Nagging 1st Gen Camaro Questions..

[Y-TRY]

I know this could belong on a dedicated Camaro site, but this seems to be pretty close..

There are two issues with my car that have ewxisted since day one and I can't figure them out. Maybe your experience can help me:

1) My clutch-fork goes into the bottom of the firewall. I've always had small blocks in the car with manual transmissions. Using either a stock or aftermarket bellhousing and/or fork, the fork pushes into the firewall behind it when depressed. It actually has pushed-in a hole about 5" wide and protrudes into the cabin-side by about 1.5 inches. This is with every fork/bellhousing combo I've had. For the pedal to have full range the firewall simply doesn't afford enough distance to allow for the fork. The frame-side engine mounts appear to be the right ones, and the engine seems to be sitting in the right place. Did automatic cars have a differently contoured firewall? Maybe I have a car that was later converted? If it weren't for the hole made by the fork, there's be no place for it to go. Depressing the clutch has just created a gaping hole. Have any of you seen this before?

2) The car sits crooked. I have talked with a few other Camaro guys who have the same problem. I thought that all the new suspension would alleviate any sagging or whatever, but the car still sits noticably higher to one side, when viewed from the rear. There is at least 1" difference between the tire/fender gaps between the sides. All of the body panels are straight and the gaps are even. I'm guessing that the rear subframe was tweaked prior to installing all the panels. It's almost like the suspension favors the passenger side so that they are even with a driver (only) in the car. Hmm.

I think these may be common issues seen by guys who restore these old cars, but I don't know. Any ideas? Any common stories?