UPDATE 6/9/18 – The high bidder pulled their bid with only 24 hours to go. They claim they couldn’t get the shipping lined up, but for whatever reason it dropped the price way below what it’s worth. Fingers crossed it gets a few more bids!
FROM 6/4/18 – We found this Z28 Camaro on a hops farm where it had been parked since 2004. We had big plans, but with three projects in the shop, we need to cut a few loose. Apart from the rims, it’s all original and we haven’t found any rust through so it should make for a good project. It’s listed here on eBay with a $0.99 starting bid and no reserve!
After changing the oil, installing a new fuel pump, and replacing the battery, the engine started right up! The previous owner had mentioned that the car was parked because of an engine knock and it’s still there. So, I’d assume the engine needs a rebuild… Or it could just be the perfect excuse for an LS swap?
The interior is still all there, but it could use some freshening up. Luckily, seat upholstery, door panels, and other trim is readily available. We had planned to completely restore the inside and go through all the mechanicals before deciding what to do with the exterior.
There are a few dings and scratches, but overall the body is very straight and solid. We were thinking of just fixing that front spoiler and leaving the outside alone. With the original paint and cracked stripes, I bet this thing would get more attention than any of those shiny Camaros. You can view more photos here. What do you think would be the best route for this one?
Resoration. Almost always .. restoration. As is patina is a bs copout for not doing the work.
I disagree. The paint is original. You could touch up the trim pieces and polish the rest. The end result wouldn’t be perfect but it would be better quality than anything you’re going to get at a paint shop. Oh and it will be about 10k cheaper…
what about just a touch up paint job at maaco??
Nooooo! It will look worse than it does now in about two years.
Good find! Like you, I’d freshen up that interior, and address the mechanicals. With the front spoiler repaired, and the paint touched up and detailed, I’d lose those dated aftermarket wheels and install a set of the factory aluminum wheels. Done!
Chuck, I couldn’t agree with you more! The wheels look ok in person, but it really needs the factory aluminum wheels. Of course, some turbines would look sweet too. I wish we had time for this one, these are such cool cars!
Agree, ditch the Keystone Klassic (yes that’s how they spelled it) wheels. The original silver N90 alloy wheel was a 14 x 7. I’d install a set of re-pop silver N90 alloy wheels in 17 x 8, which will cost about $900.
https://www.jegs.com/i/Year-One-Wheels/219/NW1784SLVS/10002/-1
Here’s a pic of a Z28 with the re-pop 17 inch version.
The N90 rims were actually 15×7 on the Z28. You could get them on the base car, but they were 14×7. So, this would have originally came with the larger rims.
Make time, lol.
how much is your price thanks
It’s at auction with no reserve so it will sell for whatever people bid.
I had a 81 Z28 car couldn’t get out of its own way but it handled great. A rebuild or swap would would make it complete you can get new spoilers in the exact same material as stock. Stay away from thin abs plastic it breaks worse than the stock stuff.Mine was brown with gold stripes the white is much better looking I’d repaint it eventually just cause.
These stories never made sense to me.
If they knew they had other projects waiting, why did they buy this one in the first place just to sell it again, other than the making money thing?
You gotta jump on the good ones when they show up Miguel. Months can go by without finding anything cool and then they all seem to show up at once! Then you have too many cars and not enough time, money, or space. A lot of us here have the same sickness…
I know guys that will buy any deal they come across. Their priorities shift with each purchase. If something they like more/better comes along another, less desirable car gets gets sold. That could easily be the case with this car especially after you factor in that the car is being sold with a no-reserve auction. Typical flippers generally try to extract every dollar they can and often price their cars at the top of the market.
Steve R
You guys do realize that this car is one Josh and I purchased, right? We aren’t flippers. We do it for fun and we are happy if we break even. Not that it’s wrong to try to make money off cars since we do live in a free market economy.
The ad didn’t have the feel of a flip. Like you said, there isn’t anything wrong with trying to make money off of a car. The tactics used by many flippers, such as lying about the cars condition, are what drives people crazy.
The one thing that is often overlooked about flippers, many keep coming up with cool cars, that’s because they put in the work to find them.
Steve R
Jesse, It wasn’t made clear that you and Josh bought this car and are now selling it. You started off your story with, “We bought this……..” but you failed to mention who the WE was.
It’s easy to get multiple projects going at the same time, then get overwhelmed. I’ve had two in the paint shop at the same time, so start on something else while waiting. Then you end up with 4 in the shop that need putting back together with 5 more sitting there. Add in the ones you help other people with, & eventually you say something has to go.
Speaking of which, anybody need a 64 K10, a 67 C10, a 68 GMC C15, or a 96 Z/28, lol!
I’d pull & inspect the power train for the knock. Might only need a crank kit (last one I did was a chevy 305 in a 4wd pick up ). Cost all of $120 plus gaskets. I did the timing chain & water pump & hv oil pump while I was into it. ALL this can be done without pulling the engine! Would make a sweet ride !
Jesse can you define what a hobbs farm is for those of us born in 🇨🇦 Canada?
Sorry, it should have been spelled hops: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hops
Not a single Barn Finds
story without obvious technical,
or in this case, spelling errors.
That’s what showed-up on
everybodys’ screen: Hobbs
Farm. PROOFREAD!
Yep and I corrected it. We could use another writer if you’d like to apply. Thanks.
🤣Jesse just set that on 🔥
Yhea,ware abouts is this Z car located,it wasnt mentiond,Reason i ask is i live in Yakima,Wa and hop fields abound around here never know may be a neighbor,Thanks Scooby.
It should have been spelled “hop.” There are no “hops” farms. I drove a hop truck during harvest for two summers while in high school. No one would be caught dead saying “hops” farm.
The five spoke factory aluminum wheels are correct for this model year Josh. The turbines were available on the 78-79 models. Very few choices left in 15 inch tires , excellent 17 inch reproductions are available of the aluminum rims.
I think he meant the five spokes OR turbines would look good.
Junk yard.
Maybe you should check what these are going for. This car is solid and is no way destined for a junkyard.
I wish BarnFinds would bring back the DOWN THUMB option! Sorry but the “Junk yard” comment definitely deserves it!
Lee=Clueless or just a trouble maker….geez…
Until there is time to identify what is causing the knock, start this car every so often before deciding on an engine rebuild. Otherwise leave it stock.
It actually runs good. Starts up after a couple pumps and idles up to operating temp without any signs of overheating. Too bad about the knock.
Had an 81 Z purchased new. There was a defect with lifters as I recall which collapsed when I nailed it so the air induction flaps would open. GM paid for half the cost of the rebuild which consisted of replacing a scored timing chain & gear. Car had low miles but traded it for an 86 IROC-Z. Had lots of fun with both.
Being an 81 it would still have a mechanical fuel pump, that can sound close to a rod knock if the spring broke in it. Had a number of them come in like that. Put a stethoscope on the fuel pump. simple fix.
We did replace the fuel pump, but bent the push rod in the process. We replaced it, but perhaps we bent the pump arm a little too? We might throw another one on there and see if it fixes the problem. Thanks Norman!
How do you bend a fuel pump pushrod in a SBC?! It’s about 1/2 inch diameter!
It’s easy actually. A common occurrence too. That’s why parts stores keep them in stock. If the push rod slips down before bolting the pump back on, it will bend just enough to not be able to move freely. Luckily, there’s a little plate you can remove to slide it out.
My 81 was silver on silver with charcoal grey stripes.
Nice car Jesse! I’ve wanted one in this color since high school but unfortunately comes at a bad time. If if my motor wasn’t in the speed shop it would be mine, dagnamit
Happy to see the 100% positive feedback. Great job gang.
Thanks! We just try to be honest and upfront about things.
LS2/4L60E or LS6/6-speed depending upon whether you want two or three pedals.
Swap worn interior parts and find a nice pair of bucket seats.
Update suspension and brakes, replace spoilers, polish up stock paint.
Wrap it with your choice of factory or replica wheels and sticky tires and enjoy for years.
If you wrench it yourself maybe as little as $6k on top of buy in.
17″wheels? Would that not be too big. I’ve seen standard 15’s on these.
No, a 17″ wheel wouldn’t be too big. You’d have more wheel, less tire. The overall diameter of the tire is the same as a 15″. I posted a pic of the re-pop 17″ wheel mounted to a car above.
Chevrolet engines are easy rebuilds so tear it down and just do it 👍
One might bore the block out and drop some forged pistons to get a lil more ump out of the “Small block”.
I suggest old school rallies and caps on the wheels with the silver rims painted black (and if your feeling it swap to thin caps or even cas with spinners )!
Check that VIN…might have been the one Buzz Spiccoli was thrashing in ‘Fast times at Ridgemont High’…
Jefferson’s Z/28 was a silver 79 model…
Like this one?
also had the blue stripe package
Pretty close. It’s been a few years since I’ve watched the movie, but best I remember, it had the turbine wheels. But I’ve been known to be wrong, my memory is not what it used to be…
This car is in Mexico but it is a 1979 Z28 in Silver.
Who knows. The wheels could have been changed.
Auction ended at $3,350. I think you guys did good!