No name 69 Camaro

[john1793]

It only took another couple of years and I don't want to think about how much money or man hours, but I have a driveable car now!

• I opted for a stock LS3 over the Mast, about half the price and plenty for me to learn the car and opt for more power in the future. I did add a sexy Speedtech oil pan, though. Also added a remote filter because that's what racecars have, right?
• The car will break loose the cheap roll around 275 section tires through 3rd gear, but it does it in a nice straight line
• I opted for manual dual cylinder brakes which actually do a pretty good job with the right masters and pedal ratios. Braking is straight and uneventful
• Sweet 600 series steering box with .250 valving, nice and heavy at speed with lots of feedback, and manageable in the parking lot
• Chassisworks 6 point cage and downbars under the hood
• OMP steering wheel, harness, and WRC-R seats
• Custom exhaust with dual center exit, kinda like an E-type or Porsche GT3... this was actually a surprise by the guy that did my exhaust, and I really like it. It's definitely different.
• I have skipped gauges for now and while I have a mechanical oil pressure gauge, the rest live in a google nexus tablet I had laying around running the Torque Pro app and a $60 Bluetooth OBDII sensor.

It's a fun lightweight car right now with half the interior still missing. The heating system needs work, and there are random bits to finish up, but I drove it all last week, even when it got cold and snowed here in Seattle!

I actually didn't take any pictures of the final product, I was too busy driving it, but I'll get some up here before long. I can't say thanks enough to everyone who documented so many things on this forum. I'm still learning a ton and look forward to sharing what I've learned and have yet to figure out! Thanks!

[Spiffav8]

Sounds like a lot of smart choice and money well spent. Maximum smile factor for sure. Congrats on getting it finished and back on the road. THAT'S HUGE!!!!

Yeah...you have to post pictures!

[WSSix]

x2 need pictures!

Congrats on getting the car running and driving. Have fun with it!

[john1793]

Pictures before the exhaust was installed and before the car was lowered a bit more and aligned. It still has the 90's chrome bit beneath the windshield, but one of the fellows at the shop used a spray plastic flat black to black out the bumpers and I kinda like it, I may black out all the chrome except the windshield and the rear glass. I wasn't going to do too much cosmetically, but little things end up making a differenceWe'll see, still in progress



.

[john1793]

I hadn't realized that it has been 5 yrs since the last update...

I went through the Ron Sutton experience, and was well invested before I learned of the debacle that resulted with other folks. I continued down the path, and ended up relocating the upper and lower control arms, added ATS uprights, Wilwood Aero6 brakes, Forgeline wheels with r888r's, and lots of tuning.

Ron took a year to get back to me with all the specs, and eventually parts, and then the build process took a lot of back and forth and staying on top of him, but the end result is actually really, really good. I did a track day at the Ridge over in Shelton, WA, and the car really handles well.

It would have been a lot less painful, and probably less expensive to just get a complete subframe from Speedtech (I have their torque arm and it is fantastic).

Live and learn...

Next is some more weight shedding. The car is ~3250 with me and a full tank of gas in it. I'd like to get it down around 3000, so I'm looking into composite hood, trunk, Lexan rear window, removing inner fenders (perhaps composite fenders), and getting some weight out of the doors.

Photo is of my car, an instructor's GT3RS, and a buddy's awesome ramp truck

[john1793]

* the Ron experience was a few years ago, now...

[Che70velle]

Car looks great. Ron did my shocks, I guess 5ish years ago now. The experience was good for me, but that was before he actually got really busy, and it all went to $hi7. Good to hear the car works well and that you are enjoying it.

[WSSix]

x2 I'm glad you're out enjoying the car. It still looks great!

[Roscoe03]

The car is looking awesome! Can't wait to see the upgrades.

[214Chevy]

Car looks very nice. Love the wheels.