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    1. #1
      Join Date
      Jul 2005
      Location
      Mountain View, CA
      Posts
      9,583
      Country Flag: United States

      Introducing - Project 1/2-TRAK

      Greetings everyone,

      I joined Pro-Touring.com in 2005. Since then I have had the good fortune of meeting a bunch of wonderful folks and have learned quite a lot from a number of people. In that time much has changed in my life. I got married, changed jobs (twice), moved twice, built a house and we are currently in the process of selling another. Finally, life has begun to settle into a situation in which I can move my project from the planning stages to an active project.

      I joined PT.com with a rather general plan in mind based on an experience gained nearly 30 years ago. Sometime around 1976-77 my father took me to a race at Laguna Seca. I distinctly recall box-fender flared BMW 3-series cars, Datsun 510's & 240-Z's, FIA bodied Corvettes and those wild Chevy Monza's. But what struck me the most was not these high-dollar pro racers but the cars in some of the support races being run by local SCCA members. Particularly if I recall correctly the A-sedan group.

      This group was populated by hobby road-racers driving cars that were slightly older. Much like what you'd see at an SCCA or NASA event today. But instead of Miata's, Bimmers and CMC cars, these were late 1960's Musclecars. Mustangs, a few Mopars and Camaros. I was totally blown away. At the tender age of 10 or so I'd seen enough copies of Hot-Rod that I was aware that these cars were frequently used for drag racing. But the fact that they could be road-raced was entirely new to me. The cars were as amazing to me at the time as they are now. Pared down to their base elements, nothing there except what absolutely HAD to be there. Low, loud and mean looking with FOUR instead of two fat tires! Many of them had the "bubble" type fender flares that you can see on David Pozzi's old T/A car

      Heck, David's car may have even been out on the track that day, who knows? I knew then that someday I wanted to have a car like one of those. And, I knew just where to start.

      In July of 1969 my Grandparents purchased a 1968 Camaro that had been sitting a while on the lot at Courtesy Chevrolet in Santa Clara, CA. They needed a new car to drive to Arizona where I was to be born in a couple of months and since the car had been slow to sell the price was right. The car was a bit different in that it was a special order that wound up not being delivered to the customer it was originally intended for. Playboy had placed an order through COPO for an number of pink 1968 Camaros to be distributed to playmates through the year. They only took delivery of about a few of them. The rest wound up being sent to dealers. This was one of them....and yes, I said it was pink. This was my Grandmothers car for close to 35 years. They drove it all over CA on vacations and fishing trips. In fact, to this day there are bait shops and mountain lodges that I go to and when I mention my Grandparents people say, "Oh the couple with the pink Camaro!" The car was nothing special other than by virtue of it's color. A basic 327 coupe with a powerglide. But it was cool and I knew that eventually this car would be the basis for my Camaro road-racer project.

      Fast forward to the year 2000. I was getting out of the Coast Guard after eleven years and moving back home to the Bay Area. My grandparents at that point decided to give me the car. A couple of years earlier some redneck had yelled something vulgar to my Grandfather while he was driving it and it scared him so he had a cheapo Earl Schieb spray-job done on it so it was now blue rather than pink.


      The gifting of the Camaro roughly coincided with the "rise" of Pro-Touring. Jeff Smith and Mark Stielow had finally put a name to what had been in my head for years. A classic Musclecar with an updated suspension and drivetrain. Finally, I didn't feel like such a geek for wanting a corner-carving Camaro! And, with websites like this one popping up, magazine coverage for PT builds becoming more common and increased aftermarket support for this type of car it was going to be a whole lot easier than I had originally imagined!!!!

      So essentially I have spent the last few years in "planning mode" speaking with various vendors about different suspension configurations. Considering a number of different powertrain options. Asking countless questions of people like David Pozzi, Steve Chryssos, Mark Magers, Steve Rupp, Carl Cassanova, Frank Serafine, Tom Holt, Tyler @ ATS and many others. Weighing my intentions for the car and how that impacts parts selections, build style and how much to spend and where? Further, there has been the debate of the style of build. Street car vs. race car vs. Streetfighter. All of which has brought me to this. A finalized plan for and an opportunity to build the car I have dreamt of for nearly 3/4 of my life.

      Introducing:



      The car will have a decidedly "Streetfighter" vibe to it and that is by design. I intend to drive the heck out of this thing. It will see auto-x action in and around the Bay Area whenever I get the chance and it will be taken to the many fine tracks (Sears Pt. Thunderhill, Buttonwillow and Laguna Seca) around the area as well. The money will be spent on performance first and appearance second as I care far more about how the car negotiates a corner than about what some judge at a Goodguys event thinks.

      Project 1/2 TRAK will feature the following:

      Drivetrain:
      • LS based EFI engine, target HP - 450
      • TK0-600 transmission (unless a T-56 drops in my lap for a good price)
      • 9" Strange diff with 3.90 gears
      Chassis:
      • Fully welded factory subframe modifed for coilovers
      • DSE body mounts
      • DSE subframe connectors
      • DSE mini-tubs
      • TC Design-Fab 10pt SCCA legal cage
      Rear Suspension:
      • Lateral Dynamics 3-link
      • Afco Coilover shocks (~250lb springs)
      Front Suspension:
      • ATS Spindles
      • ATS Coilover conversion
        • Speed-Tech upper/lower A-arms
      • 1-1/8 swaybar
      • Afco Coilover shocks (~650lb springs)
      Steering:
      • Recirc Ball ATS steering gear
      • Lee PS pump
      • Moog steering system components
      • Ididit Column
      • Steering wheel quick release
      • Sparco wheel
      Wheels & Tires:
      • Team III, LT-III wheels (minilite replica)
      • 17x9.5 front 17x11 rear
      • 275-40-17 front 315-35-17 rear
      • BFG KD or similar
      Interior:
      • Cobra Imola FIA legal fiberglass racing seats
      • No rear seat
      • Factory carpet
      • Welded/sealed/carpeted rear bulkhead/package tray
      • Combination of spray-on sound damping material and strategically placed mat material for minimal weight contribution
      • Custom center gauge panel with Stewart Warner guages
      • No AC
      Body:
      • Weld & fill badge holes and side marker light holes
      • Fiberglass decklid
      • Fiberglass "stock-flat" hood
      • Fiberglass front inner fenders
      • "Vanzuuk" front air-dam
      • Twist Machine rear decklid spoiler
      • Flanks - Subaru WRC Blue
      • Hood, roof & decklid - flat black
      • Low gloss (~50%) powder coat on all metalic trim, door handles etc


      Many of the items on the list above are still open to change based on new product releases, pricing changes etc therefore, any vendor wishing to discuss partnership in this project is welcome to contact me via Private Message here at PT.com

      Pretty damned excited. I can't wait to get started on this thing.

      First order of business will be to rip the front end off of it so I can finish the welds on the front sub and install the body mounts. Then subframe connectors, then tubs, then the 3-link rear. All of which I have the parts for on hand.

      By the time that is done I hope to have purchased enough of the front suspension bits so I can put the car back on the ground so I can roll it onto a tow truck and take it to TC Design-Fab for the cage install.


      I should be able to get crackin in about a month or so. Once the garage is organized a bit better. I will do my best to update this build thread every two weeks or so and look forward to sharing this build with the membership here at www.pro-touring.com
      Last edited by Damn True; 01-23-2014 at 03:55 PM.
      True T.

      Whats new with Project 1/2-Trak?


      Follow my wisecracks on Sports, Food, Politics and other BS on Twitter.

      My blog

      When they kick out your front door, How you gonna come?
      With your hands on your head, Or on the trigger of your gun?

    2. #2
      Join Date
      Nov 2001
      Location
      Sacramento Ca
      Posts
      6,827
      Country Flag: United States
      Looking very nice True!
      Tony Langlois
      1966 Corvair Monza

    3. #3
      Join Date
      Aug 2004
      Location
      Dunwoody, GA
      Posts
      4,984
      Country Flag: United States
      That's a great plan True. I'm glad to hear you are finally working on yours. I like the cutouts in the rear lower valance panel. That's a nice subtle touch. You should be able to pick up a T56 cheaper than what that TKO 600 will cost. The T56 will handle your power goals for a long time to come as well.

      Keep us posted as you can. I hope to be able to post up pictures of mine in a few years as well.

      Trey

      "The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese."
      ~ Jon Hammond

      1979 WS6 Trans Am stock LT1/T56 drive train out of my Formula. BMW M-parallel rims. C5/C6 brakes

      build thread https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...ghlight=begins


    4. #4
      Join Date
      Jun 2006
      Location
      NW burbs IL
      Posts
      1,732
      Now this is the way to start a project, very well thought out. The rendering has nice clean lines, the stock hood looks great, and I love the wheels.
      Matt


      Current project: " Chain Reaction "

      A.K.A. " BIG " by wife, biatch in garage.

      1969 RS Camaro L92 T56 Quadra-link, CW sub, Ford 9" a progressive build.

      Ex track car: 1995 Camaro LS1 T56

    5. #5
      Join Date
      Jul 2003
      Location
      Anaheim Hills, CA
      Posts
      11,967
      Country Flag: United States
      Very nice.. for obvious reasons I really like your build plan. You should have FUN.

      Will there be heat and/or AC? Wipers?

      Can't wait to see progress on this project!
      "A ship in port is safe, but that's not what ships are built for."

      1968 Track Rat Camaro:
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGHJ5c1yLIo&t=2s

      1971 Chevelle Wagon with a few mods:
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBVPR3sRgyU

    6. #6
      Join Date
      Aug 2002
      Location
      Waleska Ga.
      Posts
      2,710
      Country Flag: United States
      Very Cool
      I will be watching this one! Love the colors
      David Sloan

      If you’re suggesting sending men with weapons of war to take my weapons of war,then I’m fairly certain that’s what’s called an act of war… and the definition of tyranny.which coincidentally is the reason for the second amendment to begin with!


      https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...ght=fun+camaro

      https://www.pro-touring.com/threads/...lcamino-build!

    7. #7
      Join Date
      Jul 2005
      Location
      Mountain View, CA
      Posts
      9,583
      Country Flag: United States
      Quote Originally Posted by Steve1968LS2
      Very nice.. for obvious reasons I really like your build plan. You should have FUN.

      Will there be heat and/or AC? Wipers?

      Can't wait to see progress on this project!
      There wil be heat, there will not be AC. I recently found out Vintage Air makes a little heat only unit.

      I may put a wiper on the drivers side only.
      True T.

      Whats new with Project 1/2-Trak?


      Follow my wisecracks on Sports, Food, Politics and other BS on Twitter.

      My blog

      When they kick out your front door, How you gonna come?
      With your hands on your head, Or on the trigger of your gun?

    8. #8
      Join Date
      Mar 2006
      Location
      New Carlisle Ohio
      Posts
      245
      The story and history of the car are awesome. Although it may look to 80's, I think as a tribute it would be cool if you put a VERY thin pink strip or highlight somewhere. Still very cool with or without.

      I will be watching this one for sure.
      PartTime
      Chris Hager

    9. #9
      Join Date
      Oct 2004
      Posts
      394
      Very cool project True! Looking forward to project updates. Your build-up parts are all top-notch which should result in a real mean machine!

      The whole Playboy connection is really cool too. Just a thought here........ Maybe restore a super small, one inch by one inch section on the firewall or somewhere discreet in the original pink color and have a small Playboy emblem air brushed over it? A small effort to preserve its unique history? Just a thought. Would be a great way to get a Playboy Bunny to pose next to your car!

      Keep us posted True!
      Scott
      1967 Camaro SS/RS

      Test Runs:
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TuthZr_vEM

    10. #10
      Join Date
      May 2005
      Location
      St. Augustine, FL
      Posts
      1,529
      Sick! I love the paintjob and the wheels.

      How about painting the underside of the trunk pink with a tiny Playboy decal somewhere. That'd be a conversation piece at a autox.
      Andrew Petty

    11. #11
      Join Date
      Nov 2006
      Location
      Washington, MO
      Posts
      2,363
      Good looking project. Well thought out - looks like everything's covered.

    12. #12
      Join Date
      Mar 2007
      Location
      Sacramento, CA
      Posts
      653
      Country Flag: United States
      great wheel choice, but then I'm biased. lol
      Dave Smith
      29 Ford Roadster Pickup blown 327 and stupid
      67 Chevelle 396/5 speed PT
      65 El Camino L79

    13. #13
      Join Date
      Feb 2006
      Location
      Somewhere in the Pacific Ocean
      Posts
      160
      Country Flag: United States
      Sweet project. I really like the story behind it too.

    14. #14
      Join Date
      Jun 2007
      Location
      Various Barns in Northern Illinois.
      Posts
      875
      Country Flag: United States
      You're a lucky man! Great story and I love the idea. DO keep us updated!!
      Life is Better Spent in the Garage
      Laine O

      72 Camaro, 468, TH400, 3:42 = FUN!
      92 Camaro RS, Restored Autocross wannabe

      LIVE LOVE DRIVE!

    15. #15
      Join Date
      Apr 2001
      Location
      San Jose, CA
      Posts
      4,210
      Country Flag: United States
      Great project! It's been a long time coming.

      Surprised you're not painting it pink.

      Tony Huntimer
      RaceHome.com
      @Camaro.Family Camaros
      1967 #QuickChangeCamaro - SpeedTech Suspension LS1/T56
      1967 #CFBee - SpeedTech Suspension SuperCharged LS3/T56
      1969 #TaxReturnCamaro Art Morrison Suspension 496/T56
      1986 #IROCdaily - Stock IROC

    16. #16
      Join Date
      May 2002
      Location
      Northern California
      Posts
      10,715
      Country Flag: Bosnia Herzegovina
      Holy crap True that thing is sweet. Let me know if you need some help. Love to get my name on that baby when you start hitting the car show circuit. You got a winner for sure.

      Front suspension picked out yet?

      I didn't want to mention it but you spelled Track wrong....just an over sight im sure....
      MrQuick ΜΟΛ'ΩΝ ΛΑΒ'Ε

      https://www.pro-touring.com/image.php?type=sigpic&userid=4&dateline=1323422564
      Follow us on Facebook

    17. #17
      Join Date
      Jul 2005
      Location
      Mountain View, CA
      Posts
      9,583
      Country Flag: United States
      Spelled that way on purpose.

      Get the joke?

      There will be some points that I will need some help and advice with.
      Last edited by Damn True; 04-08-2008 at 12:02 PM.
      True T.

      Whats new with Project 1/2-Trak?


      Follow my wisecracks on Sports, Food, Politics and other BS on Twitter.

      My blog

      When they kick out your front door, How you gonna come?
      With your hands on your head, Or on the trigger of your gun?

    18. #18
      Join Date
      Nov 2001
      Location
      Sacramento Ca
      Posts
      6,827
      Country Flag: United States
      Haff trak?
      Tony Langlois
      1966 Corvair Monza

    19. #19
      Join Date
      Nov 2001
      Location
      Sacramento Ca
      Posts
      6,827
      Country Flag: United States
      Im curious where you are going to get that front and rear spoiler from.

      I know Twist is selling the rears, or are you building your own?
      Tony Langlois
      1966 Corvair Monza

    20. #20
      Join Date
      Jul 2005
      Location
      Mountain View, CA
      Posts
      9,583
      Country Flag: United States
      I bought the rear from Twist when he had that limited run.

      The front I will be building from a template that Dirk gave me.
      True T.

      Whats new with Project 1/2-Trak?


      Follow my wisecracks on Sports, Food, Politics and other BS on Twitter.

      My blog

      When they kick out your front door, How you gonna come?
      With your hands on your head, Or on the trigger of your gun?

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