New project. Street/track car... - F-Body Road Racing and Autocross Forums

As you guys probably know, a few years ago I decided I wanted to wheel to wheel my 97 SS in CMC. Fast forward said few years and now I'm going to undo what I did. I'm going to make my a street car again.

Here's how the car sits now. Interior gutted, t-tops removed and hard top in its place. Doors gutted.

(IMG:http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v199/Steve91T/Camaro/th_41183AF7-AC21-44F0-B662-C6113B27CC1A.jpg)

(IMG:http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v199/Steve91T/Camaro/th_4D75B321-0DD7-4AC8-8D44-6B2CC59178E1.jpg)

Here's what I brought home last night. 140k miles 99 SS sans engine/tranny. $1100

(IMG:http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v199/Steve91T/Camaro/th_58427FEF-D271-4AF3-8F52-10F717884B09.jpg)

The interior is pretty clean. Here's where I need lots of help. I have some ideas of what I want to do, I'd like you guys to voice your opinions. I want to do this right this time

What I want is a car that is a really fun weekend car, but isn't going to be a daily driver. I want to keep it light, but not too uncomfortable. I plan on doing a lot of track days/time trials. I see myself doing realistically 6/ yr. hopefully more. It will be trailered to/from the track.

My plan is to replace the interior. The plastics are light and so is the headliner. I may strip the heavy insulation off the carpet. I'm going to use the stock seats with stock seat belts for the street and my Butler seat for the track. I need to use the doors from the 99 for the street. Anyone know how difficult it is to remove and replace doors? I'd like to use the gutted doors for the track. The 99 rear hatch will also be used for the street. I'll use the hatch with the Blainfab spoiler for track days. I'm also going to see if I can use the hard top for track days only. All I did was remove the weather stripping and rivnut the hard top on. 6 bolts and it's off. Only weighs 10lbs compared to whatever the Ttops weigh.

No AC, ABS, airbags or radio. I'll keep the quick release steering wheel because I need it for my butler seat.

Since I have the LS1 car, I'm going to use the crossmember someday to swaw an LSx. Maybe the all aluminum 5.3. I'll run the LT1 for now.

Where I really am torn is the front end. I'm going to ditch the eye hooks out the hood along with the Z28 hood in favor for an SS hood. I think ill get a VFN since they are cheap and light. I'll sell the factory SS hood that's on the car now. I just can't decide what I like better, the LT1 or LS1 front end. What do you guys think?

Let me know what you guys think! I'm excited to get started.

PS, did I mention that I need to learn how to paint? (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Steve91T View Member Profile	Oct 22 2014, 05:33 PM Post #1
Experienced Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 2,038 Joined: 3-March 10 From: Huntersville, NC Member No.: 9,105	As you guys probably know, a few years ago I decided I wanted to wheel to wheel my 97 SS in CMC. Fast forward said few years and now I'm going to undo what I did. I'm going to make my a street car again. Here's how the car sits now. Interior gutted, t-tops removed and hard top in its place. Doors gutted. (IMG:http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v199/Steve91T/Camaro/th_41183AF7-AC21-44F0-B662-C6113B27CC1A.jpg) (IMG:http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v199/Steve91T/Camaro/th_4D75B321-0DD7-4AC8-8D44-6B2CC59178E1.jpg) Here's what I brought home last night. 140k miles 99 SS sans engine/tranny. $1100 (IMG:http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v199/Steve91T/Camaro/th_58427FEF-D271-4AF3-8F52-10F717884B09.jpg) The interior is pretty clean. Here's where I need lots of help. I have some ideas of what I want to do, I'd like you guys to voice your opinions. I want to do this right this time What I want is a car that is a really fun weekend car, but isn't going to be a daily driver. I want to keep it light, but not too uncomfortable. I plan on doing a lot of track days/time trials. I see myself doing realistically 6/ yr. hopefully more. It will be trailered to/from the track. My plan is to replace the interior. The plastics are light and so is the headliner. I may strip the heavy insulation off the carpet. I'm going to use the stock seats with stock seat belts for the street and my Butler seat for the track. I need to use the doors from the 99 for the street. Anyone know how difficult it is to remove and replace doors? I'd like to use the gutted doors for the track. The 99 rear hatch will also be used for the street. I'll use the hatch with the Blainfab spoiler for track days. I'm also going to see if I can use the hard top for track days only. All I did was remove the weather stripping and rivnut the hard top on. 6 bolts and it's off. Only weighs 10lbs compared to whatever the Ttops weigh. No AC, ABS, airbags or radio. I'll keep the quick release steering wheel because I need it for my butler seat. Since I have the LS1 car, I'm going to use the crossmember someday to swaw an LSx. Maybe the all aluminum 5.3. I'll run the LT1 for now. Where I really am torn is the front end. I'm going to ditch the eye hooks out the hood along with the Z28 hood in favor for an SS hood. I think ill get a VFN since they are cheap and light. I'll sell the factory SS hood that's on the car now. I just can't decide what I like better, the LT1 or LS1 front end. What do you guys think? Let me know what you guys think! I'm excited to get started. PS, did I mention that I need to learn how to paint? (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

98_1LE View Member Profile	Oct 23 2014, 12:06 AM Post #2
Experienced Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 1,015 Joined: 28-December 03 From: Texas Member No.: 55	Pretty cool project. Prices for fourthgens are crazy low.

FASTFATBOY View Member Profile	Oct 23 2014, 10:23 AM Post #3
Experienced Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 1,099 Joined: 14-October 06 From: Mobile, Al Member No.: 1,410	Man, you are making a lot of work for yourself...jus sayin.

Steve91T View Member Profile	Oct 23 2014, 10:58 AM Post #4
Experienced Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 2,038 Joined: 3-March 10 From: Huntersville, NC Member No.: 9,105	QUOTE (FASTFATBOY @ Oct 23 2014, 06:23 AM) Man, you are making a lot of work for yourself...jus sayin. What do you mean? The red car is smashed in the right rear, a very expensive fix. Headlights and doors are all I need to make the black car street legal (more or less). NC doesn't require inspections for the first year after bringing a car in from out of state.

z28jeff View Member Profile	Oct 24 2014, 12:55 PM Post #5
Advanced Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 458 Joined: 11-October 05 From: Uniontown, Pa Member No.: 917	Do you still have the factory (SLP) LT1 SS hood and spoiler? This post has been edited by z28jeff: Oct 24 2014, 12:59 PM

Steve91T View Member Profile	Oct 24 2014, 03:49 PM Post #6
Experienced Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 2,038 Joined: 3-March 10 From: Huntersville, NC Member No.: 9,105	QUOTE (z28jeff @ Oct 24 2014, 08:55 AM) Do you still have the factory (SLP) LT1 SS hood and spoiler? Sold them. I'm going to keep the 99 SS spoiler. I just can't decide if I want to keep the 99 SS front end or not.