1978 Camaro Steel Bumper Conversion

Part 2: Buildup and Framerail Mod

By All Chevy Performance Staff   –   Photography by the Authors

Missed Part 1? See it here: How to Get a Late Second-Gen Looking Like an Early ’70s Model

- Advertisement -

Welcome back to our multi-part series on our second-gen Camaro conversion. Last time we covered this project we addressed the teardown of our 1978 Camaro that we are converting to a 1971-73 steel-bumper car. It is a pretty straightforward process where we removed the entire back end of the car with the exception of the roof, package tray, and framerails. You can catch that in the June ’22 issue of All Chevy Performance.

This time around, we cover the modifications that you will need to make to both framerails, proper location of the trunk floor, prepping the panels for installation, and mocking them up properly to get those gaps nice and tight.

001 With the car prepared for reassembly, Craig Hopkins lays down a coat of Medallion weld-through primer to all the mating services. You may notice the mods to the framerail at this point.
With the car prepared for reassembly, Craig Hopkins lays down a coat of Medallion weld-through primer to all the mating services. You may notice the mods to the framerail at this point.

With this conversion there isn’t a ton of fabrication needed, making it a very approachable conversion. We are back with Auto Metal Direct and Craig Hopkins of The Installation Center. We’ll follow along to see how Hopkins tackles that framerail situation and how he aligns the AMD panels to make this conversion a breeze.

- Advertisement -
002 The 1974-81 cars have a flat rear framerail, so we need to do some modifications. A template is drawn to mirror the new trunk floor to accommodate this. It is cut and bent from heavy-gauge metal.
The 1974-81 cars have a flat rear framerail, so we need to do some modifications. A template is drawn to mirror the new trunk floor to accommodate this. It is cut and bent from heavy-gauge metal.

003-With the fabricated framerail end welded into place, Hopkins adds steel plate to the inside for added rigidity.

004-As you can see here, the new framerail ends match the contour of the new trunk floor just like we need.
As you can see here, the new framerail ends match the contour of the new trunk floor just like we need.
005-As you can see here, the new framerail ends match the contour of the new trunk floor just like we need.
As you can see here, the new framerail ends match the contour of the new trunk floor just like we need.
006With the framerails corrected, Hopkins applies weld-through primer to the new AMD trunk floor.
With the framerails corrected, Hopkins applies weld-through primer to the new AMD trunk floor.

Check this out: We Build a 5.3 LS Short-Block Capable of 1,200 Reliable Horsepower

007 The new AMD trunk floor slides right in. Hopkins lines it up using the factory locator holes and starts clamping the panel in place.

The new AMD trunk floor slides right in. Hopkins lines it up using the factory locator holes and starts clamping the panel in place.

- Advertisement -

008- The secret to a good weld is a tight fit. Body clamps and tech screws are your friend here.

The secret to a good weld is a tight fit. Body clamps and tech screws are your friend here.

09 The Installation Center rebuilds bodies. It’s what they do. Using a spot welder gives you that factory finish. If you’re doing this at home, pre-drill the holes so plug-welding the panel is easier
The Installation Center rebuilds bodies. It’s what they do. Using a spot welder gives you that factory finish. If you’re doing this at home, pre-drill the holes so plug-welding the panel is easier
010 Not all areas can be reached with the spot welder. Hopkins plug welds the harder-to-reach areas with his MIG torch.
Not all areas can be reached with the spot welder. Hopkins plug welds the harder-to-reach areas with his MIG torch.
011-With the trunk floor in, Hopkins can mock up the rear frame crossmember from AMD.
With the trunk floor in, Hopkins can mock up the rear frame crossmember from AMD.
012-1With the trunk floor in, Hopkins can mock up the rear frame crossmember from AMD.
With the trunk floor in, Hopkins can mock up the rear frame crossmember from AMD.
013-Hopkins gets some help from Brandon Lethiot and the spot welder to install the rear frame crossmember.
Hopkins gets some help from Brandon Lethiot and the spot welder to install the rear frame crossmember.
14 Pro tip! Prep your panels before installing them. AMD panels come EDP coated to prevent rust and corrosion prior to installation. This will need to be removed beforehand at all the points of welding. Take note on each panel where you will be plug welding and predrill your holes prior to installation.
Pro tip! Prep your panels before installing them. AMD panels come EDP coated to prevent rust and corrosion prior to installation. This will need to be removed beforehand at all the points of welding. Take note on each panel where you will be plug welding and predrill your holes prior to installation.
015-Weld-through primer is a staple at The Installation Center. Hopkins applies a coat to the new inner wheelhouses.
Weld-through primer is a staple at The Installation Center. Hopkins applies a coat to the new inner wheelhouses.

More Chevy Goodness: Bug Abatement on the Fly

016-Hopkins and Lethiot mock up the inner wheelhouses. The AMD 1970-74 Camaro inner wheelhouses include the upper roof structure just like original, making installation a breeze.
Hopkins and Lethiot mock up the inner wheelhouses. The AMD 1970-74 Camaro inner wheelhouses include the upper roof structure just like original, making installation a breeze.
017-The panels are temporarily screwed into place. This is a temporary hold to give us the ability to adjust our gaps as needed.
The panels are temporarily screwed into place. This is a temporary hold to give us the ability to adjust our gaps as needed.
018-The rear of the car is starting to take shape and the outer wheelhouses are clamped into place.
The rear of the car is starting to take shape and the outer wheelhouses are clamped into place.
019-Hopkins mocks up the trunk floor extensions to align with the outer wheelhouse and the rear frame crossmember.
Hopkins mocks up the trunk floor extensions to align with the outer wheelhouse and the rear frame crossmember.
020-All helping hands on deck with this one, Wesley Kennedy applies weld-through primer on the quarter-panels prior to installation.
All helping hands on deck with this one, Wesley Kennedy applies weld-through primer on the quarter-panels prior to installation.
021-Hopkins and Kennedy line up the AMD quarter-panels and mock up the rear tail panel.
Hopkins and Kennedy line up the AMD quarter-panels and mock up the rear tail panel.
022-With the quarter-panels in place, Kennedy can fine-tune the taillight panel exactly where he needs it.
With the quarter-panels in place, Kennedy can fine-tune the taillight panel exactly where he needs it.
023-With all the new AMD sheetmetal in place, Hopkins and Kennedy can start dialing in the placement of the panels by test-fitting the decklid.
With all the new AMD sheetmetal in place, Hopkins and Kennedy can start dialing in the placement of the panels by test-fitting the decklid.
024-Adjusting the doors is a good idea at this point. It’s a lot easier to adjust now as needed before final weld up on the quarter-panel and doorjamb.
Adjusting the doors is a good idea at this point. It’s a lot easier to adjust now as needed before final weld up on the quarter-panel and doorjamb.
25 One last thing we want to check is the back glass. The early second-gen Camaros have the smaller back glass, and we want to make sure it is going to fit with ease. Take into consideration the glass seal and trim when checking this area.
One last thing we want to check is the back glass. The early second-gen Camaros have the smaller back glass, and we want to make sure it is going to fit with ease. Take into consideration the glass seal and trim when checking this area.
26 With the new AMD panels exactly where he wants them, Hopkinds is ready to move onto welding the rear of this one up. Be sure to check it out in the next issue of All Chevy Performance magazine.
With the new AMD panels exactly where he wants them, Hopkinds is ready to move onto welding the rear of this one up. Be sure to check it out in the next issue of All Chevy Performance magazine.

Adding a Dash of Class: Installing Dakota Digital’s RTX Series Instruments in a ’69 Camaro

- Advertisement -

Related Articles

Search Our Site

More Chevy Performance

Chevy Concepts — 1963 Chevrolet Corvette

Vehicle Owner: BJ Bjerke Artwork by Tavis Highlander Instagram @tavishighlander TavisHighlander.com There’s a...

Thump in the Night

Dan Miller’s Pro Street ’71 Camaro By Scotty Lachenauer   - ...

A Better Sniper

Holley’s Upgraded Sniper 2 Throttle Body EFI By Jeff Smith ...

Ambition

Ryan and Angel Cashman’s Pro Touring ’69 Camaro By Nick...

Street Shaker Revisited

Michael Fitzgerald Injects New Life Into This ’70 Nova...

Make it Cool

Johnson’s Radiator Works Builds an Efficient Copper and Brass...
More Chevy Performance

My Name Is Earl

Eric Mead’s 1955 Chevy 210 By Shawn Brereton   -   Photography...

Firing Up- Code of Ethics

By Nick Licata The summer of 2023 is one for...

Making History

Old-School Chevy Muscle from the Wally Parks Nostalgia Nationals By...

Camaros at the Mall

The 2023 Camaro Nationals By John Machaqueiro  -   Photography by...

Boosted Advice

Experts Weigh In By Jeff Huneycutt   -   Photography by the...

Camaro Mini-Tubs

When a Little is Just Enough! By Eric Geisert   -  ...