Impulse bought an 81 Camaro. Now what do I do with it?

ValuePack wrote:

novaderrik wrote:

Type Q wrote: What to do with it? Do donuts on the neighbors lawn. Isn't that what everyone does with a "Bitchin' Camaro."

i just got home from putting 3923 miles and burning up 163 gallons of gas over the last week in my bitchin' 86 Camaro.. 48 hours ago i had my feet in the Gulf of Mexico on Mustang Island, TX and now i'm in my room in west central MN..

You're my hero. Even the road trip aside, I have *three* 4cyl Subarus at home, the one that uses the least fuel averages .5mpg less in mixed driving than you did on that trek. Well done!

thanks.. it was a truly epic road trip.. the little 305 i slapped together purred like an indestructible kitten the whole time, and my only mechanical issues involved a nut that fell off the bolt that holds the torque arm mount to the tailshaft of the trans and an exhaust hanger that broke- both fixed at the same gas station in downtown Austin, TX during rush hour last friday with some bailing wire that a really awesome Mexican guy had in his truck.. i've put close to 2000 miles on that "fix" and haven't gotten around to crawling under there and doing it right yet- maybe tomorrow if the sunburn subsides enough to let me lift my arms over my head without feeling infinite pain.. don't worry, i'll take pics...

Aeromoto wrote: Build a proper IROC Camaro. Not the gay ass IROC Z 3rd gen package, but a proper IROC race car--

I just drove that exact car at Mecum in Indianapolis a month ago......ill upload pics of the inside tomorrow.

In reply to yamaha: Yes please!

novaderrik wrote: thanks.. it was a truly epic road trip.. the little 305 i slapped together purred like an indestructible kitten the whole time, and my only mechanical issues involved a nut that fell off the bolt that holds the torque arm mount to the tailshaft of the trans and an exhaust hanger that broke- both fixed at the same gas station in downtown Austin, TX during rush hour last friday with some bailing wire that a really awesome Mexican guy had in his truck.. i've put close to 2000 miles on that "fix" and haven't gotten around to crawling under there and doing it right yet- maybe tomorrow if the sunburn subsides enough to let me lift my arms over my head without feeling infinite pain.. don't worry, i'll take pics...

Can't tell you how envious I am.

I have a set of those IMSA flares for a second gen Camaro in my attic.

They're N.O.S. and I'd be willing to sell them.

Shawn

For wheels, I'd just go with stock car steelies like one of the pictures above showed. $59 and you can't go wrong.

yamaha wrote:

Aeromoto wrote: Build a proper IROC Camaro. Not the gay ass IROC Z 3rd gen package, but a proper IROC race car--

I just drove that exact car at Mecum in Indianapolis a month ago......ill upload pics of the inside tomorrow.

Hey Randy - I think we just figured out the paint scheme...

DILYSI Dave wrote:

yamaha wrote:

Aeromoto wrote: Build a proper IROC Camaro. Not the gay ass IROC Z 3rd gen package, but a proper IROC race car--

I just drove that exact car at Mecum in Indianapolis a month ago......ill upload pics of the inside tomorrow.

Hey Randy - I think we just figured out the paint scheme...

Not quite sure about that color though. I do like those 2nd gen IROC cars.

novaderrik wrote: maybe tomorrow if the sunburn subsides enough to let me lift my arms over my head without feeling infinite pain.. don't worry, i'll take pics...

Um, that's okay. I've seen sunburned folks before. :)

81cpcamaro wrote:

DILYSI Dave wrote: Hey Randy - I think we just figured out the paint scheme...

Not quite sure about that color though. I do like those 2nd gen IROC cars.

Do a breast cancer car and see if you can get some sponsorship money out of the deal. Besides, girls like pink cars, I seem to remember a certain pink Shadow from one of the Challenges surrounded by Hooters girls.....

This guy's wife is a cancer survivor and to support Breast Cancer awareness and to drum up some money for the cause they painted their race cars:

I think I have a 3-piece rear spoiler for a 2nd-gen Camaro that I'd let got for cheap....

Aeromoto wrote: In reply to yamaha: Yes please!

Ask and ye shall receive......ran good and drove like a chuckwagon powered by the hounds of hell.....

My apologies for the size of the last one, but I figured it would be easier to read that way

Edit: Nvm, it autoresized it.......lol

I so miss my 79 Z28.. . . Other than it runsting in half it was a great car.

Nice find. Potential ideas are endless. These cars are heavier than most people realize.

78 Z28 owner since 1990. Had a 75 Type LT prior - resembled the Transformers movie car (Yellow with Cragars)

My sister has a 79 Z28, 39,000 original miles.

Your Camaro has what I think is the best looking 14 inch wheel made. The two tone paint jobs on the 75-81 RS models were my favorites - the yellow/black and red/black in particular.

I recall having a high school teacher with a loaded Berlinetta model - had power everything, ttops, A/C that actually worked.'

The 74-81 models have always been my soft spot

TIGMOTORSPORTS wrote: These cars are heavier than most people realize.

I thought, "huh", and googled.

f-body.org says a '71 was 3300 pounds, and a '78 more like 3600

You can get a lot of engine into one and a lot of tire under it, but I have to say that still dampens my enthusiasm. OTOH, assuming they're put together like my '75 Nova, there's a significant weight savings available in tar removal...

You can get a Camaro lighter. I have my 81 down to 2780 lbs with a full roll cage, fiberglass hood, and original steel body panels (with gutting of the doors and other parts). Of course mine isn't street legal, so that helps with getting the weight down.

In addition to the mullet, you need a joint, a horseshoe moustache, and a can of really cheap beer to handle this bad boy properly. Better make a build thread.

Okay, okay. Stay with me, here. A crazy idea I have been sitting on for a while, and might be fun (and hilarious).

Know how people are always swapping the V12 out of Jag XJs and putting in SBCs?

What about doing the reverse?

Find a semi-decent Jag V12 and drop it in. Since it's already an auto, the T700 tranny will work just fine. Plus you get the added benefit of having a Camaro that, with the right exhaust, will sound like a Ferrari.

Are you mguar posting under a different name?

Ian F wrote: Are you mguar posting under a different name?

Nope. The idea was originally to do it with a Corvette or Malibu, but a Camaro would be just as funny.

rallymodeller wrote: Okay, okay. Stay with me, here. A crazy idea I have been sitting on for a while, and might be fun (and hilarious). Know how people are always swapping the V12 out of Jag XJs and putting in SBCs? What about doing the reverse? Find a semi-decent Jag V12 and drop it in. Since it's already an auto, the T700 tranny will work just fine. Plus you get the added benefit of having a Camaro that, with the right exhaust, will sound like a Ferrari.

I think early Jags used Chevy automatics. I know the V12 Ferrari 400's did.

I used to have an AF/X slot car that looked just like that Allison IROC car. Did the fender flares myself using Liquid Wood.

rallymodeller wrote: Nope. The idea was originally to do it with a Corvette or Malibu, but a Camaro would be just as funny.

You're new here...

Sorry... Long story.

In reply to ransom:

Yep- 71,72, 73 not too bad.74 the weight went on and 75-77 the heaviest. The 78-81 have a very heavy inner front bumper hiding underneath the disco plastic. It doesn't take long for door hinges to wear and door handles to bust

Their are fiberglass fenders, front ends, and doors out their besides the hoods

turboswede wrote: I think early Jags used Chevy automatics. I know the V12 Ferrari 400's did.

I think the Jag V12 XJS had a TH400 but it used a Jag specific bellhousing.