79 camaro modernized.

[Sandrider123]

Hi all my name is Dana I am currently building a 79 camaro with plans of totally modernizing it to make it handle well and be fast at the strip yet provide the comfort of newer vehicles. Here are pictures of it the day i broght it home:

And some of it today in progress:





Now I know some of you have done this kinda stuff before so tips and hints would be useful.

Plans are:
LS1/LS6 not sure if I will buy a crate or a complete swap from a wrecked f-body
4L60E or 4L80E ( have not gotten far enough to reseach it yet.)
Would like to do airride but also considering a 4 link since drag racing will be happening also.
4th gen dash, console, seats, seatbelts, HVAC steering column
Eventually procharger system unless I end up getting some extra money sooner then later.
I will also have a 8" touchscreen in the dash linked to a carpc that I will be building myself.

Alot ahead of me I know. A little about me: I use to be a very loyal honda guy I did several major projects on civics these are just two that I ahve pictres of anymore the coupe was my driver:


Motor swap to a GSR

Thats what it looked like when I was done with it. Shortly after painting it myself I traded it off on my current driver a 98 camaro ss

and the other civic renovation I did was this one by far the biggest difference:



Thats it after I got done with it.

So I am definitely looking forward to doing a pro-touring theme with the 79 camaro.

[CruizinKev]

welcome aboard! nice work with your cars so far! good luck with the camaro!

[John Wright]

Gotta love the second gen camaros...I'm a little biased since I own one too.

I'll be watching you fit that newer dash in there to see if I ever feel like tackling a job like that....LOL...keep us updated with pics so I can watch.

[Dons67]

I like the plans you have - welcome to the dark side of American Muscle Cars

[Sandrider123]

Ran into some hang ups with the upper mounts that I had so I have to come up with something else. I might try square tubing mounted to the metal dashand see if I can get a proper fit that way. The issue was the air ducts inside the dash would not fit up against the HVAC box.

[newby]

I love a no fear project like this... first muscle car and into the fray right away. i'm sure you have already worked it out, but dash transplants are a PITA because newer dashes are typically a whole lot longer then the old stuff... this is because of the increased rake on most newer windshields and also means the firewall is typically a little more 'roomy' as well. hopefully you were able to get the A/C to work without having to intrude into the engine compartment because once it comes time to stuff the LS motor, you are going to want it as far back as possible. being a previous import guy i'm a little surprised at your transmission considerations thus far... I would have pegged you for a manual guy. either way, if you can swing a 6 speed do it. you will drive your car a whole lot more if it doesn't give you a heart attack every time you hit the pump. much like the import crowd, there are 10 million ways to build that car, so my only advice is to hurry and get the project done before you end up with a bunch of parts mid way installed and something new comes out that catches your eye. that always sucks! I would say check out nastyz28.com for some model specific love, but for the direction you are heading in, i think this forum will be your home. cheers and good luck!

[Sandrider123]

Thanks for the kind words everyone actually some of you might know my from nastyz28. But with the direction I am going on this car I figured I need to get into this site to. I actually am going to be back at it today working on the 79 today. The bad part is progress is real slow as I am currently attending school and only working part time at staples doing computer repair so I have to wait til summer time comes around for me to make my money to dump into this project. The main reason for my transmission choice is I blew my left knee out in highschool wrestling it just has not been as strong since then. My daily driver is a manual but it s also not running the kind of power I want my 79 to. So thats the reason for the transmission selection. My next big question is I want a 4 link kit, looking for a bolt in set-up becasue I really want to have the option to change it out if ever need be I want to go with one that give me the option to buy a 12-bolt rear end with it right now all I have found is DSE. the reason I wan to do a 12 bolt is my adapter plates for my rear brakes are for 10/12 bolt. I was looking at heidts as well, I didnt know but according to there website they only offer a ford 9" with there kit does that have GM axle ends on it or how does all that work?

[Sandrider123]

Well I just ran into a massive speed bump, I crawled under it and found some massive damage on he underside did some more investigating and found the whole car has some been diamond so it was hit on one side in the past and now everything on that side is shoved forward. So now I am at a loss of ideas of what to do..... Any ideas? At this point I am thinking project maybe cancelled til I find a new tub

[2ndgenhunter]

IMHO. I would look for another body. You'll get into big money trying to fix that damage. The 78-81 bodies are pretty cheap. I just bought a original paint 80 Z28 roller for 500 bucks. There is a 81 Z28 firewall back body pretty rust and hit free around here for 200 dollars.

[Sandrider123]

yeah that was my plan I actually have a list of of bodys I am going to go look at today so we will see what I find. Talked to the body shop yesterday looks like to repair it I am going to spend about 1500. While I have alot of work into it Its just not worth investing that much into the shell when I can buy a new body for cheap.