69 Camaro lsx 427 turbo build (AKA) Sinister
 

Hello
This introduction/build thread is long overdue! I've been reading and looking at this site for inspiration and ideas for quite some time. I was fortunate enough to have come across a rust free 69 Camaro out of California quite a few years back and started a pro-street style build. At the start of the build (2002) the first thing i did was strip the car down to a bare shell and put in a Chris Alston 4-link and cage. I purchased a ls6 and 6-speed and started to set it up for the strip! I had never really seen a pro-touring style car let alone anything with ls power back then. But the car was put aside as life got in the way and she was put into Por-15 and storage for a few years. I worked in a body/performance shop restoring and fixing everyones car but mine. Eventually i started to see some serious pro-touring cars online and in various forums and thats when i decided that will be the new direction for the car. So after a marriage and 2 kids and a couple other car restorations it was time to get back to the Camaro! You will see in some of my pics some rework and change of direction as the build progresses. I wish I would have started this thread from day one but I didn't even know about this site back then! I will post some pics of the car then and in it's early stages to try and put together a complete build thread.

Welcome!!!! Hurry with the pictures. We now have two Sinister builds!!:popcorn2:

X2 we need pics:thumbsup:

6 hours and still NO PICTURES!

:ttiwop:


:welcome3:

Looking forward to them. :D

OK sorry for the delay in pics guys!!! I had to get back to my home computer. Here is the car as it sat back in 98. Original 327 4spd 12bolt rear car with 40,000miles on the clock and all the original paperwork and black plates. I wish i had pics of all the teardown and chassis work but at that time i didn't carry around a fancy phone with a camera in it!

Here are some pics after we pulled it out of storage (2005) The first thing we did was strip off the Por-15 and get working on the body as it was so solid we figured we would get it into paint as soon as possible then get back to the motor work. Sorry the pics from way back suck but it will give you a idea. Not a spec of rust on the car and all original panels! that defiantly made things easier!

Next up primer and a lot of blocking, also a quick few shots of the underside. Dse quadralink and mini tubs installed with subframe connectors and 2 coat of lizard skin.

Paint!!! it looks like it was fast but took about 4 years to get to this point!

What color is that? Looks awesome!

Thanks! It started out as BMW Space Grey metallic but after spraying a test panel we modified it with a touch extra black and purple so it turned out as a custom mix.

Great looking paint!! :thumbsup:

Welcome! Keep up the Good Work!

Thanks!
I have some more pics of paint and i wanted to try out the year one fiberglass hood and trunk lid. also the Marquez design lower valance as were going to run a nice big turbo and put the intercooler up front.

Heres some pics to show the front subframe. We wanted something light that would have a ton of clearance for the turbo exhaust. You will see our dirty mock up ls motor were using for now to build our stainless headers. The Radiator and intercooler is going to be a test as were basically splitting a semi intercooler and using the top half as a crossflow rad.

Time to paint cage and sub.

I like this project...A lot.

Keep these updates coming.

Very nice, nothing like starting with a rust free car!! Love the color. Um we Ned more pictures please??

:weld: :popcorn2:
Sweet... Have you decided on direction of suspension choice and wheels?

That's some excellent work so far and the color looks great...more pics!

Well of course I like the color! :cheers:

Whose subfr is that? The cutouts in the cross member, is that for weight savings or turbo clearance?

Keep going buddy! :thumbsup:

Yes a rust free car is the way to go if you can find them! I've built cars in the past that by the time I was done chasing rust there wasn't any $$$ left for the fun stuff!!! Lol

More pics on the way!

nice build keep the pics coming

Rear suspension will be Dse quadralink and up front were using a martz chassis bare frame to start since it will be modified to work with our turbo piping. Wheels are going to be Rushforth 18 and 19s

Ron

Front sub is Martz chassis. I think it's got to be one of the lightest ones out there? There really isn't much to it and since I had it from another build I figured I would use it. It does flex quite a lot during mock ups so we decided to tie the cage into it and it's solid now!!! Cutouts you see are going to be for the turbo crossover pipe as I wanted to try and run it under and through the frame so I can go around the a/c compressor.

Ok back to putting up some pics! These pics show intercooler and rad finished and polished. Front suspension powder coated and going together with Baer track claw brakes. I jumped the gun putting the front sheet metal on since i still need to paint the backsides of the fenders. I still have a ton of work without fenders on to do but i just couldn't wait to see some more of the car together!

Sweet !

Love the car, really is going to be nice!

Have you checked your turning radius with a wheel on the front? Only reason I am asking is the strut rod looks way out there from the pics.

Very cool

Very nice build,paint looks great:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Yes strut rod is way out there and is going to be a problem if i want to run a big tire! No 275s on the front of this car! I did my mock ups with a 255 on a 8" rim and its pretty good but does touch the frame the exact same time it hits the strut rod. We will see how she turns?

I figured you had mocked it up to check. I am running into problems on mine (not the same clip) , so I am sensitive to turning radius problems. LOL

Next up we have the LS6 that i had planned on using but never did. It was however used for most of the mock up and fitted with parts i did end up using. Valve Covers, Turn one p/s pump, flywheel, balancer etc...

Once i pulled everything back off the front end to start fitting the motor for the turbo work i realized i wanted the smooth firewall. I thank this site for that bit of rework! LOL
I ordered up the firewall plate from Mikes custom cars and started in on the installation. Once again back to the paint booth, but I'm happy with the result!

Wow that turned out great! Firewall looks awesome!

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Finally got the car back home to start the fun stuff. Hopefully no more painting. Then i got going on turbo fab! Here are pics with a smaller mock up innovative turbo. I could still build almost all the exhaust to mid car with that.

Ive got some messages for more pics so here ya go! And yes those are my roller wheels. Lol

Final intercooler and radiator fitment and once again everything apart to finish some welds. Also some pics of the stainless 5" exhaust.

The fire wall looks great. What a sweet set up you have here.

Awesome looks on the turbo setup! Like the valve covers, who makes them?

awesome build