Newb project Pole Dancer
 

I not much of a poster and my build is not groundbreaking by any means but I figured I would share it anyway.

I found this car at a local event about 13 years ago. I was in need of a new project so a deal was made and I brought it home.

It needed full restoration but it ran (barely) and still had the original engine, trans and rear. I figured I would just restore it but I went in a different direction after I went to a couple Good Guys events. So I did lots of body work

Being on a strict budget I painted it in the garage and put it all back together. I know it is not show car quality but I tried.

Looks great!!

Looking good!

I rebuilt a 350 engine for it but later a friend offered up his old 383. I ran across an up and coming transmission vendor selling TKO 5 Speeds at the Pomona Swap Meet. Jeff and I spoke for a while and a deal was done for a TKO 500.

I also swapped out the rear for a 69 Nova posi I found in the Recycler. Looked at some information about brake swaps and put rear discs in from a Caddy.

At the same time I was doing the interior which was nothing special except for adding some vintage air to get rid of the old bulky AC unit. Some new carpet, panels, paint and cheap racing seats and I called it good.

Thanks!!

Thanks!!

Over the next few years I changed a few things here and there and it looked like this just before I blew the 383. Then I read Stielow’s book and went down the Pro Touring rabbit hole.

nice job,looking good:thumbsup:

All these yellow cars. Looks good sir!!

Thanks. I have been watching your build as well. You are killing it!

I got a lot of flack on yellow but it was originally yellow so why not. Is yours metalic or pearled?

Instead of rebuilding the 383 I purchased a crashed 2001 Camaro for less than just a takeout engine, yanked the still running engine computer and anything else I thought was useful. I sold every salvageable part on it and scrapped the shell which almost brought me back to even and yielded an almost free engine! Lots of research on the various forums on mounts, headers, modifying harnesses, fuel systems and cooling until my head was ready to explode.

Since the engine was out I did a little freshening, bigger cam, TB, head work and since I was at it some suspension changes including SPC upper and lowers along with a set of Bear brakes I had stashed away from another project long gone and a set of AFX spindles. Most of the work I do on the car is at night after work so sorry for the dark crappy pics.

My girlfriend made me a bet that I couldn’t get the car running by Christmas……..she was right. My mom got sick and passed away in December 2012.

After dealing with all of the personal issues I was not sure I wanted to continue working on the car. I just couldn’t get myself in gear. I continued lurking on the sites seeing all of the nice builds and personal struggles of others and just started plugging away at the car again but with larger ambitions.

I got the engine and suspension work done enough to get it going. I recycled wiring, fans, power distribition box and other things from the donor car. At the same time i was doing this I decided to move to add to the stress!! With tha car at a new home the plan to a better build continued so I started to shop for parts…..lots of parts! This is where my car finally got named “Pole Dancer” because it gets more $$ thrown at it than a………. you get the idea!

awesome build man, and its cool to see you just keep plugging away i'm mid a couple builds i feel will never end. makes me feel better ;) keep at it man the car looks awesome

X2. :thumbsup:

Nice Build!! I bought a wrecked SLP 1999 Camaro with LS1 / T56. Doing the same that you did on the engine. Doing everything that I can myself, Engine, trans, electrical, interior, roll cage, welding. Nice to see another doing it the way I am.

Cool build dude. Nice clean car!

Nice project. Going to nice watching it come together.

I came into this thread for a whole nother reason (title is misleading) :wrongforum: ... .nice build though ;) :hello:

Thanks BigJoe. I'm tired doing one project. When I was younger I had two drag cars in different classes and I managed those OK. I guess I am gettig old.

:thankyou:

Thanks. It saves money to do it yourself but it is still pricey. With mine I just kept going as you will see and I may have gone too far.

:thankyou:

Guess the title worked then!! :lol:

Fast forward to May of last year and I had a good amount of things acquired through members, ebay, craigs and so on. With lots of inspiration from several members rides. Props to the One Lap Camaro team, The Pozzi’s, Stielow, CarlC, Ron in SoCal, Matt, Gregg, Second Chance Camaro, Mr. V, Blu Balz and many many others!!!

So let the fun begin.....again!

I had all of this out in the better part of the day. It was much easiier doing it this way than taking the engine and trans out individually. since it was all being replace I just rolled it out from under the car and rolled it into the back yard.

Here is what is replacing it.

Very nice car! I hope mine, on a budget, looks half way as good as what you have done! What did you use previously for your disk brakes?

Thank you, Kreigh

The last set I had was a set of 13 inch Baer running on the AFX spindles. Before that it was just a set of Camaro disc. Thanks for the compliments.

Doing this much work was very tiring as I was doing this after work so the only time really was at night and spare time on the weekends. I jumped around on various aspects of the car, from electrical, headlight electric conversion, dry sump, brakes, wipers. I really bit off way more than I could chew.

Sub and engine in.

I got the Stainless Works headers installed and I also tried the Dougs headers I had when I used the stock subframe. The fit on the new frame was good for both sets and when looking at them side by side the angles are similar although tube placement is a little different but either one could be run.

Love this project! Can't wait to see it in person :cheers:

Great choice on rims! You're doing a fine job. Keep it up and good luck.

Nice build whats with the rear set up? Quit hiding it if you gonna strip go all the way lol.:confused59:

Thanks Ron. I followed your build which gave me lots of ideas!

Ha ha..

I wanted big tires out back so out came the grinders, cut off wheels and sawzall for the Chassisworks mini tub. I picked their tub because it came with all of the framerail culose outs needed which saved me from fabricating them.


I debated having a shop do this job but after getting some quotes it just was not in the cards or the wallet I should say. I figured I had done everything else on the car what the hell!!!! And cut away. :superhack: Not having done anything like this I figured I had ruined my car but I just kept plugging away at it and after about a week or so of working on them I was done. What a dirty, patience trying job!!! :welder:

The second side was easier to do no that I knew what to expect. If your going to do this yourself do a lot of searching on these sites, ask questions and then do it all over again before cutting on your car. The instructions provided by either of the major tub suppliers leave out some details. Measure up a few times and cut less than you marked working your way up to the final fit. You will do this several times or at least I did!!

I welded the tubs all the way around, cleaned up the welds and seam sealed it all before hitting it with some undercoating and some trunk splatter paint.

Here are the leftovers and final result...cruddy phone pics sorry..

I was also working on the Ridetech Airbar while I was doing the mini tub so I got the cradle in, and mocked up the Moser 9in with 31 spline axles that I got from a farum member. Now for the pumpkin I struck a deal with a guy who worked at ProComp. The center is aluminum running a Daytona pinion support and 6 pinion worm gears. I was hesitant even though it was a really good deal so I conditionally purchased it and had a local rear end guy named Bill Thomas to give it the once over and either give it a thumbs up or down. After looking over the carrier, diff and all of the other parts he put it all together and told me it was a really good piece so I finalized the purchase. The jury is still out until I get to drive it.