69 Camaro v2.0 - Project "Major Havoc"

[chr2002ca]

The next few months
So the cage and interior will be installed over this next month along with a few new extra gauges and the center console which will need to be revised for the manual shifter. Then the minor rear suspension changes and Aeromotive gas tank the following month. Then probably the new wheels and tires in September/October. I was going to keep my Budniks and just have them rehooped, but the cost to rehoop and get the tires unmounted/remounted is a little pricey. It’s at that price where it’s almost the same cost to just get new wheels and tires and sell my current ones if I can fetch a decent price. Still undecided on it and pricing out my options. After the wheels and tires get resolved, I’ll finally be ready to concentrate on the engine and manual transmission which was supposed to be the original scope of Version 2.0.

Almost forgot, here’s what started all of this
I already have the new ZL Engine block. That’s actually what started this whole fiasco. It’s a gorgeous hunk-a-metal as Todd Akes can attest to(although he heard about my project and immediately put his car up for sale so he wouldn’t have to go up against a faster ZL1-powered Camaro ):




Can’t wait to get that built out and watch it run on the dyno and see what she produces. That’ll probably start late this year unless our ‘creating-a-family’ adventure continues to sap the life out of us. Since the new motor will be partially blue to match the car and will be a ZL motor, I’m giving her the name ‘BlueZiLLa’. Even got the mascot ready to go as you can see in the photo(yah, I was really bored one day). Not quite the ‘monster’ like other motors nowadays, but hey, it’s enough monster to get my sorry arse in trouble.

New Badging
Also had a chance to swap out my ZZ454 fender badges with a ZL489 badge. I grabbed the ZL letters from the new ZL1 Camaro and found some vintage numbers to go along with it. I like the new look. It’s not as big as it appears in the photo. About the same size as the previous.

Before:


After:

[Rybar]

Very cool updates Chris!

[chr2002ca]

Originally Posted by Rybar

Very cool updates Chris!

Thanks Ryan. Your updates to your gorgeous ride actually gave me some much needed inspiration to make some of my own. Still lovin' those Fikse's you acquired.

[mdprovee]

Chris,

I like the direction you are going. Great explanations so far.

I am too at the point of a roll bar. I want a four point harness for play days, but still need to get my two kids in the back seat. They enjoy the car too. I am on the fence between DSE and the Tiger Cage. Please take lots of pictures, including how the bars fit in the trunk, and connect to the package tray. Both are done in my car, so I want to see what I need to modify.

Also the inner fenders, did you have to pull your outer fenders to install the new inners? I too want to get 275s up front.

Thanks

[chr2002ca]

Originally Posted by mdprovee

Chris,

I like the direction you are going. Great explanations so far.

I am too at the point of a roll bar. I want a four point harness for play days, but still need to get my two kids in the back seat. They enjoy the car too. I am on the fence between DSE and the Tiger Cage. Please take lots of pictures, including how the bars fit in the trunk, and connect to the package tray. Both are done in my car, so I want to see what I need to modify.

Also the inner fenders, did you have to pull your outer fenders to install the new inners? I too want to get 275s up front.

Thanks

Sure Mike, I'll take lots of pictures of the cage install and post them here. I had the same line of thinking about rear seat functionality as you do when I decided to go with it. As for the fender question, because of everything I was changing in the front end(core support also), I basically had to disassemble the whole front end, including pulling the outer fenders. I've heard you can change the inner fenders without pulling the outers, but it's supposedly not simple to do and most people said you should pull the outers if you want to avoid trouble. Carbon will scratch easy so I think it might be best to go the safe route, but I'd definitely do some more research on that innner fender removal/install process. I think there are some other threads on TeamCamaro and other sites that debate that same question.

[Al Moreno]

Chris, great job on the upgrades, keep it up. It's going to feel like a new car for sure

[Ron in SoCal]

Fantastic Chris (and about time you came out of the closet). Love your car and everything you do is top notch!

[chr2002ca]

Originally Posted by Ron in SoCal

Fantastic Chris (and about time you came out of the closet). Love your car and everything you do is top notch!

Thanks Ron. So sorry it took me so long to get this build thread started. Hopefully I made up for it by being overly detailed. Anxiously looking forward to your next post to your thread. You've got to be getting close now.

[Flash68]

Chris, yes!

Love your planning methods... and you don't follow down the paths of others unless you are convicted in it.... I can't always say that about myself and most others...

I definitely would tread lightly with that SS700 Keisler deal.... esp after the way the RS600 fiasco went.... but I know you are monitoring it.

Goal for timeframe for completion?

[Vegas69]

I'm passing the torch, buddy. You are methodical in your planning and execution. I'm really liking your decisions and sticking to your guns on what you want. That ZL-1 with injection is going to be sweet! I'll miss my engine more than anything when my car goes down the road.

I really hate to say it, but that car needs a mini tub. Those 275's don't have a chance in hell.