1968 "Real Steel" Camaro
 

So as promised I am starting a new build thread on a Camaro I have owned, sold and bought back for the last 20 years. So the last car I started on was a aftermarket body and sheet metal. Sheet metal (NPD) not so bad but matching up to body not so good. Plus the cost of buying all the small parts that don't come with the body was going to break me. So hence the name "Real Steel" lol. So car started off as an RS 327 auto from LA. repainted in 89 from white to Iroc Blue in ROP high school autobody. Yep me and a bunch of other 17-18 year olds painting cars! Lol So on to the car and a list of what I have planed.

DSE Front end
DSE Quad Link rear
JRI coilovers
Anvil everything I can get for a 68( I Know its not Steel)
New LS3 525 from GM
6 spd
18"x11 Forgelines
Rick's Tank with Vaporworks
Baer 6p 14" on all corners

So this is what I am starting with.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j2...psokm7yv92.jpg
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Awesome plan with this 68, I think having history with the car means more too.

Glad to see your back at it.

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I promise I will be better on my updates with pictures. I just got my wheels in and boy Forgeline doesn't disappoint!

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j2...psenogqaq6.jpg

18x11 Going to run a 315 rear tire I tried to fit a 335 and it just didn't look right. 68 just don't have enough room.

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j2...pshhxd1wls.jpg

Love the way this thing sits! Received most of my anvil parts(4 months) now just trying to get everything to fit.

I like the look of a 315 much better then the 335 as they really are just a shorter version of the old Pro Street tires in my humble opinion.

I agree Marty. 69s look good with the 335 but the 68 I didn't want a "stuffed" look.

Rob

Hey Rob...Nice to see that this is happening! Looks like a great car and build.

:popcorn2:

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j2...pscviwilfo.jpg

Shot from underside. I love working with the DSE stuff their directions are spot on. Also love the fact that you can use oem fuel and brake lines.

this looks great, can you tell me what width rear end you have and what backspacing you used?

Love it!!! "Real Steel" this car is going to be bad ass!!!

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j2...ps2uk0dgmu.jpg

So I'm really torn on sticking with original or using the Anvil one. What are people's thoughts on 69 lights on a 68?

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j2...psjwzb82zm.jpg

Can't wait to get this in between the frame rails! If you need any gmpp Abel Chevrolet out of rio vista are great guys to work with. Great $$$

Personally, I like the looks of original.

I like the Anvil item...it's an outside - of- the- box idea...and it's not going to be a numbers matching car...carbon the hell out of it

If you could put the front bumper on with the anvil piece that would be my choice (I like my cars with bumpers).
It's just one of those personal preference subjects. Do what makes you happy if you change your mind that part is not that hard to swap out in the future?

Thanks for the input guys. I am leaning towards the oem piece but I'm going to mock up so I can see both looks.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j2...pscviwilfo.jpg

Notching up trunk corners for full 3" out the back. Next I need to install DSE subframe connectors and start the trans tunnel raise for the 6spd. The extra couple of days off for is great for getting progress done!:welder:

Coming together nicely!

The motor is definitely going to be sweet in there.

For sure! I'm jealous.

I like the round holes with driving/fog lights in the front. Lennie did it to his Firebird and it looked fantastic. I'm sure if you blend them in so that the rest of the front is 68, it'll look great as well.

Yea I think the only way to make a choice is to mock up both. Got most of metal work in trunk done tonight. Boy it's real easy to flip thru builds on this site and go "I can just cut and weld that just like they did" wrong! I have huge respect for the guys that do this everyday. So here are some updates I got the fuel tank plumbing and the II much fuel installed. I Was very excited about using the stock 3/8" fuel line to work with a little bending here and there.

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j2...pscw9qczx1.jpghttp://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j2...psdftyb6st.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j2...psos5ts5in.jpghttp://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j2...pszigp1t8o.jpg

Also made a filler piece inside the shock mount to get it sealed up. I know the welds are not the prettiest but they are strong. Tuff to weld upside down! Lol

Better then I can do that's for sure.

Looks GREAT!!

Thanks for the compliments guys. I'm trying to do most of the work on this car myself instead of paying a shop like my last project (that I never finished). I have also convinced my wife on letting me buy more tools with all the money being saved :lol:. The whole point of this project was to spend time with my teenage boys before they are gone off to college. You guys out there with small kids enjoy this time with them... they grow up fast. Ok enough with the sob stuff back to the car crap.
So I got a ton of work done on the car this weekend and took full advantage of some of the black Friday bs. Ordered DSE subframe from Billy @ B&B and the front wheels as well. I will post up some more pictures in a bit. hope everyone had a great turkey day!

Rob

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The Anvil inner fenders fit very well I was surprised. Also got the DSE brake booster mounted and lower bracket filled in.

Coming along great and you are doing a very good job with the fab work. Keep the pics coming.

Looks great. Those inner fenders are sweet!

Keep at it man!

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j2...pszdyqqb9u.jpg

Excited! Truck showed up a day earlier than expected! Time to see if this is going to fit in the back of the truck.

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j2...psq6pqpwqb.jpg

That was to easy! Fits perfectly. I was concerned about the fit with the carbon inner fenders and possibly having to trim them. Next is to get subframe connectors installed.

Anyone need a oem subframe! Lol funny how you start a project to be a budget friendly and goes completely sideways. Dam you Lat G and all you guys with cool cars!:thankyou:

GOOD LORD that looks amazing!!!!

Thanks Paul. I'm very happy with the way it's coming out. Feels great to be in shop and doing the work myself. I will say the items I've bought from DSE have been spot on for directions. We all know in building a custom car there's always that part that you buy and go:hairpullout: who designed this!

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j2...ps623lncys.jpg

Templates layed out and floors cut. I figured it was better to order sub frame already powder coated from factory and just touch up with a little paint. Notice the holes I need to weld up from the old drive shaft loop.

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All welded up! It was nice to have rust free floors.

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Rears on the front! A 315 on the front would be so bad a$$!

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It's going to be hard enough to get a 275 to fit.

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Yeah you got it bad Rob. Welcome to the madhouse :thumbsup:

P.S. project is lookin' great!

Thanks Ron. I've been following your car since the beginning. Great build glad you're enjoying it on the track. I plan on having the car done by spring so I can get it dialed in for first round at Thunder Hill for Optima. Did the event last year in my 13 ZL1. Ton of fun and meet some great people on this forum.

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This thing has a nasty front push on autox! Out on the big track it did a lot better. Or I just suck at autox!lol

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j2...psczearejj.jpg

So this is the pan my motor came with I don't think this is going to work with my DSE sub frame? I really like the design of the Mast cast pan vs welded steel and the option of the oil cooler lines for future. Another thing I need to pick your guys brains on is long tube header vs mid length but can't seem to pull the trigger on the DSE ones($$$). What are some of your guys thoughts on other headers out their that will fit? Keep in mind this will always be a n/a motor. In my old drag racing day we used to do a step header with a merge Burns collector but that was on a comp or Super stock motor that we were shifting at 9500! Thanks for the input.

Rob

the mast or holley pan should work no problem. for headers if you dont want to spend the money on the dse ones i would look at ultimate headers. they have a long and mid's that should work. mark s runs the mids on JA and hellfire and they have the dse frames. there are some dealers of ultimate headers on here.

http://www.ultimateheaders.com/index.shtml

Im running stainless works headers and autokraft oil pan clears by a lot