Classic Cars

[StG58]

I wish you guys would stop talking about hot rodding 6's and Chevy V-8's in a TJ. You are seriously going to cost me some time and money. I spent years hot rodding Camaros, mostly 350's with the odd 302 Chevy engine (They really made them, for two years.) and one 400 small block in a Vega. If I can get the 400 to work well in a '72 Vega, a 350 in a TJ aught to be a piece of cake. Plus those new injected 350's just beg for a little love (and a blower!).

 

[Chris]

I wish you guys would stop talking about hot rodding 6's and Chevy V-8's in a TJ. You are seriously going to cost me some time and money. I spent years hot rodding Camaros, mostly 350's with the odd 302 Chevy engine (They really made them, for two years.) and one 400 small block in a Vega. If I can get the 400 to work well in a '72 Vega, a 350 in a TJ aught to be a piece of cake. Plus those new injected 350's just beg for a little love (and a blower!).

You might appreciate my 69 Camaro SS (resto mod) with a 350 then...

 

[StG58]

Chris, you seriously suck, you know that? If I didn't like you, I would hate you. I had a DZ coded '68 Z-28 that I got for $800 back in the day that looked kinda like that. Mine was admiral blue though. Sure miss that car. I got it because the guy that owned it couldn't get it to run right and his wife told him to get it running or get it sold. Took me about a half hour in his driveway to get the carburetors sync'd and the Mallory dual point set. Drove it off with a smile on my face that lasted until I tried to get new disc brake pads for the rear brakes. Yup, four wheel discs from the factory on a '68. That was the one with the Chevy 302 in it. 283 small journal crank in a 350 small journal block, camel bump heads with angled plugs. Exotic as all get out at the time.

Nice car by the way.

 

[Chris]

Chris, you seriously suck, you know that? If I didn't like you, I would hate you. I had a DZ coded '68 Z-28 that I got for $800 back in the day that looked kinda like that. Mine was admiral blue though. Sure miss that car. I got it because the guy that owned it couldn't get it to run right and his wife told him to get it running or get it sold. Took me about a half hour in his driveway to get the carburetors sync'd and the Mallory dual point set. Drove it off with a smile on my face that lasted until I tried to get new disc brake pads for the rear brakes. Yup, four wheel discs from the factory on a '68. That was the one with the Chevy 302 in it. 283 small journal crank in a 350 small journal block, camel bump heads with angled plugs. Exotic as all get out at the time.

Nice car by the way.

We have similar taste!

That thing is a 69 Camaro that started life as a 6 cylinder. It was repainted, had a 350 put into it, and turned into a SS resto-mod.

So sure, it's not a real SS but you'd never know the difference unless you checked out the VIN. It started life as an ugly blue color as well!

My uncle (who has several first gen Camaros) sold me this one for $14,500 since he wanted to keep it in the family.

I sure wish I could go back in time and pick one of these things up brand new for what they used to cost! Crap... I'd have bough myself a Yenko Camaro with the 427 in it... That would be worth millions today!

 

[StG58]

$14,500!?! Oh my. You know that you can get those early Camaros to handle really well, like a real sports car, if you fiddle with them a little.

My favorite Camaro is the '70 1/2 with the split front bumpers and extended nose. Some of those old Camaros were just beasts, especially if you tried to drive them around town. I know what you mean about being able to go back in time. Can you imagine ordering an original Corvette Gran Sport to drive around? It would have to be blue, with the two red stripes on the drivers fender. I mean seriously, who puts an oil cooler on the rear differential? And needs to?

Jeep TJ's and early Camaros. We have to go out for coffee one of these days and swap stories.

 

[Chris]

$14,500!?! Oh my. My favorite Camaro is the '70 1/2 with the split front bumpers and extended nose. Some of those old Camaros were just beasts, especially if you tried to drive them around town. I know what you mean about being able to go back in time. Can you imagine ordering an original Corvette Gran Sport to drive around? It would have to be blue, with the two red stripes on the drivers fender. I mean seriously, who puts an oil cooler on the rear differential? And needs to?

Jeep TJ's and early Camaros. We have to go out for coffee one of these days and swap stories.

Yep, the only two vehicles that are worth owning to me are the TJ and the early Camaros.

The second gen body style hasn't grown on me (yet), but it's starting to I think. I particularly like the look of the second gen Firebirds with the two scoops on the hood like so:

I could really, really go for one of those!

I didn't know those Corvettes had an oil cooler on the rear differential... That's quite odd if you ask me.

But yes, if I could go back in time and order my perfect Camaro from the dealer... It would probably be a Yenko or one of the legendary and ultra rare only 52 made) ZL1 Camaro

 

[StG58]

Didn't even know that Camaro existed! Very cool indeed. I never could get into the Pontiacs, the engines just never excited me and the modifications were just not there for what I wanted to do. They were good looking cars though.

Yup, the 1963 Gran Sport would fry differentials if the oil wasn't cooled. Lots of unusual stuff went into those five cars, to make them actually work the way they were intended to. Lots of aluminum, back when aluminum was an exotic automotive metal.

If I could drive only three cars, they would be the TJ, an early Camaro and a C4 Corvette.

 

[Chris]

Didn't even know that Camaro existed! Very cool indeed. I never could get into the Pontiacs, the engines just never excited me and the modifications were just not there for what I wanted to do. They were good looking cars though.

Yup, the 1963 Gran Sport would fry differentials if the oil wasn't cooled. Lots of unusual stuff went into those five cars, to make them actually work the way they were intended to. Lots of aluminum, back when aluminum was an exotic automotive metal.

If I could drive only three cars, they would be the TJ, an early Camaro and a C4 Corvette.

Yep, that ZL1 Camaro is (as far as I know) the most sought after Camaro you could ever buy. An aluminum 427 in that thing!

I wonder why it fried differential oil, what's the reason for that?

My only cars I'd ever need would be a TJ and a 69' Camaro. The C5 vette has sort of grown on me, the C4 I'm not sure sure... Most of the C4 vettes I see are beat to crap, so I'd have to see a really nice and clean one to appreciate it.

 

[StG58]

My understanding of it is that they way the differential was tucked into the body (early IRS) and the differential design plus the HP and torque generated by the 427 was more than the rear end could handle. It would just cook when road racing. I guess at the time the only solution was a circulation pump and a little radiator hanging out the back window. Was that a kludge or what?

The C4 is a drivers car. The body style is just OK, but kinda plain. Put one on though and go for a spirited spin around the neighborhood. You can tell in about two minutes whether or not it's a car you'll like. Even the performance numbers can't really describe the driving experience. And you do put one on like a pair of tennis shoes.

 

[Chris]

My understanding of it is that they way the differential was tucked into the body (early IRS) and the differential design plus the HP and torque generated by the 427 was more than the rear end could handle. It would just cook when road racing. I guess at the time the only solution was a circulation pump and a little radiator hanging out the back window. Was that a kludge or what?

The C4 is a drivers car. The body style is just OK, but kinda plain. Put one on though and go for a spirited spin around the neighborhood. You can tell in about two minutes whether or not it's a car you'll like. Even the performance numbers can't really describe the driving experience. And you do put one on like a pair of tennis shoes.

Interesting! Sounds like what they needed was a different (stronger) rear axle.

See, I've heard the C4 is a drivers car, but I've heard the C5 is even better to drive. I've never driven any Corvette so I can't comment.

Guess one of these days I'll have to find a C4 to drive just for fun!

 

[StG58]

At the time they didn't have a stronger axle, heck they didn't even officially have an IRS differential. That came out in 1964, except on the Gran Sport. They only made 5 of the Gran Sports and only 4 of them ever got driven / raced before the whole project was shut down. Something about an agreement among the automotive factories to not directly sponsor racing or something that happened in 1957. Crazy stuff. Somebody was making a 1963 Grand Sport replica that was factory spec for awhile, but it was beaucoup money so I never pursued it. Frame, body, and all the interior goodies to assemble your own Grand Sport Corvette. But you had to come up with a Corvette to get the drive train and suspension out of. Plus all the fiddly bits that make a Corvette run.

If you get a chance, drive a C4. Try one of the later ones with the tuned port injection. Take the time to adjust the seat so that it fits you. Don't hammer it off the line really hard, get it rolling a little first so you don't break something. If it has good tires on it, it will absolutely open your eyes. You know those freeway onramps that that go in a circle? The ones marked for 35? 65-70 easy on a dry day. Really fun to drive cars that are pretty cheap in the grand scheme of things. Go ahead Chris, wrap your ass in fiberglass, with the plastic fantastic Chevy.

 

[Chris]

At the time they didn't have a stronger axle, heck they didn't even officially have an IRS differential. That came out in 1964, except on the Gran Sport. They only made 5 of the Gran Sports and only 4 of them ever got driven / raced before the whole project was shut down. Something about an agreement among the automotive factories to not directly sponsor racing or something that happened in 1957. Crazy stuff. Somebody was making a 1963 Grand Sport replica that was factory spec for awhile, but it was beaucoup money so I never pursued it. Frame, body, and all the interior goodies to assemble your own Grand Sport Corvette. But you had to come up with a Corvette to get the drive train and suspension out of. Plus all the fiddly bits that make a Corvette run.

If you get a chance, drive a C4. Try one of the later ones with the tuned port injection. Take the time to adjust the seat so that it fits you. Don't hammer it off the line really hard, get it rolling a little first so you don't break something. If it has good tires on it, it will absolutely open your eyes. You know those freeway onramps that that go in a circle? The ones marked for 35? 65-70 easy on a dry day. Really fun to drive cars that are pretty cheap in the grand scheme of things. Go ahead Chris, wrap your ass in fiberglass, with the plastic fantastic Chevy.

Haha, will do!

But seriously though, if the C4 is that fun to drive, wouldn't a C5 be even more fun?

 

[StG58]

Probably, but the tail lights aren't round. Corvettes are supposed to have round tail lights. Silly huh?

 

[Stinger]

I didn't hot rod that 2012 6.0 liter at all. Just took a stock truck motor and put it between the rails. I mean this thing develops 390 pound of torque and 85% of that below 1800 rpm!
So much more than what I need, but he'll the sound alone was worth it.

 

[Chris]

I didn't hot rod that 2012 6.0 liter at all. Just took a stock truck motor and put it between the rails. I mean this thing develops 390 pound of torque and 85% of that below 1800 rpm!
So much more than what I need, but he'll the sound alone was worth it.

Stop tempting me! Who did you have do the swap again? I may have to contact them...

 

[Stinger]

Chris I did the swap! By myself in a 2 car garage with a 7 foot ceiling. I had the engine test run before install by Novak in Logan Utah and had them give it the initial tune on the computer after install.
I really only mention the garage and by myself to show that even big stuff is not too hard to tackle.

 

[Chris]

Chris I did the swap! By myself in a 2 car garage with a 7 foot ceiling. I had the engine test run before install by Novak in Logan Utah and had them give it the initial tune on the computer after install.
I really only mention the garage and by myself to show that even big stuff is not too hard to tackle.

Hmmm, I thought you told me someone else did it. Never mind, I think that was @Wildman.

Well, perhaps I'll need to source out an engine and do it myself. I imagine the worst part is the wiring?

 

[billiebob]

i've owned a few "classic cars". Unfortunately I bought them and sold them almost new.

 

[Sasquatchewan]

I had a 68 Camaro in rally green with houndstooth deluxe interior, it had a built up 327 350HP & a M22 Muncie . I loved that car.

 

[Sasquatchewan]

My brother in-law has Two Classic Camaro currently, a Cortez Silver 68 RS/SS originally with a 350 but now has a 550HP 427 Automatic black Houndstooth interior, oh & convertible.
Also a 71 Z28 with a 540Cid 750HP automatic & it Handles like a race car fully built suspension, he cruised from Houston to the east coast in it with Zero issues.