1969 Camaro LSX Road Race Car Build

[CamaroMike]

Finally got my hands on a 1969 Camaro. The plan is to shave some weight and make it turn like my '78 Z28 and have some fun!



https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/28A63BAE43DB4CEA9C708B3B69F2583841980000-1.jpg (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/timeattacks14/media/1969%20Camaro/28A63BAE-43DB-4CEA-9C70-8B3B69F25838-4198-000005A028EDFC37_zps8b91e6f7.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/8684EE0563424D03A0AB89B67948C05C41980000-1.jpg (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/timeattacks14/media/1969%20Camaro/8684EE05-6342-4D03-A0AB-89B67948C05C-4198-000005A039804F93_zpsa82e358b.jpg.html)

My workspace

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/87D54D39DF7C4BF7B09D052F84509A5041980000-1.jpg (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/timeattacks14/media/1969%20Camaro/87D54D39-DF7C-4BF7-B09D-052F84509A50-4198-000005A01CA9EEED_zps1e1a91d9.jpg.html)


First thing was put it on the lift and check it out. Turns out its solid!

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/2B772234926142B59EC1F00DDF95521A41980000-1.jpg (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/timeattacks14/media/1969%20Camaro/2B772234-9261-42B5-9EC1-F00DDF95521A-4198-000005A06F6BB8ED_zps021ba343.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/F49423955AE84A2B978F2B0DB9FBB52141980000-1.jpg (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/timeattacks14/media/1969%20Camaro/F4942395-5AE8-4A2B-978F-2B0DB9FBB521-4198-000005A086C883C4_zps77b72f59.jpg.html)

The factory 2 bolt main 350 is not going to cut it so my first step is to swap in a LS and get it running first then move on to brakes/suspension.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/E22B476B962B4C2EB8F4E3BECA40AC4214840000-1.jpg (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/timeattacks14/media/1969%20Camaro/E22B476B-962B-4C2E-B8F4-E3BECA40AC42-1484-0000033DE9EE9738_zps0eaeed97.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/4CC31BA81D994A77B7D396803D868EF141980000-1.jpg (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/timeattacks14/media/1969%20Camaro/4CC31BA8-1D99-4A77-B7D3-96803D868EF1-4198-0000059FF1BF22A2_zpsb6b54ff4.jpg.html)




https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/E20AB66E800442779B32EDF5B4E0B29441980000-1.jpg (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/timeattacks14/media/1969%20Camaro/E20AB66E-8004-4277-9B32-EDF5B4E0B294-4198-0000059F9D718A0D_zpsab5e556b.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/CD828EE7E9DE4FBD9923F99D5361247341980000-1.jpg (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/timeattacks14/media/1969%20Camaro/CD828EE7-E9DE-4FBD-9923-F99D53612473-4198-0000059F7D76681D_zpsc83ebdf9.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/886939D2B6AD4A1995A58791B36E13AA41980000-1.jpg (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/timeattacks14/media/1969%20Camaro/886939D2-B6AD-4A19-95A5-8791B36E13AA-4198-0000059F6FBB3AF8_zps8c6ceeac.jpg.html)


My 5.3L L33 arrived

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/028AF733502247B088203ADFEFE4E7F541980000-1.jpg (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/timeattacks14/media/1969%20Camaro/028AF733-5022-47B0-8820-3ADFEFE4E7F5-4198-0000059F44D7FA29_zps13078de9.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/timeattacks14/media/1969%20Camaro/506EDA68-E15E-4AB1-B34C-FE6563C1C60D-4198-0000059F2E5D8828_zps38fff288.jpg.html)


Took some stuff off to clean it up

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/63B812D135864F7C9014DA1BC1C57E7C14840000-1.jpg (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/timeattacks14/media/1969%20Camaro/63B812D1-3586-4F7C-9014-DA1BC1C57E7C-1484-0000033E7788751F_zps6e8984af.jpg.html)


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/84D972F80C1546A29D40C5D4A0E58ACF14840000-1.jpg (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/timeattacks14/media/1969%20Camaro/84D972F8-0C15-46A2-9D40-C5D4A0E58ACF-1484-0000033E6BDBD287_zps7bb63692.jpg.html)


Converted the oil pan to GM Muscle car unit. Came with lower profile oil pan, windage tray, pick up, dip stick, bolts, and gasket.


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/5B6FACD7107F45DBB2669672DB08924B14840000-1.jpg (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/timeattacks14/media/1969%20Camaro/5B6FACD7-107F-45DB-B266-9672DB08924B-1484-0000033E49588008_zpsf9292279.jpg.html)

Then added a f-body intake manifold off of a 1998 camaro Z28 with cable driven throttle body.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/ED2DF83DECE5425E97FFBC2B1D3102D142170000-1.jpg (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/timeattacks14/media/1969%20Camaro/ED2DF83D-ECE5-425E-97FF-BC2B1D3102D1-4217-000007E4E45B840D_zpsfebd5c4e.jpg.html)


Now this is where it gets interesting. I am using my T5 5-speed manual transmission with the LS block. I happen to have a 621 Aluminum " Big Block " bellhousing which will clear my Fidanza aluminum flywheel and spec clutch. Also went with ARP Flywheel bolts. The clutch and flywheel is for a 1998-2002 Camaro Z28/SS so I can use a T56 at a later date if I want to or a TKO600.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/4294BC6E5AF747CEB52D7FBB604ACA3D14840000-1.jpg (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/timeattacks14/media/1969%20Camaro/4294BC6E-5AF7-47CE-B52D-7FBB604ACA3D-1484-0000033D275A25FD_zps6f2ef85a.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/C653EC7E4B7B45CB8AAE78253E07E3BF14840000-1.jpg (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/timeattacks14/media/1969%20Camaro/C653EC7E-4B7B-45CB-8AAE-78253E07E3BF-1484-0000033D1B694C59_zpsffc7c45b.jpg.html)

Now to check the input shaft for the pilot bearing and clutch disc since the old style bellhousing and trans sits further back

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/3D88AEDA983444A5B775163D96ACAAC914840000-1.jpg (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/timeattacks14/media/1969%20Camaro/3D88AEDA-9834-44A5-B775-163D96ACAAC9-1484-0000033D0F75BA09_zpsb4b064c4.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/637138FB312D4D299B7D4554BBA0CCA614840000-1.jpg (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/timeattacks14/media/1969%20Camaro/637138FB-312D-4D29-9B7D-4554BBA0CCA6-1484-0000033D000F65CA_zps26c5137c.jpg.html)

Looks close enough for me. The clutch disc will be riding on the end of the input spline which is fine, I wont be launching the car or putting down huge numbers so I doubt it will strip my input shaft. I went ahead and installed the LS1 Camaro Pilot Bearing supplied by Spec Clutch which is a local company for me. After that I stabbed the trans back in to make sure the input shaft goes in the pilot far enough

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/timeattacks14/media/1969%20Camaro/BDAE8DC0-3404-4222-BAAD-3877579EC353-1484-0000033CDA9501D4_zps59a22a84.jpg.html)


This is how it will look mounted up to the trans



https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/06A897D190C14848B06CE7BA8787DA6914840000-1.jpg (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/timeattacks14/media/1969%20Camaro/06A897D1-90C1-4848-B06C-E7BA8787DA69-1484-0000033CF659BF86_zps3a048b4e.jpg.html)


And this is where I am currently at. Hope to have the engine/trans in this weekend and fab up some motor/trans mounts.

[Twin_Turbo]

I sure hope that T5 will live behind that block. Streching case, grinding gears... those things hate powershifting and tq.

[CamaroMike]

I had it behind a sbc with about 315hp for a few years, it has held up so far haha. If it goes out I will either buy another for $150 or if I have the money go with a tko or t56.

I went with a longer style throw out bearing to make up for the difference in length
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/AF1CA90880184EEE82D3FC633B93207E27800000-1.jpg (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/timeattacks14/media/1969%20Camaro/AF1CA908-8018-4EEE-82D3-FC633B93207E-278-0000002EEFC58FF1_zps58428635.jpg.html)

Just finished up torquing down the flywheel and clutch

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/AD77B5DE0E7641A290FF3442CE7F66EE27800000-1.jpg (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/timeattacks14/media/1969%20Camaro/AD77B5DE-0E76-41A2-90FF-3442CE7F66EE-278-0000002EFBD4F256_zps4e5cc80d.jpg.html)




And now the trans is bolted up. Could not use the top bell housing bolt due to old style bellhousing but 5 bolts is enough.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/65336A8FA7764949A33D3A7D3018C4FF27800000-1.jpg (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/timeattacks14/media/1969%20Camaro/65336A8F-A776-4949-A33D-3A7D3018C4FF-278-0000002ED65B7082_zps707e4a57.jpg.html)

[CamaroMike]

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/timeattacks14/media/1969%20Camaro/77370AFC-19F3-4CDE-A3C7-B13F6936E041-968-000001B714109E13_zpsd59d2726.jpg.html)

Boxing the crossmember to clear the oil pan. Going to get the engine to sit down low

[72Z/28]

Nice project man, just wondering if you have dialed in your bellhousing..it is better to do it now since the engine is still out of the car

[CamaroMike]

Thanks, havent yet but plan on it before going in. Gotta get a new dial indicater first. There is always something missing in the garage.

[CamaroMike]

Welds are not pretty but they are strong! I have plenty of clearance now

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/timeattacks14/media/1969%20Camaro/8A15DFD0-6B35-413B-B177-A98BAE3849F9_zpsfy1w0uem.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/12/03C84020204E4EEF9EF0BADBC1CA647B96800000-1.jpg (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/timeattacks14/media/1969%20Camaro/03C84020-204E-4EEF-9EF0-BADBC1CA647B-968-000001B7281F6BE9_zps6b8bec9f.jpg.html)

I made my own engine and transmission mounts. For the engine it was simple plates and transmission I used square tubing for strength.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/12/756971BCDA4F438680A30100AD9AD7DD_zpswdld-1.jpg (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/timeattacks14/media/1969%20Camaro/756971BC-DA4F-4386-80A3-0100AD9AD7DD_zpswdldyclf.jpg.html)


B&M shifter with a hurst lever

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/12/392D9D75F42241EF93B259FB9F34F02C_zpssj6e-1.jpg (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/timeattacks14/media/1969%20Camaro/392D9D75-F422-41EF-93B2-59FB9F34F02C_zpssj6ewyni.jpg.html)


My camera is garbage, I will be getting a new one soon.

[Martin71RS]

cool build already :-)

[WL67SS]

Awesome build! It is pretty cool to see someone using a T5 with an LS. What is the horsepower rating of that L33? Is that the aluminum block? I knew someone that ran a T5 behind a tunnel rammed 350 with 2 four barrels. I know he abused on that T5 pretty hard.

[Blown73]

Looks super nice so far! That t5 should be okay with a mild 5.3! If not, you can buy a heck of a lot of them before you are into TKO world! :) Keep up the good work!

[CamaroMike]

Thanks guys. The L33 has an aluminum block rated at 315hp, it has the 799 "LS6" Heads with a high lift cam.

Blown73 I am glad you see my logic. The transmission was free and they average in the price range of free up to $250 therefor I can replace it 8 times before I am in TKO range! Its a mild engine so it wont see too much abuse.


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/12/37ae50efc09c41968f6133e4d4d422da_zps2e4e-1.jpg (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/timeattacks14/media/1969%20Camaro/37ae50ef-c09c-4196-8f61-33e4d4d422da_zps2e4e040f.jpg.html)