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Meenaggie 1968 Camaro Build at GAP Racing

I am starting a build thread for a customer that has allowed us to take part in his project. Casey has had the Camaro for a while and bought it as a partially done project with no drivetrain.

Here is the plan for the 1968 Camaro :

LS2 crate motor with zero miles
Head are stock 243 castings, stock intake, drive by wire, etc
Texas Speed Cam 224/228 .581/.588 on a 142 LSA with new pushrods and springs
Autokraft oil pan for F-body swaps
S&P motor mount adaptor plates to put engine in stock location
Wegner black anodized front accessory drive with A/C, P/S, and alternator
Stock GM water pump
GMPP LS2 24X crate motor 411 ECM and O2 sensors, drive by wire pedal, and engine harness from Painless Wiring
Wegner black anodized valve covers (need to figure out what to do with oil fill)
Prodigy dual pass radiator set up for LS with steam return line and dual electric fans painted black
Going to keep battery up front in stock location (Braille to save some space)
Cold air intake with filter near driver side inner fender well (K&N kit from 2005 GTO)
Dynatech MuscleMaxx 1-3/4” long tube headers for LS into 1st Gen F-body – ceramic coated
Dynatech 3” stainless steel dual exhaust with x-pipe (most likely need to customize over axle bends)
Monster Transmission 4L65E “Mega” automatic transmission
Bowler tubular transmission crossmember with Energy trans mount
Hotchkis front sway bar
DSE 600 series power steering box in ceramic finish
American Auto Wire Classic Update Kit
DSE modified stock subframe with their coil over kit
DSE upper and lower control arms
DSE Koni coil overs with 550 lbs/in spring 10” springs up front
RideTech Air-Bar in Rear with Varishock Coilovers with 175 lbs/in 12” springs in rear using both upper and lower weld-on mounts to rear housing
Moser 12-Bolt with 33-spline axles, new big ford bearing ends, Tru-trac posi, 3.73 gears, billet 1350 yoke, Moser aluminum cover with pre-load, narrowed for deep dish wheels
Solid stock height body bushings by Speedtech
Rick SS Tank with Walbro pump and notched corners
New fuel hard lines with Corvette fuel regulator
Baer Track 13” 4-pistion brakes in front
Baer Sport 12” 2-pistion brakes in rear
DSE power master cylinder
DSE Selcta-Speed wiper motor
Budnik Tiller 5 17X8 in front and 17X11 in rear with Sumitomo HTR Z Tires 245/45/17 in front and 315/35/17 in rear
Lots of black anodized billets parts from Fesler (hood hinges, trunk hinges, door jamb vents, hood latch, tail lights, 69 driving lights)
Billet sill plates in black anodized from Route 66 Motorsports
RideTech black anodized gas cap
Billet grille (black)
Ididit black powder coat tilt wheel
Billet Specialties black anodized steering wheel
Corbeau GTS II buckets seats in black leather with double locking sliders and brackets
Front and rear 3-point seatbelts by Morris Classic Concepts (black with starburst)
Dakota Digital VHX gauges (silver with blue lights)
MCI Camaro low-rise console
Marquez door panels and package tray
Power windows for all four by Nu-Relics with black console mounted switches
All black interior with cut pile carpet by ACC (Essex)
Black cut pile carpet trunk mat by ACC to match interior
Prodigy stainless body hardware kit
Totally Stainless bolts for suspension, door striker, body mounts, steering box, etc
LED headlights from JW Speaker
Double-din in-dash CD and small four-channel amp
Vintage Air GenIV surefit system installed with hoses in inner fender for clean appearance
Modified dash for Vintage Air black louvers

Body / exterior mods :

Remove side markers (front and rear)
69 driving lights in 68 lower valance (metal)
Fill vents in cowl with solid piece (metal)
Delete center speaker grill in dash
Delete front bumper and weld fender extensions to fender to remove bumper bracket gap
Smooth rear bumper painted black to match anodized finish of tail lights and gas cap
Modify body to remove need for windshield and rear glass trim
Shave drip rail
Trim / roll fender lip for better tire clearance
Smooth firewall
DSE minitubs installed
No emblems

Paint :

Black (base / clear in gloss)
Satin black engine bay and chassis
http://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/...s6618d62f.jpeg

Here is the car the day we picked it up
http://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/...psd33205b1.jpg

http://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3fa5b072.jpg

Casey had collected a ton of parts for the project which made our job a lot easier.
http://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/...ps2189ce12.jpg

The process began by doing an inventory of the parts and then digging into the car to see what we needed to knock out all his requests.
http://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0b0a3868.jpg
The car is a very solid car.
http://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/...ps20187f67.jpg
We started the tear down
http://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/...psf71af703.jpg
http://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/...ps721428fe.jpg

http://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7171a876.jpg

Before all the drivetrain was removed, we started to fit the Dynatech exhaust kit he supplied and try to modify it from the axle back to work with the rear suspension setup
http://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6a33b2b0.jpg
http://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/...ps35d46c24.jpg
http://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/...psae20fd7d.jpg
http://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/...psd243c391.jpg
http://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/...ps917071c4.jpg

Once the exhaust was sorted out, we took it off the car and welded it all up. Then on to the body modifications
Deleting the door locks
http://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/...ps8b11e627.jpg

Removing the vents in the cowl
http://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/...ps856dae75.jpg

Welded up the side marker lights
http://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/...psb740cbd9.jpg

Deleted the front bumper bracket and welded the extensions in
http://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/...psec1dd1b8.jpg

Deleted the center speaker in the dash
http://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1b3110e5.jpg

Welded up the factory AC vents
http://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4e914da5.jpg

Repaired the damaged dash area
http://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4713dac5.jpg

We made a recess for the push start button
http://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/...pse69fb1f3.jpg

And modified the center of the dash
http://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/...pse9c431f2.jpg

Doing a little Engine upgrade while the body is at paint
http://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/...psf1bfd378.jpg

I know Casey has a lot of pictures he will be posting. I just wanted to get the build up to date. Should see a lot of things happening in 2014. Hope to se color on this thing soon. We will be posting updates as soon as we can and once the car is back at our shop in our clean room we will be posting.

Another solid build you guys are working on! Didn't realize that car had so much going on it with the body mods. Looks GOOD!

Thanks Will. I am uploading photos right now for the "Other" builds I have going on. Just a few. LoL

You guys are building some very nice cars,great work.Was wondering who makes the core support close out,it's really nice:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

It is made by Anvil Auto.

Tim, many thanks for starting this long overdue build thread. It has been a pleasure working with you and the crew at GAP Racing. Can't wait to see it all come together in 2014.

Here are some pic of fitting the rear end, installing the LS engine and rear air bar. This is basically how it went to GAP. I finally found a good use for those college text books measuring for the rear end. :lol:

Nice way to use those books. LoL
Thank you for letting us be a part of it.

Purchased the Dakota Digital GSS-2000 transmission gear sending unit from the classified ad section. It will be a one-wire install with my Dakota Digital VHX gauges. Most likely will be selling the new in box C5 Corvette auto shifter I have and switching to a 6" Lokar shifter in their midnight series (black). Trying to decide to go with round or rectangular shifter boot trim that will go in the MCI camaro switchblade console I already have.

Meenaggie 68 Camaro GAP build

Great build, keep the pictures coming.

Rich
68kmaro

Car looks great Casey.

Where did the transmission crossmember come from? Bowler transmission?

Great start and the mods GAP is doing to the car look good. Looking forward to more...

Great work guys! You have quite a few projects going on. Nice to see. One mod you did on the this was welding up the bumper brackets and lower fender extenetions. I don't undertsand why more people do not do that. Looks so much cleaner and flows well with the rounded wheels wells on the 67 & 68's. Nice work!

It looks great Nice work guys.

Quote:

Where did the transmission crossmember come from? Bowler transmission?

Correct, the crossmember came from Bowler. Bowler designed it for Ride Tech's 68' Camaro named Velocity (now sold to new owner). It worked great and put the transmission right where it needed to be with plenty of clearance for the 3" exhaust. I did have to mount the Energy Suspension trans mount "backwards" to fit correctly due to the bulge that is designed into the mount. That did not seem to bother me as I can't really tell if the pre-load on these do anything. I have the S&P adapter plates for the LS and OEM small block stand-offs for engine placement.

How is your bird running? Any plans to do any more upgrades?

Quote:

Originally Posted by meenaggie (Post 525913)

I finally found a good use for those college text books measuring for the rear end. :lol:

I know calculus was good for something.

Quote:

Originally Posted by meenaggie (Post 530686)

How is your bird running? Any plans to do any more upgrades?

It's running good. I have a bunch of boxes from Mark @ SC&C for his stage 1 plus front suspension package, and Ridetech singles all around. I just need to find time to install them.

I will need to look at that x-member. When I did the swap, Bowler was out with no ETA so I settled for BMR x-member, and had to add a bunch of shims to get the angle right.

Love the build. :D

Did you have to move the lower control arms on the rear inward at all to get the wheels to fit? or are they in the same position?

I've been thinking about mini tubbing my car, and a have the G bar setup.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moose (Post 530752)

Did you have to move the lower control arms on the rear inward at all to get the wheels to fit? or are they in the same position?

I've been thinking about mini tubbing my car, and a have the G bar setup.

I did not have to move the lower arm inward. I bolted it to the original front spring pocket location and used that to locate the lower bracket on the rear end housing. It is a tight fit and I would not recommend any more wheel width then I have which is a 315 tire on an 11" wheel on a 68' with my exact setup. It is worth noting that my rear suspension is the first generation of the AirBar and RideTech (and others) have made improvements to help with the control arm to wheel clearance on newer versions. You can now order a kit for a mini tub that offsets the control arm to the innermost side. It uses a bushing on the leaf spring pocket side. While this doesn't move the mounting locations it does provide additional clearance from the control arm to the tire/wheel. I am sure I could order the parts to retrofit as the mounting points don't change but think I am okay as is. Hope that info helps.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ricochet (Post 530605)

One mod you did on the this was welding up the bumper brackets and lower fender extenetions. I don't undertsand why more people do not do that. Looks so much cleaner and flows well with the rounded wheels wells on the 67 & 68's. Nice work!

Here is an updated picture of the what is described above. I agree!

Amazing build and love the dashboard mods

Some shots from the paint and body shop . . . finally getting some long overdue black paint on it as it was in guide coat for 5+ years! Went to see it in person about 10 days ago and is looking good. Black base went on and it got blocked yet again. Since it is going to be black this helped find a few extra imperfections that were not as visible with just guide coat. Getting excited to see it moved back to GAP for final assembly.

http://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/...pskrzs75zy.jpg
http://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/...pse5uwu1vc.jpg
http://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/...psr8kfkl1a.jpg
http://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3fxoqmcm.jpg

Getting closer Casey. When do you think it will be done?

I just uploaded these to photobucket so I could do an update. Hopefully we will have it back at the shop really soon.

Tim, beat you to it this time. Thanks for uploading the pics! It is going to look really good in your clean room.

Tu, realistically I would estimate this fall before everything is 100% complete.

Quote:

Originally Posted by meenaggie (Post 545720)

Tim, beat you to it this time. Thanks for uploading the pics! It is going to look really good in your clean room.

Tu, realistically I would estimate this fall before everything is 100% complete.

Think you'll have it done before fall GG in FW? I'm think about going there with the FB.

Guys black paint looks great,hard to beat black :thumbsup:

Where did you source the A/C vents from?