This post is probably way premature but whatever, I'm too impatient (and sick right now) to care

"No, I don't thank you for the fish at all" (notindetroit) 08/30/2016 at 14:22 • Filed to: None

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So finally it looks like I might be very slowly baby-crawling up to some semblance of a career right now. That said the pace is agonizingly slow, there’s no guarantees, the anxiety is thick !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! to the point where I’ve had a nightmare or two about it over the past few days and I have no idea if or when I’ll see any disposable income, but that’s not really the point of this post, that’s just background. The real point of this post is that one of the things I’d like to do with said disposable income is actually get into some Oppo-related activities like buy a project car.

Very high on my list is a second-gen Camaro, I originally wanted a 70-74 but after talking with people about it on Oppo like t_l I’ve decided if I really want a split-bumper that bad just get whatever model year is convenient and I’m going to be replacing the rear quarters anyway and I don’t care about originality (maybe I’ll get two ‘79s because despite the derpy front polymer bumper it has its charms too in a late 70s kind of vibe). The reason why I don’t care about originality is because I want to do some extreme things to it - like swap out the entire front clip, trunklid and door skins for fiberglass or even carbon-fiber repops for weight distribution (yes I bought into all the Miata/BMW hype and am obsessed with 50/50 now) and put a twin-turbo Nissan VQ/VR37 in it (not so much for just being unique and putting a JDM engine in an American pony car as so much as, again, I’m hoping that V6 will help with weight distribution while keeping big-block power on-tap. I thought about putting in a GM Atlas I6 in there but it turns out it won’t fit and it’s not much lighter than iron-block GM I6s). Needless to say that’s going to involve a lot of skill I might never end up acquiring.

But then I rewatched the episode of Wheeler Dealers where they do a four-door Bel Air, and despite the apparent “truthiness” problems of the show it seems like something that might be doable, especially since four-door ‘57s are quite affordable.

Or motorcycle, whatever.

Captain of the Enterprise > No, I don't thank you for the fish at all 08/30/2016 at 14:37

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Cool

lone_liberal > No, I don't thank you for the fish at all 08/30/2016 at 14:38

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One thing to keep in mind is that about second gens is that the front fenders and such stayed the same until ‘77 but after that they are different. Also the back glass of a 70-73 (74s have big bumpers) is different than the later ones. It is smaller and doesn’t wrap around the C pillar. Not huge things but something to keep in mind if you’re trying to recreate a look with a later car.

Die-Trying > No, I don't thank you for the fish at all 08/30/2016 at 14:47

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those are a whole lot of nice “dreams” you have there...........but mo$t of them co$t lot$ of monie$.......... not that there is anything wrong with that...... as the owner of about 5, maybe 6 ongoing project cars,(that may NEVER be done) i’d like to give you some advice............

at least to start out............

pick ONE car. set reasonable, attainable goals. build what you enjoy, not whats trendy. on important things spend the money once. do as much of the work that you can safely do yourself. build it in a thought out planned manner.(dont paint it before the mechanicals are done). dont get caught up in pricey trendy buzzword hype(twin turbo,carbonfiber)..........

in fact, if you can manage it...... find something that already runs. and keep it so its not down for more than a week at a time.

just dumb advice...........

your money, your car, your dreams.

its just nice to get to actually drive your project. and not have it be a sculpture.........

crowmolly > Die-Trying 08/30/2016 at 15:01

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Assuming 100% carbon fiber, a hood, deck lid, fenders, and inner fenders will be around $8850.

Die-Trying > crowmolly 08/30/2016 at 15:15

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and if it were an “ALL OUT” competition machine, where every last bit of weight mattered, then it would be money well spent...... something that you are just bombing around on the streets in...... not so much....... much better places to spend monies.

adds up quick......

crowmolly > Die-Trying 08/30/2016 at 15:16

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Yeah. Save weight by going to CF vs putting, say, $7500 into the powertrain.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > No, I don't thank you for the fish at all 09/02/2016 at 12:16

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Just saw this, but I have a random thought that may get your wheels turning - GM makes/made a 4.3L 90 degree V6 that is basically a small block Chevy with 2 cylinders lopped off. They were kind of doggy stock, I think the best ones made right around 200 HP, although they did make a 250+ Turbo version in the Syclone/Typhoon trucks.

But it has so many advantages in this application - since it’s based on a first gen SBC, parts are plentiful and cheap. It uses SBC rods, pistons, rings, bearings, valves, valve springs, lifters, pushrods, timing drive, accessories. They also use regular SBC motor mounts so it should be very easy to shoehorn one in. They also use the standard V8 transmission bellhousing pattern so you have a huge range of available transmission options.

In addition to their use in S-10s and other pickups which are fun to hop up, they were used these in lower level NASCAR feeder series, like ARCA, so theres a big building & tuning knowledge base for these specifically, on top of a lot of 350 SBC knowledge that applies. GMPP and the aftermarket offered some speed parts like aluminum heads, you could get them carb’d or fuel injected.

Hot Rod magazine built one back in the early 2000's that was making over 300HP N/A with a carburetor and eventually they added a blow-through box and supercharger and were making something liek 550HP. I think the Syclone and Typhoon guys have been able to get similarly impressive numbers modifying their factory turbo setups.