When I was about 13 I wanted to build a Pro-Street 72 Nova, my dad said forget it with the old cars. I then got my '94 Trans Am and modded the crap out of it. In the mean time I would always pick up mags, and go on the net. Then I decided I wanted to build a classic car with my dad - to spend time together etc. (I ended up doing it all myself)

I was trying to figure out what car to get, he used to have an Olds 442 which I looked into, then I was thinking '69 Charger (I always loved the General Lee) Then I picked up a Super Chevy mag one day and it had this beautiful '69 Z28, the car was black with white stripes and had some pro-touring treatment. 17" TTII's, Bear brakes and some suspension work. The car looked so killer I decided right then and there I wanted a '69 but it had to be an RS.

I then found Tyler Bearegaurds Green '68 with the LT1 & T56, I put 2 & 2 together wanted to drop in that engine/tranny combo. I also followed the Thrasher build-up and liked alot of Mark Stielows ideas. I did have a 383 LT1 & T56 I was going to install then my project got put on hold for a while. Until now since I've dropped in the LS1-T56.

So the cars that influenced me the most:

1) Black '69 Z28 that was in Super Chevy probably about 7-8 years ago. (2-page spread poster)
2) Tyler Bearegaurd's green '68 LT1-T56
3) Mark Stielow's Thrasher '69

unlimited funds
 

The car that I am in the process of building is still the one that I would build. I told myself no more changes, but for conversations sake....

Change the LS1 for a 402 or 427 LS2 with that tricky Harrod intake. Run the wilwood 6 piston calipers up front instead of the corvette piece. I would also like to have a set of Forgelines like on Penny and maybe a 275/315 combo instead of the 245/285 set I am running now.

Do it Payton, you know it makes sense!!!!!! :thumbsup:
whats a few more dollars huh? lol :yes:

the motor
 

The motor will not happen for a long time. My LS1 is fresh from the shop with Diamond forged pistons, Eagle H-beam rods and ARP studs on the mains and heads. Now if some one would buy my 90 mm LSX intake and throttle body that is still in the box for say...$1300 and I would throw in a 85mm maf new in the box. I would probably make the jump on the Harrod intake.

The rest of the stuff can wait.

Maybe I need to post on ls1tech.com

Who would have to be dad because I was so wzposed to it at a early age. Plus I really thing we are born with it to some expent. Pro Touring, i was actually pretty early on the curve doing a 80 Z28 in 1992 with Transverse leaf spring, Carrera's, tubular arms, 16" Iroc wheels, 4 wheel disc, Big sway bars, aluminum head small block, 4 speed. Funny enough I was not following any trend, kinda doin my own thing have just always loved straight liners and G machines.
Unlimited money? Cuda convertible, full chassis, aluminum Hemi, and everything exotic I could think of.

When I was 17 I bought my first 69 Camaro for $700. I put a 427 in it with some nitrous and street raced the hell out of it. It was the fastest car in town - and proudly said - the scariest! Until, a fateful night when Tom Nelson took me for a ride in his '72 Nova through legendary Mulholland. Although this thing was only a small block, he had managed to adapt a Viper 6 speed to the Chevy block (revolutionary in 1996) while at the same time setting up the suspension enough to handle a 4 wheel drift without sliding off a cliff. At that point - I realized I wanted to combine the refined styling of the 69 Camaro with the mechanics of the Nova - although Tom disagrees that thing was f'n ugly. Now with some years of experience and a little more money, Tom has built my small block to turn out 747 hp and I finally got my 6 speed. The combination of brute power - handling - air conditioning - and braking in one package has not oly inspired me but also just about every guy (and girl) that ever took the time to work under the hood of anything old. As far as the future is concerned, it's limitless... as long as technology and the need for raw unadultarated power are present - this evolving sport will go on as long as there are people like us on sites like this.

Unlimited Funds: Tom --- I need some turbos!!!

My Dads Twin Turbo Pantera.i Grew Up Listening To That Turbo Behind My Ear Whistling And Feeling The Front Suspension De Camber Accelerating.big Red That Was It Also.as Far As Enzo's Comment I Like To Think Mad Max Not Ugly Just A Hard Core Look.yeah All Black 285 30s Up Front 335 35s In The Back No Grill Lots Of Roll Cage 6 Speeds 8100 Rpm And A Ton Of Nitrous.and With The Dual 3.5 Xr1s You Could Hear The Reverse Pressure Wave Suck Back In The Exhuast On Decel.

So why have you progressed to owning/building a Pro-Touring car?

Basically I was just tired with the whole 'drag racing' crowd. I think a lot of them are nothing but pompous A-holes who care nothing about teaching a younger generation or helping out their counterparts. It was pretty much the people involved that drove me away from it, no so much the cars. I still love a Pro-Street car if it's done right. What impressed me most about Pro-Touring was the people involved in it...everyone bends over backwards to help everyone out and there's never a shortage of encouragement or reassurance when needed. Not to mention....the cars are pretty kick ass too.

What has influenced you most?

The 'hands on' approach to it. It's really motivated me to become a 'do-it-yourselfer' on this project. It's encouraged me to learn more about my car rather than the engine, trans, and some drag slicks.

Who has influenced you most?

Pretty much everyone involved in Pro-Touring. But to be specific, David Pozzi, Jonathon Duke, John Parson's (the zen-welder), Mark Stielow, Patrick Schatz. All have played a part one way or another.

What car has influenced you most?

That's easy....The Mule.

Given unlimited funds what would you buy/build? Would it still be PT or something waaaaay different?

All-Wheel-Drive '69 Corvair Monza with twin-turbo V6, Hewland 6-speed, tubular chasis and modified Corvette suspension front and rear. Not an easy task to say the least....but that's why I'd do it, for the challange.

where do you see the Pro Touring scene going in the future?

Probably in the direction of cars like the Twinsting or Steve Rupps 'Penny' where elements of Pro-Street and Pro-Touring converge to form a new style of build that will satisfy all palates of performance taste. Progression baby! Change is DAMN good. :thumbsup:

I don't want to steal the post, but what makes people who are into P/T nicer/more helpful than people involved with any other build style, assuming it's true? What would draw better people to this type build?

Jim...that opinion comes from my own personal experience, it obviously won't be the same for others. I just know that when I was into the whole drag racing thing, a lot of the people (in Detroit, anyway) were kind of arrogant and conceited about the scene. If you were a new comer, you were expected to learn on your own. Help would be given if needed...but with great reluctance. And if you ever called a race shop or asked a fellow street racer for advice or information...you were treated as more of a nuisance than an potential counterpart. Again....that's just my own personal experience and I have a number of friends I hung around with back in the day that feel the same way as I do.

The Pro-Touring community has always demostrated a commitment to the growth of our scene and a dedication to it's future by encouraging and helping out the new comers whenever it is needed. I've yet to meet one person on Lateral-G or Pro-Touring.com that I felt was conceited or self important.