1969 Camaro LSX 427 Project

[gigjr]

Well, looks like I spoke too soon. After we really dug into we found a bunch of rust. It's going to be cheaper to replace the panels than try to repair them. Heading out tomorrow to pick up the new sheetmetal.
On the bright side the DSE sub frame is at the powder coaters and should arrive here by mid June.

[JFStAmour]

Oof, unfortunate about the rust, but the rest is looking great!

[Motown 454]

The engine look killer in black. glad blasting went well.

[gigjr]

Here's an update on what's been happening the last couple of months.
The car is at AMD's installation center in GA getting new quarters, roof and a sail panel. Hopefully that's all it needs and it will be back sometime around October.
We put the DSE subframe in and the engine is ON the firewall so when it gets back we're going to have to clearance it at least 1 1/2" to fit the Holly harness and give some breathing room.
Got the rear seat frame cut to clear the mini tubs.
We went to Goodguys in Columbus to check thing out and ended up buying a set of Forgeline GA3C wheels - 19x12 & 18x10. They are gonna look so bad ass!
The rear end is completely assembled and ready to go.
Finally got the sub frame and while we're waiting for the car to get back we are going to mock up a firewall and build the complete front end.
Next Sunday we're heading to the dyno to see what we built. I'd be very happy if this thing can hit 600 HP.
IF all goes well the car should be off to paint and body some time in November. If I get it back by May-June I'd be happy but that's probably dreaming.

[TANKMASTERJ]

Well your progress is coming.wish I would have done the amd install center for the metal. Bet it would be alot cheaper than what I did.
Keep it up
Jason

[gigjr]

Here's a few pics

[gigjr]

Well your progress is coming.wish I would have done the amd install center for the metal. Bet it would be alot cheaper than what I did.
Keep it up
Jason

Thanks! I feel like I took 10 steps up a hill and it turned into a mountain, haha.

[TANKMASTERJ]

I don't think you can really scoot the LS engine any closer lol!

[Jimbo1367]

Sorry for your loss. The Camaro looks like a lot of top shelf parts are gonna make this a bad ass ride.

[Vimes]

That engine is way, way too close to the firewall. Imagine having to change that one sensor between the block and the firewall. You'll have to pull the engine to do a 15 minute sensor swap. And, as close as that sensor is, any engine twist at all that pulls the engine back on that side will break that sensor at worst and gouge the paint behind it at best.

I understand the desire to move the weight back to the rear, but in this case you either need to move the engine forward or alter the firewall. At this stage of your build, altering the firewall would probably be easiest since it looks like you've got all the mounts and exhaust clearance to the frame worked out. That engine/trans/subframe setup looks pretty good as it is.

[gigjr]

Got some good news today - Erin at AMD called and the car should be done by Friday. Evidently the car was in much better shape than anticipated and only needed the quarters and roof because it was cheaper to replace than repair. Great news! I really wasn't expecting the car to be back before the end of September. All the work to mock up the firewall was wasted, haha. We're going to spend a couple of days in Ashville on the way down then pick it up. Kill two birds with one stone - take the girlfriend for a get away and pick up the car. So AMD has a you tube channel showing their metal work and used the car on this weeks episode. Jubee is a beast with the sheet metal and a really cool guy to talk to as well. Laid out everything for me and makes it look too easy. Erin is his wife and runs the shop, couldn't ask for two nicer people to deal with. aMAYSing Metal Works is their channel, here's the link to the: https://youtu.be/-JYPzB0FUUI

[andrewb70]

Pushing the engine way up against the firewall sounds like a great idea, until a few years down the road you have to remove the transmission for a clutch or hydraulic TOB replacement.



Andrew

[gigjr]

Here's the latest updates - Day 1 on the dyno was a long one getting things sorted out. Once we got things figured out it made 572 HP. I'll be back at it in a couple weeks for day 2 which we'll use the Holly Terminator to fine tune things. My buddy insists he'll get it to 600 with some work, we'll see.
I picked up the car from AMD over the weekend and hope to start working on it tomorrow. I should have a couple of months before the body guy is ready for it so I'm going to put the DSE sub frame back in it with the engine and trans so we can clearance the firewall. More to come soon.

[gigjr]

Here's a few pics of the subframe with most of the front end mocked-up. We're trying to be as clean and hide as much as possible.

[gigjr]

Here are some of the Restomod AC unit. I'm hoping nothing can be seen once the car is assembled except for the lines heading to the compressor.

[gigjr]

Here are some of the body. It's unbelievable how much work is needed on the new sheet metal to make it work. As you can see the area around the windshield and the top corners of the trunk are horrible and this is AMD premium stuff.

[CSG]

Very nice work. I am glad I popped in this post as I should be routing A/C lines this weekend & I am going to steal this routing method.

[Threepointtwo]

Beautiful work. I absolutely love the coils mounted under the intake. I am going to see if I can do that.

[TANKMASTERJ]

Really does look like a great starting point after media blasting. And if my little LS7 with a cam and heads and 700hp is as rowdy as it is your LSX 427 is going to be plenty of handful.
Great progress on your build

[gigjr]

Went out to see the progress with the body this week and it's coming along pretty well. After making the decision to use the original fenders and doors and after some gap work the panels fit together A LOT better. There's still work to be done with the deck lid but it's a million miles better now. If all goes well it should be put on the rotisserie (no idea if I spelled that correctly) next week.

I'm going to go Torch Red with black Z28 stripes with a mostly stock appearance outside. So I have a question that I'd like to get a few opinions on. The engine and all sheet metal will be black but I'm starting to question that. One idea that I'm playing around with would be painting the entire engine red with a flat or satin finish and leaving everything else black. I'm not sold on that for a variety of reasons but one is it may look dated at some point, plus keeping it clean will be a pain in the ass. I have a third gen that is painted red everywhere and I never drive it because the mess that comes along with it. Another thought is a red firewall with everything else remaining black. I have to make a decision in the next several weeks and keep flip-flopping. Any ideas will be appreciated.