Doin' my part.

[Cooter]

So I meet these three kids at the local college as that's where Sat. Cruise night is held.
I see them walk over to my buddies 1970 Camaro pro street car and one of em's eyes are just fixated.

He begins to talk with us. I find out he drove up in his 1979 Camaro, with inline 250 6 cyl.
he asked about Christine and I show him "The book". He asks after looking through till the end if I do this type of work for anybody else.
I begin with the typical "No, as people are a$$holes today and want perfection for Burger King money" yadda, yadda, yadda.
I ask how old the kid was and he replies "20". Then it hits me. I'm always talking about no younger kids into older American Muscle and I decided to see where the conversation went.

I ask about his car, he states "I really wanted a 70, but they are so expensive. I bought this as it was all I could afford"
I begin to tell him that while it's alot of work, his 79 could be cloned to appear as a 70-73. Right away I see his eyes light up. He asks about all the nessesary parts swaps and how much work. Then, he asks me "how much?".....

I asked him if he was one of those kids whose parents are paying. He said "No, they told me I was on my own with this "old car", but it's what I want"..."it's all up to me. I'm from Connecticut,  and these cars are just not around"...
So I ask if he's just gonna flip it for profit after the swap as he kept asking about what his ride would be worth.
he states "No, I've wanted a 70 Camaro RS for a long time". I told him if we begin, he's gotta be committed. Can't just back out halfway through. He says he's working all summer trying to save up for his ride, if only he could find someone to help him out a little that didn't wanna retire off him.

Well, I had to practice what I preach so to speak. I told him I'd help him out for much cheaper than a body shop.
he evidently had checked around because he couldn't believe my quote. I told him I was only doing this for him if he promised never to text and drive, street race, or drink and drive. I didn't think it'd be a problem as he's going to a Religious college.
I made up a little fake contract and had him committ and promise. Doin my part to keep the hobby in the hands of the younger group.

I should be starting on it later this year. Beginning with the front clip. Plus, I just happen to have this roach of a 73 out back..

[fy469rtse]

good man Cooter,the young aren't that interested in our cars these days,
and when they are they can benefit from our experience and help, dosen't always work out ,
Ive helped a couple of young wankers at my expense , but you have to take the chance sometimes , there's good kids out there

[c00nhunterjoe]

 

[Drache]

Good on ya Cooter!

[charge69]

That was a very nice thing to do, sir. Kids these days are at a loss on how to work on today's cars without something computerized needing a  "chip" and it's all remove and replace in the body shops of today.

You made his day and he will forever remember your unlikely gesture!  I hope he is "gung ho" to get this project going and anxious to learn!

[cdr]

THAT is really a good thing you are doing MR COOTER 

[Baldwinvette77]

Nice, shall we expect progress pics? 

[Cooter]

Oh yeah. I'm sure it'll be plastered all over FB. Y'all shoulda seen the reply I got just now when I sent him pics of what I was gonna cut off and put onto his shiney, freshly Maaco'd car....LMAO!

[twodko]

You and this project will be a high point in that boys life he'll always remember fondly.

You're passing on our addiction and YES progress pictures will be expected.

God bless ya Cooterman. He's watchin' what you're doing and Peter's writing' kindly in the book. Just sayin'

[JB400]

Wanted a Camaro You know, if you give him a ride in a Mopar, he might convert   Glad to hear he's interested in American muscle.  Hope he'll be a good apprentice.

[marshallfry01]

As a 20 year old college kid myself, I admire Cooter for doing this.  I pay for everything I own, and that difficult to do while going to college and paying for airplane rental for all the ratings I gotta get.  I have loved these old cars since I was four.  I like them all.... mustangs, Camaros, chevelles, GTO's, chargers, road runners, etc.  Us younger guys always love getting first hand advice from all of you on this board that live and breath old mopars.  At least there will be a few of us in this generation that will keep these old cars going in the next 50 years! 

[fy469rtse]

Nah let him have his camaro , gotta start small , he might graduate to mopars later

[Bob T]

Good to hear Cooter, stick at it, could well be the turning point in a young mans life.
You still have a tough 440 Plymouth no? Wait til he gets a ride in that, it'll give him a look at a scene he never would expected.
My Dad wasn't into cars and i had no older brothers or cousins. Dads opinion was that you needed a reliable one to get from A to B and that was it. I never learned any car or motorcycle fix stuff off him, it was only mixing around with older guys and I started to pick up a few tips, glad I did. Just about all of my buddies now are car scene people, just relate to them better.

[TUFCAT]

I wouldn't do too much without payment, as this kid could be taking advantage of your good nature.

[twodko]

Wait.................Cooter and good nature are mutually exclusive. 

[Cooter]

I wouldn't do too much without payment, as this kid could be taking advantage of your good nature.

How does the TV phrase go...
"I might be crazy, but I ain't dumb"
Payment in full before work.

I plan on letting him ride along in the General Lee a couple times to some cruisemnights just to get a feel for what he's in for...
greasing the axles so to speak....

[tan top]

 good Stuff Cooter !!   

[Kern Dog]

Oh hell yeah! I was smiling when I read this!
This was a classy move. I am impressed. I have no kids and my nephews are too young to drive. In 2006 my THEN 21 year old brother in law wanted a Duster or Demon project car so I began the search. I looked at plenty but we settled on a 72 Duster. I probably have just as much of my own money in it as he has of his.
My Brother in law will never have as much passion for these cars as I do but he has far more than other guys in his generation. I try to nurture it as much as possible.
****************************************************************************************************************
Converting a 79 Camaro to a 70-73 isn't too difficult if you are willing to keep the wraparound rear window. The taillight panels are sure to be reproduced, right?
The whole front clip comes apart with 7/16", 1/2" and 9/16" nuts and bolts. The 79 subframe is better anyway. I've owned several 2nd gen Camaros and Firebirds. They can be great handling cars and there are plenty of parts available to keep them going.
Good luck!

[Cooter]

He wants the flat rear window treatment too. No biggie, I've saved alot worse than this kids car. He actually started with a fairly good base.
my cousin will sell him the flat rear window and body pieces to convert from his old car.

[Baldwinvette77]

is it a t-top car? a t-top 70 would be kinda neat 

[Cooter]

is it a t-top car? a t-top 70 would be kinda neat 

No thank goodness. T-Tops and converts are junk. Thry leak and rust floors bad.

[1974dodgecharger]

good stuff cooter....I like it when older folks help out the younger generation 

[Cooter]

Gonna see Sam tomorrow. Gonna attempt some pics of him at the car show with General Lee.

[RallyeMike]

This is cool Cooter. Good on you.

A retired mechanic named Ralph Zmuda helped me get my first car running when I was 15. I paid him out of my pocket with paper-route money, and I'll never forget him, or they way he approached it, and the lessons he taught me. It provided me with good direction for my life and I'll never forget it.

I try and pay it forward too because I personally know what it can mean for each person and this hobby.

[myk]

Reminds me of 1994, when I slaved away for $4.25 an hour at a McDonald's so I could save up the pathetic $2500 to buy the Charger.  All the other kids were out getting high, drunk, laid, whatever, but I was adamant on getting my dream car.  This kid will hopefully be another dedicated dreamer who wants a shot at getting their dream machine, and if he does he'll have Cooter to thank for it.  We'll have to keep tabs on this story, for sure...