Out of Commission Camaro Project

[chevelletiger]

Its been several months since an update.... I've been installing the AAW classic update harness. I installed the main fuse box panel and then the engine side. I got the engine and starting and charging system completely wired. I bought some braided loom, but I'm not sure how I want to attach it to the firewall (so Ignore the temporary zip ties coming down from the cowl area holding it).



I also ordered my third member with Strange Nodular case, TrueTrac, and 3.70 gears.




After a few small forgotten details, the engine fired for the first time on Saturday! Man what a feeling. The TR224/114 cam had a nice rumble to it. A little loud with the open headers, but awesome. I bought this car a few weeks after my oldest son was born (he turns 7 in October). Over the years, my boys have taken the doors, tires, and wheels off their toys cars so it would be like daddy's..haha. So when the car fired, the boys came running and were able to share. Pretty darn cool.


On Sunday I started to work on the front hubs for the F-body LS style front brakes. I stuck them on the lathe and started making chips....



I am finally getting a few evenings a week to work on the car. I think I've got more done in the last few weeks than in the last year....haha, but that's how it goes I guess.

one thing you might want to check shannon.The drum hubs you machined,make sure to mock them up with bearings on the spindle and run a dial indicator on the face of the hub were the rotor rides on. mine ran out about .015, so make sure you do this step or youll get some pad knock back...maybe.alot of guys do this mod but dont do the proper steps to machining them true.

[67CamNKC]

I certainly will do that. Thanks for the heads up. There is a small lip or raised surface on the snout on the rotor side. This caused me a few issues getting the hub square in the lathe. Never thought of checking the face of the hub.

[67CamNKC]

After finally giving up on Centerline after 12 weeks of continuous delays and extended back orders, I decided to go with Budnik Chicane wheels. While they were still behind several weeks, I did receive the wheels. Man are they nice! I decided to go on up to 18s. I also ordered BFG Comp-IIs to go with it. Final wheels sizes are 18x8 on the front and 18x9 on the back. Tires are 235/40 on the front and 275/40 on the rear.



I was also able to finish the -6AN power steering lines that go from the LS pump to the Iroc steering box.



I am still struggling with getting the air out of the clutch system. The small bleeder screw either is letting my vacuum pump suck air or I have a leak somewhere. I keep putting fluid in and it keeps coming out with air bubbles. I also pressed the clutch pedal and no disengagement of the drive shaft so there's still an issue.

[Motown 454]

Nice project, you've come a long way.

[67CamNKC]

I finished up running the brake lines for the car, fixed a couple small leaks, and then bled the brakes. I have working brakes! Pretty awesome. Still need to work on the emergency brake cables to adapt the '02 brake cables to the ebrake pedal.



Santa brought my new steering wheel to match my wheels (Budnik Chicanes). I was up in the air about what steering wheel to run. When I found out Budnik had a matching steering wheel to my wheels, had to have it....lol.

I also received my Ididit column. Very nice piece and the installation was very easy.



We had a really warm day here in KC for it being winter(60s). So, I threw the back seat in and found a couple wood blocks for me to sit on inside the car. I decided to take the car up and down the driveway under its own power for the first time! It was open headers, so I'm sure the neighbors were happy....lol. But, Hey...both my older boys and I couldn't get the grin off of our faces (8 years up to this point).....lol



While still finishing up the AAW harness installation under the hood, I got to thinking about headlights. I didn't really want to run the 7" sealed beam. I wanted something that used todays technology with brighter lights. I "sniped" an ebay auction for some H4 headlight housings with LED's around the outside edge. For just a few bucks, I thought I would see how they look. I received them in and realized the bulk area on the rear of the bucket needed to be clearance to allow the dust cover, and bulb to fit. I used a rotary table on my vertical mill to open up the holes nice and round with a slot for the LED electrical wires and loom to pass through. Although the sheetmetal was thin and peeled up easy, the end result was nice.




It was worth the gamble, but I'm not sold on the look just yet. I want to install a relay harness and get them wired up to see how they do at night. Here's a test fit (held in by a couple hand tight bolts).



We had another warm day so I decided to take the car to the inspection station with the title. The car was bought 7+ years ago from Illinois and still has an open title. After a lecture from them on waiting too long to sign the title, they ok'd all the VIN's on the car and gave me their blessing.

[rickpaw]

Texas slapped me a fine for waiting too long to transfer my title from WA, after my move to Tx.

[67CamNKC]

I am told my fine will be a dollar a month. We'll find out next week......

[wendell]

That's nothing. In MA you have to pay interest on the sale tax calculated from the day of sale. Potentially crippling.

[no go nova]

Sweet Camaro bet the boys will be fighting over who will get it soon lol.

[67CamNKC]

Registered the car today through March 2016. I did have to pay property tax for each year from 2007 up to date along with the dollar a month fine. All property taxes, fees, and a vanity plate fee was $578. Not great, but way better than other states do it.