Country Honk, Camaro Revival Part I

Old car restoration is akin to old house restoration: you have to tear it all apart to determine the extent of rust, deterioration, and hidden damage. So before you tackle a complete vehicle take-apart, gather some basic supplies:

* Half a dozen boxes of quart and gallon Ziploc bags (Freezer bags tend to hold up best and any store brand will work--don't get the cheapest ones since they tend to break--plus they are hard to open and reseal.)
* A multicolor supply of Sharpie permanent markers
* A roll each of 3/4-, 1-, and 2-inch masking tape. (quality painter's tape that goes on and comes off easily)
* Digital (preferred) or roll-film camera
* 50-pound sack of coffee beans, economy-size jar of aspirin, and...
* A huge box of antacid!

Now it's time to evaluate your metal-working skills. Unless you are a skilled metal fabricator, the first time you see rust, holes, and dents, you'll begin to get a sinking feeling. There is a major difference between a welder and a fabricator: a fabricator is a person with special skills and creativity. Bobby Livengood knows how the metal will react to cutting, welding, and pressure. He also possesses the ability to see in three dimensions and visualize how all the hidden surfaces not being worked will react to cutting or welding. Unless you are an accomplished fabricator do not attempt these modifications. Seek a qualified metalworker.

Document everything. Take tons of pictures as each component is removed. (A digital camera with macro capability is highly recommended. Use the flash to adequately illuminate dark areas.) You will be amazed at how leaky your memory becomes all those months after the initial take-apart. Fill the plastic bags with system components labeled as to left, right, north, south, etc. Draw little diagrams and label them. Always note which vehicle the parts come off of (it might be a donor car you are working with initially).

When you unplug any component, mechanical or electrical, mark it with tape to identify the respective plugs. If you don't know the name of a component, use letters or numbers on the connectors (A to A; B to B) so they may be rejoined correctly later. You will also use the tape to keep multi-component systems joined, such as the windshield wiper arm and linkage mech-anisms, or window regulators and guides.

Okay, that's a start. We'll now detail the first steps we took with the Hotchkis Camaro convertible to morph it from the pathetic creature pictured above into a head-turning, lady-attracting, road-carving delight. Keep an eye on the Hotchkis Web site for important announcements about this car on the 2006 Power Tour! And join us next month, as we make this carcass rollable.