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Part 3: Chassis Work Begins
Everett Gross

Here are the car parts I'll need to work on. Notice car on blocks in background.



(Click photo to enlarge)


Now I'm left with just the naked chassis. Since I'm working on a backyard builder's budget I try to buy cheap, and trade labor and parts to get what I need to get the car back into road warrior condition. Important parts I buy new. A friend down the street has a few cars and parts in his yard and the local health department is after him and a few others in town to clean up their yards. He knows that a '79 Camaro front clip sitting in his yard will work for my car so I trade help cleaning up for his front clip. Cool deal!

He also has the rear end and I give him $75 for that. Another guy down the street has an old Oldsmobile Cutlass. If I take out the 327 engine for him and get rid of the car I can have any parts I want from it for free. I got my transmission and power steering pump and a few other small items this way. Plus, I learned how to take out an engine. I'm learning lots of new skills and things I've never done before. I would have liked to keep the car a little longer for parts but don't want the health department on my butt, so out it goes -- to the dump.



(Click photo to enlarge)


Next (with some help) I decide to cut the chassis right in front of the forward body mounts and weld in the newer Camaro clip.



(Click photo to enlarge)


Here's a pic of me welding the front clip on. It looks like it will lower the front about 5 to 6 inches. Now let me tell you -- this is the first time I've ever welded, so I'll throw in a big caution here. Three of us did the welding on this clip. This is not a place to begin welding on if you don't know how. I had help making sure the welds were strong. I didn't do this part all on my own. Also, measure your wheel base front to rear and corner to corner before cutting the frame and again when you weld your clip back on so it's square and the right distance apart.



(Click photo to enlarge)


Click here for Part 4: Starting on the Rear End


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