Tossing around some ideas - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Strange Flavor · 11-09-2015, 10:40 PM

So at some point in the future, hopefully soon, I'm going to start the process of restoring my dads 1971 SS. I'm kind of torn right now on what I'm going to do with it. Up until recently I was going to go the pro touring route, LS crate engine, reworked suspension and all that good stuff. As of late, the more I think about it, I'm not sure anymore. Everyone seems to be going this route these days. That isn't a bad thing, there are some pretty sweet cars out there and this is a great option for cars that need a lot of work and parts. This particular car has only had 2 owners, my dad being the second, and he got it in 72. I have all the original parts and its rust free and was running as of 88 when it was put into our shed with transmission issues. I started taking it apart a few years back and ran out of room and time so its been postponed until now. Seeing as I have all of the original parts, I think it would almost be a shame if I tossed everything and just went with a crate motor and started chopping up the suspension. Although I think it would be really fun and easier to maintain going that route, It seems like it would almost be more unique to see an all original 350 around some of these car shows with all of these other LS swapped first and second gens. Right now I'm literally 50 / 50 on which way I want to go. Anyone else made a similar decision? How did it go?

Stingr69 · 11-10-2015, 08:49 AM

You will be bucks ahead in the end if you restore it to stock. The question is....is that the car you really want to own? The money part is the easy answer but what you want to own should be the deciding factor.

dads67 · 11-18-2015, 07:33 AM

well I was in the same boat with mine 67 plain coupe, restored with numbers matching everything and all docs.... went as a z/28 clone or at least my version, totally rebuilt syspension with poly BUT was going to totally redo syspension as a touring with coil overs tie frame ect ect now rethinking will be going back to as she left the gm plant YES 14X6 WHEELS WITH ORDERED WHEEL COVERS AND ALL getting the 327 2brl rebuilt and flat hood and trunk lid

id keep it as orig too many cut up BUT ITS YOUR CAR

11-09-2015, 10:40 PM	#1
Strange Flavor Drives: 17 Fifty SS, 11 2SS, 91 LSX C1500 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Louisiana Posts: 193 View My Garage	Tossing around some ideas So at some point in the future, hopefully soon, I'm going to start the process of restoring my dads 1971 SS. I'm kind of torn right now on what I'm going to do with it. Up until recently I was going to go the pro touring route, LS crate engine, reworked suspension and all that good stuff. As of late, the more I think about it, I'm not sure anymore. Everyone seems to be going this route these days. That isn't a bad thing, there are some pretty sweet cars out there and this is a great option for cars that need a lot of work and parts. This particular car has only had 2 owners, my dad being the second, and he got it in 72. I have all the original parts and its rust free and was running as of 88 when it was put into our shed with transmission issues. I started taking it apart a few years back and ran out of room and time so its been postponed until now. Seeing as I have all of the original parts, I think it would almost be a shame if I tossed everything and just went with a crate motor and started chopping up the suspension. Although I think it would be really fun and easier to maintain going that route, It seems like it would almost be more unique to see an all original 350 around some of these car shows with all of these other LS swapped first and second gens. Right now I'm literally 50 / 50 on which way I want to go. Anyone else made a similar decision? How did it go?

11-18-2015, 07:33 AM	#3
dads67 Drives: 67 camaro Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: texas Posts: 66 View My Garage	stock well I was in the same boat with mine 67 plain coupe, restored with numbers matching everything and all docs.... went as a z/28 clone or at least my version, totally rebuilt syspension with poly BUT was going to totally redo syspension as a touring with coil overs tie frame ect ect now rethinking will be going back to as she left the gm plant YES 14X6 WHEELS WITH ORDERED WHEEL COVERS AND ALL getting the 327 2brl rebuilt and flat hood and trunk lid id keep it as orig too many cut up BUT ITS YOUR CAR

11-10-2015, 08:49 AM	#2
Stingr69 '69 Owned Since '79 Drives: '69 Z/28 LeMans Blue w/White Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: LR AR Posts: 1,848 View My Garage	You will be bucks ahead in the end if you restore it to stock. The question is....is that the car you really want to own? The money part is the easy answer but what you want to own should be the deciding factor.