'68 Camaro roadster?

[ilovefirstgens]

Well thanks to the new job and the amazing ammount of cash ive picked up by parting out my 99 ss parts car that i am using the ls1 from.

Heres what its gonna be:
black 68 camaro
ls1 with heads cam and intake 450+/- at the wheels
t56 with z06 clutch and 5.0 shifter
hydroboost
4 piston wilwoods all around
some sort of 18s
unisteer r&p
hotchkis front susp with g-mod
c4 dana 36(for now) irs with wayne due brackets
American Autowire classic update kit
full stainless fasteners (prodigy customs)
covans classic gauge cluster



So as the weather is gettin more and more gloomy knowing that i don't drive my nice cars in the rain i figure that i might as well really go all out this time. I just ordered hydroboost, classic update wiring, everything else i need to get the ls1/t56 in there, still up in the air about wheels and tires.

I'm also looking for a beater 85 vette as a driver in the rainy months then as a parts car for the irs into the 68 and possibly the front stuff too.

But this is not enough! As i have spent every cent that i have gotten my hands on and every free chunk of time just to make it exactly what i want theres still something missing.... IT HAS A ROOF!

As ive done enough fabrication so far to be able to do something of this magnitude, actually chpopping the roof of my baby will take a looong time before i have the guts to do, but its looking like the only big thing missing in my dream car becoming a reality, and thats what this is all about right? plus i need to learn how to build a custom cage.

HAHA, ill keep you guys posted on the process on everything, at this point its just starting to come together(only about $10k in this modifying spree)


Unfortunately it just looks like a stripped version of whats in my sig, but as this thread progresses it will definately make a transformation! Pics up as soon as i have something interesting to show you guys haha

[Ralph LoGrasso]

Sounds like it's going to be a sweet car. What heads/cam/intake are you looking to use?

[ilovefirstgens]

Well im trying to find as much stuff used as possible so its still up in theair but i just sent off for a non egr ls6 intake, and am lookin for afr 205 heads and probably a f13 cam or something a little more aggresive... as i said its still up in the air.

To be perfectly honest its not the biggest deal what the #s are its already more than enough to get myself in a whole mess of trouble, being that it will be my daily driver when weather permits.... oh yea and that im just 18

[Ralph LoGrasso]

Well im trying to find as much stuff used as possible so its still up in theair but i just sent off for a non egr ls6 intake, and am lookin for afr 205 heads and probably a f13 cam or something a little more aggresive... as i said its still up in the air.

To be perfectly honest its not the biggest deal what the #s are its already more than enough to get myself in a whole mess of trouble, being that it will be my daily driver when weather permits.... oh yea and that im just 18

I hear ya loud and clear on that. I'm looking at a smilar heads / cam / intake package for my '01 SS. Probably AFR 205/.226/228 cam and FAST90/90 (NW TB). I'd like 440rwhp. We'll see though. (I'm young too, btw -- 19, good to see more young guys into PT)

The new Dart heads are real cheap ($$ wise) and look like they should make good power. Might want to take a look at those, too.

Also, if you plan on driving this car hard, and make anywhere near 450rwhp, you're probably going to want a better clutch than the LS6. All '01/02 F-bodies came with that clutch. Maybe take a look at the new LS7 clutch, as lots of guys are having problems with aftermarket clutches these days. Definitely upgrade/update to the 01/02 hydraulics, too.

[Travis B]

Not to change the subject how old are you Ralph????

also ilovefirstgens think long and hard before you cut the roof off! there was a guy that built a 62 chevy this year Derek Samson.......62 roadster and it is cool but I think he will have trouble selling it....JMO if you plan on keeping it them fine that great if thats what you want! But if plan on selling you want to kee the roof.....just my Two cents

[J2speedandcustom]

[QUOTE=Travis B]think long and hard before you cut the roof off! there was a guy that built a 62 chevy this year Derek Samson.......62 roadster and it is cool but I think he will have trouble selling it./QUOTE]

I totally agree with Travis on this one. Derek's car is awesome. I talked with him at KC.

We have a 32 roadster, and everyone who is interested in buying asks if it has a top...WTF it's a "Roadster"! That's why it's going to Barretts.

The 1st gen would look hella sweet as a roadster! I say do it!

[derekf]

Don't forget that if you cut the roof off, you'll need to reinforce the undercarriage. (yeah, you mentioned putting in a cage.. but you'll need something between the choppin' and the weldin')

[Travis B]

[QUOTE=J2speedandcustom]

think long and hard before you cut the roof off! there was a guy that built a 62 chevy this year Derek Samson.......62 roadster and it is cool but I think he will have trouble selling it./QUOTE]

I totally agree with Travis on this one. Derek's car is awesome. I talked with him at KC.

We have a 32 roadster, and everyone who is interested in buying asks if it has a top...WTF it's a "Roadster"! That's why it's going to Barretts.

The 1st gen would look hella sweet as a roadster! I say do it!

ya i'm not saying it wouldn't look good....but no roof is turn off to a lot of potential buyers! If he plan on keeping it I say cut it!

[MoeBawlz]

I had a similar thought when I first bought my car... Some one put a sun roof into a clean 68 Camaro... dont ask me why cus i have no clue. but i had thought about cutting the roof off entirely and making it a roadster, but then i like travis had the same thoughts on resale.

would be a cool car though. if you choose to do it, good luck

[Johnny Blaze]

Why cut the roof of and possibly ruin the car, limit its use, when you can buy a real convertible?

Its one thing if it was never made, like the Monte Convertible in Super Chevy recently, but there are still first gen converts out there. I just picked up our 67 firebird convert this past summer.

[MarkM66]

Samson.

Protecting the world, and always looking for cover just in case it rains....

[Travis B]

Samson.

Protecting the world, and always looking for cover just in case it rains....

that is hilarious.....for those of you that don't know this samson guy....he is not liked by most!

[ilovefirstgens]

Yea guys, if i were interested in resale value i would be restoring a real ss not rodding my 6 cyl body, i was thinking to just fabricate the cage get the thing super rigid before chopping it off, ill have to post something about thia, as i have no problem with big door bars (gettin in dukes style!) and if i leave in the rear seats they would have to hop in anyway, but im wondering if i can get it rigid enough without having too much of anything sticking above the doorline... but atleast mini cobra style hoops to literally save my head if **** does happen.

and to "limiting its use" i live in california!!!!

In all honesty it would get MUCH more use as during the summer a black first gen with black interior with no ac is complete hell!!! and i would never drive one of my nice cars in the rain anywho.

Any ideas on where i could find out or somehow test to see how to not get a rediculous ammount of wind turbulence in the cockpit???

Also where would i make one post about doing the roof chopping??? safety hahaha maybe lack there of...

[Damn True]

A couple of these?
One joining the end of the front sub and serving as a tranny mount.
And a second joining the front ends of the rear sub and servind as a DS loop might stiffen things up quite a bit.

[ilovefirstgens]

Well guys, unfortunately the 'rents are getting pissed at my exploits again so either ill have just the ls1 in it, or piss them off get grounded etc and build it like i want to haha!

So what im thinking if i can pull it off without getting kicked out on the streets is a aftermarket front clip (wayne due c4? or more extrememif im only gonna do it once) and essentally a 12 point cage but with all the bars lowered below the roofline. then cutting the roof, and building a tanneau cover outta fiberglass. then finish it off with some brakes wheels and tires...