Since I can't find the original thread, I'll start another one here. I'm really bad at doing updates even though I enjoy reading and seeing them on all the other members cars. This takes way too much time to do, and my pictures will show that.
So, the most recent update is the new trans for the car. I've ended up with a Bowler's 400 and a Gear Vendors. Keeping with my theme of doing one improvement at a time, shopping and waiting for the best deal and not having the car down for months on end, I will fill in a bit of that info here. This trans (including the torque converter) has less than a thousand miles on it (street miles), and same for the Gear Vendors. I was able to purchase the entire setup with the electronics for $2,000. The purchase was made from a member here who is local to me, so no shipping. Since I still needed a crossmember, I posted another "Wanted Add" here and Scott Mock sent me the necessary crossmember for only the cost of the shipping. Thanks again Scott!! The whole process has taken me about 2 weeks thus far working on the car off and on--in my garage on the floor.
I've fought a vibration in the car at speeds over 50 or so--especially as you went past that speed. I had hoped that through the trans swap process I would figure out what the problem was, sure enough as I pulled the old TH350 out, the flywheel is not the correct one for a 400 block SBC---there's no weight on it. Many thanks to the previous installer. So I ordered up the correct one and hope that it will solve that issue--I don't see how it could hurt it now. I just wonder how long the rear main bearing will last after beating it for the last 7,000 miles without the correct flywheel. Here's the new setup.
Also, I have a brand new Fab9 rear end housing with back brace already installed. I was in need of a third member for it so I posted up a "Wanted Add" once again here and under PT. Once again, a member contacted me with what I consider to be another great deal. A Moser alluminum through bolt case with a detroit locker, billit pinion support all setup by Moser complete with less than a thousand miles on it, for $750. The Fab9 housing was a bit of a fire sale for the guy I purchased from at $400. He was not a member here, but part of a drag racing circle that I belong to out here on West Coast. Here's a couple pics of the third member;
Lastly, I have a new power plant for the car as well. One of the members here was interested in a full tilt 406 motor I had awaiting transplant into the Camaro. He had a brand new crate LS3 that was going to require even more fab work to get into his already rushed project. A deal was made and I now have the LS3. I will now be in the process of putting the parts together to swap over to the LS platform. Here's a pic of it as well.
So, the plan currently looks like this; get the trans swap completed by end of next week. Run the car as much as possible this next month to refine what I need to and make sure everything works the way it ought to. I'll need to learn how to drive the car again I would imagine for Auto X'ing and Road Course with the new trans setup. If this all works out, then I will try to get the new rear end in the car before the RTTC event, but that may not happen and I won't jeapordize not making the event just to put the new rear end in the car. The original plan was to have it under the car by that time, but the trans deal came up and was too good to pass on and it fit into the master plan. I really need that overdrive, and I like the fact that it's a TH400 since they are what i am used to working on in the race car, and I know it will handle whatever power I will put too it. So, I will most likely run an event with my famous "One Off Baer Self Energizing Rear Drum Brakes", but I will still be there running the event none the less. I'll purchase more "Disc Brake Spray" from Ironworks just before the event.
Doug
Brian Hobaugh SCCA National Tour June 2014
First Hemi 'Cuda Convertible Ever Built
Short clips: Goodguys Pleasanton autocross and pit videos
My 69 Camaro, "Project Stance"
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Hybrid Mode
