Just about got everything sorted out. Pics show current mock -up. Am working out front bumper now - took off spash apron and am fitting bumper tight in to body. Will do same to rear bumper. Car has Cadillac 425/turbo 400 power, 1976 Camaro front sub narrowed 2". Also rear end, springs and steering column from same Camaro. I've got Halibrand style wheels on the way - 15x7 rear and 15x6 fronts with 4" backspace to give a little more clearance up front. I believe I will leave the front door vent windows off and go with a solid window. I think it makes the roof look lower. Plan on a one piece front windshield, heavy flake silver paint and no trim or chrome. Any ideas or suggestions? Bob
The Caddy engine is cool, and I'm glad to hear that you're ditching the Camaro rims for some Halibrands. However, I don't know about "no trim or chrome". Shaving some of the ugly stuff would look nice, but the whole car in heavy silver flake, with no chrome at all? Maybe I just don't have the vision, but that might look like one of those 80's pro street monochromatic bellybutton cars. I'd (personal opinion) at least leave the bumpers, grille, and the beltline stainless in place. Car looks good so far, though.
Looks good now that you narrowed the front....wheels tuck in where they are supposed to be. I'd recommend leaving some chrome...the windshield is going to look funny if you leave the beltline chrome off. I ran mine with painted grille and bumpers when that was all I could afford, but the chrome really makes the car. Take a close look at the doors, the vent window is angled inward at thte front, getting one single piece to fit from front to rear is going to involve lots of reworking of the door...but if it's what you want go for it. Hey, if you ever get up my way stop by...just get on 82, i'm about an hour northwest of Montgomery.... Brian
You might be right about the silver and no chrome and definitely right about the Camaro wheels. They are hard to look at without getting a little sick. I'm not really after the pro-street look but a monochromatic scheme is a possibility. The chrome was peeling off the bumpers and then I've been cutting and welding on them to make them one piece and to fit tighter to the body. The grill is also in need of chrome to be presentable. Funds are kind of tight so am trying to come up with something that looks good without shelling out the cash for rechroming. The beltline stainless is all good and I have some repro tail lights but all other brightwork is not worth using. I'm open to sugestions on a paint scheme that will work. Any photoshop experts want to give it a try? Bob
Hey Brian, Are you saying the windshield will look funny because of the chrome around it. I planned on removing it and using a one piece windshield and just the plain jane rubber gasket (no bright work) and doing the same thing on the back glass so there won't be any chrome or stainless hung out there by itself. On the door glass, I've seen it done (pictures) and thinking I'll just need to add in a piece of channel to support the glass on the front edge. Then I'm thinking a few extra inches of glass down in the door for support may be the way to do it. It won't be easy but I need new glass and everthing else that goes with it so now is the time to try it. Did you have your grill and bumpers rechromed? Just curious about where and what it cost. Thanks for the invite and same here in Eufaula. Coincidentaly my wife called someone in West Blockton a few weeks ago looking for a dog. That's the first time I had heard of the town. Bob
Yep, even the palin janes had the beltline stainless, also the winshield wiper stanchions fit over it...I'm not saying it can't be done, but I don't think it will look right. The best i remember the crease in the body around the windshield doesn't exactly line up with the doors, and the trim covers it all and makes it flow...on the grille and bumpers, I had mine plated around '97 or '98. Used a guy that used to advertise in the back of the Old Car Trader, Bob Boyd in Chetopa, KS. Not sure if he is still in business, but my bumpers, guards, and grille were around $1100, which was a lot cheaper than anywhere else. That included buying a few grille teeth from him, and an extra charge for prepping the bumpers ( they were really pitted). It's not perfect 'show' chrome...but it was good enough for me and has held up quite well, considering the miles my car has on it... Brian
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