FULL BUILD: Restoring a '70 Chevy Camaro RS/SS

A new MuscleCar project is started: transforming a 1970 Camaro RS into a stock-style RS/SS 396.
#fullbuild #camaro

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[RobColbert]

I'm a software developer and don't know a thing about auto restoration. I do, however, know this car (they were on the road while I was growing up). I can NOT believe what I just watched start-to-finish. You two just did that whole car right, I thank you for caring that much, and for sharing your knowledge and skills. I hope many people get to see this so they can see what we saw back in the day. When you said, "It will be like showroom new, " that just wasn't a lie. That is what you (re)created. Stunned. I don't have more words, they don't exist. Thank you again.

[angeljmadrid]

I haven't seen power nation since like 2010 on free cable. I'm glad they evolved and now have a YouTube channel. SICK

[rickbacon]

I just want to add a few tidbits of info for this build- I fought to do this Camaro for a couple years, the idea was shot down repeatedly because it was a “stock” restoration which means advertiser involvement would be limited. Because if this, there wasn’t much time allotted for the build, since we had so many other things we needed to show during the season. The entire build start to finish was less than 90 days. We didn’t have any “after hours” help, and also had to keep up with all our other obligations during that time. Tommy and I were stretched thin! And we didn’t have time to go back and fix anything later. I didn’t have the plastic clips needed to support the headliner rods, so I had half of what was needed to install it, plus I’d never installed one. We didn’t have a steamer to help install the seat Upholstry, so it didn’t look great. If I had the car I would re-do most of the interior, as I wasn’t happy with it at all. As for the hood stripes, they were done in about half a day, and I hadn’t had time to do any clean-up prior to the photogs grabbing pictures. The edges were cleaned up later, but the shots had already been taken. Overall the car was solid and well built for the limited time we had to do it! I would love to buy it and finish it the way I really wanted to. Oh, and yes, I did go back and seal up the holes in the fenders! Editors don’t always know what should be included, and what can get cut. Why didn’t I drill the holes prior to paint? Honest answer, I Forgot. This build was done in 2010 with only Tommy and I. We’re not perfect but we had a lot of fun and really tried to impart knowledge and passion. I’m running a shop in CA now, and love that these old episodes are still inspiring and helping people! Have an awesome day!

[charleshayman]

You guys made that look easy. That’s what knowledge and experience looks like irrespective of video editing. I’ve been dragging around my 1969 Camaro with me in hopes of restoring it for 35 years . I’ve had it since I was 17 in 1983 when it had 42k miles . I bought it for $3, 500 from my neighbor who swapped the original 327 for a stock 4 bolt main 350 out of a 70 Monte Carlo, slapped some bondo and several coats of fresh hugger orange paint, SS emblems, and new vinyl top. Although it was an X-44 base car it came factory with all the SS options such as a 14 bolt rear, front disc brakes, gauge cluster, factory optional tach and premium interior. The car had been sitting in a backyard for several years with a small tarp on it when the original owner ( a Vietnam vet ) had simply vanished years earlier. I tried to track down the original 327 but it was sold and gone. Being 1983 I was compelled to put a Pioneer Supertuner in it with Jensen Coaxels in the front and triaxels rear, pioneer cassette player and Kraco 60 watt amp 7 band eq. Dancin in high cotton I was. Lol. Then of course a Holley 650, aluminum intake, Accel super coil, wires shackles and 50’s on back with Goodyear Eagles white letters out of course . Toss on some chrome valve covers and air cleaner, Harley Davidson head band around the rear view mirror complete with a pair of feathered alligator clips attached and Voila! You have a stereotypical badass teenager from the 80’s.
She’s got a dry home in the pole barn in Southern Indiana now . She needs a complete restoration. Hasn’t been started in 30 years, needs a floor pan on drivers side, has rust from where the vinyl top was in the usual places, the trunk looks brand new and I had replaced the rear quarters, metal panel where the rear lights go, and front Left fender in ‘86 and painted her the original poly maroon. It originally had a white vinyl top but I just couldn’t do it and went with black. Wish I had omitted the vinyl top. Well here I am now getting old and life and kids and work and a battle I won with cancer and she’s just sitting there waiting. If I ever get to actually retire some day you can bet that car will be my priority. I just want to get it done before I croak. That would be cool.

[dyana]

This brings back memories of our oldest son and his Dad fixing our used cars. Thank you for sharing this. God bless.

[fishsquishguy]

Appreciate these great no drama builds! What’s even better is getting to watch in this format with no commercials and no product pitches like the broadcast show.

[david_onthetrail]

Wow, I can't believe I just sat through an hour and fourty minutes of this and enjoyed the whole thing, thanks for a great build. Love the second Gen Camaro's.

[joshender]

These guys make this look soo easy! I've watched this video many times, and now I have a 1973 Z/28 to restore :D

[ZuroX]

This is how a car show should be made. All car, good information and no drama.

[ozarksfarmerhansen]

This has to be one of the smartest things Power Nation has done in years is to make a full build out of all the episode's. Can sit down with my boys and watch the whole thing back if want to see what it looked like to start with in different areas.

[JohnnieBravo]

What a rainy day treat!! FINALLY stumbled into this video, after building (and autocrossing) these 2nd Gens for many (35 or so) years. The real treat was the scene where you guys used a machine shop in the city where I live to repair that block! What a nice fun surprise.

[kjmcdonald]

Best restoration show I've found. No BS reality stuff. Also helps that I just finished a 70 total restoration. Can't wait to look at all the other videos. Cheers

[jaym]

Love the "FULL BUILD" video! I could watch these all day long!

[tonylee]

I was a Body Shop owner for 27 yrs, I can tell you both are good mechanic and Body man, your fingers got lots of milage, keep up the good work !

[KanjoNights]

I'm sure I won't be the only one to say it, but PowerNation we really appreciate these full build videos. It's great to watch a project start to finish and not have to jump around from video to video. I really hope we see more of these in the future!

[zioo]

I love the history and the fact that you put a 402 into the car. I like the map that you laid out for what you are going to do with this car. Like seeing some of the modular construction. Love getting rid of the bad interior. Love going back to the stock color. That was an amazing carpeting with insulation that you pulled out. Leaks mean rust. Replacement panels is very cool. I saw that leaf spring sticking out. Even with sludge in the 402, it can be resurrected. Very interesting to use the stud gun to shape the car back to originality with the hammer and dolly finish. Repair the below windshield using the two piece hand made patches was brilliant and provided a very incredible bonus of retaining the factory spot welds, so that originality is maintain and no one will know that a repair was done there. Amazing. Finally tuning that SS 396 was difficult, but then you got it right. Final episode and you were driving that beauty. I've never seen a restoration that only lacked a few minor details from being an award winner, to instead being a great driver that looks like and award winner. Pleasing interior, upgraded suspension and rear end and the best motor available then. This is a 1970 that anyone would be proud of: an RS/SS that you guys knocked out of the park. AF

[clydepodvin]

You guys are a beast when it comes to redoing a car. Very impressed with the way you explain every step of the build.very informative.

[DoverBoy]

This brought back such great memories, and a few bad ones. I restored a '73 with my father back in the late 90's, not to this level of tear down, but I was proud of it. Should have spent some money upgrading the brakes though, perhaps It would still be with us today.

[twasbrillig]

THANK YOU for showing the welding fixes and the techniques you use, that was fun to watch.

[stuarthalli]

I just found this and I love it, no fake smack talking, just good honest info and love of cars. Thanks guys, well done.