kmcn47

looks almost like what i'd call a period correct mod lol, something a kid who owned it would have done to make it more personal, get some older camaro rallye wheels and big *** back tires, im a bit immature still i do love some big *** back tires, although these dont appear that wide

68Strat

iTrader: (3)

Haha, if I ever use the C5 wheels I have, that will be MORE than enough tire for me. I would at the very least pay up the bum to have some iroc wheels widened before putting to large a tire on small wheels.

Some pics from yesterday, at my show. I see a KISS t-shirt Avatar so I'll throw one in of me in costume haha... I am Ace, not the extremely jacked guy.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/53106660@N03/7082972369/
Me with the Car

http://www.flickr.com/photos/53106660@N03/7082972835/
Car and some bikes

http://www.flickr.com/photos/53106660@N03/7082980037/
On the left

http://www.flickr.com/photos/53106660@N03/7082984735/Topless with junk in the back

68Strat

iTrader: (3)

Some past nostalgia...

My first Camaro was an 88 Sport Coupe (first year before the RS)
Bought no motor, and no tranny... I was 18 at the time, and learned so much from that project. I was to scared to tell my parents I bought the car, so my buddy and I scraped the cash to rent out an old crappy garage space, and built the car up together, having not much past experience. The look on my parents faces when I drove her home after registering her, and showing them all the pics of the build was priceless. They have supported my 3rd gen obsession ever since... (I'm almost 22 now)



My 86 IROC which the wheels you see came from. Doesn't look bad in the pic, but was a very abused car.

mw66nova

iTrader: (13)

haha, i remember having to tow that car back from safelite cause the car had too much rust in the windshield sill area and they wouldn't put a windshield in it.

no way you'd catch me squeezing a 295/50 on a 15x7...just ***** up the tire.

InfernalVortex

iTrader: (4)

Dont bother unless it's for drag radials or something, because there's just nothing available that's wider than a 245 for a 16 inch wheel for our cars. Sometimes you can find a 255, but beyond that there's pretty much nothing. You'd pay a lot of money widening 16 inch wheels and never be able to find any tires to take advantage of it.

Thats really awesome you snuck the car past your parents, built it up, and then drove it home!

kmcn47

love the sport coupe, its blue

68Strat

iTrader: (3)

I love this pic from yesterday

http://www.flickr.com/photos/53106660@N03/7086704047/

KITT1983

iTrader: (3)

i hate you

68Strat

iTrader: (3)

Chris when I'm at a comp I'll post a pic of our badass 83s. KITT (Chris) has an immaculate 83 bird. It's a gorgeous car, and it's great to make a friend through this site who shares a love for our f bodies.

Right after that pic was taken I met a guy who has owned many Camaros. Hopefully he will remember his username and chime in. I was taken aback when he hopped in my car started it and gave it a rev. If it wasn't an enthusiast... Or anyone else for that matter I would have flipped, but it's cool to meet people who have flashbacks when they see our rides.

terrorsquad77

Where in Massachusetts are you from?

68Strat

iTrader: (3)

Living in Winchester right now. You should come cruise with KITT and I. We are actually rolling up to NH tonight.

68Strat

iTrader: (3)

Terror, It's so nice out. Would you want to cruise up to the shell off exit 4 in NH tonight? We can meet you if you are from Andover.

KITT1983

iTrader: (3)

how far are you from the north Andover vfw

terrorsquad77

About a mile, I'm hoping to have my 82 mse registered for Wednesdays firebird club meeting in methuen. My Camaro is currently incapacitated.

tlandoe

Paul Stanley wishes he was that buff... and where's the chest hair?

68Strat

iTrader: (3)

My buddy got a rolling shot of my car on I-90 yesterday. Thought it looked cool.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/53106660@N03/6958946032/

RSFreak

The spoiler and hood are awesome! Wish I had those on my Berlinetta!

itsMikey

i usually hate sport coupes but yours is amazing dude nice work

camarokracker

iTrader: (1)

very nice....

68Strat

iTrader: (3)

Thanks for the compliments guys. I have really enjoyed working on this car over the past year. It's a very rewarding hobby, mainly because getting from point a to point b in a car you absolutely love, and have put effort into, simply ties it into everything in your life. I depend on this car every day, and she hasn't let me down since I've done the rebuild.

Yesterday I broke 100K miles, but you'd never know it looking over the car. In fact I've put 20K on the car since Febuary, and have never been left stranded.

itsMikey

thats awesome dude..wish i could say the same about not stranding me

InfernalVortex

iTrader: (4)

You've put 20,000 miles on the car in less than 3 months? How in the hell did you manage that? That's 6700 miles a month, 223 miles a day! That's between 3 and 4 hours a day of freeway driving!

68Strat

iTrader: (3)

Hour commute each way to work. Four hour round trip to see my gf once or twice a week. Pretty much am always cruising. My band practice is two hour round trip and shows all over the state. Car had 79k back in November. 80 when I started driving it again at the Beggining of feb.

mw66nova

iTrader: (13)

is the speedo drive correct for the gearing you have? (i noticed you have 3.73's)

68Strat

iTrader: (3)

Yes confirmed by the radar sign on my street lol.

terrorsquad77

Btw are you going to the firebird club meeting with kitt in methuen today?

68Strat

iTrader: (3)

Terror I made it right at the tail end to give KITT some JB Weld I picked up for him! Sorry I missed you.

Three updates:

In less than 6 days I have put an addition 1400+ miles on the car... I'm not proud of the use, but better than sitting in a garage. I take good good care of her.

4 days ago I replaced the Holley 4160 with a Holley 600cfm double pumper, and performance has increased dramatically. I am no longer losing secondaries between shifts (mechanical now)

I ordered the wheel spacers for my C5 wheels!

The twist is, I am filling the little dish shapes, and painting the inside rounded edge of the spoke black to make them appear a little skinnier. Should look great!

KITT1983

iTrader: (3)

dude the carburetor and camaro look awesome. any mpg or horsepower from the carb swap?

68Strat

iTrader: (3)

Thanks man! Yes... I tuned the carb using a Vacuum gauge, and luckily the stock jetting seems to be functioning well. The accelerator pump on the first stage came stuck open from the factory, and I had to remove the front metering block, and blow air/carb cleaner through the passageway. After that I had a little bog when the secondaries were engaged, and I found there was insufficient clearance between pump arm, and the actuator. I gave it a little slack, and it cleared the bog! runs wicked pissah! (In Boston speak)

68Strat

iTrader: (3)

Also I am amazed what a properly tuned Idle circuit did for MPG! 22+ mpg constant under 65. I drove nearly 230 miles with 1/8th of a tank to spare mixed driving.

InfernalVortex

iTrader: (4)

I just had a guy call BS on me yesterday that good gas mileage with Holley and short gearing could be done. All in the tune...

mw66nova

iTrader: (13)

Sounds like the mileage my old 305 would get when I had the 650dp and a 700r4

68Strat

iTrader: (3)

Gotta love chugging in 5th. I should have said between 55 and 65. But I am pleasantly surprised. The old Edelbroke never gave me better than 15.

skinny z

I regularly get 20+ mpg on the hiway. As high as 23 on a good day at cruise speeds. My wide band O2 gauge shows 15+ afr's (in the 16s sometimes). That's a result of a well tuned and modified Holley Street Avenger 660.

Like the look of 68Strat's. Go figure.

68Strat

iTrader: (3)

Nice car skinny!

I've put exactly 1642 miles on the car in 7 days down to the hour. Gives me a daily average of 234.5 miles! Funny how close it was to IVs figure. I'll have some pics later of my tail light mods, new carb and some things I haven't shown yet. Might be helpful to others...

68Strat

iTrader: (3)

Here is a pic of my tails now. The last step of my little cleanup on them is to extend the black grid lines between 1/16 and 1/8th of an inch from edge to edge to fatten up the look of the rear a bit. I am not a fan of total black out, but I wanted to tint the amber lenses to clean up the look a bit, and now all around the car the amber is tinted. I really love the contrast of the reverse lights now. What do you guys think? Also my C5 wheels are being installed tomorrow. Spacers arrived from Hawk's today, and my tires come into work in the morning! Pics to follow tomorrow.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/53106660@N03/7137118381/

mw66nova

iTrader: (13)

we need some 1/4 mile times soon

68Strat

iTrader: (3)

13.8 pass last season on edelbrock, crap tune and crap tires... Hoping for high 12s this season

68Strat

iTrader: (3)

I realized I have not updated this thread with useful information recently. I really need to make a few detailed posts detailing the exact journey of this car. From this thread I don't think you can really get the jist of how much work, and love I have bestowed upon the little 83 Sport Coupe.

I will follow up this post a bit later of the proper story of this car. I am going to detail the resto mod experience, and supplement it with a full parts list, as well as talk about what I think I approached incorrectly, and ultimately more suitably from every angle of this journey. I hope some of you will find it interesting, comment, and share your own experiences with me here. I appreciate all of the feedback I have received this past year, and apologize for my many quick notes, and spur of the moment daydreams.

Until then here's some shocking pictures for you all. I am sold on the improvement in handling and launch capability... A bit disappointed cosmetically.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/53106660@N03/7001642322/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/53106660@N03/7147728509/

68Strat

iTrader: (3)

First wax of the season today, sitting on the C5 wagon wheels. I decided I like them quite a bit. What a step up in overall performance!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/53106660@N03/7004801670/

LivinLarge

Car looks awesome. I probably missed it but what subs are those and what else did you do to the sound system?

68Strat

iTrader: (3)

Thanks! System is 2X 12" jbl subs with a second hand Memphis audio amp (unknown power output but it kicks!) nice Pioneer head unit with very fine EQ capability, and Kenwood center tweeter less rear speakers and little pioneers up front. Those run off a Kenwood 4 channel. Box is custom for a third gen I found on Craigslist. Whole system is easily removable for the track!

LivinLarge

What model JBL subs and how do they respond to bass from rock and heavy metal?

InfernalVortex

iTrader: (4)

You know I told you originally way back that I hated the wagon wheels... I've reconsidered and was hoping you'd put em on, and I think they look pretty good on there. I think tehy look better on non-gfx cars, like the formula firebirds and the sport coupes, and they look better on cars with non-metallic paint. I think those look fantastic on there.

If I can find a set for a reasonable price I may end up with some on my car, probably wont look quite as good as yours, but I do think they look good with the solid red paint since they're not a metallic color, just more of a flat silver.

Anyway, Im really, really picky when it comes to wheels and I normally hate 4th gen wheels, but I think those look very nice on your car. I do think some nice IROCs look better, but the factory IROCs are some of the best looking wheels ever made, it's a shame you cant get em in 17x9 or so sizes. These still look great, and you get better performance out of them at the same time.

68Strat

iTrader: (3)

Thanks! The wheels have really grown on me. I have been slowly getting ready to purchase a steering box, but after adjusting the gear lash a little bit, and the addition of the new wheels, it feels very tight!

Not sure of the model of the subs, got them from a buddy. I listen to Classic rock, metal, and anything with kickass guitar, and after tweaking they pick up the mids incredibly well.

Here are some shots from today! My buddies 85 Mustang has nearly the same ideas thrown into it. It looks very modern, and although I am not a Ford fan, it is a beautiful car, and very tastefully modded... You also cant argue with a Vortech supercharger.

I am on the hunt for a T56 with my tax return, and after that I have to pick Nova's brain on how to fab my exhaust!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/53106660@N03/7186636058/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/53106660@N03/7186635998/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/53106660@N03/7186636044/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/53106660@N03/7186636062/
The wood is kind of embarrassing :P

68Strat

iTrader: (3)

Today has been filled with thought concerning the direction I want to take this car in. My T5 is definitely on its way out again. I am getting the signature synchro grind into third gear, more and more frequently, and shifter feel is going down the drain. Even with my band aid fixes, and experimental oil concoctions, I don't view the T5 as a viable option for my car anymore.

There is a fork in the road, and I must make the choice soon. Find a T56, and rear end out of a 93-97 car, or grab the T56, rear end, and LS1 out of a later year 4th Gen.

I know the LS1 swap will involve much more work, and cash, but the fact I can't see myself sticking with the old 355 for much longer is a sign I should think this through and consider all options. I love the old school muscle style, and even the underhood tweaking that comes along with it. But I am moving in the direction of turning this car into a much more refined machine. I want to build an LS1 to handle some boost... Any input would be appreciated!

tylercamaro

iTrader: (1)

i say ls1 t56 and either ls1 rear or lt1 rear

KITT1983

iTrader: (3)

can i have your serpentine belt set up

kmcn47

my input, is that from reading this thread, this cars in your heart man, and if you do the ls1 i think it'd be much better for your incredible daily mileage average, however, dont boost it, now i know some subbies have over 200k on the clock with there turbos, but trust me you will reduce the lifespan of that engine drastically if you boost it, and dont get a 5.3 truck block or a used ls1, get a brand spanking new one from gmpp, with a warranty and a guarantee, the harness and fuel pump and lines and new gauges and tach and all of that definitely go with top quality products or at least some gently used ones, i hope that whatever you do you take the time to do it right and make your car what you want it to be and what you can happily drive for the rest of your life. i know that i wish i had the money and time to do mine up right, i'd start from the ground up and pull most of the car apart and make sure that the body and subframe are strong enough to handle all the power and torque your gonna be throwing at it

68Strat

iTrader: (3)

Thanks for the words guys. Looks like T56 and 9 bolt for now.
When I have the money and time she will get treated to a nicer engine.


My gf takes the best pics of her! Taken yesterday in New Hampshire

http://www.flickr.com/photos/53106660@N03/7292445268/