Hello Lateral-G...Finally!

[68LQ9]

After many years of drool-filled loitering on this site, I am finally ready to get my 68 Camaro project rolling again. I apologize for what is surely to be a long post but I am very excited to finally get rollin on this and am looking forward to any insight and experience you guys can give.

I bought the car in 1992 with new bad-ass midnight blue paint and a freshly built 327. Weekly top to bottom baths kept her spotless and the lopey 327 drew attention everywhere we went. The dream that began as a kid, became reality.
After 4 or 5 years, she started to show signs of cancer and a shoddy prep job before the new paint. Rust bubbles began popping up in several places, and in 2000, I stepped into the back seat and my foot nearly went through the floor! It was time! The replacement of the new floorpans very quickly became a 9" narrowed 1.5" on each side, Moser 31 spline axles, a Pro-Auburn with 3.89s, Comp. Eng. ladder bars, coil-overs, an 8-point cage, and bolt in sub-frame connectors that were then completely welded up!
I'm sure none of you have ever experienced a project spiral like that!
Unfortunately, life interceded, and over the next decade, my baby evolved into a shelving system in the garage.
Nearly twelve years later, due in large part to the inspiration I have received from the massive collection of incredible builds in the Lateral-G family, I have finally decided to get off my ass, finish what I started, and hopefully create something worthy of inclusion in a stable of truly bad-ass rides!
Now to the project...
The Lateral-G car I was immediately drawn to is Tom Lee's beautiful 68. I hope Tom doesnt mind, but I nabbed one of the pics of his car and photoshopped up my own vision.

That's the goal...here's where we are today...








The plan is:
SpeedTech Upper and Lowers, QA1's, and 1 1/8 hollow Sway Bar
Willwood 12.19 CD/SL 4-pistons all the way around
Keep the stock steering...maybe considering a Lee box...Opinions???
Brushed 17x8 and 17x10 or 11 Lateral G's or Rushforth Livewires...Havent really decided yet...even still considering 18's but just not sure if the size is worth the extra cost. 10 or 11 decision is mainly on whether or not I want to mini-tub the car. I feel like I almost have to in order to get the 305 or 315 "tucked" look that I want.
The engine on the stand is an LQ9 out of an '02 Escalade. I also have a fresh 4L60 ready to go. Eventually, I'd love to put some dishes in it, slap some twins on it and really go nuts, but for right now I just plan to put the TSP 233/239 Cam kit in the engine and leave everything else stock. From what I have seen and what TSP tells me, I should be able to get around 400 rwhp and 380-400 rwtq with a good tune. I have the factory computer that has already been "universalized". I have read a lot about the stock LQ9 intake not fitting under our hoods...but the measurements I have taken show that it should fit under a 3.5" cowl hood. Obviously, I wont know for sure until I can mock it up, but I cant see how it wont fit. I totally get that the LS6 intake looks a million times cooler and cleaner, but I cant justify spending the money for an intake, rails, TB, Injectors, plus all the accessory relocation stuff when the stock intake makes more power than all but the LSX-R.
Advice and Experience welcome!
Then there's the paint and body. Once the roller is all mocked up and ready to go, Im gonna gut it again and have the whole thing blasted to see how deep the cancer goes. There are a few spots that are worrysome...But overall, I don't think she is too bad!