1979 Dirty T/A-

[Dirty T/A]

I am looking forward to the day that mine looks as nice as his. Might be a very long time before that happens though. His is almost completely restored.

[Dirty T/A]

My father in laws car brought me some inspiration to get some stuff done. Got the day off work, so I decided to skip the pontoon on the lake and work on the car. Got alot done too! Drivers side body work is complete!!!

Pretty much have a little sanding, some more work on the front bumper cover and some spot putty left and I am good to do a final primer coat-



Hard to see, but there is still work that needs to be done....




Little bro- in laws project in the background





















Feels good to see the progress. Between my 2 kids, work and family time, I have been lucky to get in 4 hours a weeks work in each week so far. I am really looking forward to getting this car painted and getting the engine, trans and the exhaust installed. I would be very happy to have all that done before september.

I highly doubt this car will be moving under its own power by the end of fall-

But ya never know.....

[Dirty T/A]

I just realized........

From a distance, it almost looks as good as it did the day when I got it!

The make it ugly before it looks better stage is almost complete.

[Dirty T/A]

Trying to save the motor from Sesame Street-

Operation 86 the Big Bird Yellow, almost complete.

Before-











Almost there-






And After-









Still have some spots to get that will come off with a screwdriver, but calling it done for today. Thanks for the recomendation on the aircraft remover! It worked well. Only 3-4 coats and got everywhere the wire brush and tooth brush would reach.

Now gotta decide a color to paint the block/heads. Thinking a blue or black. Going to order chrome valve covers here pretty quick also to replace the junk on the motor currently. Probly get a timing cover and dipstick while I am at it.

[meissen]

Lookin good so far! It's funny you mention how bad it looks before it gets pretty - I was thinking the same thing. To someone not familiar with cars, they probably look at the stage it's in now going "Wow - that looks horrible!" but yet to us car guys we go "Wow - that's looking good!" Can't wait to see it all one color - and I'm sure you're in that same boat too.

[bigjon88]

That blocked looking good what color have u chose

[Dirty T/A]

Ill probly paint it black. Possibly a blue. Going to get a chrome dress up kit for it too.

Found a '79 (possibly '80 or '81) camaro today and baught it, for parts. No motor/trans and many engine bay parts missing. Got it for the rims and tires, leaf springs, motor mounts, drivers door panel maybe the rear end and a bunch of other small odd and end pieces. Going to junk it after I get everything I need off it. If anyone needs some cheap body parts for this year and make car, let me know. It will probly be around for a week or so before its hauled off. I got it for a deal.....

[meissen]

Dan (mcssmostwanted) needs the lower grill piece for his '79.

[nascarnate326]

Looking good.

[Dirty T/A]

Got some rims and tires today-

15" craigers (no center caps) and some good Yokohama tires of the parts car. Need some cleaning/polishing, but-





Also found-

A door skin for the drivers side
Window roll up/down handles
Lock knobs
The interior trim for the t-tops
Alternator
Master cylinder
Heater core w/ good cover and squirel cage
Better rear window trim
Center console compartment
Leaf springs
Rear speakers
Rear deck insulation
Drivers and passenger trim/molding for the windows
Side veiw mirrors with good glass inside
The rear of the exhaust plus chrome tips


And possibly a rear end.....gotta see what the donor cars got and its condition, compared to the one already in the car. Cant wait till Wednesday to find out which it is.

I am pretty happy with the Camaro parts car find. Its given me a ton of parts I really needed.

[Dirty T/A]

Pretty sure the rear in the donor car is 3.42:1 to replace the 2.41:1 thats in the car. Going to need the leaf springs too.

Found some lakewood traction bars for $30 today.

[Dirty T/A]

Pretty sure the Rear end is another 2.41:1.......no posi......

So far, I have found that the PJ code is 2.41 not locking for '78, '79 and '81.......but nothing about '80, and the PJ code for a 69 is 3.42- and thats it......Hmmmm.....the parts cars an '80.

Been broke so just been keeping busy dismanteling the parts car, finding all kinds of good stuff.

[Dirty T/A]

Some stuff so far-

A set of matching wheels and tires, still need polishing and cleaning.....








Some speakers and insulation for the rear window ledge-




Wonder if these were original speakers....I know they are old.....





Insulation for between the back seat and the trunk area. Do all 2nd gen's have this?





Not installed yet, but interior door trim....wonder how many people will notice its different than the passenger side, after its dyed?



And alot of other parts not documented yet.

[Dirty T/A]

Still need to-


Get the motor cleaned painted and all put together with all its missing parts.
Need to get all the fender flares sanded and primed.
Need to get leaf springs and shocks switched out.
Need to fix my shaker for the hood.
Need to finish up all the small body work areas that werent quit perfect yet.

Should be able to paint after this list is done.....Still feels like I have soooo much to do still- but still having a good time doing this. I was really thinking I would have been much farther along by this time....

[Dirty T/A]

Gas tank, axle, leaf springs and shocks are removed from the Camaro.



The Leaf springs and shocks are much nicer on the Camaro, than the ones on the T/A.



One side on the T/A are cracked, and the shocks are shot. I hope I can get a real day off next weekend, to pull everything from the T/A and swap everything out, clean it and paint it. Get it all looking nice again. I am going to keep the T/A rear end, but swap out the shocks and springs. Going to look at my breaks while I am back there also and see whats what and what to keep/swap.

If I can get all that done next weekend, it will be time to get the engine all put together, clean and paint the engine bay, get a new dress up kit- Valve covers, water neck, timing cover, dipstick, ect, get the headers on, and drop it w/ the transmission into the car.

I hope to have all this done in the next 3 weekends.