Hi guys,

First off, I'd like to say that I am new to this forum and like everyone else in this world I have many questions. I've been reading over these forums for the past week or so trying to get some ideas on what I should do concerning my car. Here goes...

I have a 1992 Camaro RS Heritage Package, with a 305 (LO3) engine and a 5 speed manual transmission (T-5.) I bought the car from a mechanic when the car had 75k miles on it. It's been about 2 years and now the car has 92k miles. I LOVE the 3rd generation Camaro and I want my car to be a shining example that every 3rd gen Camaro owner would be proud of.

I have always been interested in cars but I never had anyone around to teach me much about them, I've been trying to research cars and all the different parts that make them run and I think I have a pretty good grasp on all that. When it comes to my Camaro I know what I have, but I don't know what I want.

Having said that, I need your help.

I want to change my everyday driver Camaro into a project car. I'm about to start a new job that will allow me to make the money I'll need to get parts for the car and have 1 week off every month to work on it. I've done some research online and I've gotten some opinions but I found this site which is the best 3rd generation resource online that I've seen. I've heard 383 stroker and LS1, LT1, etc etc... what I want to know is.... what is possible, feasible, and won't cost tons and tons to put together? I plan on spending money, I have no problem buying the best parts to make my car the baddest one on the street... but I'm not going to do it if it's not worth it all in the end. I think it will be.

What I want is your opinions.

What:
Engine?
Transmission?
Rear end?
Headers?
Exhaust?

Who:
Manufactures the best parts?
Can help me along the way?

How much:
Should I expect to pay for some of these parts?
Time will I be investing?

Like I said, I want my car to be the baddest thing on the street and have a great look to it too. I plan on bringing this car to shows and using it as an everyday driver if I have to.

I know I am asking a lot, but as I said I have very basic knowledge of cars and would really really appreciate all those of you out there who would be willing to take the time to give me your thoughts, opinions, and personal experiences so that I may learn about them and in the end, come out with a 3rd Generation Camaro that EVERYONE would be proud to own.

Thanks for your time,
-Kyle-


*** Feel free to contact me ANYTIME by any of the following methods***

Contact info:
Email - kryptonite_boss@hotmail.com
AIM - UCF1Slider
MSN - kryptonite_boss@hotmail.com
Phone - Email me for #

Picture of my camaro (cut and paste link into web-browser)
http://slider.741.com/camaro.jpg

 

That depends on what you want your car to do. When you say, you want your car fastest on the street, you should know you will never be he fastest. THere is alwayse someone out there who can beat you.

Now, do you want a fast 3rd gen that can be driven daily, or do you want it for a weekend car? If you are drivign it daily, you dont want a car that has 500hp and gets 8 mpg. You should specify how fast you want yoru car in quarter mile times. 13's, 12's 10's ??

You need to know what you want to de before you can ask what parts to buy and how to build. If you want good power, and good gas, you can do an LS1 swap with a T56 tranny. Some guys here are getting close to 30mpg with that setup.

Also, will you be driving the car inbetween working on it on the week you have off, or is it going to be sitting in a garage for a few months (or more?)

THink abotu what you want your car to do, because its easier for people to help you get ideas, when they understand exactly what you want your car to do.

Good Luck with your project!

 

Ditto what germ83 said. If you want the baddest on the street, put in a GM 572 with alcohol injection and a 14-72 blower.

If you want to be able to drive it around without first checking the gps for the route with the most gas stations, you might want to reconsider the previous engine thought.

You need to know what you expect out of the car prior to considering what you are going to do with it. Think about it and let us know.

 

Yeah I guess I should have been more specific the first time but here goes....

I'll have a company vehicle to drive for 3 weeks out of the month and the 4th week will be time to work on the Camaro. Tentatively, I plan on using it as a show car AND a daily driver when it's "finished." (From what I hear, most project cars are never finished )

I'd like for it to run between a 10 and 12 in the quarter mile, if at all possible... gas mileage isn't a huge worry to me but if I get 15-20mpg I could live with that.

Here's what I originally had in mind for the car :

Engine : 350 crate bored .30 over to 383
Transmission : TH350
Rear end : 3.73 or 4.10 gears
18" IROC rims
FUNCTIONAL ram air hood (WS6?)
supercharger/turbo?

I don't know if these things would get me anywhere near what I want the car to perform like, which is why I am taking any and all suggestions for what I should do with the car.

Like I said, I want the car to be badass... it doesn't have to be the fastest on the street but it should be right up there

-Kyle-

 

You have listed a pretty decent setup for what you want. I personally would go for something different as it has been many years since a 350 or 383 has impressed me. They will do what you want though. I would suggest a 383 with a 6-71 blower, with the proper drive on the blower you could have a streetable engine that would perform well on the track and give you good reliability on the street. If you keep out of the throttle for dayly driving, gas mileage does not have to suffer too much.

 

4.10s and a th350 and you wont even get close to 20 mpg, more like 10mpg.

 

If you're not impressed with the 350 or 383, what would you suggest instead? Like I said, I am looking for any and all suggestions!

I might be inclined to go with something on the meaner side of things with more HP since I don't intend on using the car much more than the weekends while I am building it up, eventually I'll probably get a second daily driver too so that would give more possibility to a higher HP car with less gas mileage since I'd have an alternate driver...

-Kyle-

 

Welcome!

IMO, since it sounds like a weekend-warrior, I would drop a big block in it, like a 454. All of the parts to do it (or at least most) can be easily obtained, like the req'd headers, trans cross member, etc.

If you wanna go with something a little easier and/or cheaper (I don't know your skill level or budget here) then a 400 small block would be very cool! Big block power, big block noise, and quite a bit less work and cost than a real big block.

 

would there be any benefit to using a 400 block and destroking it to a 383?

how much are sbc 400 cranks these days?

brandon

 

I am not impressed by a 350 or there derivatives simply because there are so many of them out there that I get sick of hearing about them. I am always more inclined to go with the "other" small blocks (283,327,400).

The 350 is one of the greatest creations out there, and will pretty much do anything you want.

The 400 is a good one, and you can get the parts without too much difficulty if you look.

I would suggest either the 383 or 400 with 6-71 blower or a 427 BB with a 6-71 blower.

Forget about gas mileage, baddest and mpg's don't go together.

 

Forget 6-71's thats old outdated technology. I would get a Vortech Carbureted Supercharger. Now that would be cool and really fast.

http://www.superchevy-web.com/tech/0309_sc_blowin/


4GP218-010S Universal Chevy Small Block Carbureted V-8

 

He said he wants it to be bad, nothing looks badder than a 6-71 roots blower sticking out of the hood.

 

Don't cut a 400 down to a 383... its the fact that its got 400 inches that makes it so cool!

...and powerful

 

Okay, let's change the equation around a little bit here.

The more I think about it, the more I think Air_Adam is right. This will be more of a weekend car than anything cuz I'll be doing construction 3 of 4 weeks in the month for the first year and then I'll be driving a work truck 5 days a week for the next year after that.

So, here's what I'm thinking.................

Who cares about gas mileage? Lets just make this thing badass! I'm talkin about rubber burning, tire chirp shifts, haul *** machine. Barely street legal sounds good to me! If we're gonna do it, by "we" I mean you guys providing the opinions and advice and me providing the money and doing the work of course , we might as well do it right!

I think this would be a good place to give you guys an idea of my skill level and budget since we're about to get the ideas flowing. The most complicated thing I've done on a car is change the brake pads and calipers on a '95 Mustang (sold that p.o.s.) so my experience is limited. My budget on the other hand is not too bad. I won't have any living expenses for about a year since I will be on the road doing construction jobs 3 weeks out of the month. I am assuming this will allow me to save up a good amount to put toward the building of the car. For the first few months I won't be making a lot, so I'd estimate I'll only have about $600/month for the car... once a few months go by that number should jump up. Of course I these numbers aren't set in stone but it gives you guys at least a decent idea of what kind of budget I'll have to work with.

So where is the best place to start? I've been thinking about what I want the car to look like in my head but that doesn't have much to do with the mechanics of the car. That's where you guys come in! You all have much more time under hoods than I do so you know what's possible and what it's likely going to cost. I like Lonestar's idea of doing something that's not the norm (350/similar off-shoot.) I realize I don't have to stick to a SBC engine, so I have a question for you guys. What is the biggest engine I can fit in my Camaro? Air_Adam mentioned a big block 454, what other ideas do you guys have? Again, I'm talking about making this a badass Camaro that every 3rd gen owner would be proud to drive! The more power, more style, and more unique, the better.... but I don't want it to rival a Lamborghini in price.

** Side note - I am working on a drawing of what I'd like the car to look like. Functional RAM AIR II hood, 18" IROC chrome rims, lowered slightly, there's only one thing I really can't decide on.... COLOR! My first instinct tells me to go black, everything black! Black leather seats, black carpeting, black paint, black-outs on the lights... but when I think of the hood I think to myself... hmm red honeycomb inserts or racing stripes...? Black with red stripes? Red with silver stripes? Silver with red stripes? WHAT TO DO!?!? If you guys could give me your opinions on this I'd love to hear them! If you can find pictures of these paint schemes on 3rd gens, that would be even better! **

Let me know what you guys think and where I should start. If the engine is the wrong thing to start with in the planning stage, let me know now before it's too late!

Thanks for all your help and opinions guys,
-Kyle-

P.S. Yes, I designed the graphic on the back windshield myself, in case you were wondering

 

I like it... except the exhaust tips. They are poking out way too far IMO. They should be just flush with the bumper cover.

Just my $.02

 

Yeah that's how the car looks currently... the tips stick out about 3 inches from the bumper which can hinder walking behind the car but they look pretty cool I think. Of course once I get this project rolling they won't be 2.5" tips anymore

By the way... I was asked earlier in this post what times I would like to achieve with my new setup. Since I'm not thinking about it as a daily driver anymore, is it possible to hit 10s in the quarter? I've heard of twin turbo Mustangs hitting 10s, but the way I figure it "anything you can do, I can do better!" ("you" being Ford, and "I" being Chevy)

-Kyle-

 

The biggest engine you can fit in it is limited to only your talents and the size of your wallet.

Go for a GM 572 with a B&M Mega blower. That would be bad to the bone.

Of course, frame and body would need a lot of work.

 

That ain't gonna fit under a stock hood. The 572 is a tall deck big block, and its got a REALLY tall intake manifold and valve covers. You'd likely need (minimun) a 4" cowl or Jongbloed hood to clear it.

 

Alrighty, sounds like I need to find out the prices for some of the big block engines before I can decide what I want to put in my car. I'm assuming small block engines are going to be cheaper to build than big blocks, but what might I be looking at price-wise for some big blocks? And is it possible to make 10s without using NOS with a SBC engine?

-Kyle-

 

sure tens are possible build a 477 small block anyone who watchs "horse power tv" will know what i'm talking about

over 600hp big block power with-out the bigblock

 

Check out some of GMs crate big blocks. The 454 HO (425hp) is a pretty good deal IIRC.

One little note... anything under 500hp, the small block will be cheaper to build. Over 500hp, a big block will likely be cheaper.

(I was assuming no N2O or forced induction when I said that)

 

You wouldn't want it to fit under the stock hood, remember that he wants it to be "bad".

A B&M Megablower on a small block wouldn't fit under the stock hood either.

 

Here is a picture of my old Nova. Now don't you all think that what's under the hood (or at least partly) is "bad"?

Imagine in a third gen, in fact there is someone else on this site that has one, I shall have to look for the link.

 

This was posted by Flrtin1 on the power adder forum. Now this is Bad!

 

oops, forgot the pic

 

im with Level. get big block cubes out of the custom small blocks they're making these days. a 427, 454 or 477 small block, dotn they even have a 502 small block also? that would be WAY more than jsut "BAD" and would take as much fabing as the BB, right?
P.S. the guys talking abotu not fitting under the hood, he WANTS it to fit UNDER the hood, he said he wanted a ram air 2 hood. just pointing it out...

 

well, u want to hear what i have to say, its kinda of obvious. The first look, is of course, the money. At 21, well, i know me at 21, wont have enough to cook a 572 block under the hood, so that is out of the question. I would look more toward a chevy big block, 454 block, aluminum heads, cast block, forged internals. If you read magazines, which i hope you are starting to if you the only thing u know how to to do is the old brake change, these 454 with a good set of heads push close to 700 hp and still have 650 ft. lbs of torque where you need them. If you mate that engine behind a 4l80e, with a lockup converter, you will be running well into the 10's, probly 10.80's consistant. But, you will have to break out your pocket book. that engine will set you back 7 and the tranny another 3. of course this is the big block route. Naturally aspirated, you will be the king of the streets. Now, super chargers, i am thinking them are starting to be the thing of that past. Turbo, IMO, is what you want when it comes to a small block. Pick up a 350 block, not a 400, due to the lack many things a true 400 block has, and use the beefy 350 block. Twin turbos, a good set of heads, and a nice bottem end will hit you well into the 9's, but will be just as costly. Same tranny, just different engines. You can run 600 hp for the street, then bump up the boost on race gas for the strip, probly around 800-900 hp. But the trubos would be massive, and if you line up against someone on the street, and dont have ur turbos up, well, ur toast. What is bad about the trubos? nothing, better mpg, more effficient... and the cool factor of hearing a blow off valve in a third-gen is def up there with a 14-71 blower sticking out the hood. Either way, that is the way to go if you have money. but i am thinking the 454 with a nice set of heads would be the way to go. power always there, 12 mpg, and tons of tire smoke all natual. That is the way.

 

I still think GMs 454 HO motor is your best bet for big block power on a budget. And its a brand new motor, not a rebuilt one, so you are starting with fresh parts all through.

And that 425hp rating has been tested, and its way low. It really closer to 470-500hp.

 

oh yeah, jus for the record, i have a 7 inch cowl on my car, with a big block, vic jr intake, 4 inch air filter, and she hardly clears... maybe someday ill take a picture up inside there. I wanted a carb spacer, but not anymore..

So that tall deck block, with that intake, well a 7 inch with a drop base filter will probly fit... hopefully...

 

Well, I've finally gotten a week off from work so I can give you guys an update on what's going on. I've been saving up as much as I can from working on the road and it's going well! I've got about $1500 so far saved up so I'll be looking for engines and transmissions soon I'm sure

I wanted to thank all of you for your input on my project and I hope you'll continue to voice your opinions whenever possible. I still haven't decided if I want to do a big block or small yet....... what should I take into consideration when deciding?

-Kyle-

 

Forget the motor for now. Your car has weaknesses all over it before you add power. I would stick with building up the car before you even think of a trnny/motor combo. I am not sure how much money you will have but I see that you are young. It is hard to have a nice 350/383 swap from TBI if you do not have the $$. I would start with the suspension, fuel system, and rear end of your car first. These areas are crutial to any performance car and can be a major cost.

 

Could you elaborate on some of the things I will be needing to withstand the rigors of engine swap? I assume you mean subframe connectors at the very least, what more would I want to get?

-Kyle-

 

You will need SFC at the least. You will really want LCA's, relocation brackets, panhard rod, springs if you want to even put a large amount of power to the road. Some peices are more crutial than others and you can get away with some stock parts to an extent.

Your fuel system is garbage. It can support a weak TBI set-up but a fairly stout carb set-up. If you go with any multiport system you will need a high flow pump. No biggy in the end since they are 100 bucks or less.

If you ever run slicks or drag radials and make lots of power your 10 bolt rear will be on a limited life basis. You are all ready plagued with an open rear and just plain lame gears. You can build up your 10 bolt to withstand the riggors of some abuse but you will be spending a few hundred hear just for that.

Your exhaust is junk. Any exhaust system that you put on now can be used on any engine swap you do in the future provided it is a Gen I or Gen II (LT1) motor. Any LS1 swap will require different headers but you can retain the cat and cat-back with the proper fab work.

You can see that your car has many weak links. So, even if you spent lots of money on a nice engine you will be forced to upgrade other parts of the car. That is why I recomend that you prep the car with stuff that your current motor can use but can also be used down the road. That way the only thing you need to swap out is the motor and such. Does this make sense?

 

Totally, I plan on making this car into a show and street car so I planned on replacing a lot of things on this car from the start. Instead of beefing up my 10-bolt read end would you suggest replacing it with something that would be stronger? As I said at the beginning of the post, I don't know a whole lot about cars so I don't even know if it's possible to find a different rear end that would work or if I'd even want to. Only other question I have is... what's a LCA?

Also, I plan on putting 18" IROC rims on low-pro tires... what should I take into consideration when building the rear of the car up as far as suspension and anything else I don't know about?

Thanks.

-Kyle-

 

LCA = Lower Control Arms

You really need to replace the rear only if you plan on running slicks/drag radials and have lots of power (400+hp) and plan on drag racing. Other than that you can get away with your rear for normal driving. What it really boils down to is that abuse and traction kill these rear ends. If you don't plan on any of that than a good set of gears and a posi will go a long way. There is so much to cover when prepping your suspension and rear end though. Spend a few hours reading up on "lowering your car" and "suspension upgrades". These topics are covered in full and can be found by a few searches. Read the stickys at the top of each forum to help you understand what is involved with the different areas of these cars. This should get you started. It would really be hard to adress everything in a few posts here so I encourage you to search a bit. Feel free to PM or IM me with any qeustions you may have that you want to keep off of the boards.