73 camaro

[newmexicosaint]

OK guys this is my maiden attempt to post the progress of my 73 camaro. Being new to the Pro Touring scene my c ar has a long way to go and little money to get there so please laugh quietly :D

I bought the camaro from a body shop owner in Ft. Collins Colorado (with my wife's permission of course). I believe it started life as a gold 6cyl. non a/c car. Mr. Mordini put a 396, TH350, and 10 bolt 3.73 posi in the car along with paint and basic interior. The car supposedly had about 1500miles on the build. It was a pretty nice driver in my opinion.

[newmexicosaint]

Here is the engine and interior of the car when I got it and one more of the car.

[newmexicosaint]

Thanks to Frank at Prodigy the car will have the 4L80E and paddle shift out of the BullRun Racer build (68 chevelle) with a 3000 stall converter. We had the tranny checked and upgraded some stuff to allow for my abusive style. Next I deleted the heater core and Frank got me a vintage air system for the car. I cleaned up the engine compartment, installed hydroboost and made a bracket for the wilwood proportioning valve. (see pics). I had the inner fenders powdercoated in semigloss black.

I am going for an all business look and have attempted to avoid any 'bling' or polished/chrome stuff. I'm hoping this will add a level of intimidation to the car.

Keep in mind I am a glass guy and not a professional car guy...just a hobbyist.

[newmexicosaint]

Here are some pics of the engine bay cleaned up...

[newmexicosaint]

Sorry, the above were before and after...

[newmexicosaint]

I planned on driving the car for a year or so before attempting any alterations as the car ran and drove nice. Then I had a chance to trade a BB ford motor for a 489 stroker short block fresh from the machine shop built for a turbo Camaro. Early 454 2 bolt main, hardblocked from below the water pump for strength, scat steel crank, callies compstar rods, probe supercharger pistons, and hellfire rings and balanced. Then the bottomless pit began...GM bowtie heads ported, polished, flowbenched, and velocity tuned (see intake manifold pics), COMP cams custom grind (not shelf) billet hydraulic roller cam/lifters for supercharger, ATI supercharger balancer and FAST XFI fuel injection.

[coolwelder62]

Look's like you have a good start on your project.Please kep us posted.Scott

[protour73]

That's a darn good looking car for a P/T build. I must say, I am very partial to the '73 Camaro myself!!

Keep the update pics coming. Tons of very knowledgeable folks on this site, so lots of good advice.

[newmexicosaint]

Thanks Scott

I read the CHP article on your car...what a story! I heard of hot cars but yours went a little far HA ha. Are you still running leaf springs?

[protour73]

Thanks Gene, yea I don't suggest going that far for a HOT car!!!

yup, Hotchkis leaf springs out back!

[newmexicosaint]

yup, Hotchkis leaf springs out back!

Are you pleased with the performance of the Leaf Springs? If so, can you tell me about the ride/performance vs. going coil over and maybe why you went leafs? Thanks!!

[kryptik]

Beautiful car man...that body style just NEVER gets old ;)

[newmexicosaint]

Thanks Kryptik,

Here is a pic of the interior I forgot to post...I will also be posting some of the progress (or regression) of the interior. It will be just the usual dash pad, instrument cluster, vintage air.


Here is the interior as it was when I got the car, not to bad


This is fresh after I pulled the instrument cluster

[kryptik]

I have Hotchkis leafs in my '70 Camaro RS. I am VERY pleased with the ride quality and handling. They are not too harsh by any means, but still have quite positive feedback and hold the road well. Coil over's in the rear are relatively expensive and the installation is much more involved. The Hotchkis leafs deliver highly satisfying BOLT-IN performance and ride-quality. For street use you will most-likely never NEED anything more.

[newmexicosaint]

I am seriously considering leafs now. I like the fact that I can gain some peroformance and not hit the pocketbook too hard.

I just got done putting Second Skins Damplifier Pro down in the car and here are the pics.





I will be installing Second Skins Luxury Liner Pro when the wiring is done and the A/C is in. I will keep the updates coming.

[mincharlie]

keep up the good work, great looking car.

[Motown 454]

The car looks great. That should be a nice engine and trans for a sweet ride..........

[newmexicosaint]

Thanks for the kind words.

Here are some pics of the engine and trans in the car and I will post some of the 4l80e crossmember fab and some details on how we did it.









NOTE that the crank pulley isn't on the engine. That is because ATI uses a Chrysler bolt pattern on their BBC supercharger balancers which I didn't know. They are six bolt pattern in a smaller diameter vs. the 3 bolt pattern in the BBC. I have to redrill the pulley to match the Chrysler bolt pattern.


The Concept one pulley system is the nicest fit I have seen in a while and the anodized (optional) brackets/pulleys are trick! Super nice guys too.

[newmexicosaint]

Here are a couple more

[newmexicosaint]

taking care of the crossmember was alot easier than I had first anticipated. After another member put a link up here on their 4l80e swap into a 2nd gen Pontiac firebird (which was a great resource with pics) we took and used the factory crossmember and turned it around 180degrees and cut the mounting bracket off.

The crossmember has two mounting holes on each side of the sub frame. We then moved the bracket back one hole and drilled a second hole matching the second hole on the cross member. Once we mounted the crossmember where we wanted it we bolted the mount to the transmission and lowered the transmission down until we had the correct pinion angle. Once there we bolted the bracket to the trans mount at the location touching the crossmember and we tacked the bracket to the crossmember. The rest is history.

BTW, the trans fit with room to spare. Very little room but room enough.



NOTE that the factory crossmember mounting holes on the sub frame and the location of the crossmember. This was the only move we had to make to get the crossmember where we needed it to be.