroughly and had discovered a few early patch panels welded into the car from one of the previous owners, one of which had me scratching my head a bit? It included some graft work with a section of another car welded in as a repair to the front tunnel area and lower cowl section. I discussed this with Fred L. who arrived with the determination that it must have been a repair from a clutch explosion. It was like a light bulb switched on when he said that. Sure enough, I quickly learned from William that he had grafted in a tunnel section from another car as he got the yellow Z with some previous floor damage due to the clutch having exploded prior. He went on to tell me he stick welded it out in his driveway and froze has butt off in doing so. I can only imagine it was the off season and I know it gets cold in northern Minnesota. I have since reached out to the earliest owner known to the car and he was kind enough to call me back earlier this morning. We only chatted for a few minutes as he's busy working on a project today, but shared a few laughs and talked about the tunnel quickly. Turns out he bought the car with some floor damage up in the tunnel and said that the original 302 motor was killed when the clutch exploded. The subsequent damage took out the crank, the block and the M21 that was in it. He said we'd talk more tonight but was excited to learn of the cars existence and said, hang tight and I'll text you a couple pictures to keep you revving until we talk again. Yeah I got two texts a few minutes later...and you can only image how wide my eyes opened when he texted me with the following pics. He sent me the yellow picture shown below, followed by the second picture. All I can say is Bingo! More in the coming days as I chase down the rest of the history and talk with as many people as possible. I'm over the top here just a bit today. ![]() Pictured here when owned by Robin Conklin - Circa 1980's ![]() A little surprise texted to me from Robin earlier this morning. I'm on it now!
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I like solid lifter cars, big cams and cars w/ 3 pedals in them. ![]() |
#6
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That is so cool! Tracking down previous owners is such a big part of owning these cars. I have been fortunate to find 2 original owners!
Keep it coming. |
The Following User Says Thank You to Crush For This Useful Post: | ||
NorCam (07-27-2020) |
#7
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Dealer invoice and fossil photos!!
Jackpot!! Ryan W31.
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1969 Beaumont 350 Auto White Sold 1969 Beaumont 307 Auto Green Sold 1969 Chevelle SS 396-L35 Auto Blue Sold 1969 Oldsmobile Cutlass 'S' Sports Coupe W31 |
The Following User Says Thank You to Ryan1969Chevelle For This Useful Post: | ||
NorCam (07-27-2020) |
#8
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![]() Now you need to find an endura bumper !
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Rob 1969 Camaro Z/28. Norwood 02D. Lemans Blue |
The Following User Says Thank You to rlw68 For This Useful Post: | ||
NorCam (07-28-2020) |
#9
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I like solid lifter cars, big cams and cars w/ 3 pedals in them. ![]() |
#10
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Wow what great info to find out! Those connections don't happen every day.
I used to run those Polysteel tires on my Z back in my autocross days in the late 70's, early 80's. They were surprisingly great for that! John
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John 69 Z/28 "Ex Racer" |
The Following User Says Thank You to Z28Project For This Useful Post: | ||
NorCam (07-27-2020) |
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