Restoring a 69 Camaro SS $$?

[BuggyWhips]

My Aunt has one rusting away on her property. For the most part the interior is worn. Looks like 33 years of wear inside it so most of the interior minus the dash would have to be replaced. The paint on the outside is oxidized and faded which means nothing because the 2 rear 1/4s have to be replaced anyway due to extensive rust. The engine with a little TLC could be running again but Id drop in a worked 454 if i could. And the transmission is Automatic which if possible i would change over to 4sp manual.

Does anyone have any idea how much this restoration would cost to get the car to look anywhere like it did when it rolled off the line 33 years ago. Im talking about an almost frame up restoration on this car. And would the car be worth doing something like this if i wanted to see it and recoup my costs somewhere down the line...
Kev

 

[Kahn]

10k. Year One. Keep it an automatic though. Hell yes you could recoup you costs. IF you ever sold it.

 

[BuggyWhips]

Yeah i was thinking about 10k myself. Im assuming it is an SS. You know people like to but fake emblems on things to make it seem something its not. Maybe 10k for the body work. Im sure engine and new trans would cost more. I can get a worked 350 for an awesome price but a 454 might be more authentic.

 

[Kahn]

Actually I'd do a small block 400. You can destroke them with a 350 crank and put long rods in them and a set of Air Flow Research heads and you've got a 377 with 11:1 compression that gets 20+ mpg and turns out 400+ horse and will last 100k miles easy. Hopefully it has a T350 and not the T400 trans. The T400 takes more horsepower to turn and it takes it from the rear wheels. The frame is a two piece so you'll have to put in sub frame connectors after you sandblast and paint the subframes. You can buy the whole damn car piece by piece so It coud be 10k including the motor. If you paint yourself, goo, if not, learn. Take your time, there are not many guys that can say the first car they redid was a 69 Camaro. My first car is the 66 GTO I am doing now. Where are you? North or south? From the rust drscription,it sounds north. You can save $$ if you know where and when to avoid Year One for new parts. Used ones can be fine. They are heavier metal, too. The Interior can be bought at one place but the cash could be dumped atone time and have a custon interior done for the same or a piece at a time. I wish I had gone the custom route instead of dusting 1500 on everything new for the GTO. If I did, I could have a custom unteriot with softer newer fabfic for about the same or less. Shop the pieces and you'll do better than I did, I can help you if you want.

 

[Kahn]

Forgot some stuff. I got a polyurethane suspension from PST with new springs and the biggest sway bars they had for $1250. I bought a gallon of POR-15 and painted every piece that was metal. I wire wheeled the frame and rear end and control arms and then POR-15'd them. I got stainless steel brake and fuel lines fron in-line tube in Fraser Michigan. Then I got cross drilled rotors and semi metallic brake pads from Summit. The calipers were just rebuilds from the local auto store. Ebay could score you large for parts. Now is a good time to look because it is not a car season and the auctions are slow. But remember, this is a LOT of work and unless you love cars, it might bebest to dust 10k on a complete running car from Ca or Az. Spend 5k and put in 5k. You might be further ahead.

 

[CARPATHIAN FOREST]

Buggy, if you want to get some resale value out of it, the numbers
have to match. If you post the VIN, I can give you the specs on
it.

 

[BuggyWhips]

Guys thanks alot ill check into it. I love cars, Im very big into them. I've owned 3 Trans Ams and a few other cars in the last 4 years I had my license. The Camaro/Firebird line was my favorite and even though i dont have one now i would like to have one again someday.

But Im 21 and a college student so right now money is somewhat tight. Getting the car into my possession would be the first step. And the car would be free of course. I would like to get a garage to keep it in from further deterioration on it until a few years where I have a steady job with time and money to sink into it. I will have most of it custom if i could. I figure if im puttin all this time into the thing it might as well have some personalization to it.