Update on My '69 Camaro

[RichieB16]

OK, well as many of you know I am in the process of fixing up my 1969 Camaro.  I am making into a SS396 clone car with a not so stock 396ci V8.  The car had a 350 V8 in it when I got it and that had to come out.  The motor that is going in the car has about 400hp and will be going in and being broke in over the next few months.

Finally, the 350 came out this weekend (when I should have been studying for finals).  Here are some pics:

Here is the motor still in the car about to be pulled out.  This particular 350 is just a GM Goodwrench standard replacement motor for 1955-1987 vehicles that the previous owner put in it.  It has about 260hp which is not enough.  But, the motor is a good base for a future project (its a 4-bolt main motor).


Here is another shot of it.  Thats me on the far side of the car and I am talking to my father who has his back to the camara.  Also, in the background (to my left) you can see the new motor sitting against the wall.  It's painted chevy orange (rather than ugly black).


Just another pic.


This is what happens when my sister gets a hold of my camara and I am somewhat bored.


Almost out


Finally out.  Thats me on the right and my dad to the left.


Anyway, so the motor is out now.  Over the next couple weeks the new one will be going in and I will have pics of that too.  

[Brett_Henderson]

Man that brings back memories...

[SaVas]

That is going to be one sweeeet Camaro!  :o

[RichieB16]

First thing that popped into my head was wondering why anyone would REPLACE an engine in a 69 Camaro and leave those confounded, cast-iron exhaust manifolds on.

Yeah, I thought that was a little odd myself.  I suppose it makes sense since the engine was basically a stock replacement.  I guess they just didn't want to spend the money to buy headers and with as gutless as that motor was they probably wouldn't have added much performance.  But, it would have sounded a lot better.  

What always confused me was why they painted them white.  It's bad enough to have them on there but then to paint them bright white to make sure everyone notices-it just confused me.  But, they're gone and  for the big block I have a nice set of ceramic coated headers.

[quote]Also.. being that a 396 is a big-block.. will it bolt up to the existing trasmission ?

[Brett_Henderson]

Now.. I'm even more confused..

[flyboy 28]

Your dad in number two looks like the back of my dad.

[RichieB16]

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIOM !

Yeah, its an automatic.  I would have rather had a 4-speed car but I found this one and it was intact for a good price.  Plus, I'm doing an SS clone car and despite popular belief most SS cars were automatic since the SS package was the performace & luxury package.  My transmission is not stock by any means though.  Its going to have a very positive shift, it won't feel like a normal automatic.

I also plan on using this car at the cruise parades which requires you to drive at like 10mph for a long period of time.  I would imagine a 4-speed car would be annoying to drive at that constant speed anyway.

Down the road, I plan on buying and restoring a real 1969 Camaro Z-28 and that will be a 4-speed car.  All the Z-28s from the 1960s were.

[BMan1113VR]

[quote]

I also plan on using this car at the cruise parades which requires you to drive at like 10mph for a long period of time.

[RichieB16]

10 mph wouldn't be that bad on most sticks. . .its beyond the stall point with the clutch out on most cars.

Thats true, but there is a lot of stopping and I think it would be annoying.  It wouldn't be that bad, but an automatic is much better for the parades.

[BFMF]

The sight of someone standing next to a sportscar smiling like that is scary. My brother just bought a 2000 Honda Prelude, so I know