1973 Camaro "Project Pumpkin"

[protour73]

Great score...... I'm glad I talked you into it!!!

It's similar to my first '73, except mine was a 3 speed with no spoilers in Light Copper.

Let the spending begin!!!

[Rick D]

Originally Posted by protour73

Great score...... I'm glad I talked you into it!!!

It's similar to my first '73, except mine was a 3 speed with no spoilers in Light Copper.

Let the spending begin!!!

Yeah you had me on the phone for hours talking me into it

And you of all people know that the spending has started and finished already!!

Oh and this one is cleaner then yours!! Lol

[214Chevy]

Rick, great score on the 2nd gen. I fully understand building the car on a budget, but just make sure the car gets its due justice. It's a certain amount of respect a car like deserves. Now, with that being said...let's go!!

[Rick D]

Originally Posted by 214Chevelle

Rick, great score on the 2nd gen. I fully understand building the car on a budget, but just make sure the car gets its due justice. It's a certain amount of respect a car like deserves. Now, with that being said...let's go!!

Thanks Marcus! Don't worry it will be a great car that's for sure.

[syborg tt]

I think this post should be a Sticky in Project Threads.

Originally Posted by FETorino

Rick

Stick to your statement and build it modular. Don't take it off the road for more than a week at a time unless you suddenly are willing to spend

Take a look at Siegs car. He has a nice ride that he has kept on the road (most of the time) and has made some key upgrades without breaking the bank or stalling his progress.

I can't argue with jumping on a 6 speed conversion. I would jump on that right off.

The car is a 20 footer or better so even though you can do paint leave it alone until you are done slinging big parts into and out of it. Just get rid of those dam bumperettes.

Take Gae's advice and put together a budgeted plan. Start with the $$ you are willing to spend and prioritize your wants based on what fits within that number.

Then lay in wait for a bit. If you buy good second hand stuff you can resale it down the road if you step it up and it won't really cost you. Sure you may want new brakes first but if seats show up at a great price buy them first.

When you save some $$ from the budgeted number by scoring a good deal then you can reallocate that $$ to another upgrade on your project plan.

Bottom line is be disciplined about it. You just got out of one stalled project.

Wheels. For the first round wait for somebody who just bought a complete sub and tubbed their car to sell their "small wheels". I see nice looking wheel sets out there all the time. If you buy smart you can sell them if your project escalates. Bottom line JMO is don't buy them new because they are a big expense and their specs are dictated by so many pieces of the build you haven't settled on.

For you Camaro guys there are so many suspension options it make me dizzy. I don't pay that much attention to all the details of them for obvious reasons, are any of them modular? Can you do spindles and arms now with the stock sub and steering and later go full sub and rack? That way you can ease into it and get good brakes, that you can keep with future mods, on the car sooner than later. Doesn't the Ride Tech or Speedtech route allow you to do this?

Leave the stock rear diff alone for now. I'd target a rear suspension upgrade first. The front of a 2nd gen isn't terrible so look for a good deal to show itself for the rear. Save that $$ you want to dump on that 10 or 12 bolt to put it towards a nine inch.

Same with that motor. Clean it up and beat the snot out of it don't drop $$ into it.

You asked for opinions so you got mine.

BTW congratulations Charley Brown on finding the "great pumpkin" I hope your driving it today.

[Zspoiler]

It looks like it has a decent body so I wouldnt`t paint it till last. If it has a 8.5 10 bolt just freshen it up and add a "posi" . I have supercharged small block /Super T-10 combination in front of mine with just a couple of upgrades. A heavier duty carrier and 31 spline axels. On the suspension you can go a basic as using a Z-28 Suspension package to using a Vette Brakes C-4 Corvette suspension package like I did. There is quite a variety of both engine and suspension package out there .It depends on you and your check book.

[Flash68]

Originally Posted by syborg tt

I think this post should be a Sticky in Project Threads.

Like Rob needs a bigger head...

[Sieg]

Originally Posted by Flash68

Like Rob needs a bigger head...

Least he's got the car to pack it.............

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Originally Posted by Zspoiler

It looks like it has a decent body so I wouldnt`t paint it till last. If it has a 8.5 10 bolt just freshen it up and add a "posi" . I have supercharged small block /Super T-10 combination in front of mine with just a couple of upgrades. A heavier duty carrier and 31 spline axels. On the suspension you can go a basic as using a Z-28 Suspension package to using a Vette Brakes C-4 Corvette suspension package like I did. There is quite a variety of both engine and suspension package out there .It depends on you and your check book.

yep, keep it simple. These 2nd gens already have a great base. They respond well to good shocks, sway bars and stiff bushings on stock arms. The only reason I would use a tubular arm is to get that tire away from the wheel housing when adding caster. That would be a good lower with a stock upper arm and Del-alum bushings. The Hotchkis lower moves the lower ball joint forward for increased caster.

Nothing wrong with the spindles, Custom works likes to add a tall upper ball joint for increased camber gain so you can run a low static number.

Adding big brakes is easy but that comes with 18's.

Chat Keith up a bit when you are ordering your CF bumperetts....if you get rid of your bumper guards don't toss them. Put em up on ebay. Set of 4 might just pay for some of your build. Keith also has a nice subframe connector and front frame support kits too.

[Flash68]

Originally Posted by Sieg

Least he's got the car to pack it.............