69 Camaro Part Deaux

[Zoomin]

When I bought this little gem back in 92, it was Lemans Blue with a white vinyl top, a non-original 350 2bbl backed by a powerglide and an open rear end. I bought it from the original owners who decided to sell it as it was becoming more ncreasingly difficult to make the drive from OK to MT to visit their daughter.

I drove the car as I purchased it for a few years and my son drove it to high school for a couple years before heading off to college, when I decided to repossess it. It had drum brakes on all corners and I decided to change the front drums to disk. Turns out I was about to learn a lesson about "may as well" disease is, first hand - the documented falling domino syndrome where project creep rapidly expands because it's so much easier to do things while you have things apart.

Well, the project didn't end until it had disk brakes on all four corners. A 9" rear with posi, connected to an aluminum headed 454 and TH400 tranny, Coddington Timeless 17" wheels. All in a brand new sparkling black paint job.

That little project took 4 years to complete and I enjoyed going to shows with it, but it turns out that while it was pretty fun to drive it a straight line, it had other issues like heeling over like a bulldog at a fire hydrant. I really hadn't paid too much attention to handling. It was also pretty thirsty which ruled out any Power Tour activities.

I have since completed a few other projects and the Camaro spent a lot of time locked away in a storage unit, and the cycles of summer heat and cold winters took a toll on the paint - causing splits in the filler that was used in copious amounts.

As fate would have it, Kyle with Laid Back Recreations had a nice small block 406 that came out of a C10 project he was doing he offered for sale and I bought it not knowing for sure what I would do with it at the time.

The 66 Buick Skylark that Kyle and I did really showed me how much fun these old cars can be when you get the pro touring goodies bolted in place. One day I'll get a full frame and LS in the Camaro, but for now the plan is to bolt in the 406 with a Fi-tech throttle body injection setup and couple that with a 700R4. A full RideTech HQ coil over set up will be used with 4 link and Tru Turn. A set of Detroit Speed mini tubs are going in to cover up a set of 19x12 Billet Specialties Wedge wheels.

Here's how "Darth" looked when I loaded him up for the trip to LBR

[Zoomin]

It's still a work in progress. The engine is in.



Got the FiTech unit






And the fuel tank from Tanks, Inc

[jmking9]

I'll be following along. I've got a 68 that I'm planning on using a lot of the same parts. Post lots of pics!

[Zoomin]

Originally Posted by jmking9

I'll be following along. I've got a 68 that I'm planning on using a lot of the same parts. Post lots of pics!

Very cool to have you aboard. Here's a pic you might find useful when you wire up your fuel sender and pump. I got these from Tanks too.

[tune_1]

Great to see another project and the work Kyle does. Looking forward to the rest.

Dwight

[Zoomin]

Installing the DSE tubs


Marked the areas to be cut...



Look at how clean the inside of the frame rail is - was real happy to see that.







Old tub vs new, this gives an idea of the additional room

[tommys72]

im gonna have to watch this one

[Dieselwrencher]

Very nice 69 Camaro! I have had a couple 69 Camaros but never got to drive either one before I sold them and now they are crazy money. Oh well, I'll just watch you improve yours!

[Zoomin]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Very nice 69 Camaro! I have had a couple 69 Camaros but never got to drive either one before I sold them and now they are crazy money. Oh well, I'll just watch you improve yours!

If only we could go back in time, right?

Got the tubs in place



And with that done, we put the wheels in place so we could measure for the Quick Performance 9" rear. Got that order in, should have it next week.

[Dieselwrencher]

That rear end is coming from not too far from me. Great guys that do great work. They did the rear end in my Vette. You'll be happy with it!

[Zoomin]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

That rear end is coming from not too far from me. Great guys that do great work. They did the rear end in my Vette. You'll be happy with it!

Yes they do - this is the second rear I've bought from them, and I really like that Mike gave me his personal cell number and told me to call if I had any questions. Super guy.

The Camaro had a rear end from a 79 Lincoln Versailles which I got because it was an easy way to get disk brakes, parking brakes and a narrowed rear end pretty cheap in one cheap package. Turns out I could get a new housing and axle package cheaper than narrowing this one, money better spent on upgrading to Wilwood 13".

Today Kyle's turned his attention to the front end. The front fender is off to have the paint repaired which makes this the perfect time to pull the suspension and engine. The engine is going to be repainted and the RideTech TruTurn system installed.





The brake booster and master are going to be replaced with a manual Wilwood unit.





Coil overs, Strong Arms, drop spindles installed.

[tune_1]

Looks great.

Dwight

[trixter99]

What's up withe scratchy looking repair on the sub frame

[CG]

Id love to see a before shot of this car if you have one.

[Zoomin]

Originally Posted by trixter99

What's up withe scratchy looking repair on the sub frame

That was a mount for the bump stop. It got carved in half, and when Part Trois gets going Darth will likely get a subframe replacement.

Originally Posted by CG

Id love to see a before shot of this car if you have one.

So would I! I'm going to have to dig deep to find one.



Here's a look at the brains of the TruTurn setup. The center link gets a brace that relocates the tie rods to eliminate bump steer, in conjunction with special steering arms and taller spindles. Really nice pieces.






Here's a look at the side with the fender still on it. This isn't ride height, the lift won't go any lower.

[Advanced Design]

Really nice upgrades going on with your Camaro and I am in to follow along for the rest.

Zoomin, I do have a question on the tank plumbing since the same tank is going in my build. Are the vents plumbed together? Is that a check valve on the hoses going to the vents?

Thank you!

[Zoomin]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Really nice upgrades going on with your Camaro and I am in to follow along for the rest.

Zoomin, I do have a question on the tank plumbing since the same tank is going in my build. Are the vents plumbed together? Is that a check valve on the hoses going to the vents?

Thank you!

Hi Doug

Yes, the vents are plumbed together. The Y connector is supplied by Tanks with the fuel pump. No check valve, just a vent.

[Zoomin]

A vent valve is included with the sender, to allow air in as fuel is used and to let air out as the tank is filled. It also will not let gas out of that line if upside down.

[Advanced Design]

Thanks Steve! Mine came from Tanks so the parts are probably in the box.

[Zoomin]

Originally Posted by Zoomin

A vent valve is included with the sender, to allow air in as fuel is used and to let air out as the tank is filled. It also will not let gas out of that line if upside down.

*** edit ***

The vent valve comes with the pump, not the sender.

[aggie91]

I liked how this one started. But the upgrades are going to make it much nicer to drive.

[Zoomin]

Karl, I sure hope so! In the previous version, it was far more fun to take to an occasional car show than the drive getting there and back was. Looking forward to doing some power touring.

The rear end and axles from Quick Performance arrived this week. Kyle got the perches welded on so the Ride Tech four link installation is underway. Unfortunately some overzealous welding from the previous build has complicated things a bit. Kyle has to do some fabrication to the frame rails to get things to fit.

[youngrodder]

Great looking car Zoomin..Check out Dutchboys Hotrods.
http://dutchboyshotrods.com/
It's my friends shop here in MI and they build primarily 1st gen Camaros. They use DSE goodies and the Joe (my friends dad and part owner) worked for DSE for a few years...

I dig your car. .

Marc

[Zoomin]

I'm familiar with those guys, Marc. They do some awesome stuff for sure.

[Zoomin]

Kyle made some progress on installing the 4 link setup today. He had to weld on tabs for the rear sway bar