My new 1971 RS/SS 396 project car:
After searching for a good deal on a solid Camaro project for quite some time, I finally found a project car that was complete enough, solid enough, and the right price tag for me to settle on. I've been pondering on my camaro projects for a few years now, and compiling parts for my last two projects, so I've got quite a bit of good parts for this one. Most of the drivetrain is getting replaced with other parts that I have as is, so I really just bought a body that happened to run.
The first steps I plan on taking in rebuilding it are to pull the subframe off and rebuild the suspension with all poly bushings and body mounts, and completely strip the underside and POR-15 everything. Fabricating some subframe connectors may be on the agenda. Stock springs with oversized sway bars and $$ Edelbrock IAS Classic shocks should make it a more balanced car between all out performance and streetability, so that's the plan thus far. I haven't sat down and figured much with spring rates yet. I plan to modify the stock rear spring brackets to the Herb Adams VSE front leaf spring eye mounts to lower the rear end a little bit, and improve the anti-squat geometry of the car. An old Rancho 1" adjustable rear sway bar will hold it together in the back, and a Trans Am WS6 1.25" sway bar will keep it together up front. I'll be able to adjust the oversteer/understeer with the rear bar being adjustable. Might get a VSE 1-3/8" or hollow 1-7/16" heim joint front bar eventually which will definitely make it handle like it's on rails.
The rear end is getting swapped to a Trans Am 3.23 posi differential. WS6/J65 Trans Am 11.1" rear disc brakes will replace the stock drums. There's a link below that shows you how to do the same swap with parts from junkyard Caddies. This requires you to use the Trans Am WS6 spec master cylinder since you're going to 4 wheel disc. The booster also gets upgraded, since the rod is a different length (prop. valve also). The hole in the brake pedal arm is also 1" further away from the pivot (hence the longer pedal to booster rod). I'll be using a Wilwood adjustable brake proportioning valve to dial in the front to rear braking power.
Up front, I have a set of Caprice Wagon (B-body wagon/police/taxi/cadillac) spindles so that I can ditch the stock 11" rotors in favor of 87-92 Camaro 1LE(factory race car) 12" brake rotors and D61 (police/taxi duty) brake pads as opposed to the smaller D52 stock pads. A 79 Trans Am master cylinder and booster setup, and possibly an adjustable proportioning valve round off the brakes. I have also toyed around with the idea of using 20 guage sheetmetal to box off the bottoms of the A-arms to make them more rigid to maintain proper suspension geometry under the hardest of cornering and braking. Other old Herb Adams VSE F-body tricks might be added to the suspension. There are a few structural braces that might get added, like the firewall to frame braces.
Originally a 402/TH400 equipped "SS396," the car now has a 307/TH350 setup. I plan to yank that as money allows, and finish building up one of my 400 small blocks. I have a 330817 2 bolt and a 3951511 4 bolt 400 small block. Haven't decided which one to use yet. The bottom end is equipped with a SCAT crankshaft, 5.7" clearanced rods, and KB Silv-O-Lite 22cc D-dish hypereutectic pistons with Federal Mogul moly rings. a high volume oil pump and windage tray will probably get added as well. Contemplating a Pete Jackson gear drive vs a double roller timing chain as of now.
I was going to go with a set of 96+ chevy vortec heads, but at the last minute decided to spring for a set of GM Performance Parts Fastburn heads. These are some of the best flowing street small block chevy heads made right now. 62cc chambers, .039 head gasket and a zero deck with the 22 cc dished pistons will make 9.75:1 compression. The chambers are heart shaped to make for better air/fuel mixture, and have the spark plug located slightly further into the chamber for more complete combustion. The radius into the chamber is taller and more direct thanks to the raised runner intake design. A Professional Products Crosswind Air Gap vortec style manifold rounds off the top of the engine.
The valvetrain will probably be getting a Crower or Competition Cams retro roller setup soon. Looking for something around 220-226 duration @.050", 110lsa, and .460-.490" lift. Roller tip rockers, and the stock fastburn valves (2.00" hollow intake and 1.55" soduum filled exhaustvalves). Up top is a rebuilt Carter Competition Series AFB 750 cfm. The cooling system will retain the stock 402 big block radiator with a small block fan shroud adapted to it. A high flow water pump may get added as well. Headers and an X-pipe exhaust will round it out.
I'll type more as I have time, and post my progress as I go along.
My former nearly rust free project car
Click HERE for my profile and email.
PARTS WANTED
If you have any of these parts and want to sell or trade, please email me from the link above. Thanks, Chuck
LINKS
Mad Mike's Second Gen Camaro site
Team Camaro
Central Ohio F-Body Association
Thermo-Tec header insulating wrap - lower your engine compartment temp 70%
POR-15 - the best automotive parts restoration paint available
PerTronix ignition
Steve Chin's brake and suspension archives
Global Wests's 12 inch front disc brake swap info
Rear disc swap from Cadillacs
Second Gen Camaro Board
The F-Body Hideout
http://www.f-body.org/
Trans Am and Firebird site
VHT COATINGS
Central Ohio Camaro Club
Stewart High Flow Cooling Systems
Addco Sway bars
Brake and Fuel Line Reproductions
TexRacing tranny parts
