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View Full Version : Project Slow Ride - Another 68 Camaro - Another budget build car



Rodney YJ
06-12-2015, 03:57 PM
Been a member here since 2013 and this might be my first post. I like to listen more than talk. Thought I would start a little build thread and maybe it would help or inspire others like the build threads have done for me.

I want a car that handles well and has good power. That I can drive whenever I want and autocross if I want.

The camaro is pretty stock and everything done to it was probably 20 years ago. There is some bubbles in the paint but it is not rust. Appears to be poor or no sealer applied. The interior is good shape just old. It appears to be a stock truck 350 with a performer carb/intake. Even has stock manifolds. Turbo 350 trans. Stock 10 bolt. 4 wheel manual drums. A good 1/4 turn play in the steering. (pitman arm is shot).

The first thing I did to the car was lower it with hotchkis 3 inch springs and edelbrock shocks. Then I put a grand cherokee 14.1 box on it with a new pump and C5 front brakes.

I decided to put an ford explorer 8.8 in the rear. They are cheap, plentiful and good rear ends plus I feel like I have alot of experience with them. This is probably my 5th one. The width is almost the same, has 31 spline shafts, disk brakes and most were 3.55 or 3.73 and easy to find with a limited slip. They have 3.25 axle tubes. I got a 3.73 limited slip. One thing that might be an issue is the pinion offset. We will see.

Then I went to an event and rode in Rodney Prouty's 68 Camaro and loved it. I ordered a ridetech level 2 suspension system. So I thought I would use this thread to document the install.

Phase 1 is to do the brakes, suspension and steering. (This is the goal this year)

Phase 2 will be motor/trans. (Hopefully I can get to this next year)

Before I get started I would like to say thanks to everyone here that has given me advice either directly or indirectly.



As I got it.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/06/IMG_0717-1.jpg (http://s208.photobucket.com/user/rodneysyj/media/68%20Camaro/IMG_0717.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/06/IMG_0714-1.jpg (http://s208.photobucket.com/user/rodneysyj/media/68%20Camaro/IMG_0714.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/06/IMG_0715-1.jpg (http://s208.photobucket.com/user/rodneysyj/media/68%20Camaro/IMG_0715.jpg.html)

Here it is after I lowered it.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/06/IMG_0775_1-1.jpg (http://s208.photobucket.com/user/rodneysyj/media/68%20Camaro/IMG_0775_1.jpg.html)

My 8.8
I got new rotors, bearings, seals installed. I drilled the stock axles and new rotors to 5x4.75.https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/06/IMG_1078-1.jpg (http://s208.photobucket.com/user/rodneysyj/media/68%20Camaro/IMG_1078.jpg.html)

Rodney YJ
07-02-2015, 07:54 PM
Some slow progress. I cleaned underneath where the ridetech cradle will go. 47 years worth of crud. https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/B79CF6151A99460D8C77E1956232DC84-1.jpg (http://s208.photobucket.com/user/rodneysyj/media/68%20Camaro/B79CF615-1A99-460D-8C77-E1956232DC84.jpg.html)https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/1F9BDBF419774454A218FEDF69B7996F-1.jpg (http://s208.photobucket.com/user/rodneysyj/media/68%20Camaro/1F9BDBF4-1977-4454-A218-FEDF69B7996F.jpg.html)https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/B8F3C588F1974D8687D007C31B66A8B8-1.jpg (http://s208.photobucket.com/user/rodneysyj/media/68%20Camaro/B8F3C588-F197-4D86-87D0-07C31B66A8B8.jpg.html)

The pinion in the 8.8 rear out of an explorer is 4 inches offset to the passenger side. The stock 10 bolt is 1 inch. This offset put one of my upper control arm brackets about 1/2 inch on the cast part of the differential. The axles are different lengths. the driver side is 2 7/8 longer than the passenger side. My solution was to cut 2 7/8 out of the driver's side tube, sleeve it, plug weld it and use a passenger side shaft. So now my pinion is 1 inch to the passenger side like stock and the overall width is 3 inches narrower actually 4 inches narrower than the stock 10 bolt. I am going to use 5x4.5 to 5x4.75 wheel adapters 1.25 inches thick. This will make my rear 1/2 narrower on each side compared to stock.https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/8546211FE414485A8461249DE65179A2-1.jpg (http://s208.photobucket.com/user/rodneysyj/media/68%20Camaro/8546211F-E414-485A-8461-249DE65179A2.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/1BC2ECB91F8C428180860DC026033A1F-1.jpg (http://s208.photobucket.com/user/rodneysyj/media/68%20Camaro/1BC2ECB9-1F8C-4281-8086-0DC026033A1F.jpg.html)https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/1B3124DAA0BA417993681604244F7D15-1.jpg (http://s208.photobucket.com/user/rodneysyj/media/68%20Camaro/1B3124DA-A0BA-4179-9368-1604244F7D15.jpg.html)
Then I welded on my lower control arm brackets.https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/EED988FE7D344A6E981350CE73AC38EE-1.jpg (http://s208.photobucket.com/user/rodneysyj/media/68%20Camaro/EED988FE-7D34-4A6E-9813-50CE73AC38EE.jpg.html)
And upper brackets.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/DA688561AFA148F3B3D38C3AB1C02F2B-1.jpg (http://s208.photobucket.com/user/rodneysyj/media/68%20Camaro/DA688561-AFA1-48F3-B3D3-8C3AB1C02F2B.jpg.html)

I used my eastwood 135 welder for this. I turned it all the way up. I am rusty at welding and not super happy with my welds as far as looks but I don't think these brackets are coming off. Good thing they are under the car.https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/F4915519E0494CEB80278BC1E8AD2DB2-1.jpg (http://s208.photobucket.com/user/rodneysyj/media/68%20Camaro/F4915519-E049-4CEB-8027-8BC1E8AD2DB2.jpg.html)https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/E8B19FCD983B4DF796D4CA1D4829278E-1.jpg (http://s208.photobucket.com/user/rodneysyj/media/68%20Camaro/E8B19FCD-983B-4DF7-96D4-CA1D4829278E.jpg.html)