Crispy critter

[mik386]

So last week my son comes home from school and tells me about a 1977 z-28 for sale cheap. He and I restore cars as a hobby. Come to find out the car was stored inside a barn that had caught on fire. After the fire it sat outside for a year or so under a tarp. So the deal was made and we dragged it home. My original plan was to strip it for parts as it is a 4-speed car. We check it out and it is matching numbers. Then we get it running and it runs like a top. If you sat in it and closed your eyes you would think it was a nice driver. (Must keep eyes closed). So after much debate we decided to bring it back. Fortunately we have almost all the body panels needed in storage that we have accrued over time.
During the fire all the glass blew out, the rear spoiler looked like someone laid a fiberglass mat on the trunk lid. As far as the interior the top of the seats as well as all the upper plastic melted. The dash was spared as well as the dash wiring harness. The steering wheel was also good. The biggest disappointment was that the gas tank blew and severely damaged the perfect trunk floor. We are going to have to cut the center section out and replace it. The exterior panels all have crazy shrinkage issues due to the heat.(talk about a HAZ zone). We each have a project going on at this time, so after the damaged and burn't parts are replaced it will be put away for a while. First time restoring a burner.

 

[mik386]

Another view

 

[mik386]

Fiberglass reduced to mat again

 

[mik386]

After removing melted tail lights

 

[mik386]

No glass left

 

[mik386]

No need to remove body lead!

 

[wingnut_1]

That there is one roached Camaro!

 

[bczygan]

A couple coats of clear and you're good!

 

[Capt Chrysler]

So whats the total resale value VS investment?

I friend here just picked up a nice 79 Z28, Factory 4 Speed, one owner for $5000.00.

Cool if you need a project, but kind of a tuff one to make bank on.


Capt. Chrysler

 

[Ponchoguy]

So last week my son comes home from school and tells me about a 1977 z-28 for sale cheap. He and I restore cars as a hobby. Come to find out the car was stored inside a barn that had caught on fire. After the fire it sat outside for a year or so under a tarp. So the deal was made and we dragged it home. My original plan was to strip it for parts as it is a 4-speed car. We check it out and it is matching numbers. Then we get it running and it runs like a top. If you sat in it and closed your eyes you would think it was a nice driver. (Must keep eyes closed). So after much debate we decided to bring it back. Fortunately we have almost all the body panels needed in storage that we have accrued over time.
During the fire all the glass blew out, the rear spoiler looked like someone laid a fiberglass mat on the trunk lid. As far as the interior the top of the seats as well as all the upper plastic melted. The dash was spared as well as the dash wiring harness. The steering wheel was also good. The biggest disappointment was that the gas tank blew and severely damaged the perfect trunk floor. We are going to have to cut the center section out and replace it. The exterior panels all have crazy shrinkage issues due to the heat.(talk about a HAZ zone). We each have a project going on at this time, so after the damaged and burn't parts are replaced it will be put away for a while. First time restoring a burner.

Challenging project, good luck with it. The '77 Z is a "rare duck", it was the first year it came back out...what color was it originally?

 

[Professur]

Clear coat it and call it patina.

 

[mik386]

There is no return on investment. I mean $15,000 would buy the best one on the planet. I am restoring a 1969 big block convertible and even when I am done with that, as valuable as it is I will still probably will not pull much profit. Especially if I put a value on my time. I have come to the conclusion that it's just a hobby. The only people making money restoring cars are the restoration shops.This is just a way to keep the kid off the X-box and out of trouble. The parts are cheap and readily accessible. We do everything in house so no outside cost. Plus I have to admit I enjoy saving old iron.

 

[mik386]

Metallic brown 88,000 miles

 

[GettinJunkDone]

Awesome project, even better that your son is involved. Good luck!

 

[Toolfool]

You can't put a price on quality father-son time. Enjoy this project.

 

[70Chevy]

You can't put a price on quality father-son time. Enjoy this project.

X2...great that you get to spend time together on something that is fun.

 

[Ponchoguy]

Metallic brown 88,000 miles

It's actually close to its original color

 

[dkroth]

A couple coats of clear and you're good!

Clear coat it and call it patina.

Wait! Let me think.

Fast N Loud!

 

[mik386]

What I really love is the charred rubber strips on the bumpers, if you get within 2 feet of them they jump out and put a black stripe across you pants right above the knee. The laundry lady isn't happy. ( really won't be happy if she finds out I called her that)

 

[Richard D]

I would have never thought any thing from the late 70s was worth restoration after being burned, but then again, running 67-69 Camaros were $1500 when I was a kid in the 80s. Go for it, it may bring big money years from now.

 

[djjsr]

That's one of those cars that will cost you much more to restore than it will be worth when it's done. But if that's a car you like and you're going to keep it forever, I guess it doesn't matter.

 

[MarkG]

I don't know you or your skills and experience, but my first impression is 'you're nuts'! Surely there has to be a Camaro in better shape than that floating around, but you've been looking apparently, and I haven't. I'll keep an eye out for updates.

 

[bluebolt]

Some people like a challenge to test their skills. Good luck and keep us updated.

 

[bulletpruf]

I would have never thought any thing from the late 70s was worth restoration after being burned, but then again, running 67-69 Camaros were $1500 when I was a kid in the 80s. Go for it, it may bring big money years from now.

Yeah, I remember those days. I turned 18 in 1986. If you did your homework, you could still buy a first gen Camaro SS, complete and driving, for $1500. Not a number L78 car in concours condition, of course, but certainly an SS350 or maybe an SS396 that needed some TLC.

Scott

 

[Hammer1963]

Who cares about the cost and potential value as long as you can foot the bill. It's the ability to do the work and having an incredible project that you have completed yourself and hopefully with your son. Too many people want out of the wrapper cars etc. There is a lot to be said for hands on involvement!

 

[SilverSS1969]

I would have never thought any thing from the late 70s was worth restoration after being burned, but then again, running 67-69 Camaros were $1500 when I was a kid in the 80s. Go for it, it may bring big money years from now.

I bought my running 69 Camaro for $1800 in 2002 going into my senior year in high school.


Growing up I always liked the 77-79 Camaro/Firebird/Trans Am. I actually had a gentlemen's agreement to purchase a 78 black T-Top Trans Am. Show up at his house with the check and tells me he's not selling it. About a month later, driving home from auto shop, I see the front of a 69 Camaro in this guys backyard. Came back later that day, knocked on his door and asked if it was for sale. Week later we brought it home.

Hope you and your son have fun with the car. Its really about the money for car guys. Most of us will never get out what we have into them. Post pictures of your other projects. Id like to see them too.

 

[mik386]

Thanks for the comments both pro and con. This week end my son changed out the bolt on sheetmetal with extra factory GM panels we had from a couple parts cars. I should have taken a picture before we put it away, but it was raining and we had to work fast. Now it's a combonation of red fenders yellow doors red hood and black trunklid with a white nose.
We have a couple of projects to finish up this winter and hopefully will be able to start this next spring. I originally bought this for the 4-speed set up. Then after looking closer finding out it is a matching numbers car. I'm having a hard time parting it out, that's why I'm putting it up for a while. After all they supposedly only made about 5000 with a standard transmission. I will post some of the other stuff we are working on soon. Good thing about posting this stuff is that you get a lot of opinions. Your friends are only going to sugar coat it.