79 Camaro build update

[silver63c10]

Holy thread resurrection Batman - time for a little update and some new plans!

The little Hellspawn Camaro is still kicking. After two and a half seasons of bracket racing, along with a total drivetrain overhaul finally done in my truck, we've finally gotten back to talk of the second phase of the project (and the relevant part to this site, oddly enough): Autocross and track days.

We'll be heading to the bracket finals with it in a few weeks, then serious discussions of the plan for next year will begin. Already have a posi going together to replace the spool, and a six speed from American Powertrain is likely next on the list.

So, the real question is: how crazy would it be to run an Optima qualifier and Drag Week in the same year?

And, what would an update be without a few pics?

[WSSix]

Nice pictures. I really like the burn out photo

[silver63c10]

Let's bring this back from the dead one more time - it's finally time to start hanging corners with this thing!

...



..well, it will be this summer sometime. Hopefully..you know how that goes.

So we made the decision going into winter last year that it was time to do something besides go in a straight line. We originally built the car to drag race, standing mile, and road race/autocross, with as much of the original build equipment as possible.

A few detours have come in along the way, but we're heading toward the autocross stage now (which will conveniently set us up for some mile racing as well).

So, what's on the list of things to do?

Engine refresh (check)
Ditch the TH350 trans (check)
Gear swap from 5.83s/spool to 4.86s/Torsen diff (check)
Brake flush/bleed (check)
Get a new manual trans since we sold the old one (check)
Faattt wheels and tires (partial check - 265/285 RS-3s to start)
Exhaust hangdownectomy to facilitate way lower ride height (soon)
Up the front spring rate
Handling alignment
Install brake bias adjuster
...
..and much more that I'm sure I'm forgetting



We opted to go with an American Powertrain TKO600 Extreme. We put a stock TKO in the car during the initial build, but found after 130 or so passes at the drag strip and a few thousand street miles, it wouldn't stand up to 7k+ shifts (as they said it wouldn't in the first place).

AP claims their upgrades to the TKO facilitate a higher power rating (not of concern to us just yet), and more importantly, much improved high RPM shifting (definitely of concern to us).

After several delays, phone calls, and other mishaps, it's finally in our possession and ready to be bled and tossed in with a new Lakewood bellhousing.



We plan on hitting the local autocrosses that I've been running in my 350Z daily driver, as well as at least the Texas USCA event in 2015. With homebuilt suspension, the high-winding, torque peaky 377 and all that gear, it should be an unholy terror.. and I can't wait to get a taste of it

[WSSix]

Good luck! sounds like a cool plan.

[silver63c10]

Quick update, after several slight roadblocks we are on the way to killing some cones.

Got to do a quick test drive yesterday and everything seems to be functioning normally. Need to do some alignment and corner balance work, get an oil cooler plumbed up, and a few other odds and ends and we'll be ready to disturb the peace.

Here's a quick video from yesterday's fun -

[CamaroMike]

Do you like the RS3's as much as I do? Car looks fun!

[silver63c10]

Thanks, it's an absolute blast to row it through the gears again.

The RS3s work exceptionally well on my 350Z, I love them. Sadly, they only go up to 285 though, so we'll have to switch once we step up to wider wheels on the Camaro.

Looking at the Rivals, Kumho XS, or Falkens, but haven't done much serious research yet.