[ansonivan]

Hi, I'm from Columbus OH, part of a group from the GRM forum who are assembling a LeMons/Chump team around a 1985 Camaro.

I have zero f-body experience and have a backround in vw/bmw so I have much to learn.

The car is a v8/5speed with several layers of paint/bondo/rust, our plan is to run a mild 350 through a t5 and 9 bolt limited slip rear axle.
We have some hope of making the April 16-17th race at Gingerman but it's going to be one hell of a push to make the event.

A roll cage is the first order of business, at this point it's a toss up between a pre-bent kit from S&W or another supplier or me spending the time to make templates and have Tubular Techniques bend a cage.

List of parts we're looking for, cheap cast off stuff and local preferred

transmission cross member
t5 bellhousing
clutch/flywheel
clutch fork
clutch master/slave/line
pedal box

front calipers - standard size or larger
rear calipers
performance pads
torque arm
Twin Fans
Radiator
16" wheels

The car prior to being extracted from a snow bank in Scott OH
(IMG:http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5176/5422234214_851d5f1121_z.jpg)

Behind my shop awaiting drivetrain/safety items
(IMG:http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5254/5462380742_dfd4916d1c_z.jpg)

This post has been edited by ansonivan: Feb 23 2011, 02:52 PM

[CrashTestDummy]

That's a pretty ambitious schedule you have there and still have just a body shell and little 3rd Gen experience. We've spent over a month just getting the 'little' stuff done for our newest team car. I can't imagine doing a whole car, start to finish in two months.

A working 9 bolt will probably be expensive. They are a good, strong diff for that body style, and parts are getting rare as hen's teeth to find. Additionally, you'll need to be creative as far as radiators are concerned. They seem to be a weak spot in 3rd Gens set up for this sort of racing. Many f-bodies I see in the pits, if they haven't just exploded into a spectacular ball of fire and smoke on track, are usually in to replace the steam in the cooling system with water. You may want to hunt junkyards for truck radiators, especially diesel truck radiators, and see what you can shoehorn into the front of your car.

You're needing the clutch parts? Is the car originally an auto car? If so, I'd recommend you throw a TH350 behind that SBC. It will be quicker, and probably increase your chance of actually being able to turn a wheel on track, given the tight schedule. Our group 'invested' in a tubing bender and make all our cages. Luckily, we have a couple of guys who can weld. Your kit idea may be a good one, given your schedule, but you'll be welding like mad.

Good luck.