1968 498 RS/SS Camaro

[Mark Hamburg]

Hi guys-
My project is a factory 396 RS/SS that came with factory a/c. The car had a Muncie M21 when I bought it, but now has an MMR TKO 750. After doing the car's paint, trim, interior and glass (a 2 1/2 year project with me riding the body shop weekly), I decided that the 396 needed to be upgraded. Although no paperwork came with the car, the firewall had the factory opening for the big-block a/c and heater combo, which made the car an SS for certain. Hard to tell if the RS stuff has been added or not, but it's there now, right down to the functional back-up lights. Discovering the lack of 396 speed parts led me to source a 454 4-bolt block, Eagle 4.25" crank and rods and .070" over SRP pistons (for 498 cubic inches). RHS aluminum Pro Thunder rectangle ports, a Performer RPM and a Mighty Demon 850 make up the induction. It runs an XR294HR cam that is just downright nasty and will work well for touring due to its relatively moderate lifts. Sadly, the RHS heads did not leave room for the a/c, but I did save the heater with a conversion cover. Hooker ceramic Comp headers, March pulleys and tall 'Chevrolet' orange-powdercoated aluminum valve covers finish it off. The cam made a whopping 5 pounds of vacuum, which was not enough to run my new MBM 9" booster, so an SSBC vacuum pump was added and works great. The vacuum-operated RS headlight doors still close using engine vacuum (yes!). The 3.08's in the 12 bolt are being replaced with factory GM 3.55's and the leafs are DSE 3" drops with Competition Engineering Slide-A-Links. I'm also adding CE subframe connectors (I still don't want to cut anything). Front suspension is Global West upper and lower arms with Fat Man Fab Tall spindles. A QA1 coilover conversion and Hotchkis swaybar make up the rest. A DSE 600 power steering box removed 4" of slop from the steering system. Rear brakes are DSZ'd 11" rotors and fronts will be 13" DSZ'd hybrid C4 rotors with C5 calipers and braided lines as soon as the new 17" wheels arrive. I'll be running 275/40 and 245/45 FK-452's on 8" and 9.5" wheels (remember, no cutting!).

Virtually ALL of my research to transform this car into a pro-tourer has been sourced from either this site or Tony Huntimer's book. Thanks to every one of you with '67 and '68 Camaros (and Firebirds!) who have posted info. I would have been severly mis-directed without you.

One last item: My new CA license plate will be TOURSSS. I hope at least a couple of other people get it...