Project Grip - 69 Camaro

[Rod]

Another question for you and Rod both. What spring rate are you running? What spring rate do you recommend Rod?

depends on the car? engine? swaybar? and what you like.... for a 69 camaro SBC I would recommend a 650 lb spring and the tall upper spring collar to keep the adjustment nut lower for easy access, even then the car may want 700lb springs like the 48 hour car instead of the 650lb but it will ride a little rougher

I have an 6.0 LS, with carbon hood, header, and cowl panel I run 800lb front spring because I autocross(really HARD), its to stiff for most who drive it, but the car likes it, I built my car (extra chassis bracing and custom lateral supports under the car) to run that heavy of a spring, the 800lb is to much for most cars even the 48 hour car so there running 700lb springs

[Rod]

Thanks Rod. You inspired me with your $100 Camaro. Wish mine was that price. Lol.

David

thanks!! its all fun! this sport, this industry...I'm lucky to have had great people around me to start and to now make a living doing it is even better!! keep building, I'm moving to Indiana this month so I'm sure I will pass through your neck of the woods this season more(I just drove thru AR last week going to Texas Goodguys and returning to Indiana), maybe I'll add a few hours to the drive and Ill stop by and check out the project next run thru!

[minendrews68]

Harrison Arkansas!!!!!!!!! Dang son, were neighbors... I'm in Jonesboro northeastern part of the state but that's close enough. Glad to see someone else from here. Man, I'd drive that car the way it is for a while. Looks good! And those rear boots! I thought those were miniature steam rollers .lol........

Carl

[Stovebolter]

thanks!! its all fun! this sport, this industry...I'm lucky to have had great people around me to start and to now make a living doing it is even better!! keep building, I'm moving to Indiana this month so I'm sure I will pass through your neck of the woods this season more(I just drove thru AR last week going to Texas Goodguys and returning to Indiana), maybe I'll add a few hours to the drive and Ill stop by and check out the project next run thru!

Sounds great Rod. Maybe I will get to attend next years event at Texas Motor Speedway. Sorry for the late response guys....I'm making like a sponge trying to absorb all I can with any Torque Arm related suspension threads. Lol.

Harrison Arkansas!!!!!!!!! Dang son, were neighbors... I'm in Jonesboro northeastern part of the state but that's close enough. Glad to see someone else from here. Man, I'd drive that car the way it is for a while. Looks good! And those rear boots! I thought those were miniature steam rollers .lol........

Carl

Well hello Carl. Oh, I do plan to drive it. I don't imagine it will see paint for a couple years. I'm a little burned out from the last two projects. Consumed last 4 years of my life. Lol. I promised myself and my wife I would make changes in phases, so to speak. That way I can enjoy the car and notice all of the changes. And I can say the change thus far is remarkable. My 50/50 turbo RX8 would have had trouble with this car IMO. This setup with the Camaro feels like it would do circles around the RX. I know exactly where Jonesboro is. Occasionally I get called out to work in Tuckerman. Always seems to be at the worse moment. Lol.

[glr0212]

Yep, I'm using Tobin's hubs. I thought they pushed the wheel out 1/4". I also figured if I went deep on the BS I could always use a spacer to take it back in.

[glr0212]

Is this your actual ride height or has it moved up since this picture was taken?

It looks like the tire would hit the bottom of the outer fender when you turn the wheel. (similar to mine in the above pics)

[Stovebolter]

No. That was with the air springs completely deflated. At ride height all of the wheel is exposed and about 1/2" of tire at top. Sorry. I didn't notice that the pictures I posted was not at ride height.

[Stovebolter]

Thought I'd post a few pictures of the clearance I have with the 18X9.5 front wheels with the 5.75" bs. I am not completely finished with the inners. Just for the guys that are curious.

[Rod]

Digging it!!

[Stovebolter]

A little more progress this weekend. Got the LCA's set in stone....or steel. Ha ha. Brake caliper mounts made and tacked in. Upper Airwave bar mocked up. And got started on the torque arm. I may go with 60" for ease of packaging. I will be able to mount directly to transmission mount this way. Thanks to Payton for the help!

[Stovebolter]

I've been toying with the idea of keeping the big block. There goes my cars diet. Lol. It has a 454 now that needs freshened up. While I'm in it, it will get a 509" 4.5x4.00 stoker rotating assembly.

I also plan on swapping in a T56 Magnum with the .50 6th gear.

So it seems I may shop for decent stack injection system. I'm digging through a ton of documentation about these system. Wow. A lot to absorb. I found a local fellow with an old mechanical stack injection system. Checking into converting this to electronic injection.

[Stovebolter]

Time for a few updates. I've mocked up the side exit exit exhaust but already have plans to alter it.

[Stovebolter]

Got the torque arm mocked up and lightened.

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[Stovebolter]

Somehow I found room for the sway bar. What a conglomeration of things. Lol.

[Stovebolter]

And the Watts link mock up is finished.

[Stovebolter]

Just waiting for the spot calipers Jason at The GMR has shipped. Soon it will be test drive time!

[Stovebolter]

It's been a while. Just a few mild updates. Got the rear painted, put back together, and saftey wired. What started out as an attempt to pick a color for the bottom side of the car has turned into a mind changer for me. I may now paint the entire car bronze. This color really pops in the sun.

[Stovebolter]

A few more....

[Stovebolter]

And the completed rear.....

[Stovebolter]

We'll I got the car back in one piece and have been enjoying it all week. I aligned the front end with camber of -1.5, caster of +6.0, and toe in of 1/8". I can say I am very impressed with the over all package. And have plenty of room in the front wheel houses now that I've adjusted camber properly. These pictures are with it laid out. I'll get some better pictures this weekend. This car is amazing. But I believe I'll ditch the Hawk HP+ pads for some ceramic. Hate the dust! And it is really eating up the rotors. I'll save them for future track day.