When you commit to restoring or upgrading a classic Ford F100, you need to know exactly what you are working with. The fifth generation of the Ford F-Series pickup, spanning the 1967 through 1972 model years, represents a major turning point in truck design. Ford engineers took the proven mechanical foundation introduced in 1965, beefed it up for 1967, and wrapped it in a completely new body that offered more interior room, better visibility, and more engine options. Enthusiasts call this 1967-72 Ford F100 generation the Bumpside.

Lead photo shows a 1969 F100 Ranger 4x4 with Reef Aqua paint (photo courtesy of Mecum Auctions)

The 1957 Chevy truck stands out in the classic vehicle world. It sits right in the middle of GM's legendary Task Force generation, which ran from 1955 to 1959. When you look at a 1957 Chevrolet pickup, you see the exact point where GM bridged the gap between pure agricultural workhorses and stylish, modern haulers. If you are building one, you already know its potential. You might go for a factory-correct restoration, or you might build a high-horsepower restomod. Either way, understanding the history, specs, and parts availability for the 57 Chevy truck will dictate how you plan and execute your project.

In this final segment of the Camaro restoration, you will at last see the fruits of your labor. For the most part, the reassembly process is a bolt-together operation, especially if most of the parts are either new or already refinished. Hopefully, by this time the majority of exterior replacement parts have arrived and the engine is rebuilt and awaiting reinstallation. If that's the case, the reassembly should move smoothly and quickly.

This 1966 Chevrolet Nova was purchased brand new at De Anza Chevrolet in Riverside, California, in 1966 by Chad and Ruth Manion. It was a 50-year journey through American military history. As the wife of a high-ranking U.S. Air Force officer, Ruth and her husband Chad transported their Nova from base to base across the country and overseas.

After completing the body and paint work (or at least the majority of it - you can save final color sand­ing and buffing until the sheetmetal is reassembled), the Camaro's interior can be reinstalled into the car.

Our project Z/28's interior was a mess. When we pur­chased the car, the interior looked like a remnant from one of those movie cars that has had its in­sides blown out by a terrorist bomb. In reality, our 1969 Camaro interior was a terror: the seat covers were ripped and torn, the carpet was faded and shredded, and the door panels were all of the above. But from the bright side, we were lucky - all the correct parts were in their correct places. At least no one had replaced the original 1969 seats with high ­backs from a 1973 Camaro.

In the end, your Camaro will be judged by its exterior fi­nish. No matter how good the interior looks, or how de­tailed the engine compartment is, people always look at the paint first. If the paint falls short, they usually don't bother to check out the rest of the car. But if the paint is really slick, really deep-looking, then you'll have to fight off the spectators with a stick. 

An engine rebuild should be an integral part of any car restoration. Six cylinder, small block, or big block, the Camaro's engine is the life-blood of the machine, so it deserves first-class attention during your full-scale restoration.

Front end components take a terrible beating. Consi­dering highway conditions - pot holes, rough rail­road crossings, speed bumps, driveway dips, high­way imperfections - it's miraculous that so many older cars are still roaming the roads on their original front end parts. Ball joints and bushings in particular absorb tremen­dous punishment because they connect the spindles to the con­trol arms and the control arms to the chassis, respectively, ac­tually supporting much of the Camaro's weight as the wheels and tires bounce over highway hazards. But although Camaro front ends have survived the mileage and the years, the damage of time and use eventually takes its toll, usually surfacing as tell-tale pops and squeaks before advancing to the dangerous level. 

After dismantling the Camaro, the restoration pro­ject can progress in a number of different direc­tions. If you intend to rebuild the engine yourself (more on engine rebuilding in a later chapter), dis­assemble the engine and send the block, crank, heads, etc. to a reputable machine shop for boring, polishing, valve work, bal­ancing, or whatever. That way, when you're ready to proceed with the engine rebuilding at a later stage of the restoration, all of the necessary components will be refinished and ready for reassembly.