Converting a Drag Camaro to steetable Pro Touring car

[asudevil28]

Hey everyone! I need some advice. I have the opportunity to obtain a 1967 Camaro Tube Chassis Car with a Small block Chevy 355 with Eagle alluminum rods, Keith black pistons, allumiunum air-flow heads. It also has a Ford 9 inch rear end, 5.88 gears, and 38 spline axles. Car runs 9.90's at Speedworld in Arizona. It has delay box, throttle stop, and air shifter that runs off CO2 bottle. I could go on... I'm sure you get the picture. Since it's a tube chassis car it has no title, so Im not sure if I could get a bonded title for it or what. I will obviously have to invest a good amount of cash to convert it, BUT MY QUESTION IS... Do you professionals think this is a good way to start a pro touring project since it's already tubbed, caged, etc??? Or should I start with a true street car? Any help would be greatly appreciated and thank you in advance!

[BulldawgMusclecars]

I guess it depends on your idea of what a "street car" is. Some people have a higher tolerance than others for that sort of thing. At a minimum, you'll be replacing the 9" centersection (assuming a spool) and axles (35 is about the max for a streetable diff), and the trans (Powerglide?), and probably the pistons and rods, too. You didn't say how big the existing tires and tubs are, but its common practice to enlarge the wheel openings substantially, so that could lead to new quarters and paint ($). The licensing aspect is a big deal, too, and also how strongly was the chassis constructed? You may have to do a lot of reinforcement, since its doubtful the builders had potholes and highway expansion joints in mind. The rear suspension could be an issue, too...desgined for drag, rather than curves...and you can't just call up RideTech or DSE and order parts made for it, so you'll be at least partially on your own there. Same goes for the front. It sounds like you'd have to change so much, it would be cheaper and easier to find a rusty shell, break out the plasma cutter, and go visit your local steel supplier, if you really want a tube chassis car. If its really, really cheap, I'd say it might be worth it...but otherwise, probably not,

[asudevil28]

Wow! Thanks I appreciate the all the great advice! The car is full tube chassis and has HUGE rear tires but I will have more details on it tomorrow. My plan of attack would start with selling the drivetrain and replacing it with perhaps a turbo'd LS-7 or something similar along with new suspension, wheels/tires, interior, etc. I will try to post pics from my phone so that you all can get a better idea. The picture with the silver car is the wheel/tire combo I'd like to use.
Thanks again!

[Bryce]

you would have to start over on suspension.

[drflex]

i think i'd look elsewhere, your only buying a body on that deal, and with no title.

[asudevil28]

Ok, I appreciate your input. So... I guess in that case and I can get a SMOKIN deal on the car I will have a freshened up power train and a bunch of other good stuff for sale asap! If anyone wants to text me offers anytime @ 928.64O.O754 that's the best way of getting in touch with me. I will at least sell the 355 Small block Chevy with Eagle alluminum rods, Keith Black pistons, Aluminum air-flow Heads, Aluminum Rods, 14:1 compression, Holley 850 carbon with throttle stop, along with the Powerglide transmission as well. If anyone's interested I will also probably be getting rid of the narrowed Ford 9" rear end with the current 5:88 gears and 38 alpine axles. The Powerglide tranny has a B&M ratchet shifter with co2 air bottle for the throttle stop & air shifter. Delay Box as well... Like i said before, this combo runs 9.90's at Speedworld in Arizona. Shoot me some offers or advice for the OP would still be Greatly Appreciated!

[drflex]

fyi....
thats a 12 bolt gm rear not a 9in

[asudevil28]

Yeah, my bad

[Zanie]

IMHO If you are getting a smoking deal on that car then your best bet would be to turn it! Unless you have a sentimental attachment to that car I can’t see any reason to try to turn that into a Pro touring car. You will be upside down in a jiffy. Selling parts won’t offset all the stuff you’ll need to buy, just to get to ground zero.
That is a purpose built race car, sell it to someone who will use it for that purpose……that’s just my opinion.

[asudevil28]

How much do you think I could sell it for? The help has been great! I'm making the decision tonight so any more help would be super! Don't tell the owner (and I hope he is not a member of this board lol) but I would be trading the car for something that I could realistically only sell for about 12k in the current economy. So, I would be getting this drag car for $12,000. Does anyone else think I should just do the trade then sell the car? I don't even know where or how to sell a drag car because I've never really been into straight line racing, even though I do respect those drivers because some of those car are straight scary.

[Protour_Pinto]

Personally I would just keep looking for something else. Have you seen what really nice cars are going for at the big auctions? They are going CHEAP. Pick something up that you can build over time and enjoy the ride.

[Zanie]

If it’s not the car you want, then don’t trade your car for it. It doesn’t sound like you know the market for a small block ladder bar “race car”. My guess is the owner of this Camaro is thinking he’s getting the better deal.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1967-Camaro-Drag-Car-Project-67-Chevy-/160736291466?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item256ca12a8a
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1967-Camaro-SS-Drag-Car-/251002281822?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item3a70e6df5e
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1968-Chevrolet-Camaro-ProStreet-Drag-Car-FI-454ci-Race-Ready-NO-RESERVE-/180820438845?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item2a19bcef3d

[Protour_Pinto]

That car with no title would probably go for 7k at the high end.

[Gitter Dun]

I just finished converting a '69 drag car to a PT car. This thing had a 9" floater with latter bars, line lok, turbo 400, etc, etc. It went from this.......

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

To This.........

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/02/LatestWhite69Pics009-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/02/LatestWhite69Pics007-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/01/LatestWhite69Pics006-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/01/LatestWhite69Pics004-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/01/LatestWhite69Pics003-1.jpg

[S Griffin]

I deal with drag cars everyday. And unfortunately, that car is not worth the $12k you are thinking it is. It's just not a desirable piece. It is only good as a bracket car and that's it. The only market for bracket cars is cheap cars. People make this mistake regularly. And as far as drivetrain goes, I just sold a 12 bolt rear like that with Mark Williams axles, Wilwood brakes and freshened for $1200 (and happy to get it). And a old school small block is lucky to bring $2500 if it is a nice piece. That tilt front end, firewall and roll cage is old school type stuff. Not easy to sell.

My advice, keep looking. sorry

[asudevil28]

You guys are the BEST and you just saved me a ton of $ and heartache! I will restart my search for a pro touring project. If anyone wants a long travel Polaris RZR with roughly 25 grand invested I think I'm willing to trade.

[BlownMerc]

Some really good info on this type of project https://www.pro-touring.com/showthread.php?66409-1969-Yenko-Camaro-Race-Car-Conversion-to-a-Pro-Touring-Beast

[craigs73]

uhhh yeah defiantly look another route...... cost way to much $$ to convert that car..... and the big thing that stood out to me the most was no title..... so glad you made the choice to keep looking..

[GaryL]

Wow, all good points to think about. Though the no tittle part is a no brainer. Though I do love the white car. I have been looking at first gen. Camaro's for about a month. And planning modifications so a numbers matching car is out of the question. And I had thought about attempting to convert a pro street car to a pro tourer. It seemed easy enough since I had planned on re working the suspension and brakes on anything I bought anyway. Though I don't really have a garage or a shop to use it makes things difficult. I am at a point when I return from afghanistan I would be able to sink many thousands of dollars into a project. But was trying to do cost estimates and looking at what was available and just watching the used car market. And it did seem there where a few pro street cars that where cheaper. I had already planned on changing the transmision to a T56, and hydralic clutch. I wanted a roll cage, which makes a back seat pretty much useless to anyting but a 4 year old. As for the engine I was wanting the good old relaiable sbc. So whatever the pro street came with could get sold off or traded to get the engine I would rather have. Was planning on buying wheels no matter what. I guess the only thing would be the rear end. But I could probaply squeeze that into the budget if the price of the car was low enough. Any feed back would be greatly appreciated.