Soto's '73 Camaro Restoration

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My 1973 Camaro Rally Sport has been a part of me for 30 years plus. I purchased and ordered my car new from Arrow Chevrolet, Los Angeles and took possession and title in late 1972. The purchased price was $3800.00. This was my first car purchased new. I drove it frequently up until around 1988. It sat six years in my driveway in San Pedro under a cloth cover as I only had a one car garage. Anytime I took the cover off the car it seem somebody would be knocking at my door asking if I wanted to sell it. The answer was always no! During those six years living by the beach, the car did get rusty - not badly - mostly surface rust. My intentions were always to someday restore the car to new again condition. I was hoping to restore the car with my oldest son, Chris and then give it to him, but he was not interested. So, the car traveled with us to Santa Clarita in 1994 and sat some more. This time though it was stored in my three car garage. I have been working on the car, taking it apart piece by piece and renewing or replacing each and every part since January 2001.

What I have done so far:

The original 350 engine was rebuilt by Engine Plus. Added to the engine was a Melling 3/4 racing cam, Edelbrock Performer manifold with a 650 cfm Holley 4 barrel carb., Holley fuel pump, a Edelbrock water pump, and 1972 Z28 polished valve covers. The 350 Turbo transmission was rebuilt by HP Transmissions with a shift kit and will have a TCI Saturday Nite Special torque convertor.

The front frame clip, spindles, A-arms, anti sway bar, radiator support, inner wheel wells, rotors, calipers, transmission support, bumper brackets, rally II wheels, with numerous other parts have been sandblasted and powder coated. The firewall was painted with under hood black.

All new stainless steel fuel, brake, vapor, and transmission coolant lines have or will be installed. The power brake booster was rebuilt and gold cad plated.

White lettered BF Goodrich TA radials with rally wheels will sport the car. All emblems and badges have been ordered and received and are awaiting to be installed after paint.

The original Rally Sport urethane nose piece was replaced and the complete radiator support and nose assembly were sandblasted and powder coated. They are assembled and awaiting mating with the rest of the body. Patch panels and body work was completed on the two front fenders.

What I have to do:

I plan to have the car in the shop for body work and paint by July 1, 2003 and on the road by October/November 2003. Body work and paint should take two months. The front and back windshield will be removed, along with the seats, center console and door panels. The body will be sent to the shop with the front end, fenders, hood, and engine not installed. The body paint will be stripped with aircraft paint remover down to the metal. It will sport the original metallic orange paint job, but done using a two stage process (base coat/clear coat) with stock black upholstery. New carpeting, front bucket seats covers, new dash pad, new center console pad have been purchased and will be installed. The center console will sport a B&M Quick Silver stick shifter. From the outside, the car will appear stock. Under the hood, most smog equipment will have been removed, Hooker headers added with a Flowmaster dual exhaust system.

I did mention earlier, that every single part on this car will be gone thru and either cleaned, powder coated, painted, replaced and I was not exaggerating . The underside of the car is in pristine original condition (protected over the years by oil and grime and now cleaned. A new gas tank will be added, Hotchkis leaf springs, new poly bushings installed, rear axle housing removed, cleaned and painted. The dash assembly needs to be completely removed for me to install the new pad.