Project Intro: 68 Camaro "Cha Ching"

[Gmachine1911]

Originally Posted by DT69Cam

How is the fit ?? Trimming required ?? Holes line up etc ?? Thx.

Originally Posted by DT69Cam

How is the fit ?? Trimming required ?? Holes line up etc ?? Thx.

The fit's not bad. It's probably not much worse then repro parts but then again, you don't buy these parts expecting not to have to put forth some effort. The only holes you have to drill are the inner fender support brace holes and the holes for bolting it to the core support. I'd honestly rather they didn't drill any holes, especially the ones on top where it attaches to the inner structure of the front fenders. I did had to shave a little off the area where the rear of the passenger upper control arm pivots but otherwise I'm happy. I got the ECM and heater/AC lines secured and ready to mount the front fender.

I also ordered some new door hinges and latch mechanisms today as I've noticed the door hinges have some play and they've been re-bushed enough times I wanna start fresh (plus they're missing the detent arm and springs so it's a PITA the work on it with the doors open). I'll probably wait til I get those parts in this week to hang the front fender back on and at least save myself some time on one side. Either way, gotta have it back together for the Driveautox event at NCM this weekend.

[Gmachine1911]

Here's a good shot the shows the shape of the inners...

[Gmachine1911]

So I got the Anvil inner fenders installed and I must say, I quite happy with them. It's not a simple drop in but the overall fit is quite good. When I did the driver's side, I jumped the gun on thinking I had to re-drill some holes to get the alignment right but after moving to the passenger side, things went quite smooth. After completing that side, I went back to the driver's side with some newfound knowledge and readjusted everything and all the holes lined up quite nicely.

If I had to give someone advice on these I'd say to take your time and don't get in a rush to re-drill any holes. I did have to trim the inner opening at the back of the upper control arms on both side for clearance but nothing major. The additional clearance these things have at the outer wheel opening is crazy, they basically turn straight up from the mounting flange

I finished prepping it for the Drive Autox event tomorrow and took it for a spin. No craziness but with some hard 90° turns and softer shock settings, there's no rubbing so far. I'll know for sure after tomorrow! Here's a pic of the finished product.

[Gmachine1911]

https://youtu.be/OzOegLevPxg

https://youtu.be/eVVXY-GdkmM

Here's some footage from the Optima DriveAutoX event at NCM. Drove the car down 2.5 hrs, thrashed on it all day and drove it home. Happy to report there were no issues. The car is definitely more capable then the driver at this point but I'm learning quickly how much I can push and where the limitations are.

For anyone wondering, the DriveAutoX events offer excellent bang for your buck. They're cheap compared to other Optima events and the seat time at NCM was ridiculous! There were only 35 cars there and they start you while the previous car is finishing up so things move at a brisk pace. I lost track of how many runs I got, but it was aprox 13-14...that was just Saturday! The atmosphere was great and the focus was on having fun and driving. Everything was well organized as well and they had volunteers working the track so no one had to shag cones, etc. It was the perfect setup for someone like myself who needs seat time. If one is scheduled close to you, it's worth checking out!

[67_camaroRS]

Originally Posted by Gmachine1911

More brake lines...I bought the Eastwood line flaring tool and I must say it does a great job. The stainless is tough as nails but makes for a good workout!
The goal was to keep the lines as symmetrical and close to the firewall as possible without interfering in the removal of any parts down the road. It's crazy how much time (and money) I've spent just searching for/buying small detail items like clips, clamps, etc. if anyone has a source, I need some 3/16" twin brake line clamps preferably aluminum that will hold two lines side by side. I've seen them all over but for some reason they've been avoiding me in my search.

Side note: like an idiot, I never did delete the wiring harness holder from the firewall. That's from all the back and forth on the wiper harness. Indecisiveness is the enemy of progress.

Quick question, What hydraulic system are you using? i remember you told me at first you used the American powertrain hydramax setup but then went with something else.

[Gmachine1911]

Originally Posted by 67_camaroRS

Quick question, What hydraulic system are you using? i remember you told me at first you used the American powertrain hydramax setup but then went with something else.

Yeah, my transmission kit came from American Powertrain but in retrospect, I should've piece-parted it out since I didn't end up using half of what I bought. I didn't use their crossmember, bought one from Bowler. Didn't use their clutch MC, used a newer Camaro GM unit and cut the rod to the proper length along with the DSE firewall mount. I ended up using one of Bowler's billet MC reservoirs instead of the one that came in my kit, etc. There's nothing wrong with their kit, I just didn't care for the generic appearance of some of the parts and felt like I could get stuff that looked more thought out.

[67_camaroRS]

Originally Posted by Gmachine1911

Yeah, my transmission kit came from American Powertrain but in retrospect, I should've piece-parted it out since I didn't end up using half of what I bought. I didn't use their crossmember, bought one from Bowler. Didn't use their clutch MC, used a newer Camaro GM unit and cut the rod to the proper length along with the DSE firewall mount. I ended up using one of Bowler's billet MC reservoirs instead of the one that came in my kit, etc. There's nothing wrong with their kit, I just didn't care for the generic appearance of some of the parts and felt like I could get stuff that looked more thought out.

The little details are what matter the most. You definitely have an eye for it. Another question, the shifter you are using is that an 8, 10, or 12-inch shifter? Thanks

[Gmachine1911]

Originally Posted by 67_camaroRS

The little details are what matter the most. You definitely have an eye for it. Another question, the shifter you are using is that an 8, 10, or 12-inch shifter? Thanks

Well thank you! That's one good thing about doing things Johnny Cash style, you have plenty of time in between while you're saving up money for the next step to decide how you wanna do it and change around minor details as you go! The shifter is Finch's 8" stick...nice piece, too.

[Gmachine1911]

Had a great time at Holley LS Fest last weekend. I didn't realize there were limited spots for the autocross so I missed out on that, however, it was still a blast with perfect weather and great scenery. Couldn't help but snap a few shots...

[Gmachine1911]

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