We'll let Todd "splain" it to ya Chad... he's the salesman in the group.

Oh.... and bring money.

:rofl: :rofl:

Man--this thread got outta hand quickly didn't it---LOL---I'll try to get some more pics of the car on the ground to get it back on track. Greg, you, Todd and I will never be asked to be moderators on this site---:lol:

Doug

Salesman? A good salesman doesn't have to sell at all. :D How do you think my thread got to 1000 posts and 85000 views. Lot's of useless information. Back to the regularly scheduled program...........

My 69 Camaro, Apollo 13
 

Since I can't find the original thread, I'll start another one here. I'm really bad at doing updates even though I enjoy reading and seeing them on all the other members cars. This takes way too much time to do, and my pictures will show that.

So, the most recent update is the new trans for the car. I've ended up with a Bowler's 400 and a Gear Vendors. Keeping with my theme of doing one improvement at a time, shopping and waiting for the best deal and not having the car down for months on end, I will fill in a bit of that info here. This trans (including the torque converter) has less than a thousand miles on it (street miles), and same for the Gear Vendors. I was able to purchase the entire setup with the electronics for $2,000. The purchase was made from a member here who is local to me, so no shipping. Since I still needed a crossmember, I posted another "Wanted Add" here and Scott Mock sent me the necessary crossmember for only the cost of the shipping. Thanks again Scott!! The whole process has taken me about 2 weeks thus far working on the car off and on--in my garage on the floor.

I've fought a vibration in the car at speeds over 50 or so--especially as you went past that speed. I had hoped that through the trans swap process I would figure out what the problem was, sure enough as I pulled the old TH350 out, the flywheel is not the correct one for a 400 block SBC---there's no weight on it. Many thanks to the previous installer. So I ordered up the correct one and hope that it will solve that issue--I don't see how it could hurt it now. I just wonder how long the rear main bearing will last after beating it for the last 7,000 miles without the correct flywheel. Here's the new setup.

http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/u...mas2010002.jpg

http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/u...mas2010001.jpg

Also, I have a brand new Fab9 rear end housing with back brace already installed. I was in need of a third member for it so I posted up a "Wanted Add" once again here and under PT. Once again, a member contacted me with what I consider to be another great deal. A Moser alluminum through bolt case with a detroit locker, billit pinion support all setup by Moser complete with less than a thousand miles on it, for $750. The Fab9 housing was a bit of a fire sale for the guy I purchased from at $400. He was not a member here, but part of a drag racing circle that I belong to out here on West Coast. Here's a couple pics of the third member;

http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/u...mas2010005.jpg

http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/u...mas2010006.jpg

Lastly, I have a new power plant for the car as well. One of the members here was interested in a full tilt 406 motor I had awaiting transplant into the Camaro. He had a brand new crate LS3 that was going to require even more fab work to get into his already rushed project. A deal was made and I now have the LS3. I will now be in the process of putting the parts together to swap over to the LS platform. Here's a pic of it as well.

http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/u...istmas2010.jpg

So, the plan currently looks like this; get the trans swap completed by end of next week. Run the car as much as possible this next month to refine what I need to and make sure everything works the way it ought to. I'll need to learn how to drive the car again I would imagine for Auto X'ing and Road Course with the new trans setup. If this all works out, then I will try to get the new rear end in the car before the RTTC event, but that may not happen and I won't jeapordize not making the event just to put the new rear end in the car. The original plan was to have it under the car by that time, but the trans deal came up and was too good to pass on and it fit into the master plan. I really need that overdrive, and I like the fact that it's a TH400 since they are what i am used to working on in the race car, and I know it will handle whatever power I will put too it. So, I will most likely run an event with my famous "One Off Baer Self Energizing Rear Drum Brakes", but I will still be there running the event none the less. I'll purchase more "Disc Brake Spray" from Ironworks just before the event.

Doug

In a hobby that can often be rediculously expensive, it's great to see stories like this and be reminded that shopping around and remaining patient can save big bucks. You've always been wicked quick with that one-legger on the AutoX and it seems you'll only be getting quicker with the bonus of being able to cruise on the highway(more events!). Congrats on your progress Doug and Happy New Year! Hopefully I can stop by and check out all the goods! :thumbsup:

I'll loan you some of my flat spot spray if you need it too Doug.

You sure that's not an internally balanced engine? If the damper is neutral balanced then the flywheel should be also. The 406 in the Camaro previously was set up this way.

D,sounds like you got some work cut out,good luck getting it all together and work out all bugs.Have :cheers: fun

Very nice Doug. Good deal on scoring all those parts. Should be a big and nice difference for that awesome car of yours.
Have fun and good luck with the build bud! Keep us posted.:thumbsup: :cheers:

Ya, it's not internally balanced---that's why I am hoping the flywheel swap will cure the vibration issue.

Doug

Cool project Doug,Glad to have helped.I am the same way about posting.I hate talking about my own project's.Can't wait to see more.:thumbsup: Scott

Nice updates Doug, are you changing suspension with the rear end swap? How did you get the name Apollo 13 ??

Glad to see the upgrades coming together. Finally it will be less embarrassing when you set faster times than me around the Good-Guys peanut autocross.

Oh and give me a call next week, I think one of the parts you were looking to upgrade to might finally be available.

Matt

Is that what you used a "FAST" drag radial car in the back ground of the first few pics. Are you running some kind of museum out of you house or do you live at the NHRA museum? You know nobody runs green any more, Orange is the new FAST color of the PSCA.

I would like to get on the LS engine program myself. I dig the green 69 in the pics.

https://lateral-g.net/forums/showthread.php4?t=24494

Is this it?

Scott, thanks again brother---that was way above and beyond, and you shipped it lightning fast. I finished bolting everything in today and the crossmember is indeed the exact one I need. Thanks for responding so quickly and for your generousity!

Doug

LOL--yes it is actually----maybe I can get the mods to put the two threads together? Have to call in a favor to Jody perhaps. Guess I should have been a bit more patient and kept looking.

Doug

Looks like I will be, yes. The plan, currently, is to update with the more modern version of the G-Link with the integrated sway bar. Since I have a new housing, I will weld on the Alston brackets that come with their setup---as if I ordered the rear from them--so no leaf spring pads. Then it will most likely get the new Baer Floater setup and finish it off with the new rear brakes to tie in to the fronts. I'm skepticle about getting it all done before the RTTC event. We'll see what happens.

The name for the car came while I was in the garage one night, late, and fighting to get the front LCA's into the car (bolt on--u know how a lot of these stories go). I had the movie "Apollo 13" on and just as I was reaching my point of complete physical and mental exhaustion laying under the car, there was a part in the movie where in order for them to stay alive on the busted up ship--floating in space with no power--they had to jam some square breathing filters into a setup made for round ones. They had to use all kinds of duct tape, plastic bags, etc. to make it all work. I felt the pain and could identify--LOL. So, that's how it came to be. Seems like the car fights me with just about every bolt on.

Doug

Orange is "Currently" the FAST color of the PSCA--when Greg Weld steps on board and sponsers the FRESH, the color of "Money" will once again be the FAST color of the PSCA.

Doug

Dude, there just couldn't be better news than that right there! In the words of Weld;

EEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWW!!

Doug

Doug, I'm glad that the crossmember was the one you needed.It was just laying around here.Nice to see it put to good use.I guess I should have sandblasted it for you,but didn't think about it until it had all ready shipped out the door.Sorry. If we get a chance to meet up,just buy me a cold beer and we'll call it quit's.Scott

threads merged. Do you need the title changed? ;)

Jody

You are the man!!! Man, now that is service!!

Please--yes if you wouldn't mind changing the title---then I can just delete the other thread entirely!!! Thanks Jody!!

Doug

I know the two threads were named differently, but don't remember the other title. When I merged the threads the other one is automatically deleted, so that's done.

What do you want for a title?

Nice build thread. :thumbsup: Cool color, too. :yes:

Nice update Doug. Getting deals on everything makes is that much more enjoyable!

Jody, if you could just change the title of this thread to "My 69 Camaro, Apollo 13", that would do it. Thanks again!

Doug

I had quite a few text messages asking if these latest mods were for the race car (Green 69) or the street car--Many of you know I have toyed with the idea of making the drag radial car into a PT extreme car--whatever that is-something like Project Unfair. All of these mods are for the following street car shown below;

http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/u...techavatar.jpg

Sorry for the confusion---both cars share the same garage and the Green 69 drag radial car got in the pics based on proximity (aka lack of space).

Doug

Looks good. Two very sharp looking cars:thumbsup: I also like how you are doing it while still on the road, very smart idea.

Doug, I think it's awesome how you find all these good deals on parts to get your Camaro where you want it to be while still keeping it on the road. It's shows you can have sweet ride on somewhat of a budget. Your Camaro is killer, and I think the guy in the Bimmer is checking it out as well.

Nice car Doug. Keep us posted.:thumbsup:

sweet car the guy in the beamer looks jelous/lol:cheers:

Seven thousand miles with the wrong flywheel? It would've desengrated on me. :rofl:

I'm with these guys, you stretch a buck as far as anybody. Wish I had the patience.

I know--maybe my luck is changing? Fat chance.

Almost everything is installed now for the trans and gear vendors--put the switch in and the electronics. Some final clean up with respect to the wire routing and I should be ready in the next day or two. I decided to mount the switch on the console and the electronics under the console. It's very easy to get to the electronics side of it when necessary and this is the cleanest place for it in my car. Since the dash will be changing in the car, it will be one less item to have to remount and rewire when the time comes.

http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/u...s2010003-1.jpg

http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/u...s2010005-1.jpg

http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/u...s2010002-1.jpg

Doug

Looks good. Now you can cruise at 85 mph across the desert and still smell like you have been to the river.

Bitchen parts list going into the Apollo. It's gonna be a great autoX ride.

Brett

LOL--forgot about that Brett---but I know you and your son didn't---neither did Kyle nor James--:lol:

Doug

stance is killer on apollo 13, and the drag radial has been one of my favorites since i was a high school kid(only a few years ago). :cheers: :yes:

Why, yes, yes it is. A "Balanced Budget" is just that---gives no indication of the "Amount" of said budget, nor the plan of it---and, in the end, it really is---only a "Budget"--which is just a number you aim for. You see Greg, it's like stock, one day you're average, one year later your rolling phat and you just weren't planning on that--just hoping. It can happen to you my friend--In fact, i've seen it happen to you---lol.

XXX-OOO

Doug