'00 Convertible M6 SS #1414

[Darren]

They sure do some great work there, I have seen it first hand on Jon's malibu's. The car looks great I agree with the changes you made makes the car look much better. Nice work.

[Atrus]

REPAIRED

I finally got my car back on 9/12/12. At this point, I had owned the car for 12 weeks, 5 of which it had been at Autometric! I do have to say, though, totally worth it. I told them to take their time, fix it properly, and they sure did. I really like the new nose badge, the shaved antenna and moldings, and the new paint didn't hurt the looks either:

[Atrus]

PRE-REPAIR

I opted to take it to Autometric in Centerline. I want to say right off the bat, the whole process sucked (what accident doesn't?) but these guys were awesome. They really did an amazing job on the car and I am very pleased with the results. A lot of the pain came from the fact that 'vert quarter panels are really tough to find. We searched and none were found locally. I almost took the chance and purchased one out of state, but at the last minute Autometric found one in Pontiac. I went up there to check it out, and it was a great panel, just had a few minor dings in it. The donor was a 2002 Camaro Z-28 that was a theft recovery - someone stole the vehicle, yanked the drivetrain out, and left the rest.

I took the opportunity to have a little extra work done. As Autometric was already spraying the front and rear of the car, I paid the incremental cost to have the entire car - mirrors and all - resprayed. I always hated the look of the antenna - looked like a toy R/C car to me - and there was a short or something as it was basically useless anyway. I had them shave that antenna. I also asked that they leave the side moldings off, and ordered a new custom nose badge. All in all, for a little under $1k out of pocket, the exterior of the car now looks basically showroom new!

Anyway, the end result was $6,194.73 worth of damage (that's the damage, not including the extra $1k I paid!)

So, my co-workers decided to have some fun with some matchbox cars I have at my desk - I came back from lunch to find this:




And, here's the car at Autometric when I dropped it off on 8/8/12 - Didn't mention that at some point in late July, I put clear corners on the car as well!

[Atrus]

THE WRECK

On August 7, 2012 I was on M59 westbound, coming up to M53 heading to work. Right in front of Champ's, traffic comes to an abrupt halt. I jam on the brakes and the ABS chirps the tires twice. I stop about 12" from the Vue in front of me. I look in the rearview mirror and see a black Nitro barreling at me. At the last second she tries to swerve and tags my bumper dead smack where the passenger tail light is. I am tossed forward (foot was on the brake still) and my front fascia kisses the Vue in front of me.

12 years, 69,010 miles, and it HAD a clean report!










The Nitro that hit me, and the Vue I was thrown into:





Back at home - I threw the bumper in the back seat and drove it home:

[Atrus]

BASELINE

So, here's some of what I started with from the previous owner:

MAF mod - not terrible, but definitely didn't really clean it up. I already picked up another completely stock unmolested MAF to replace this one:





On the positive side, I have an older pioneer din-and-a half stereo that's decent (just old, no bluetooth/aux input), and someone before me put a nice amp and sub in it - Memphis Belle 5 channel amp along with a Memphis 12" M-Class Sub:







I also had this atrocity on it. Luckily, I found a stock catback in awesome shape on craigslist for $20. It was cut into three section, so I just chopped out this embarrassment where it crosses over the axle, and paid another $20 to have the craigslist catback cut and the pipe expanded. I clamped it on as a temporary system until I get get the aftermarket catback I really want:





And, you can tell the craigslist catback had been sitting a while - I think a buddy had made a home in there at one point. Look what happened when I fired it up:

[Atrus]

THE PURCHASE

On June 20, 2012 I picked up 2000 Camaro SS #1414, which is a light pewter 6 speed convertible with base SLP options. The car looks to be very stock - I am the third owner. A previous owner cut out the muffler (stock exhaust otherwise - welded in pipes to maintain stock chrome dual tips), did the free ram air mod, and ground out (hacked, really) the MAF bridge. They also upgraded the headunit, added a sub, and I believe replaced the stock speakers. Otherwise, I don't see any changes, all the way down to the orange OEM shocks.

Pretty cool story on how I came across it. I've been eyeing the car since late April/early May. It was in IL, a little southwest of Chicago. I really wanted a "toy", and wanted something reliable that I could work on/tweak only when I wanted to. I am married and have an almost 12 month old, and we plan on having another. Therefore, needed something with at least 4 seats. I really wanted a V8, manual, convertible - the Camaro fit the bill. Oh, and - I work as an accountant at GM, so being a GM product was a high priority. I had been going back and forth debating with myself on whether or not I wanted to actually spend the money on a toy, asked myself I was being irresponsible. My wife gave her blessing and told me if it makes me happy, I should do it. I absolutely loved the 5th gen SS convertible manual I snagged from work for a week, so I was fairly certain I'd like a 4th Gen. Oh, and - my first car was a '86 Firebird 2.8L.

Anyway, I haggled with the dealer and we were not agreeing on a couple hundred dollar difference...I decided to play hardball and let him stew for a few days. I finally e-mailed him back on Friday, 6/15 with a final offer - he replied telling me the car sold a few days earlier. I was pretty bummed, but tried to hide it.

Sunday, my wife takes me out to Vinsetta Garage on Woodward for my first Father's Day and finally tells me that SHE is the one who bought the car. She had the dealer tell me it was sold. She arranged financing, plane tickets to O-Hare, transportation to the dealer, and insurance on the car! We headed out the morning of Wed, June 20th and flew out to Chicago. The dealer met us and took us to the dealership, and after an inspection and some paperwork we were on our way back to MI in it!

The car is really clean - I rolled 67k miles on the way home. Has a few scuffs and rock chips, but the interior is really clean and the leather looks like a 10k mile car.

This is outside Giordano's in Carol Stream, IL - first place we went after signing on the dotted line!





Here's a few more, taken on 6/28 in St Ignace.

[Atrus]

BUILD INFO & HISTORY




I found the following build info over at www.compnine.com:




Vehicle: CAMARO CONVERTIBLE
Year: 2000
Build Date: 1999-09-28

UA6	THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM ANTI-THEFT(UA6)
UB3	CLUSTER,INSTRUMENT(OIL,COOLANT TEMPERATURE,VOLTMETER,TACHOMETER,TRIP ODOMETER) GA(UB3)
UK3	ELECTRONIC SYSTEM,ACCESSORY CONTROL ELEK ACSRY CONT SYS(UK3)
UL0	RADIO AM/FM STEREO, SEEK/SCAN, AUTO REV MUSIC SEARCH CASS, AUTO TONE, CLOCK, ETR. STEREO,AM/FM W/AUTO REV CASSETTE,AUTO TONE(UL0)
U59	SPEAKER SYSTEM 8, QUAD FRT DR MTD, QUAD SAIL PNL, AMPLIFIER 8 SPKR AMPLIFIER(U59)
U73	ANTENNA,FIXED FIXED ANT(U73)
VK3	LICENSE PLATE,FRONT MOUNTING PACKAGE FRT LIC PLT MTG PKG(VK3)
VM3	LABEL INFORMATION CONSUMER, CONTAINS BPR IMP STANDARD FOR FRT 5 MPH & RR 5 MPH 5 MPH BUMPER INFO LABEL(VM3)
V12	COOLING SYSTEM,POWER STEERING FLUID P/S CLG SYS(V12)
V73	VEHICLE STATEMENT - US/CANADA US/CANADA VEHICLE STATEMENT(V73)
WU8	SALES PACKAGE CAMARO SS APPEARANCE AND PERFORMANCE CAMARO SS APPEARANCE & PERFORMANCE PKG(WU8)
Z28	PERFORMANCE PACKAGE,SPECIAL PERF PKG(Z28) SPECIAL PERFORMANCE PACKAGE,(MERCHANDISING OPTION) SPECIAL PERFORMANCE PKG(Z28)
1SB	PACKAGE-OPTION 02 (1SB)
1SZ	PACKAGE OPTION- (1SZ)
11Q	MOLDING COLOR,PEWTER (11Q)
11U	EXTERIOR COLOR,PEWTER MET (11U) EXTERIOR COLOR,PRIMARY (11U)
19I	INTERIOR TRIM COLOR (19I) INTERIOR TRIM,BLACK (19I) INTERIOR TRIM,EBONY (19I)
192	TRIM COMBINATION,BLACK LEATHER (192)
41T	VINYL TOP COLOR,BLACK (41T)
6ZM	COMPONENT FRT LH COMPUTER SEL SUSP (6ZM) SUSP(6ZM)
7ZM	COMPONENT FRT RH COMPUTER SEL SUSP (7ZM) SUSP(7ZM)
8TJ	COMPONENT RR LH COMPUTER SEL SUSP (8TJ) SUSP(8TJ)
9TJ	COMPONENT RR RH COMPUTER SEL SUSP (9TJ) SUSP(9TJ)
AG1	ADJUSTER FRT ST POWER, MULTI-DIRECTIONAL, DRIVER MULTI-DIRECTIONAL PWR D/SEAT ADJR(AG1)
AK5	RESTRAINT SYSTEM,FRONT SEAT,INFLATABLE PASS SI INFL RST SYS(AK5) RESTRAINT SYSTEM,FRONT SEAT,INFLATABLE,DRIVER AND PASSENGER DRIVER & PASS F/SEAT INFL RST SYS(AK5)
AR9	SEAT,FRONT BUCKET,DRIVER,PASSENGER,MANUAL RECLINING(EUROPEAN STYLE) MAN RECL FRT BKT ST,DELUXE(AR9)
AU0	LOCK CONTROL,REMOTE ENTRY(KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM) REMOTE ENTRY LK CONT(AU0)
AU3	LOCK,SIDE DOOR,ELECTRIC ELEC S/D LK(AU3)
A31	WINDOW,ELECTRIC OPERATED,SIDE ELEC SI WDO(A31) WINDOW,POWER OPERATED,ALL DOORS PWR WINDOWS(A31)
BBS	KNOB SHIFTER HURST HURST SHIFTER(BBS)
B35	COVERING,FLOOR MATS,REAR,CARPETED INSERT(COLOR COORDINATED) RR CPT INS FLR MATS(B35)
B84	ORNAMENTATION,EXTERIOR,BODY SIDE MOLDING BODY SI MLDG(B84)
CAE	HANDLING CHARGE - GM ST THERESE TO SLP LASALLE QUEBEC FOR UPFITTER CONVERSION (VTIMS)
C60	AIR CONDITIONER,FRONT,MANUAL CONTROLS A/C MAN CONT(C60)
DG7	MIRROR,OUTSIDE,RH & LH REMOTE CONTROL,ELECTRIC(PAINTED) O/S ELEC R/CON PAINTED MIR(DG7)
DL5	DECAL ROADSIDE SERVICE INFORMATION ROADSIDE SERVICE INFO DECAL(DL5)
FE4	SUSPENSION SYSTEM SPECIAL RIDE & HANDLING SPECIAL SUSP(FE4)
FE9	FEDERAL EMISSION CERTIFICATION FED EMIS(FE9)
GU6	AXLE,REAR,3.42 RATIO 3.42R(GU6)
G80	AXLE,REAR,POSITRACTION,LIMITED SLIP POSITRACTION L/SLIP R/AXL(G80)
IP2	TRIM,INTERIOR DESIGN (IP2)
J65	BRAKE SYSTEM,POWER,FRONT AND REAR DISC 4-WHL DISC BRK(J65)
K34	CRUISE CONTROL,AUTOMATIC,ELECTRONIC CRCONT(K34)
K43	GENERATOR 102 AMP 102 AMP(K43)
LS1	ENGINE GAS, 8 CYL, 5.7L, SFI, ALUMINUM ENGINE 5.7G(LS1)
MM6	TRANSMISSION MAN 6 SPD, BORG WARNER, 85MM, 1ST 2.66, 6TH 0.50, O/D 6-SPD M/TRANS(MM6)
MN6	TRANSMISSION,MANUAL 6-SPEED PROVISIONS(MERCHANDISING OPTION) 6-SPD M/TRANS PROVISIONS(MN6)
NF2	EMISSION SYSTEM,FEDERAL,TIER 1 FED EMIS SYS(NF2)
NP5	STEERING WHEEL,LEATHER WRAPPED LEATHER WRAPPED STRG WHL(NP5)
NW9	TRACTION CONTROL ELECTRONIC ELEC TRACTION CONT(NW9)
N73	WHEEL,CUSTOM SPORT MAGNESIUM WHL(N73) WHEEL,CUSTOM SPORT PAINTED AL WHL(N73)
PBT	TEMPORARY HOOD FOR UPFITTER DELIVERY
QFK	TIRE ALL P275/40ZR17 93W BW R/PE ST TL HW4 TIRE(QFK)
STE	PLANT CODE- ST THERESE, PQ, GM OF CANADA ST THERESE,GM OF CANADA PLANT CODE(STE)
T82	HEADLAMPS,AUTOMATIC ON/OFF CONTROL AUTO HDLP CONT(T82)
T96	LAMP,FRONT FOG FRT FOG LP(T96) LAMP,FRONT FOG(USED WITH TOURING YP6) FRT FOG LP(T96)

CarFax Info:

Mileage Date Reported
61 02/07/2000
27,180 06/11/2003
27,180 06/18/2003
27,535 09/19/2003
35,000 03/04/2004
63,000 05/03/2006
66,218 10/17/2011

12/27/1999 LAKE BLUFF, IL Motor Vehicle Dept. REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL (Leased Vehicle)
02/07/2000 ORLAND PARK, IL 61 Motor Vehicle Dept. TITLE (Title #:T0038358018) (Leased Vehicle) (Lien Reported)
04/25/2000 LAKE FOREST, IL Motor Vehicle Dept. REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL (Leased Vehicle)
12/11/2000 LAKE FOREST, IL Motor Vehicle Dept. REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL (Leased Vehicle)
01/03/2002 LAKE FOREST, IL Motor Vehicle Dept. REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL (Leased Vehicle)
06/11/2003 CENTRAL REGION 27,180 Auto Auction REPORTED AT AUTO AUCTION
06/18/2003 MIDWEST REGION 27,180 Auto Auction REPORTED AT AUTO AUCTION AS DEALER VEHICLE
09/09/2003 LAKE IN THE HILLS, IL Motor Vehicle Dept. REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL
09/19/2003 LAKE IN THE HILLS, IL 27,535 Motor Vehicle Dept. TITLE (Title #:T3262655248) (Lien Reported)
03/04/2004 CRYSTAL LAKE, IL 35,000 Independent Emission Source PASSED EMISSION INSPECTION
12/08/2004 LAKE IN THE HILLS, IL Motor Vehicle Dept. REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL
07/12/2005 LAKE IN THE HILLS, IL Motor Vehicle Dept. REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL
05/03/2006 CRYSTAL LAKE, IL 63,000 Independent Emission Source PASSED EMISSION INSPECTION
07/11/2006 LAKE IN THE HILLS, IL Motor Vehicle Dept. REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL
07/28/2007 HUNTLEY, IL Motor Vehicle Dept. REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL
10/17/2011 IL 66,218 Auto Auction REPORTED AT AUTO AUCTION AS DEALER VEHICLE

[Atrus]

[under construction]

This thread will document my ongoing project for my 2000 Camaro M6 Convertible, SS #1414. I'm sure it's one of those projects that will never be done, but wanted to start a timeline/build thread to document what and when I tweaked on the car to make it more "mine".

Table of Contents:

BUILD INFO & HISTORY- General info on SS#1414 and where it's been (Pre-June 2012)
THE PURCHASE - Got my SS! (June 2012)
BASELINE - What I started with (June/July 2012)
THE WRECK - Someone didn't like the SS's rear end, so she tweaked it a bit (August 2012)
PRE-REPAIR - At Autometric, ready for the experts (August 2012)
REPAIRED - Looks better than new! (September 2012)
DELETES - !AIR, !EGR, !DRL, !Auto Headlights (November 2012 - January 2013)
LED INTERIOR LIGHTING - Updated the gauge cluster, switches, and HVAC unit to white LED lighting (January - April 2013)
FRONT LIGHTING - Updated the front to HID projectors and LED turn signals (February - April 2013)
SUSPENSION - New Bilsteins and cut the stock springs while modifying the front upper mount (April - May 2013)
MAINTENANCE/CLEANUP - All new fluids, brakes, couple visual mods. (April 2013)
POWER STEERING COOLER - Removed the stock PS cooler, replaced with a Derale unit mounted on the radiator fan shroud (April 2013)
CLUTCH - Original hydraulics crapped out, so all hydraulics and clutch were replaced (May 2013)
ST IGNACE 2013 - Pics with Linda Vaughn and Courtney Hansen (June 2013)
JVC HEADUNIT - Replaced the outdated Pioneer 1.5DIN with a 7" JVC touchscreen 2DIN (February 2014)
WINDOW MOTORS & XPRESS DOWN - Replaced both window motors and wired in an OE express down module on the passenger side (May 2015)
SOUND INSULATION - Added CLD tiles, CCF, and MLV to the doors and trunk (May-June 2015)
TIRES - Finally got rid of the BFG KDW's and went with some Continental ExtremeContactDWs (June 2015)