My ongoing Project 1969 Camaro 400 BigBlock

[xrunrob]

Well Ive been working on this for a while now. Almost 6 years now. I work on it for a while and stop, work on something else or have to stop due to the money issue. Some people think im crazy for taking on such a huge project but for me its worth it.
This was my dad 69 Camaro back in the day. His actual car. He parked her after my sister was born in 1983. We moved down here to Florida in 1992 and he had my uncle ship the car down in the back of a semi trailer. On the way down a bubblegum machine fell and crushed the roof and broke the windshield. And since then its sat in my dads back yard till he gave it to me a few years after high school to restore.
Car was a original 6 cylinder but my dad transplanted a 400 big block and a turbo 400 trans out of a 71 Formula 1 Firebird. I have done some major progress the past couple days and thought i would share. got the quarter panel mocked up and the roof also. First time she has had a roof in 5 years. So far i replaced the floors, doors, fenders, hood, roof, trunk, quarters, wheel wells, repaired the frame, upgraded to stock disc brakes up front and 2002 Chevy Blazer discs in rear with power booster, shaved the firewall, and many other things with more to come. Here are some pics hope you enjoy. I know I have and seeing it coming together is very exciting for me.

and the left side quarter, hopefully by the end of the weekend it will be mocked up.

 

[hiflyer]

looks good

that's a ton of work! good on ya!

 

[xrunrob]

it is a lot of work but i cant wait to get it done so i can melt the tires off lol.

heres a picture of a picture. this is when we dragged her out of my dads back yard.

 

[Coupe]

Pretty cool.

Technically the Pontiac 400 is not a big block. The 326 to 455 is the same block size physically.

I had a 71, 455 4 sp.

 

[xrunrob]

Not trying to start a war or anything but from what im told all V8 Pontiac engines are considered big-blocks, just from the size of the external dimensions. Their bore and stokes are diffent depending on ci but the block is the same enen though They were never designated as "big-block" or "small-block" and, when compared to a standard sb350 Chevy the block is deffently bigger on the 400. But I'm not expert either and this is just what I have read and seen first hand.

just a visual

small block to the left and big block on the right. Pontiacs V8s where the right block with different bores and strokes

 

[Coupe]

O.K.

There is just one size block for Pontiacs.

I am a lover of the Pontiac V-8.

 

[xrunrob]

lol we r both right but yes im liking it to. i remember when i first fired her off with just it dumping out of the headers. what a wonderful nose that was. I was surprised she did start. sitting for 25 years, we changed the oil and fed fuel right into the carb and after a minor points adjustment she fired right off. Thank god dad when out there from time to time and tuned the motor over with a big breaker bar.

btw that is a very nice car. i wish i had the 455. maybe one day after the 400 goes, if it ever does

 

[nick_gz1]

thats a nice project, strong work so far maybe one day we will get to see the end result!!

 

[Torspd]

This car has some real potential. Keep the updates coming!

 

[BSP06XRU]

:top: Nice Camaro...

I'm partial to Pontiac's as well:

1968 Pontiac Firebird 400

 

[Torspd]

Omg! :fok:

 

[xrunrob]

Thanks guys.
Bsp06xru is that bird lowered. It looks good.

 

[Workman3886]

That's going to be a amazing car when you're done with it! I love the classic camaros!

 

[xrunrob]

update got the left side wheel well in and rear quarter extension. also got the quarter panel mocked up. so i pulled her out for a little photo shoot. even stuck the grill in just for hahas. enjoy

 

[hrspwr236]

Nice work, looks really great compared to what it was, a lot of respect for you taking on a huge project like this!

 

[xrunrob]

Thank u. Next on the list is getting these quarter welded in and then get the dash in. I'm doing a custom one so once that is done undercoat on the bottom side. Then the firewall gets painted then the motor and tranny.

 

[Minnesota X]

Its a 69 camaro, to do anything other then getting it back on the road would be a shame.

 

[X-MOKED U]

looks killer bro

 

[xrunrob]

Its a 69 camaro, to do anything other then getting it back on the road would be a shame.

i agree, many people have told me im crazy for taking on such a huge project. my grandpa was on of the worst. he told me that it would never happen and wasnt worth it. But its coming along and he is pretty impressed at what ive done so far.

Hitting up the swap meet this sunday. Hoping to get some good deals. we will see.

Thanks to all of you for the motivation

 

[Bulldogger]

i agree, many people have told me im crazy for taking on such a huge project. my grandpa was on of the worst. he told me that it would never happen and wasnt worth it. But its coming along and he is pretty impressed at what ive done so far.

Hitting up the swap meet this sunday. Hoping to get some good deals. we will see.

Thanks to all of you for the motivation

Never listen to what other people say especially Family:top: One of the first engines I did was a Toyota 22r. Ported/polished the head installed a nice cam and a header. When I had the head off my father said your an idiot and you will never get that thing back together. Needless to say it ran awsome when it was done and 125,000 miles later I sold it to a guy who lived three towns over.