Lateral-g Forums - A humble introduction

Hello everyone,

My name is Roger, and I have a '69 Camaro that I've been building / working on for more than 8 years now. It took about 4 years to get running and now I've caught the Pro-Touring bug and want to upgrade the suspention, tires and wheels to make the car competitive.

Here's a picture of the car when I first purchased it and when it was going off to the body man. I picked it up for $1400. This was in December 2002.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3598/...710ae026_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3384/...5f8f9768_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3623/...7270ca6c_b.jpg

As you can see, a very humble beginning.

These next few shots are when it was at the body shop:

Along with a new core support, and right front fender:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3303/...ec7c2a55_b.jpg

Both rear quarter panels were replaced:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3577/...c0916075_b.jpg

Rear deck view (interestingly there was no need to replace the metal between the trunk and rear window):

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3355/...411cc06b_b.jpg

Primered - Left rear view:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3623/...d75dcd97_o.jpg

Primered - Frontal view:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3608/...b598e94053.jpg

Just painted - Frontal view:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3360/...a92b823aaf.jpg

Almost done at interior shop, November 2003:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3614/...c8cfae08_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3398/...be22998e_o.jpg

In this next shot the car is 95% complete (body wise). It is sitting in my driveway and is more or less driveable. I find out soon that I have major engine issues.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3574/...10bf63f2_b.jpg

This is the finished interior (except the door poppers weren't hooked up yet, but they are now):

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3375/...fbf52559_b.jpg

Interior view (again circa 2005):

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3203/...41c15642_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3555/...3a747f49_b.jpg

I am by no means finished with this car. I'm am working on engine #4 now, as the first one was an old tired engine I put in the car and it didn't last long. After saving up for a while (2007 time frame) I purchased another engine from what I thought was a reputable company out of Pheonix, AZ. They shipped me a piece of junk, which I ran for two years (but not much, due to the problems). I tried to warranty the engine and they went out of business, thereby stranding me. That was about $5500 (installed) down the drain. So I saved up again, and put a 383 in it which cost me about $6000 and it was supposed to have about 475 HP. It only put out 420 HP, and that was because the heads I used were from the previous engine and weren't what I was told they were. So I am now building another 383 (using the same rotating assembly from engine #3 (specs to follow) and I purchased new heads, cam and pistons.

I have been through the school of hard knocks on this build. It's my first build, and if ONLY I knew then what I know now. I try not to dwell on the bad because I'll just cry.

I recently (within the past 6 months) made good friends with a car and engine builder who has graciously taken me under his wing. He is helping me build another 383 (engine #4). Here's the specs:

AFR 210 "race" heads, with 2.08 / 1.6 valves.
Competition Cams advertised 300/306 (actual 248/254) with 562/580 lift. The cam grind is 12-444-8 with 106 degree lobe separation.
Keith Black flat top .030 over pistons
Scat 400 crank (4340 forged) with H-Beam (4340 forged) rods.
New block with 4 bolt splayed caps, bored .030 over
Hurricane Plus intake (polished)
Demon 750 CFM Carb (street/strip)
2" primary custom headers in to 3.5" collectors
3" exhaust with 2 chamber flow masters

During this time I am working to clean up the wires and what not under the hood. I'm hoping to have the engine installed and running in two to three weeks.

The suspention is stock, and I'm wanting to upgrade the car (after the engine is installed) to make it Pro-Touring worthy.

I appreciate the site and I look forward to getting to know all of you, and hopefully from here on out the build goes smoother than it has in the past.

Cheers,

--Roger