The vision on this one has been all over the place.
The first plan was a stock subframe, leaf springs and a wet sump LS7. Kind of an over the fender build, quick and cheap. I struggled with the cars history and what to do with it. I couple of the past owner did just that. I am attempting to get the rest of the cars history. It is clear it has had a lot of engines, transmission and driveshafts in it. It has had a rough life.
Once we got the car to Sled Alley and really dug into the car its rough history came to light. The rust free floor pans was bent up so bad that the seat pans were bent and the transmission tunnel had a dog leg in it. After a lot of discussion with Matt at Sled Alley he convinced me the best way to get the car back straight again was a new floor pan. Crazy to cut out a rust free floor pan, but the is what we did. He convinced me it would be quicker, cheaper and better.
The next area to fix was the pop rivet “Mini Tub” job. After measuring everything up it looked like to easiest and best way to fix it was just do a full DSE Quadra Link and Mini Tub inner wheel houses. The DSE lager inner wheel wheels barely filled in the old cut outs. The Quadra Line cross member fixed the old odd shock holes in the trunk.
At this point is where my “Cheap over the fender build” went out the window. We were into a full build. Might as well fix it and make it the way I want.
I like to take my cars to the track. I love the way my old Camaros drove and looked. I’ve always been very happy how the DSE front subframe worked. So, we swapped to the DSE sub frame.
This is where the scope creep really started. Well if we are going to do a DSE chassis we should make it fully track capable.
The plan as of now:
Keep the patina paint but fix the chips and minor damage.
The car is 99% rust free
Paint the floor pans and the engine bay to look crisp and clean
Stock LS7 (Z 2/8 Spec) with faker BBC valve covers.
Air cleaner that connects to the stock hood – Stockish looking
Stock BBC Heater Box put with Vintage Air
Dry sump system
Tremec t-56
Stock looking simi-Custom Dakota Digital dash
Stoptech Brakes
Keep the stock 12 bolt
Forgeline Wheels 18X10 front and 18X12 rear
ABS
Recaro Seats
Kind of like my last builds but a little less power to keep the BBC look under the hood. I also want to try to make it quiet. I loved Apex, Gunner, Jackass and Hellfire but they are drove me nuts on long trips. Too loud. My Blazer is old man quiet. I love it for long trips. On a side note all my old cars would not pass the sound check at my local road race track (Waterford Hills) My goal is for it to pass the sound level there.
I know the drag race guys are going to hate me not keeping it a drag car, but I’m not a drag racer. We do this hobby to have fun. I’m going to build it the way I want it. I purchased the car because I loved the look of it with the patina paint, the factory endura bumper, the factory cowl hood and the rear deck spoiler. I did not really understand the history until I got it. The history is way cool but not the reason I purchased it. I’m going to fix all the cars past sins and make it better.
Sorry, but I love the look of a 1969 Camaro with 275/35R18 tires on the front and 335/30R18 on the rear. I’m going to pay homage to the history of the car by keeping the engine bay looking like a BBC and the stockish dash.
I like driving and tracking my cars so that is the way I’m going to build it.
Brian Hobaugh SCCA National Tour June 2014
First Hemi 'Cuda Convertible Ever Built
Short clips: Goodguys Pleasanton autocross and pit videos
Hybrid Mode
