1967 Camaro Restoration Project

The Beginning
I got this Camaro in 1979, the summer after my high-school graduation. I was working at Safeway as a carry-out, and I carried the groceries out for this young man. I knew he was a foreigner and he had a for sale sign made in yellow marker on white paper in the rear window. You couldn't see it more than a few feet away. I immediately asked him how much he wanted for the car and he said $800.00. I told him I wanted to buy it and I would be off work at 5:00, and would bring my Mom to see the car, if he would give me his number. I had him take the for sale sign out of the car right away so no one else would make an offer on it.


5:00 rolled around and I went home to get my mom to take her to see the car I wanted to buy. We drove over to the University where the young man lived. He was an Iranian student who was being thrown out of the country because of the Iran Crisis. Mom looked at the car, it was chocolate brown at the time, and the guy had painted a white latex stripe over the top and down to a point on the front of the hood. Mom said, "It looks like a skunk." He immediately dropped the price down to $600.00 and I said "MOM!" She asked me if I was sure that this was the car I wanted to buy and I said yes. She said "Your going to keep this for a long time..." We paid him and I drove the car over to my uncle Ernest's house so he could check it out.

I could tell the original color was Aqua Marine, and it had also been painted Solid Orange before it was Dark Chocolate Brown. I painted it Dark Metallic Grey, then, Midnight Blue in 1988.

The 1967 Camaro Restoration Project Begins - 2006 Mountain View Auto Interiors
1900 Old Middlefield Road
Mountain View, CA 94040
Bob Demarco/Vic Bier Owners
Auto Restoration and Repair: Remove Interior and Weather Stripping, Prepare for Body Shop

May 16, 2006. Mountain View Auto Interiors gives me a quote of $200.00 for removing the interior parts and weather stripping. They tell me it will be a few days to do the work and will probably be done by Friday. I tell them I have it scheduled to go into the body shop on Thursday the 18th. They do the job in 1 day and charge me $360.00 on Wednesday the 17th. I did ask them to rush the job, so I don't make a fuss about the price.


Bob at Mountain View Auto Interiors wired the car up to start temporarily because the console had been taken out. After the interior was stripped out, I was surprised to see so much rust damage had occurred to the inside of the vehicle. It was obvious I had to repair the damage to the inside if I was going to proceed with this project. I took it back over to the body shop and I get another estimate to have the entire interior done, including inside the trunk and hood, and proceeded with the body work.

Maaco
1042 W. Evelyn Avenue Sunnyvale, CA 94086
408.739.3840 maacosunnvale@sbcglobal.net
Dave Hamilton, Owner
Collision Repair and Body Painting: Body Repair and Paint, Interior and Exterior

Into the body shop May 18, 2006. Out July 15, 2006. I knew the moment I saw the car that it wasn't going to start. They had disconnected the wiring during the process of painting the interior. This didn't surprise me but I was not happy about having to tow it to my mechanic. It was a Saturday and the mechanic had no room to store it over the weekend. The car stayed at Maaco on Sunday under a canopy and I towed it to my regular mechanic on Monday. The paint job looked great. The color was exactly what I wanted. The paint job had a few drips unfortunately, and the electronics were disconnected at the time of pick-up, however Maaco has agreed to fix the paint drips that did occur.



Advanced Auto Repair
912 W. Evelyn Ave.
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Auto Repair: Bushings

After the Camaro left the Body Shop my regular mechanic had to diagnose the no start problem and install new Body Mount to Frame Bushings and replace the Windshield Washer Motor and windshield washer nozzles, as well as the heater switch lever. I asked him to replace the steering wheel at the time, but the original part was damaged and had to be returned to Classic Industries. Leo said he would put it in when I got the new part. It was at the mechanic for three weeks. I took it home and washed it up inside and out and there was no damage to the paint or doors.

Mountain View Auto Interiors
1900 Old Middlefield Road
Mountain View, CA 94040
Bob Demarco/Vic Bier Owners
Auto Restoration and Repair: Install Interior, Paint and Repair Dash Parts


I put my Camaro into the interior shop on August 9, 2006. I provided shop owner Bob Demarco with a list of parts I have purchased at Classic Industries. The parts include the Complete Interior Kit, Paint Seal Kit and Weatherstripping Kit along with a lot of other parts. Please see complete list below. He gives me a price of $250.00 for the headliner, $200.00 for the carpet, $400.00 for the seats and says "So at least you know that much of the price."

Bob calls my cell phone on Monday August 14, 2006 to tell me I'm missing the headliner center clips, and dome light, lens and bezel and both front seat cushions foam. I tell him I will order the parts and get them to him as soon as possible. Later he calls and suggests I change out the outer door handles too.

On the 15th I order parts and Bob calls and asks if I would like the dash painted to flat black. I agree it needs to be done but Bob has not given me a quote for the whole job yet. I call Bob again and ask him if he wants to change out the steering wheel. He says it's not that hard to do in that car so yes, he will do it if I bring him the part. I ask him to ball park the total and he verbally says about $2000.00. "About 2 Grand" were his exact words.

I provide Bob with outer door handles, dome light lens and bezel and headliner clips on Friday August 18, 2006. Bob informs me he chipped my paint job while replacing the Trunk Lock seal. Other parts come in on Monday the 21st and I include the brake pedal pad, and emergency break pedal pad, and deliver them to Bob.

I tell Bob I have been carrying around his business card for years, and want to show him something. I show Bob a full color redesign of his business card and offer the file to him for free as an incentive to speed up the process. He seems impressed by the business card redesign, and I quickly explain how and where to print them cheaply. He keeps the sample cards doesn't mention them again, and neither do I.


On Friday the 25th Bob calls to say I need more parts for my instrument panel and I get angry because I wasn't expecting to do any work on the instrument panel. It was fully functional but the casing is cracked. He tells me I also need a glove box and some other items. I disagree and ask him to get the parts I've given him onto the car.

Over the weekend I reconsider what Bob said. On Monday I go to see the progress and Bob has painted the dash and I tell him it's going to cost $500.00 more in parts alone for the instrument panel, and the one I have works. He says, "Its the casing that needs to be replaced." I decide to replace the casing for the instrument panel and to get the glove box. I tell Bob that I am glad he wants to do the job. Bob says "I just want to make your car look good and it's best to do this now while the dash board is out." He tells me I also need the visors and that he didn't tell me that because I was so pissed off when we spoke on the phone on Friday. I agree the visors are his job and I order them. I deliver the parts to him on Wednesday, August 30th. I see the re-upholstered seats and and rear bench for the first time. I ask him for a price and he says "I could do that...." but we start discussing other things and I let him off the hook on the quote.


On Friday September 1st, I call Bob at 4:30 to ask him when the job should be done, because my insurance agent wants an appraisal. He says the 11th, and I say "that's a Monday" and he slips it to the 13th. I ask him if we are still in the ball park of $2000.00. He says if that's the quote I gave you that's what it will be. The quote has never been in writing, only verbal, except for the carpet, seats and headliner. Approximately 4 weeks and the car is still not even close to being done and it's the Labor Day Weekend.


Tuesday 9/5/2006. I go over to Mountain View Auto Interior determined to get a final price from Bob. I have copies of all the parts from Classic Industries Invoices. He agrees and reviews his paperwork and my parts list. Bob gives me a price of $2700.00 for the whole job, and signs the copy for legal purposes. The dash board is in, old steering wheel removed.


Bob also informs me that he noticed I need a new Steering Rag Coupler. I ask him to point the part out to me so I am absolutely clear about what he is talking about, and so I can review my photographs of the job prior to taking it into his shop. I look at the part and it's still usable, but worn. After leaving his shop I go home to check the catalog for the Steering Coupler also known as the Rag Joint. According to Classic Industries Camaro Parts and Accessory Catalog: "This steering column coupler, commonly known as the 'rag joint' can be a weak link between the steering column and the steering gear box. When the coupler becomes worn, it can lead to future problems with your steering system and expensive repairs."


Week 5. Wednesday, August 9, 2:45 pm. The carpet is in the process of being installed, and the headliner is in and the console parts are in the process of being painted. I see some of the passenger side weather stripping is torn. Bob says he can glue that, and blames it on poor quality parts, from Classic Industries. I have to admit, the parts are not the quality of the original Camaro and Bob informs me I am missing the Sun visor Tip and Bushing Kit and I ask him to see the Steering Rag Joint Coupler again. It's in much worse condition than yesterday.

Bob had to be aware of the damage that would keep occurring to the Steering Rag Joint Coupler by leaving the steering wheel off and in the down position, and moving the car in and out of the shop, because he did point it out to me. When he told me he noticed the damage he said "It's a pretty important part." I didn't say anything more to him about replacing that part, except that I planned on getting the part. Bob tells me there is a crack in the windshield top corner on the drivers side. I take a look but don't see the crack, I don't say anything more about it.

I go over to Advanced Auto Repair to have a discussion with Leo my regular mechanic. Leo tells me the damage may be occurring to the Steering Rag Joint Coupler because the steering column is in the down position at present, while the other dash work is being done. I ask him if he will have to remove the steering wheel to get the rag joint installed and he says yes. Leo gives me a price and says if Bob won't do it for that price then bring it back to me.

Damaged Replaced
I call Bob and say "Bob this is John ____." He says, "Who?" I say "The guy who's Camaro you are working on." I ask him how much more will it cost me to put the Steering Rag Joint Coupler in. Bob says "Oh, I normally don't do that type of work, but, I've done it before though." I ask him how much he will charge me and he says "John, since you've got so much going on down here I'll do it for free." I decide I will order the part.

Friday August 8. I deliver the Sun Visor Tip and Bushing Kit and the Steering Coupling Joint(Rag Joint)to Bob. The rear seat shelf and speakers are in as well as the rear inner panels. The instrument panel is back in along with the new bezels. The window weather stripping is also installed. I ask Bob if he's sure he feels comfortable installing the Steering Coupling Joint. I tell him it's his call and if he doesn't feel comfortable installing that part, that I will take it to my mechanic. He briefly explains what he has to do to install the part and I let him do the work.


I've had this car for 28 years and never had a problem with the doors closing right. While my vehicle was at Mountain View Auto Interiors damage occurred to both the driver side and passenger side door hinges. Now neither door closes properly. When I opened the drivers side door it popped off the Door Lock Striker and I instantly knew something was wrong. Bob just looked at me and smiled and said it would be better after the weather stripping got broken in, but I knew the problem was much worse than that. I took it back to the body shop, Maaco, and they are going to have to take the door off and replace the hinges. That was scheduled for Monday, September 18. There were a few other places where the paint was damaged as well.

It took Mountain View Auto Interiors a month and a half to do the job and they damaged the Steering "Rag Joint" Coupler, the paint job, the windshield, and the both door hinges and some of the weather stripping. Now I have to order more parts for the doors and the car has to go back to the body shop for more repairs.

Overall: Good Headliner, Carpet and Upholstery, and the console and dash paint is done very well. Unfortunantly, disappointing damage to both door hinges and the paint job during installation of the paint seal kit. Also the Steering "Rag Joint" Coupler was damaged and had to be replaced.

I take it home on Friday the 15th. On Sunday, August 17th 2006, I discover that the passenger door is locked shut and won't open by handle or key. I very nearly can't get the drivers side door open either. It looks as though the damage was designed to get me to lock myself out of the car. Ha ha ha, real funny. The Dome light was working when I picked the car up, and now its not. At this point I wouldn't recommend Mountain View Auto Interiors to anyone.


Monday, September 18, 2006. I go back to Mountain View Auto Interiors by 9:00 a.m. and show Bob the problem with the door. I tell him the door is locked shut and won't open. He says, "And you thought we were done with this car." He immediately goes to work on trying to get the door to unlock. He messes with it for a good 15 minutes before he goes next door and gets a mechanic to help. After about 1/2 hour they get the door open after Bob has removed the door panel. I look at Front Door Latch Assembly while it is still in the door and it looks damaged, like someone had taken a screwdriver and hammered on it. Bob evenually gets the Front Door Assembly out and then cleans it and lubes it up, but he is unable to get the mechanism to work. He tells me I need to replace the part. I have him give me all the parts and I bungee cord the door shut and leave. Final Review: I will never do business with Mountain View Auto Interiors again.

The Hinge Replacement Maaco
1042 W. Evelyn Avenue Sunnyvale, CA 94086
408.739.3840 maacosunnvale@sbcglobal.net
Dave Hamilton, Owner
Collision Repair and Body Painting: Body Repair and Paint, Interior and Exterior

I take the car to Maaco to have the door checked out since it is about 1/2 inch off closing completely on the bottom of the drivers side. Their technician tells me the hinges need to be replaced. I have to order the upper and lower door hinges for both doors. Marie who also works there, checks out both doors and so does my sales representative, Rasendo, and the Owner Dave. Dave inspects the driver side door and says, "That's just wierd, that they aren't closing right." I show Marie the trouble that is happening with the doors and she says there was nothing wrong with the doors when the car left their body shop. She reassures me they will install the door hinges and Front Latch Assembly when I bring them the parts and that they will touch up the paint chips and drips as well.

October 2, 2006. Into Maaco for door hinge replacement and paint touch-ups. Rasendo estimates 8 hours for the job. October 3, Maaco is having some difficulty getting the hinges to work properly, Rasendo says... "It's because they are after-market. The doors are dropping and they are trying to get them to close properly." I decide to go down and see whats happening with the vehicle and to talk to them about how much time is going to be involved. So far 6 hours have gone into replacing the hinges. They tried to get them on without taking off the right fender, unfortunantly they were unsuccessful and are still in the process of solving the problem.

October 4, I call Maaco to ask them if they have any idea how many more hours it's going to take to get the problem fixed. I ask Resendo if he thinks the rust damage is too bad and if they are going to have to weld a new piece of metal in where the door hinge is attached. He says he will talk to the guy working on the job and call me back in a couple of hours.


About 4:00 pm I go down to see if they have made any progress fixing the hinges. None what-so-ever. I talk to the guy who is going to do the work and he is busy sanding a Carmengia. His name is Martin and he says he has to move the doors forward and I ask him when he is going to be working on my car and he says "Tomorrow." He tells me I need a new bumper bracket and I say, "I'm not buying any more parts for this car until I see the doors are going to work properly. He tells me he can fix them and he wants to make sure they close tightly. It's also very apparent I need a new battery tray and and the grill needs to be replaced as well as the bumpers. Before I leave I see Marie again. I tell her "I don't want to spend a fortune on this," considering I've already spent more than I wanted to. She says they want to do a good job and they will work with me on the price.


October 5. Martin, the Body Tech, has made some progress on the passenger side door. It has been bolted down and looks like its fitting properly. He had left by the time I got there so I wasn't able to get anymore information from him. I spoke to Rasendo and tell him if the doors are working properly, I will order some of the other parts that are needed, but I want to see them working. He says give him a call in the morning when Martin is back.


October 6, I order the grill, front bumper, right hand bumper bracket and battery tray kit. October 7, I go back to Maaco to see whats has been done to the Camaro. The passenger door is on and the locking assembly in, but not closing completely tightly at the bottom. The fender is also back on. I tell Marie I have ordered more parts and what they are. So no need to rush next week because the parts won't be in for a few days. We discuss the passenger door problem and she asks me if the car was in an accident before on that side. I say I had the car for 25 years and never had a problem with the doors. I was in a small fender bender where a Chevy Truck backed up into me at the intersection of Mary & Central a few years back but the doors were fine. She says it seems the door is bowed it goes along at a nice angle then comes out. We look at rocker panel molding for evidence of damage and there is a spot where the molding is damaged about where the angle of the door changes. I ask her if the door needs to be replaced, and she says it would be at the correct angle that way, instead of them trying to bend it into shape. The rocker panel molding is off and very much in need of replacement. This is the piece of molding that runs betweeen the wheel wells below the door. She asks me where I have been getting car parts and I tell her "Mostly at Classic Industries, and from a place called 'The Paddock' which is in Indiana." I take a few photographs and go out and talk to Dave for a moment and tell him there are more parts coming. Then I go home and order the rocker panel molding for both sides.

Saturday October 14. I take the grill, front bumper, battery tray kit and rocker molding kit to Maaco. Unfortunantly I recieved the outer right hand bumper bracket instead of the inner right hand bracket so I had to re-order that part, and it's scheduled to be delivered on the 18th.


I delivered the inner right hand bracket to Maaco on Wednesday the 18th. The new grill is on, and the battery tray and battery are back in and they are in the process of preparing the car for paint. Things seem to be coming along nicely and I am looking forward to seeing it complete. Saturday October 28, 2006. I called Maaco this morning to find out what the status of the Camero is. It's still not ready to go. Dave apologized for the delay and said he appreciated my patience, but Marie was still working on the drivers side door problem, before it can go into paint again. Dave tells me it will be a few more days.

Friday November 3, 2006. I've been calling Maaco everyday between 4 and 5 to find out the status of the vehicle. They just keep putting me off with excuses telling me it will be done the next day, and the next day comes and it isn't done. At this point I'm so disgusted with this project, I wish I had never started it. I should have sold it and bought a new car or truck. I thought it was a good idea to restore an American vehicle and support the local businesses, but I can't seem to get good quality service. I don't recommend anyone, who is not a mechanic, restore an old vehicle by piecing it out. Take it to a company that can do the entire job or just get rid of it and buy yourself something new and avoid all the headaches and high costs. If you are lucky enough to live in a city where you don't need it, don't own a vehicle, and you will save yourself thousands in insurance, car payments and maintenance.

Friday, November 10, 2006. I go to Maaco at 12:30. I go back into the shop and see Martin working on trying to get the new latch assembly back in on the drivers side. The Front Bumper and Rocker Panel Molding is still not on the car. Marie grabs hold of my arm and tells me she is determined to get the car out of the shop by the end of the day.

Saturday, Novmeber 11, I go to see the progress that was made on the door yesterday. I take with me a copy of this photograph, to show Dave, Rasendo and Marie what I think caused the problem to begin with.
I explain my theory that because the doors were tied open like this, they got over-extended and thats what caused them to no long close properly. Dave, Rasendo and I discuss it for awhile then Marie takes me back and shows me how the doors are working. The drivers side seems to be closing fairly well and the passenger side requires a slightly harder slam. "I say as long as they are opening and closing, that's the best I can hope for. Every time I see the car I think the paint job is beautiful." The rocker panel molding and front bumper still need to go on but it's almost done, and I'm looking forward to driving it again. Marie says she thinks it will be done on Monday.

Monday, November 13, 2006, After 4:00 p.m. I call Maaco and Rasendo answers the phone and I ask him how things are coming with the Camero. He's says let me check and passes me off to Marie. Marie tells me Martin worked on the passenger side door yesterday and they were having trouble finding some door panel clips. She took him off after 4 and 1/2 hours and tells me it is going into detail on Tuesday. She says "It's raining anyway, not that that is an excuse, but I don't want you to pick it up in the rain."

Tuesday November 14, I walk over to Maaco to see if the other parts are on the car yet, and to check out Marie's story. Dave is with a customer and tells me Marie is in the back. I walk in and see Martin is working on a truck. I say hello to him and go over to where Marie is sweeping. "I see we didn't make it into detail today, but he did manage to get the bumper bracket on," I say. Martin steps up and says he just has to get the parts under the bumper on and the rocker panel molding but that won't take that much longer. You also need the emblems too, I say. "Oh yes, and the emblems," he says. I tell Marie, it all takes time and it looks like you are pretty busy, as they did have many cars in the shop. Marie didn't have much to say today and there are no outstanding quotes that I recall. I'm sure they are getting tired of seeing me in their shop. I stay for only a moment and I thank Martin for all his hard work and say good bye to Dave as I pass him outside.

Monday, Nobember 20, 2006. I call Maaco at 2:00 and Resendo puts me on hold and says Marie will call me back in an hour. An hour goes by and I don't hear from Maaco, so I drive down to see what the status is. I walk in Rasendo and says it's in Detailing and it should be ready to go today, then Dave says they are having trouble with the starter. I say "No, there should be nothing wrong with the starter. It's mostly likely a grounding issue. I drove it down here both times, and I expect to be able to drive it out." They tell me they are going to keep working the issue and tell me to call back at 5:00. I call back at 5:00 and the phone goes to the answering machine. I leave a message and tell them I will come down and pick it up if they get it started before 5:30 otherwise I will see them tomorrow. I talk to Marie about 5:15 and she says they are still having trouble starting it, they actually did get it to start, but then after they turned it off it was dead.

Tuesday, November 21. I walk down to Maaco and the Camaro is sitting out front and looks nice. Rasendo is outside and I talk to him for a moment while he is checking out another vehicle. He tells me they will try to jump start it when I'm ready. Marie comes out and I talk to her and tell her it looks nice and she explains they are sorry about the no start issue, and they think it's a starter problem. I get my paperwork taken care of and Rasendo says that other customers have been commenting on how nice the Camaro looks and it's been a help in sales. He says he likes it most because it's an unusual color and he see alot of other customer's choosing red, black or white and it's nice to see something different. I based my color choice on the original color and it looks like I hit color as close as possible.



We get the car started and I take it out for a good run. I go by the car wash and clean out the engine and run it until time to take it over to my mechanic at Advanced Auto. I had called Leo about the problem and told him I needed to bring the car by to have him check it out. Leo has me pull the car into the garage and I turn it off, and try to restart it, and it's dead. They have a replacement for Patrick, his name is Fernando, and the first words out of his mouth are "Do you want to sell it?" I leave the car with them and walk home. Leo calls me later and says I need a new Nuetral Safety Switch and he says it's okay to pick it up and bring it back when I get the part. I order the part along with a new right hand side rear view mirror, because this one is not working properly. It's great Leo got me in and out as soon as possible and he also said the interior looked really nice, like they had done a good quality job. Advanced Auto has been my mechanic for several years and I have always been pleased with their work and this time was no exception. I ask Leo if he will put the Camero up on the rack, because I want to get a shot of the under carriage because this is the next step in the process.

Replaced Interior Parts List:
S67-69 Chrome Seat Knob Set (4)1
67-92 KNWD RR Shelf Speakrs 200WT 1
67-69 Camero Rear Window MLDG 1
67 CAM/FB Door Jamb Windlace 1
67-68 Camaro STD Seat Foam 2
Auto Brake Peddle Pad Drum Brakes 1
67-81 Brake/Clutch Pedal Pad 1
62-69 Trunk Lid Rubber Stopper 1
Dome Lamp Bulb 1
67-68 STD Steering Wheel 1
67-68 Instrument Carrier Assy 1
67-68 Instrument Housing Screw 1
67 Dash Carrier Lens OER
67 Blk Sun Visors Coupe 2
67-68 CAM/FB Outer Dr Handle Kit 1
SDOME Lens Kit 1
67-72 Headliner Center Bow Clips (4)1
Outer Door Mirror w/Bowtie (2)1
67-69 F BDY FRNT SEAT BLT ASSY (22 1
65-67 STD inner Door Handles LH/RH2
65-81 BK Door Window Handle 2
Glove Box Lock Case/Hook 1
STRNG COLMNT TO FLR BOOT 1
67-68 Camaro Rubber Stopper Kit 1
67-69 Vericals with Steeel
S67 Int Headliner Molding Kit
67 CP INR PLR MODG BLKC INJ
STD Paint Seal Kit
S67 STD Coupe Complete Interior Kit-Black
S67 F-BODY PADDED DASH BLACK
S67-69 Door Opening Sill Plate 2
S67Chrome Arm Rest Base 2
S67-68 STD Coupe F/S UPHOLS-BLACK
S67 OEM BLACK HEADLINER
S67-69 BLACK REAR SEAT SHELF
SHEADLINER INSTALL GLUE 4OZ 1892
S67-69 BLACK LOOP CARPET
S67 STD FRONT DOOR PANELS-BLACK 1
S67 STD CPE RR INNER PANELS-BLACK 1
67-79 Sun Visor Tip and Bushing Kit
61-67 BLK LOCK KNOW (PR)
67 DOOR LOCK KNOB FERRULES
S67-74 DOOR PNL INSTL CLIP KIT
65-72 DR PANL MOUNT CLIP PLUGS
67-69 F BDY WNDW HNDL BLX BLK 2
WINDW/CRANK HANDLE PLATE 4

Parts Damaged During the Restoration Process
1967-81 Steering Coupling Joints (Rag Joints)Damaged during interior work.
Upper Door Hinge 2
Lower Door Hinge 2
Front Door Latch Assembly RH 1
Front Door Latch Assembly LH 1

More Replaced Parts
Inner RH Bumper Bracket
Front Bumper
RH and LH Rocker Panel Molding
Head Light Bezel Kit
Grill Kit
Battery Tray Kit
Nuetral Safety Switch
RH Outer Door Rear View Mirror
Windshield Washer Jar
RH and LH Front Turn Signal Lens Cap