I have pics of a very low mile '85 and the rear hatch switch matches your photo. So, at least '85-'89 use the Camaro icon image. 1982 and '83 have the switch I just purchased.

 

Car looks great, as always. Glad to see it's being kept in the family.

 

Last weekend, I got irritated when an old electric leaf blower cover broke and fell off the blower when I was hanging it in the garage. That cover fell and hit the top of the rear quarter panel, denting it. CRAP!!! So today, I removed another dent, restoring the car back to what it was before I screwed up.

I also have the original Federal Signal Mini Aero Dynic light bar that was used in 1982. The brackets that came with the light have a slight lift to them and are about 12" long. The problem with that, is the area behind the ttops is only 8.5" wide. So, for a temporary mount, I reshaped the aluminum with about an inch higher lift in the back so the light will sit level, cut the brackets to size and reattached the mounts. It sits higher than it should because of the magnetic feet and the angle on the bracket, but until I redesign it, it'll work.






The light doesn't look centered or level, but it is. The photo angle is off. Also, my dad had a box full of awards and plaques. I had no use for them in my "man cave" since they were his awards from all over Arizona, so I decided to mount them on the wall behind the car.

 

Looking great. I thought when your Dad had it, it had everything just like the actual Race Pace Car

 

I helped my dad locate the light and the headlight covers, which I now have. The only thing I don't have are the flag poles. I plan on investigating the poles and having them custom made. I was going to do that as a gift for my dad, but I guess it's gonna be for me now.

 

Sweet!
I would have guessed "The Brickyard" as being home for an '82 pacer.

 

Oh, it's been there.





In 2001, it was used by Chevrolet, on display with the Legends Tour trailer and the Pace Car display, at Indianapolis Raceway Park. The cars behind it are one of Live Aid Camaros and the Camaro GTZ.

 

Dang I love these cars. When will the pace cars ever get the love they deserve? Current company excluded.

Dropped the tree trimming saw onto my door to create a half dozen teeth bites in an arch. But pales next to the smashed quarter.

 

Nice job Scott - love the tribute to your Dad behind the car!

 

Awesome car!

 

Looking great Scott . . . always a fun challenge to fine, acquire and or make the little things that take the car to a whole new level.

 

I wish Good Year still made the Eagle GT or GT II raised white letter tires. I know there are replicas, but I will not spend the ridiculous price for those when I can get a new set for less than $500 that will work just fine.

 

Scott,

I have a Mini-Arodynic with the correct rotators for my car too.

Very nicely done

 

So I decided to rework the light mounts today and removed the bend at the front. By doing that, I needed to reshape the rear bends to fit. I'm happy with the finished product. All I need to do now is paint them satin black.

 

I was able to acquire a new stereo since my original was toast. I know it's not '82 specific, but it came out of an '87 when it was new. My wife and son decided to get me new speakers for Christmas. I installed new 6x9 and 4x6 Pioneer speakers today! I now have tunes when I drive!!!! The car is finally coming together.

I think I just need to have the carb worked and the trans shifter bushings replaced and the car will drive like a dream.

 

Now there is a nice Christmas Story! Glad to see it all coming together. It just keeps looking better with each post.

 

New photo. The two cars together.

 

Love the silver/blue, darker blue combo!

 

Stunning!

 

GREAT job man. Looking through this thread really made me happy!

 

I've started doing the work on the car and I plan to drop the trans this weekend. I haven't decided if I'm going to put the Super T10 back in or put in a 5 or 6 speed. That all depends on what I do with the engine, which hasn't been decided yet.

I know it's not original, but the 15" wheels are hard to get decent width tires for, so I ordered some OER IROC-Z wheels in 16". In keeping with the pace car look, I put a red stripe on them tonight. Looking forward to getting the tires mounted. My next plan is to get the headliner replaced, repaint the interior rear plastics and have the steering wheel recovered.

 

Nice, how did you do the red stripe?

 

Cant wait to see it!

 

The red stripe was put on using regular pinstripe tape. The original is 3/16" and I was only able to find 1/4" locally, so it should be fine being just slightly wider.

I created a cardboard template that had the same curvature as the inside wheel lip. Close to the edge of the cardboard, I cut a small rectangle just slightly larger than the pinstripe tape. I fed the red tape through the cut while leaving the backing paper outside the cut. I slowly slid the cardboard template around the rim with fingers on both sides of the cut out. This allowed one finger to guide the template, while the other was applying pressure on the applied pinstripe tape. I think it took less than 30 minutes to do all four wheels.

The starting point of the tape wasn't clean on the rim, or where it needed to be, so after I started following the wheel lip, and the tape was straight, I pulled back the starting point and cut it off. The tail end of the tape perfectly overlaps the starting point now and appears seemless.

 

Wheels look great!

 

Holy Mad Scientist! I love a good jig. The results speak for themself. I need to see this contraption in action to fully comprehend, but I imagine it like this...

 

Tell us more about your thought process on deciding what trans to use. I've done T5/TKO/T56 swaps and can provide info where needed.

 

I don't have too many ideas on the trans yet. I'm waiting to decide what I plan to do with the engine. If I leave the LG4, then I'll put a T5 in. But, I don't think I want the anemic 145hp LG4, so I need to find an engine. So, once I find the engine, I'll find a comparable trans. That's my thought process right now.

I'm starting off with the things I know how to do. I'm gonna replace the headliner, carpet, interior leathers and repaint the interior plastics. Not because they're bad, but because I want the car to look new. Then I want to do the suspension, brakes and engine/trans combo. I just started with the wheels and tires.

I'll be reaching out to the smarter people on this board when I get into the build. I'm looking forward to doing this.

 

Knowing you Scott, I'm sure the end result will be magnificent!

 

I would really consider a LS/6 speed swap... There is a little more work to do just on the K-member for clearance of the A/C compressor tho... I want to do that to one of my cars... If you leave it 4BBL, you can always go with a 350, get the Vortec Heads & an intake for a 4bbl, or something similar, and keep it looking stock... If you do anything more than 250hp, I would really recommend a 6 speed tho... That way it would still "look" factoryish...

John

 

LS swaps are like dentures, everyone's grandma has one....

I'd like to see an EBL controlled 350 or 383 with a renegade cross ram intake dressed up as a stock appearing LU5. Backed by a TKO600 and a 3.42 gear.

...and by the way Scott, get some pix of that car with the new IROC 16" wheels mounted already!!

 

Haven't decided on what engine to install yet.

I ordered tires for the IROC only right now. They go on Saturday, so no pics of the 82 with these rims and new tires, yet.

 

I don't think you understand, Sir... We NEED to see these pictures. This isn't some petty want it's required to insure our survival.

 

Should this be in Member's Camaros?

 

I'm surprised at how much I like that stripe - very nice!

 

Yah, pix or ban stick.

Can members band together to have a moderator banned? Judgement by popular vote? LOL

I think part of why I'm so excited about this is that I've never seen anyone take any tasteful liberties with a pace car. I think those IROC wheels will look fantastic. I love tasteful mods that update the car yet still pay respect to the original look or intent.

 

Awesome build! I have been hunting for one to restomod! There is a picture of a 79 Mustang Pacecar that is slammed on big wheels with the factory style paint/decals and it looks killer! When I get a hold of one I will keep the paint/decals but go Ls3/T56 with some 18+" 3 piece wheels!

Definitely a fan of the route you are taking! Keep it up!

 

Who knows? Members Camaros seems to be the spot for threads like this, but more build threads are popping up here (though the ones that do seem to be keeping it stock). Surprisingly, looks like Scott is going modified on this car - which I fully support!

For engine swap, stay period correct. A warmed up L69 or that thing 1MeanZ said.

 

Awesome! Subscribed.

 

My vote for engine swap... Keep em guessing.

 

Ban me? Maybe a moderator should just lock this thread as not History/Originality! Where's that Willie when we need him?

I've been trying to keep the threads here on topic, but it's hard when I need the advice of the people from the History forum, who might never visit some of the other threads. I know I don't frequent other sub forums as much as I'm here, because this is what interests me. The majority of TGO members are in the other sub forums, and I don't know very many of them or trust there knowledge/expertise.

 

I can kinda understand a little deviation from original. I really like original stuff, would never consider a car that had been repainted in a non original color. Well, the last car I bought was an 89 IROC thar had been repainted with a shade different color metallic paint, knew when i pulled up in front of the house and 50 feet away i was going to own it. I still like it, sometimes rules are made to be broken.

 

I think everyone likes this thread here, Scott.

 

Ban. I wish I'd have thought of that.

I don't care where, who, or what, as long as I can find this type of information with a forum search. Great stuff.

 

Excommunicate the defiler!

 

I'm kidding of course. As far as I'm concerned, this is still the History and Restoration forum. And that LG4 is History, and you're going to Restore that sweet ride to the kind of performance it should have had to begin with - Motor Trend's Car of the Year!

 

Just to keep this off topic thread alive, I thought I'd provide an update.

I purchased a wonderbar, 36mm front sway bar and a 24mm rear sway bar/bushings for the car. In talks with okfoz, we determined that the combination of 36mm/24mm used in 1990 and 36mm/23mm used in subsequent years was due to the extra support up front with the wonderbar. That extra support allowed for the larger rear sway bar. I ordered the parts from Top Down Solutions based on reviews on TGO. I should have the parts this week. The front brake calipers and brake hoses will also be replaced once I get ready to put the wheels on.

I also found the correct front license plate used on the '82-'84 Z28s, that was mentioned earlier in this thread. The eBay auction closed today and I'm hoping that the plate looks good when I get it.

Lastly, I pulled the trans this weekend. I have a new clutch and associated parts going in this week if I can get the flywheel to a shop for resurfacing. I decided to keep the Super T10 and see if I could just wake up the original engine some. Now that we have a 700hp monster at home, my son doesn't think we should spend thousands making the pace car "fast". I may do as some have suggested and replace the exhaust, new heads, new intake and a better carb. Maybe I can get 300hp out of this car and keep it looking original. With the suspension upgrades, wheels and high performance tires, this car should handle better than a stock '82 Z28.

 

Was the 140 speedo factory? I thought 85 mph was the law back then. Car is beautiful!!!!

 

Well I suppose so... lol Be kinda painful if it didn't.

I still say snorty streetable carbed small block, sorta like the ZZ4 conversion package, but updated to more modern standards. Pickle the LG4 and mummify it in plastic for a rainy day...

 

What are the engine specs for the cars that GM used in the actual Indy 500 races? Did those cars have stock 305's or a modified 350?
You could swap in a 350 with the same specs as the actual pace cars.