Simviation Forum - Update on My '69 Camaro

Mar 21^st, 2006 at 12:56am

RichieB16 Offline
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January 27, 1967
Oregon

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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.

&&Check Out My 1969 & 1996 Camaro's&&

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Reply #1 - Mar 21^st, 2006 at 7:59am

Brett_Henderson Offline
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Man that brings back memories... Grin

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.

Also.. being that a 396 is a big-block.. will it bolt up to the existing trasmission ? I used to know all this stuff, but my buddies and I (all almost 50 now) were Mopar enthusiasts (I was a closet Ford man.. and eventually fell in love with the idea of making my little 1972 Datsun 240Z into a Detroit Killer)..

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Reply #2 - Mar 21^st, 2006 at 8:06am

SaVas Offline
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That is going to be one sweeeet Camaro! Shocked

My life is like the movie Office Space

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Reply #3 - Mar 22^nd, 2006 at 11:55am

RichieB16 Offline
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January 27, 1967
Oregon

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Quote:

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. Grin

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 ? I used to know all this stuff, but my buddies and I (all almost 50 now) were Mopar enthusiasts (I was a closet Ford man.. and eventually fell in love with the idea of making my little 1972 Datsun 240Z into a Detroit Killer)..

Fortunately, it will bolt up to the transmission but it won't be a completely stock set up but thats OK. The big block cars used a T/H400 automatic transmission and the small block cars used a T/H350. I have a T/H350 in my car. The bolt pattern is the same though so you can use a T/H350 on the big block. The big difference is the T/H400 is a heavier duty transmission so it should be stronger than a stock T/H350. It is also heavier and sucks more horsepower. I put $500 into my transmission to make it stronger and added a shitf kit and such, so it should be at least as strong as a T/H400 transmission. I didn't feel like spending over $1000 on the 400 transmission if I didn't have to. I would have liked to have a completely original setup, but nobody is going to be able to tell unless they look under the car amd know what they are looking for. Plus, my setup will save weight and horsepower-and thats important. Grin

&&Check Out My 1969 & 1996 Camaro's&&

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Reply #4 - Mar 22^nd, 2006 at 10:08pm

Brett_Henderson Offline
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Now.. I'm even more confused..

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIOM ???! I guess the flywheel shoulda been a give-away...

Man times have changed *snicker*

Geez I miss those times.. You're gonna have a blast.

I never did get a dyno on that 2.4 liter 240Z motor of mine (our H/S Autoshop actually had one).. but it DID give a few small-block Camaros a run for their money.. Three Weber side-draft carbs and a bunch of Datsun, factory race goodies (cam exhaust low-ratio rear-gear and Brock Racing Enterprise ignition/distributor)..

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Reply #5 - Mar 22^nd, 2006 at 10:10pm

flyboy 28 Offline
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Jacksonville, FL

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8)

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

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Reply #6 - Mar 24^th, 2006 at 3:58pm

RichieB16 Offline
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January 27, 1967
Oregon

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Quote:

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.

&&Check Out My 1969 & 1996 Camaro's&&

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Reply #7 - Mar 24^th, 2006 at 9:59pm

BMan1113VR Offline
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Los Angeles, California

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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. I would imagine a 4-speed car would be annoying to drive at that constant speed anyway.

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

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Reply #8 - Mar 24^th, 2006 at 10:10pm

RichieB16 Offline
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January 27, 1967
Oregon

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Posts: 4408

Quote:

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.

&&Check Out My 1969 & 1996 Camaro's&&

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Reply #9 - Mar 24^th, 2006 at 10:30pm

BFMF Offline
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Pacific Northwest

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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 Grin

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