New Project Car: '79 Z28

[Midnightmoon]

My daughter has been bugging me to build a project car with her. We have been looking for something all winter. Just stumbled on this and made a deal on it yesterday. Complete mess but has decent bones.

 

[stinger608]

Nice!!!!

Even with the "T" tops.

Decent carb, intake, and an aftermarket HEI distributor.

You are right, it's does have "decent bones".

It'll be a great project

 

[gunafulltime]

Very cool! I know the project will be a blessing for both of you!

 

[JFlightRisk]

Awesome project car for you both. I can see her going down the road grinning ear to ear!

 

[Midnightmoon]

Thanks everyone. This one needs a ton of work in all areas. Certainly going to give my daughter some experience.

 

[Midnightmoon]

Got it home and on the ground today. Moved on and off the trailer under it's own power. 99% sure that the engine is junk but still starts and sounds good.

 

[Midnightmoon]

 

[stinger608]

I don't know man, that motor doesn't sound too bad!!!

If you are going to keep that Holley on it, check the power valve. They are notorious for going bad. Just a little rubber diaphragm and they tear easily.

 

[Midnightmoon]

I don't know man, that motor doesn't sound too bad!!!

If you are going to keep that Holley on it, check the power valve. They are notorious for going bad. Just a little rubber diaphragm and they tear easily.

Definitely a blown head gasket on the passenger side. I actually suspect an issue with a head bolt/bolts. But we will see when I tear it down. I have an LS here (6.0L LQ4) ready to go in. But, my daughter wants to take the time to see what we can do with this first.

Here's a little video of the antifreeze out the pipe.

 

[Midnightmoon]

Long way off of needing these but couldn't pass them up. Found these factory 14" wheels on Facebook Marketplace at a very reasonable price and figured that I should add them to the parts pile just in case this takes on a more traditional restoration at some point.

 

[stinger608]

Awesome score on the rally wheels man!!!!!!

 

[LuckyDuck]

Cool project! You’re a good dad! The project will bring memories that will last a lifetime. Have fun! And keep us updated. It certainly qualifies as a recreational vehicle…

 

[Jayhawk 29]

Long way off of needing these but couldn't pass them up. Found these factory 14" wheels on Facebook Marketplace at a very reasonable price and figured that I should add them to the parts pile just in case this takes on a more traditional restoration at some point.
View attachment 1314156

Translation: You start out to freshen things up and give it some new lipstick. And while we are at it we should do this, while we are doing that, and while we are at it, why don't we update that original seats with new fabric, and on and on and on, Been there, done that, rebuilds started out to just get things in usable shape, and then over the winter we will really update things.

I have gotten smacked silly a couple of times after telling SWMBO that "honestly it will be worth the extra effort and money when we get done.
And yes, between Amazon, FB Marketplace and Craigs List,all the reasonable deals turns into over drafting my budgeted project finances, every single time. But I promise I will never do it again, honey.

 

[Midnightmoon]

Daughter took it upon herself to rattle can the fenders flat black today. Couldn't stand the grey primer anymore apparently... Lol

 

[Midnightmoon]

Couple pics of the floors, exhaust, etc.

 

[nambarc]

Clearly your forum moderator salary has gone up I got fired

 

[Midnightmoon]

And we have lights!! And the radio works too ..lol

 

[Grumpy]

And we have lights!! And the radio works too ..lol

You're not done yet????

 

[Midnightmoon]

You're not done yet????

Just a minute or two more ...lol

 

[JFlightRisk]

Cool! Tunes are VERY important.