Project Trial Run

[TrialRun]

Guys,

I started a tread some time back in the LSx section, but I figured I might as well start a project thread as this thing has snowballed. I building my first pro-touring car, a 1969 Camaro with a LS1/T56. I'm 25 yrs old and will be completing all the work in my garage with a few buddies to help out. Hence the name TrialRun, as this is my first go around with a project of this cabiler. To say the least this will definitely be a learning experience for me. I sourced a 69 Camaro that I found locally here in San Antonio on craigslist.com (I love this site). Car was listed with no photos and a vague description. After emailing the seller several times I was able to check out the car two months later. The car had been sitting in his garage since 1995 and the front end and sub frame completely disassembled, motor/trans was pulled and sold. The sub frame, inner fenders, control arms and spindles were blasted and primed; seller was planning on doing a frame off. Body was still straight with minimal rust issues and all the parts were in the car or in boxes. Long story short, I came back out the following day with cash and got the car for $4,500 (I still have a grin on my face from this find).

I originally anticipated to build this car on a budget, but that quickly went out the window once I started ordering parts, might as well do it right the first time around, at least that’s what I keep telling myself to justify all these purchases.

I wanted to give a special thanks to Frank @ Prodigy and Tobin @ Kore3, these guys both took the time to answer all my emails/phones calls and explain the pros and cons of each part in more detail than I probably ever wanted to know. Here is what I have on picked up or have on order so far for the build:

-2000 LS1 w/4L60e out of a wreaked WS6 (auto tranny is for sale)
-6 speed t-56
-Stainless steel bolt kit from Prodigy for the entire exterior of the car
-Chris Alston G-bar rear suspension w/ coilovers and weld in brackets
-Adjustable variShocks - front
-Hotchiks front drop springs, sway bar, sub frame connectors, front steering kit and tie rod sleeves
-DSE mini tubs and firewall filler plate
-Hooker long tube headers for the LS1 conversion
-Carshop motor mount adapter plates
-Helix tubular upper and lower control arms w/ upgraded bushings and heavy duty ball joints
-WS6 radiator, dual fans, hydraulic system for t-56, power booster and master cylinder
-tires are 18 x 8.5 front and 19 x 10 rear – will be running Z06 wheels
-kore3 billet hubs
-c6 z06 6 piston calipers, hawk hp pads, 355 mm rotors up front
-stainless brake lines all around

Need to order or find:
-ls1 rear brakes
-gauges
-steering box and link
-send harness to speartech
-Figure out the fuel setup - this has been keeping me up at night
-lots of misc stuff that I haven’t even started learning about, but I’ll get there as the build progresses

Fabbing up:
-trans cross member
-exhaust
-plate for gauges

Sorry for the long winded post, on to the photos of how the car sits as of now, more photos to be updated as the build begins:





















Thanks for looking

-Chris

[Rag-Rat]

Congrats, that was a good deal. Do you have to strip the body, what kind of shape are the floors and panels? Plus you now have to feed us pictures of the progress.

[TrialRun]

Congrats, that was a good deal. Do you have to strip the body, what kind of shape are the floors and panels? Plus you now have to feed us pictures of the progress.

L & R front floor pans, radiator support and 1/4's need to be replaced, fenders need patch panels. I ordered all the replacement panels from goodmark except for the 1/4, which I'll order once I send the car off to paint...way down the road. Trunk pan was actually still pretty solid.

[poormans69]

Great find. There's a 69 projetc out here just like that, but the guy thinks the car is made out of platinum. No deal.

[1971CHEVELLE]

Nice project Keep us posted. Good luck.

[icebird84]

good looking project you have there , I´m looking forward to your updates

[dropit69]

man nice start..seats look to be in great shape could prolly get decent money for them if you are going with racing seats..

[69camarokid]

HEY! welcome to the club! im 22 and finishing nup a 69 camaro build as well. Unfortunatly my budgets a bit smaller so i went with an LT1/T56 combo as the LS1 was a lil over budget.

This is very cool though and i will definitly keep an eye on it.

Oh, what modifications are you planning for the LS1? head/cam package? or just basic boltons

[TrialRun]

HEY! welcome to the club! im 22 and finishing nup a 69 camaro build as well. Unfortunatly my budgets a bit smaller so i went with an LT1/T56 combo as the LS1 was a lil over budget.

This is very cool though and i will definitly keep an eye on it.

Oh, what modifications are you planning for the LS1? head/cam package? or just basic boltons

Thanks, i've actually been following your build too. The LS1 i'm putting in is going to be stock with the exceptions of a few bolt-ons and maybe a cam. However I picked up an extra bare block that I will be building on the side that should be a beast.