Blackout

[cluxford]

Yep, try getting any sort of actual info on a 68. Even the tags are a waste of time. 69's a bit better, but still well short of great.

All good, more pics please !!!

[Nev68]

[Steve,
You've certainly showed some commitment on your car.
Very interested in how you did the tags.
Do you have the stamp/punches?

Nev

[TUFF68]

Very interesting story and pics of your car Steve. Only wish i knew a bit of history about my car's and their previous owners

[BlackoutSteve]

I bought the tag off A G Backeast http://www.datatags.com/
Pretty pricey, but if you need it or you just want it and have to have it..

[BlackoutSteve]

Being very naive and not exactly knowing what or how to get the Camaro up & running, I had a mate of a mate who did conversions complete the assembly, finish off the wiring and dash and so on.. That was about 1993/4.
The 454 that was supposed to be a fresh rebuild, dropped a valve, but luckily the TRW forged piston stayed in one piece and was good enough to be used again.
So, I pulled the motor and bought new Edelbrock heads, a 4 bolt main block, LS7 rods, and a steel crank. (Deep down I was busting to build me a big block.)

Here is a pic I took when checking piston to valve clearance.. I remeber having to get the piston valve reliefs flycut AND running the cam retarded 2 degrees to get the 0.080" minimum. The cam wasn't that big, I should have got ROSS to make me pistons then instead of later.



This is how the engine bay looked after the rebuild and before the resto.
Back then I loved it, but now I don't.. Too much black.
(Gotta love that Mustang "Caution Fan" decal. )



That thing in front of the MSD is a Detroit Diesel heat exchanger. I use my coolant to control my engine oil temperature. Works brilliantly.

..and here's me thinking I'm some sort of God.. (Circa 1996)



Damn, I wish I never sold that genuine SS hood!

[BlackoutSteve]

Just found an older engine bay pic..



Moroso low air cleaner and foam filter.. I was amazed at how much lower the original GM air cleaner bases are.
Note the SS hood in this pic and Ford XA/XB master and booster.

This intake was a Weiand "Action Plus" and a 780vac.
I remember swapping to an 850DP and a Victor Jnr and squealing the tires through high gear.
I was so conservative thinking that a dual plane and vac secondaries was the way to go.. WRONG!

[J.J.]

man you know your stuff

[BlackoutSteve]

I started the resto in 2002. I was only supposed to fix a few things like the dash ducting, and improve the subframe conversion, but as you all know, one thing lead to another and before i knew it, the Camaro was spinning on a rotisserie.

First up was to improve the subframe conversion which I felt was beyond improving.. So, I returned it to LHD using some doner parts and sold it.
The new subframe just happened to be in an online mate's backyard in Arizona.
My good friend Jim delivered it for me for free to Ventura CA so Pete could bring it here.. (Yes, I insisted on slinging him some cashola for his troubles)
Here it is in Ventura, waiting to be loaded into the container.


I knew it was slightly bent, but only out by about a 1/4" or so on the front "horns". Diagonals were pretty good, but some tweeking was required.
No biggy.. I bolted it and the crane to the floor and used a pully to tension the frame in the direction I wanted it to move, then a few taps with Sister Sledge.. I used a cable ratchet to pull the frame so it's diagonal measurements are now within 1/4".
Looks brutal, but it did the trick nicely.


I made a jig for the subframe to do the conversion on using the factory dimensions and a very straight, borrowed subframe. Forget plumb-bobs and spirit levels! A jig will allow me to transfer holes from oneside to the other with plenty of accuracy.


This pic shows the steering box section (cut from a bent Australian delivery Pontiac Parisienne subframe) being located (very accurately) on the right side.


An almost finished top view..


..side views.




Home from the blasters..


..and primer, ready for paint..

[AUSCAMARO]

Very nice work Steve... Very neat indeed.

[RSZ28]

Steve mate. That work is absolutely bewdiful!

Major investment in building up the jig, but fantastic result.

Are you a toolmaker by trade?

And mate the pic with you from 96! Well if you were smart enough to invest in a 69 way back then, you almost are god LOL!

Cheers !

[BlackoutSteve]

Tool maker? No, but thank you very much indeed. I went to a tech school, and that's about it..

There are also a heap more pics of getting the subframe converted that I intend on posting real soon..
But right now, I'm about to order pizza!

[BlackoutSteve]

Because the subframe was out of a 67 (Camaro or Firebird), the bumpstops were different.


I didn't have any 69-74 doners at that time so I contacted a yard in the US and they cut a pair off a Nova subframe and sent them to me.
I unpicked the 67s and welded on the 69s.






Look at that messy welding.. Just like OE!


This also means I have two 67 bump stops for sale. Yes, they will require welding!

[BlackoutSteve]

The function of the subframe was obviously very important, but to me, so was the look.
I wanted it to look as though this was a factory right hand drive subframe. So, a lot of work (a lot of work!) went into the "cosmetic side" of the conversion too.



Crush tubes were installed within, and a 1/8" plate was tacked in place. A reasonable amount of heat was added to the plate with a rose-bud tip and then quickly, a bolt, nut and washers were fitted and tightened until they seated against the crush tubes.

[RSZ28]

Brilliant stuff Steve. Awesome attention to detail there mate! Kudos to you!

[camaro_1967rs]

Originally Posted by blackoutsteve

So, a lot of work (a lot of work!) went into the "cosmetic side" of the conversion too.

Great job you are nearly tempting me to organise a conversion for mine, but it would have to be of equal std..

just a question, what do you do Steve for a living I noticed the Sika Products.