Project Viscosity, 1968 Camaro

[Vicinity]

Inspired by the trackday build thread, I thought I'd finally "make" one.

Picked this car up almost a year ago, April 15th, shortly after my 20th birthday. It was supposed to be done with quick and made a daily driver, but, uh, yeah that didn't go over so well.

Anyway, the day I bought this car, it was bare metal with a small block and muncie dropped in.

Everything else was done by me, and I honestly love cars, but have done nothing except change the air box and put new speakers in my old 2001 Camaro, so this all was pretty new to me. Building a car while working 2 jobs and going to school has been quite the pain in the ass, but I'm pretty sure it will be worth it, one day! I know no one is going to read this, so I better get some pics up here.

Specs of the car:
400 Small Block (What I was told, no way to verify)
Muncie M21
Stock Suspension
Odometer states 66k miles
Most of the sheetmetal was replaced, surface rust in random places on the underside floor board, nothing major
LS1 Brakes already installed by me
ZR1 Wheels already installed by me

Plans:
LQ4 And a RS500 sometime next year
Speed Tech Upper Control Arms with Gmod
Hotchkis Springs and Bilstein Shocks for a front drop
Decided drop leaves for the rear (possible Watts link)
Fiske Wheels, Not sure what specifically, all their wheels are amazing.
Iroc Box and Power Steering upgrade once I get a hold of a good box.















Over a year, and I still haven't washed the car!





About 2 weeks ago, the wind was pretty bad, something scuffed against the car, might have been the car cover straps, and messed the paint up pretty bad.





Insurance helped me out. I talked to my paint guy, I can get the car repainted any color I want for a little more than they gave me. Thinking Hugger Orange, or a custom color sometime next year, the paints already ruined, I'm no longer concerned about it...

At one point, I would have to assume the car was painted lime green...



No fear, getting a Covan dash with Autometer gauges!

As you saw above, the car has OEM ZR1's, because being a broke ass college student, I have to work with what I can, I found the set on craigs for $400 with tires. I had to get larger wheels because I would not run drum brakes! Period! So I searched ebay and got a complete LS1 brake set (plus master and booster) for some $500. Everything except front rotors, which I got from Tobin @ Kore3, who is EXTREMELY helpful.



About to start the car this weekend, I went to fill the rear and tranny with gear oil so I could drive the car to my friends shop, I found the previous owner installed the wrong tranny plug, and it's seized in the bellhousing. Not sure what I can do about that, tried heating it with a torch, tried easy-out, pretty much everything, now theres barely a nub to work with.

So much fun, so little time. I may have to get a 5 speed in the future!

Anyway, I'll try and keep this thread updated, if I wind up with a new tranny, I may be able to follow my build after all.

I just realized I don't have en updated engine bay pic, I'll rectify this tomorrow! (I think that's a word).

[THE TECH]

Nice project. Good luck with it.

[srh3trinity]

Looking forward to seeing it come together. I like the ZR1 wheels on there.

[Jarcaines]

Noce project! I am looking forward to following along!

[johnnymac46]

Cool car... its good to see other young guys doing builds..keep us posted

[sixgunsblazing]

Did you have to get spacers to fit those ZR1 wheels on there?

[killer67]

This has lots of potential!

[Vicinity]

Did you have to get spacers to fit those ZR1 wheels on there?

Yep. The rear needed 2" and the front needed 1.5", I looked on ebay and got both for under $120 bucks. I might end up shimming the front more, I haven't tried lock to lock yet.

[Vicinity]

Thanks everyone. I got an update, a friend of my Dad drilled out the old plug. It was like it was made of friggin' clay. But we got it out, so I'll be running the Muncie for a few months.



That's whats left of the little bugger. Gotta flush the tranny now, got a lot of shavings in there. It's been raining so I haven't been over to the car.

Hopefully, I'll have the car in driving condition this weekend, and I'll drive it to said friend's shop, he has a huge shop with a lift and every kind of tool.

Might clean that nasty spray paint off the block while I have it on the lift.

[Nessumsar]

Glad to hear you got that plug out! Good to see another young gun getting his car on the road, got mine on the road 3 years ago when I was 22.

Subscribed!

[boostin05blacksti]

I love the color of the car..but Im planning on painting my 67 that color...so I might be bias.. Keep the updates coming man and keep plugging it will get there.

[Bullockracing]

That's a pretty clean car to begin with, as far as projects go. Looks like you'll have fun with this - some reassembly and you'll be on the road!!!

[Vicinity]

Here's the update:

Today was the day to start it, but unfortunately, I put off way too many "small" things... and they really began to pile up, so I didn't start the car. It does have gas in the tank though!

Pics for today...:









I installed the seats and got the shifter placed.

I need to order .25" spacers for the front, the wheels are rubbing the steering linkage. I'm ordering my covan dash panel and a few gauges as well. Maybe this week...

[ROBS6T8]

Nice starting point for a project. DO you have a plan? Make a plan! Make a plan! Stick to your plan! Stick to it. Did I mention a plan? PLAN! PLAN! PLAN!
Anyhoo, have fun with it. Looking forward to watching this one.
I'll have to get mine up and going too.

[69projectKAOS]

Hey, the car is coming along great!!! im in the same boat as you only being 20 and in college, so i know how it feels to have to wait on the cash to get stuff done.and trust me it is definitely worth it in the end!! i have a few questions for you, are you running any spacer front and rear on those zr1 wheels other than the spacer you need in the front? also how wide are those rims front and rear? im asking because im looking to get some different wheels for autocross and stuff. and the other question is what was your master and brake booster off of, because im running the ls1 brake setup and having no power brakes stinks haha. -Dom

[Vicinity]

Nice starting point for a project. DO you have a plan? Make a plan! Make a plan! Stick to your plan! Stick to it. Did I mention a plan? PLAN! PLAN! PLAN!
Anyhoo, have fun with it. Looking forward to watching this one.
I'll have to get mine up and going too.

I haven't bothered with a plan, since for the past year~ my goal has been "DRIVE".

But I'm thinking along these lines...

LS1 + RS500 (Going the build the LS1 myself with used parts I can find, might go iron block, not sure)
Global West Upper and Lower A-Arms
Hotchkis Springs with Bilstein Shocks All around
LS1 Brakes with E-Brake (Done)

No comment on the rear suspension setup, still configuring that.

Hey, the car is coming along great!!! im in the same boat as you only being 20 and in college, so i know how it feels to have to wait on the cash to get stuff done.and trust me it is definitely worth it in the end!! i have a few questions for you, are you running any spacer front and rear on those zr1 wheels other than the spacer you need in the front? also how wide are those rims front and rear? im asking because im looking to get some different wheels for autocross and stuff. and the other question is what was your master and brake booster off of, because im running the ls1 brake setup and having no power brakes stinks haha. -Dom

Yeah, the ZR1's need 2 inches in the rear (cars not minitubbed), and 1.5" + .25" (i got a 8mm) shim on the front. Of course, this may vary depending on how your front end is setup, mines stock.

The brake booster is from an LS1 car. To get it to mount you need to weld 3 inch steel plates over top of the old mounts, and redrill the mounting holes about an inch down (so the old bottom holes become the top holes). Then weld the old brake pedal rod to the end of the booster so that the rod coming off the booster will screw right in to your old pedal mount.

You can pickup an LS1 master and booster for like less than $40 on ebay, or get a C5 one (basically the same, except the C5 master has the lines coming out on the driver side of the master) for $150+. I'm fine with LS1 car stuff, I had one and I trust it to work fully.

I'll get better pics of the setup tomorrow, if you'd like.

EDIT: And if anyone knows someone selling a 68 grill, TELL ME! Lol.

[69projectKAOS]

if you could get me some pics and pm me with them that would be great!!! thanks-Dom

[Vicinity]

Hey Kaos, I got those pics.

Forgot about daylight savings, so I decided to go back over and tinker around.



I like this install, only because the only other way I've seen it done required cutting the car. I don't like to cut on her.

With a 1.5 inch spacer in the front, this is what happens...



Snapped a few more pics, because I was bored.



Trunk mount battery, and an optima at that!



Finally snapped a pic of the rear, although theres not really much going on back there.

[69projectKAOS]

Dan thanks for the pictures!! that looks pretty simple ! im going to have to get myself one now haha where did you get that battery relocation tray? -Dom

[Rhino]

I like this install, only because the only other way I've seen it done required cutting the car. I don't like to cut on her.

That's exactly how I did my booster install as well. Mine's not on the road yet, but it's good to see someone else doing the same.