Chad's 68 Camaro V3.0 build. LS3 & TCI goodies

[Chad-1stGen]

Been trying to make my way over to this site more often so I figured I'd throw up my build here too.

Version 1.0 of my 68 Camaro was a great car. In fact between V1.0 and 3.0 your average person looking at the car won't notice a huge difference. On the street there won't be a huge difference. However, like many on this site I can't leave well enough alone and after owning the car for 5 years I'm doing an even bigger upgrade than V2.0 was.

V1.0 had the equivalent of a Hotchkis TVS kit with 16 TTII wheels, EFI, 6 speed and was a great street car. Here is a pic.


However, after attending my first track day in 2009 I wanted MORE. So Version 2.0 consisted of ATS AFX spindles, SPC upper and lower control arms, C6 Z51 front brakes, 18" wheels with better rubber and eventually an adjustable rear bar to give me better handling. I did a post on that round of upgrades over on PT.com

Here is one of my favorite shots V2.0 in action:

So

After getting more and more into track days I've embarked on Version 3.0 of my car. Current planned upgrades are:

MORE POWA!!! In the form of:
- Mast Motorsports LS3 427. Have already picked this up off of craigslist, never installed.

Better Handling!!!! In the form of:
- TCI engineering front subframe with double adjustable coil overs and 13" 6 piston willwoods.
- TCI engineering rear torque arm with double adjustable coil overs and 13" 4 piston willwoods.
At the same time I will be swapping out my 8.5" 10 bolt to a 12 bolt but keeping the 3.73 ratio and posi.

I really wanted to run more tire up front and already had some slight rubbing issues with my V2.0 set up. I've seen TCI kick but with their car at a variety of autocrosses and RTTC and appreciate the bang for the buck of that set up. And since I'm swapping out the rear and suspension now was the time if ever to mini tub. So that is what I'm doing. Target is to run 275 front tire and 315 rear tire on 18" rims. Because I also am upgrading to FIKSE Profil 5S wheels I did a 9.5" front and 11.5" rear rim to allow me to go 285 up front evenutally and switch between 315 and 335 out back.

I wasn't exactly suffering traction problems in the rear, rather I continued to suffer from too much understear for my tastes. However, with the addition of another 250 horsepower from the engine upgrade the mini tub seemed like a good idea.

I will hopefully be posting lots of pics as the build progresses.

[Chad-1stGen]

As I mentioned above I've decided to do a Mini Tub. However, I somewhat agonized over this decision and figuring out the logistics for it took a lot longer than I expected. The cost of the Mini Tub is very high in relation to the overall project budget and handling wise my most important goal was to get larger rubber up front, not necessarily in the back lol.

But the decision was made and after a quick trip to Classic Industries to pick up a set of DSE mini tubs I dropped the car off at Pomona Valley Customs. These guys were recommended by TCI and are close to the TCI shop so I am hoping to pick up the car and suspension parts at the same time lol.

Quick tip. Anyone else in SoCal who wants to get their hands on DSE mini tubs in a quick period of time classic industries stocks them and did price mach the $350 advertised price of DSE for me (otherwise they are $389).

So PVC sent me some progress pics today which is why I decided to finally start my project thread. I don't have the fab skills or desire to try on a car as clean as mine (not to mention no welder...) so I knew from the beginning I'd be hiriing this part of the job out.

Here is my trunk after 5 years under the trunk mat. Still nice and clean though


This is them starting on the 2nd tub. Looks like a plasma cutter.


Cutting out the passenger side tub and part of the trunk pan. Goodbye shock mounts!


Frame rail narrowed:


DSE wheel tub going in:




Shot of the new tub against the frame rail:


I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product including what the welds look like. I'm also tempted to pay for the sub frame and torque arm install. Even though I can do that work myself it's going to be tough in my tiny garage and I've been having chronic back pain since January. I can throw my back out putting on shoes :/

[MaxHarvard]

Nice work!

Btw, that's a spot weld drill bit, not a plasma cutter in his hand, I believe

[Rybar]

Nice upgrades, seems like alot of people are upgrading thier already done rides including me with DSE mini-tubs and suspension changes.

Keep us posted, I love threads like this.

EDIT: We just need Payton King to post in this thread and that makes 4 for 4 on guys doing this

[DriverzInc]

Chad,
Who's the hottie posing on your car on your Cardomain page?

[Cris@JCG]

Nice list of upgrades their Chad! Looking forward to the progress..

[Flash68]

Originally Posted by DriverzInc

Chad,
Who's the hottie posing on your car on your Cardomain page?

You will find her at many open track days like at Willow Springs

She made many a Mustang owner jealous when we were out there with our Chivies

[Chad-1stGen]

Originally Posted by DriverzInc

Chad,
Who's the hottie posing on your car on your Cardomain page?

Ha ha. Well like Dave said, she attends a lot of track days with Extreme Speed Track Events.

Her name is Nicole Rayburn. She is a model and actress. Here is a pic for the viewing masses...

[Cris@JCG]

I have never wanted to be a rocker panel more in life than today!

Originally Posted by Chad-1stGen

Ha ha. Well like Dave said, she attends a lot of track days with Extreme Speed Track Events.

Her name is Nicole Rayburn. She is a model and actress. Here is a pic for the viewing masses...

[waynieZ]

Very Nice, both the car and Nicole! Your doing some nice up grades.