78 Camaro Type PT

[killer69]

Ben, thanks for the reply. The pinion block is mounted with the thick side facing to the front per the instructions. Because the five mtg holes are not evenly spread, on the bolt circle, the block can only fit one way. I dropped off the block last night to have the lower block portion EDMed from the OD of the mtg ring. I can then install both parts and mark where they re-clock before welding them back together. Updating to a slotted pinion plate that will cover a wide range of aftermarket pumpkins as a standard part would help customers like me in the future.

is that a Mosier center section? if so we have a different pinion mount for it that is clocked correctly

[70rsss396]

Hi Blake, There is a big Y on the case so I'm betting it's a Yukon case. At this point It will be quicker to cut, re-clock and weld the block I have than to have a new one mailed in. I appreciate y'all trying to help but this is on the local shop I got the pumpkin from because I warned them about the clocking right up front.

[70rsss396]

Earlier I expressed my displease over the Clayton Machine Works throttle pedal assembly and the fact that it was marketed for my car but wasn’t engineered correctly to match up with the factory throttle cable. Don’t get me wrong it’s a beautiful piece but you shouldn’t have to pay that much for a part only to find it is under developed as far as I’m concerned. I had a buddy machine an adaptor that slides over cable arm from the side and bolts in place. It extends out to the stock cable locating and accepts the stock cable.

[70rsss396]

One of the things I did a few weeks back was install a fuel pump panel in the truck. Ordered one from Detroit speed and after they sent me some Mustang parts I got the correct panel. Super nice people to work with took care of the problem ASAP. But as with a bunch of parts the panel is made for an early 2nd gen Camaro with a flat floor. That’s not the case with a late 2nd gen. I had to bend the mounting plate and cover to match and re-shape a couple of humps in the floor before I could weld it all together. A PITA but after it was welded, primed, seam sealed and painted it was well worth the effort.



I also added a diff vent and tank vent with check valve. Used the SpeedTech rear shock mount as an attachment point and got the vent as high as I could under the car.

[70rsss396]

Well I got my pinion block back from the EDM shop, re-clocked, welded and painted…….nice to have the rear buttoned up finally! Was able to get my driveshaft measurement and built, It will be in this weekend.



Started on the Detroit speed roll bar. After reading the instructions I had a buddy come buy and help me remove the rear glass set in 40 year old rock hard Butyl tape. He knew the trick and we got the glass out intact. With the DS template I marked the package tray for both ends of the slots for the back bars. A 2” hole saw and a dimple die laid the foundation for the slots. The instructions said that with the glass out you could tack the back bars to the main hoop and roll the bar forward and take it out of the car for finish welding………..Fat Chance! No way the bar was coming out so we welded the back and cross bars in the car but not the assembly in place so I can tilt it forward to paint the top of the bar and install the headliner. Now the headliner move up the schedule…..but it all need to be done at some time.

[70rsss396]

It been quite a while since I last posted my progress. I’ve moved forward of several fronts, had to work around some issues and solve others but it sure is fun. Finally finished installing the SpeedTech goodies and JRI Shocks plus the rear brake and fuel lines. I might change the routing of the fuel pressure line once I see what final ride height will be?



I did get held up by my upholstery as my 2-week turn around on my headliner turned into 6 weeks and then a 2-week problem with a bad glue job. This held up my roll bar install as I had to install the Headlines before I could finish welding in the bar. At least that is behind me now, but the pattern of slow turn around has moved to the custom package tray. ☹



After laying down my X-Mat on the floor I unrolled the new carpet to allow it to relax. I won’t install it till I get all my wiring run from the trunk. I did pull out the front windshield, it was cracked, so I had access to lay down a fresh coat of paint. I used this extra access to run my Holley shift light and GPS antenna through the Vintage Air defrost ducks.

[Zspoiler]

Very nice work .Can`t wait to see it finished I have a 1979 Z-28 RS myself.

[70rsss396]

Again, it’s been a while since I last posted my progress. Between being hammered at work and being a one man show during the majority of the build I’ve made a lot of little steps since the last update. I have been working towards staring the motor for the first time. As I have already had the fuel system up and running I turned to the power steering system.

Attachment 159128

After and mounting the tank tucking inside the core support I found a good spot tor the cooler. I made up the hoses and after they were installed, and fluid added I checked it off the list……until the next morning when I found a puddle of oil. This tank didn’t have a vented cap so I added a vent pipe in the bung opposite of the return……that bung leaked! I took it to my welded Randy who removed the bung patched the hole and welded the bung back moving it up and over. I never liked the vent being straight across from the return port anyway.

Attachment 159119Attachment 159120

Next, I needed to the final install on the Vintage Air system, so I could figure out where I was going to mount the Holley ECU. I can attest that snaking the air & heater hoses through the kick panel and out the firewall is a PITA when doing it by yourself! I finally stuck some wood under the unit to hold it close enough where I could bolt it in place. The computer came next. Based on engine wiring harness length I found a good spot and made a mounting plate to attach the computer to.



Can’t start a motor without power so that was the next goal. I had already mounted the battery tray, so I just needed everything else in the trunk before moving to the dash area. First, I mounted a disconnect between the battery ground and the ground lug I welded to the body. I then made a bracket to hold a Ford solenoid, two circuit breakers and a fuel pump relay. One breaker supplies power to the dash and the other to the front of the car where I’ll power fans, lights, horn and tie into the alternator. All the brackets were splatter painted to match the trunk.

[70rsss396]

I thought I would do one more update before the end of the year. First off, it’s alive!! Fired her a couple of weeks ago just to find 0 oil pressure. Turned out to be a bad “new” sending unit…..wipe forehead!!!
One of the things I’ve had made that I haven’t shown yet is my package tray. Had to have it made to work with the roll bar and allow my tune without showing the speakers.



While I still need to decide if i'm going to bodywork and paint or use carbon fiber, I bolted up the stock inner fender wells, so I can check wheel size and offset over my Christmas break. I had the passenger side on for a few week to check for some plumbing clearances…..but once I added the other I found a problem. I had no clearance under the proportioning valve for the front brake lines. I had to move the valve back and up a bit and make new lines from the master cylinder.

[syborg tt]

It's nice having the day off to catch upon build threads. Very cool build and I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the Holley EFI.

Where did you end up putting the coils and ignition box ?

[70rsss396]

Thanks Marty, the coils are mounted behind the heads and the hole motor runs off of the Holley computer. I couldn't be happier with the Holley system....All I have wired up at this point is the components needed to run the motor but when I started it for the first time, I hit the key and it roared to life instantaneously.

[70rsss396]

Since my last update I’ve made some real progress and done a bunch of twiddly bits, while important, are that not worth detailing………like running my own wiring harness. The biggest boost to the built in this update is getting my tires and wheels. GAP Racing helped me out some but it was still a big bill to swallow……but WOW to me, they fit the car…..size and style wise.

[70rsss396]

I tried to do the exhaust system myself but started to look like crap so I took it to the shop that did the rear tubs as that is also up his alley. After looking under the car he said no problem and he could even add a crossover with the SpeedTech trailing arm suspension. He started working his way back until we found the 3” in/out 4” thick black widow mufflers I ordered were 4 5/8” thick so we stopped, as we felt it would hang to low. I ordered a set of 3” in/out 3” thick Spin Tech mufflers. Because they were stainless they had to be built to order this is not finished yet. At this point I have a time slot scheduled for next week to finish the exhaust.



The other thing we did at Aeron’s shop was build a firewall to subframe brace. I had already made the four mounting plates and hardware before I got there, so all Aeron had to do is bend some tubing and weld them in place. All said and done I think we added a little stiffness to the frontend.

[70rsss396]

Because I am running a Holley digital dash I needed to come up with a new gauge layout. I turned to Custom Works Performance for one of their carbon fiber dash panels and did my own thing. Along with the digital dash I added the touch screen tuner, light & wiper switches and a couple of gauges. One for fuel and the other a gear indicator. I also made a C/F switch panel for the console. In the console is a highly modified “Ratchet Bitch” shifter to operate my 700R4. I will cover the shift hole with another C/F plate.

[70rsss396]

Well it’s now the new year and I’m seeing more light at the end of the tunnel. Exhaust is done, and sounds wonderfully nasty!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1I7XAMRKpEM

Once I got the my car back home I could concentrate on finishing the front end that been off and sitting in my living room since I started this project. Before I could install the fenders I had to cut holes in them for the Z28 vents. After measuring a real Z28 for the factory location the fenders were done and ready for the vents.



I also added some dimple die detail to the inside of my fenders.



Unfortunately as I was retrieving the nut to bolt on the passenger side vent the fender rolled off the work bench denting, chipping and scratching the hell out of it. That was a four week delay getting it fixed and painted. In the end I was able to get the fenders and nose fitted and aligned. Once fixed and installed I was able to fit the hood, unfortunately we cracked my new wind shield while adjusting it…..got to watch out for the sharp corners in the rear! The cowl induction air cleaner base I have needs to be trimmed to fit the hood now installed and I’m not sure how I am going to do that yet but I have some ideas. For now I bought a new standard drop base to run.




I’ve spent a bunch of time on wiring as I bought a universal fuse block from AAW and fashioned most of the harness from scratch. I’m down to the last few wires to be done so I should be done this weekend. I have finished the relay panel and front light wiring harness along with some block-out panels. The relay panel and light wiring harness connector sits in front of the driver side inner fender. To cover this I made a removable cover that held in with ¼ turn fasteners. Although the panels are all white in the pictures I have had the powder coated matt black already. I also made a bolt in close out panel for the other side with a slot for AC/Heater hoses.

[Martin71RS]

really nice work, car will be very cool I think :-)

[1965gp]

This is a really nice build- which part of Houston are you in? I’m in Spring. I didn’t catch it until you mentioned George’s Automotive Performance

[70rsss396]

This is a really nice build- which part of Houston are you in? I’m in Spring. I didn’t catch it until you mentioned George’s Automotive Performance

I'm on the west side I-10 & Kirkwood.

[1965gp]

I was over there looking at a Firehawk yesterday. Used to live in that area off of Eldridge. Now I’m at Louetta and TC Jester on the north side.

Any good cruises in that area?

[70rsss396]

Coffee & Cars at Memorial City Mall but it just got shut down for two months because of assholes doing burnouts.