1968 Camaro "LS Poppet"

[99socalfrc]

Hey guys I figured I would make a thread regarding my project. Pro-touring.com really was a huge influence in me buying the car in the first place. I'm an LS guy first and certainly new to the Classic car stuff, so I spent months on this site to even determine if this was something I wanted to get myself into.

Anyway here is the car, I bought it July 1, 2016.


My plans for a car before I even bought one were that I wanted to do an engine swap and not a whole lot else. I wanted a solid body car, usable wheels and tires, usable paint, and usable interior. If these things get upgraded later on so be it, but I wanted the car to be on the road and running with the engine swap in short order. I did not want a show car, so I went shopping for a nice, clean, solid dirver.



What I found was a California built car, in Lodi California. I'm grateful to say that in the 2 months that I drove the car before pulling the drivetrain it performed flawlessly. other than a leak or two from the engine and trans, and a drivers side window repair the car was as advertised.

[99socalfrc]

Some more pics of the car as I got it.

[99socalfrc]

During the month of August I started acquiring parts, most of which I had already researched for months. MY goal for the car was to create something similar to what I used to have with my 2005 GTO. A car that was dead on reliable, comfortable enough to drive anywhere, decent gas mileage, and run strong enough to be a mere tire switch away from a weekend drag strip outing.

PS This is the part where I disclose I'm not much of a road/ autocross guy. But the look and lack of any comfort in most classic drag cars is a no go for me. So I want the car to look like a pro-touring car, but in reality it's racing will be done at the strip.

Anyway to the parts:

-Crate engine LS3- once it was delivered my cousin and I swapped in a Texas Speed Cam and valve train upgrade along with an underdrive pulley.
-I sourced a PSI conversion harness, ECM, TCM and Corvette throttle pedal from a guy de modding a truck in Long Beach
-The trans is a 4L70e I bought from a local guy here out of a 2008 Trailblazer SS
-Also a new build Ford 9" with GM housing flanges

I'm terrible at keeping up with the pictures so I'll be posting what I have so far.

Engine and Trans


Rear End Parts


On the radiator I went with the LS Swap unit from Griffin

[99socalfrc]

We started removing the drivetrain from the Camaro on September 2, with the goal have having it back on the road by September 30.



Again a total lack of pictures as this shot of my cousin monkeying around under the car is the only thing I have from that time period.

Anyhow the removal went pretty well, in a weekend we got the engine, trans, rearend and all associated parts out of the car. I had already pre-planned on selling these parts back to the original owner of the car, so he came down from Lodi a few days later to pick it all back up.