Here's my first upgrade, the hood swap:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/39591364@N06/8860072417/http://www.flickr.com/photos/39591364@N06/8860072417/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/39591364@N06/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/39591364@N06/8860061867/http://www.flickr.com/photos/39591364@N06/8860061867/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/39591364@N06/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/39591364@N06/8860661624/http://www.flickr.com/photos/39591364@N06/8860661624/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/39591364@N06/, on Flickr

 

Looks like it needs some work, but they all start somewhere.

 

Yep, thanks for the comment.
Next mod will be when Atilla's hitch arrives, then when the new speedometer gears arrive.
I want the IROC-Z nose with lenses and airdam more than I want 17" wheels or SFCs or anything else.

 

Had 2 friends helping today, the results actually don't help the looks, at this point.

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/39591364@N06/8918470469/http://www.flickr.com/photos/39591364@N06/8918470469/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/39591364@N06/, on Flickr

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/39591364@N06/8918457575/http://www.flickr.com/photos/39591364@N06/8918457575/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/39591364@N06/, on Flickr

 

Now it'll have to come out for some red paint, then drop the wiring ahead of the bumper cover, bring it up from underneath to keep it out of sight when not in use.

 

car has alot of potential but why the hitch, if you wanted to tow some shold have bought an s10 or a mustang.. lol

 

I read plenty of other hitch threads here in the TGO forums before deciding to do it, there were plenty of comments like yours. When I find a rear bumper cover from a Z with original ground effects, I can pull the pin and remove the ball mount, so you would not see the hitch is there from outside the car. Looks aside, why suffer an S10 just for a pair of bicycles? Or a riding mower? Or a teardrop camper? Or the mower trailer with a set of autocross slicks? The speedometer gears are here, so I may show some pics of the swap. I ordered a 15-tooth drive, and both a 41-tooth driven for now, and a 40-tooth for the next set of tires. I'm eager to see what gears are in the car now. The door sticker says 215/65R15 tires, so I think I should expect 17:45

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/39591364@N06/9063728850/http://www.flickr.com/photos/39591364@N06/9063728850/ by ngineswapr, on Flickr

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/39591364@N06/9061504439/http://www.flickr.com/photos/39591364@N06/9061504439/ by ngineswapr, on Flickr

 

Dammit! I edit to remove the dupe then have no pics! I hate when tech doesn't work!

 

Finally got my speedometer gears changed, only to discover 3 things I suspected and 3 I didn't. It had the wrong governor, so I changed that. It still needs a trans fluid and filter change, and a new torque arm bushing. But it has the wrong crossmember with the wrong bolts, the shift cable is zip-tied in place, and the lockup wiring is disconnected with the connector mangled.
But I had to drive, and loved the improved pull in first gear, it holding longer at WOT. I also determined it does in fact lock the converter, I had never believed the rumors of hydraulic lock-up, but they're true. But the hydraulic lock is not until around 50 MPH, so it's a good thing I'm swapping this drivetrain out, because 50 is way too late.

 

Well, let us know how the build goes. Interesting hitch installation. Any issues with it?

 

The first week I had the hitch in, I walked into it once. But it works very well for both trailers. That little utility trailer is great for cleaning up after pruning the shrubs around the yard, they really don't need a pickup truck. I had no trouble hauling that engine, but next time I will want a pickup for any future engines.

 

Hood is off, V6 is being unbolted. Time to test-fit my 4.8L "LSx" ( LR4 ) V8.

 

there are hitch threads?? and we wonder why they call us rednecks . . .

 

What, you think it unsophisticated? Go see how many Europeans are using pickups or large SUVs for towing, most use cars. Including Porsche 911 Turbos. What's red neck is to be brainwashed into thinking you need a turbodiesel dually for everything. Please stay out of my thread.

 

How do you deal with the tongue weight of the trailer. Seems to me anything with a little extra weight would make the rear end squat and the front end would have little to no weight on it. Would make it impossible to drive safely.

 

I had a receiver hitch on my 2002 Miata and a 1997 Thunderbird. The Thunderbird was a great tow vehicle: V8, RWD, automatic. I don't know how many times I caught my shin on the hitch walking around the car. I prefer the hidden receiver style hitches, but I don't know if they make them for the Camaro. With a hitch and a Uhaul location close by, you're set for most home projects.

 

has anybody seen some of the cars of drag week? its common to see a few of them pulling a small trailer full of parts, gear, etc.

 

It is red neck to tow with a car.. course.. so are pop up campers.. I have a diesel to tow hoopties like these cars around. Who cares what europeans do.. they have reasons they're neutered automobile wise like they are. Glad this.. arrangement works out for you.

 

Been buying parts, new pics soon.

 

It's just a simple leverage issue, with the rear axle as the pivot. You have a thousand pounds of engine and trans centered some six feet forward of the pivot, and the ball is about half that distance behind the pivot. So adding even 500 pounds of tongue weight isn't gonna make the front act light. Besides, it's not just the engine and trans, it's at least 2500 pounds of the car forward of the rear axle centerline. So even if you could put 1000 pounds of tongue weight on there without buckling the rear part of the car, it still wouldn't act light.
As for how the handling feels, yes, the pop-up is never unnoticeable as it would be behind a big pickup, but it still goes through the canyon as fast as is legal. You wouldn't want to see how close the trailer could get to 1 G cornering, but there's enough stability to not slow other cars down. And it's not scary even then. Not even remotely.

 

Giving this car to my new step-son, so progress will resume.