[CharlieFoxtrot]

Hey all--

I bought an 85 2.8 Camaro for my stepson. He's 14 now, so we have a couple of years to work on it. I paid $100 for it, and I think that was a fair price for what we got.

Pics here

Anyway, it wil be a daily driver for him, and he'll take defensive driving classes, then use it for HPDE and AX. Maybe OT someday.

The stock 2.8 V6 is STAYING! One day it will be replaced by a 3.4 with some mods, but not until he proves to deserve a car that's not slow as molasses. We do have a 5-sp for it.

I'm not concerned with fitting into an AX class. I'd just like to know what mods I should make to make it a nice car.

We'll be doing a complete mechanical rebuild, so where appropriate I'd like to use aftermarket performance chassis or durability-related parts instead of stock. But we will be on a tight budget.

My ideas include:

4thgen rear with SLP Torsen
4thgen wheels -- cheapest style that clears brakes -- salad shooters?
home-made C5 or LS1 front brakes like I've seen on some other F-car sites
LT1 rear brakes
SFCs, possibly home made
battery in rear
exhaust -- I like the way an Aerochamber sounds on the V6-60 -- we'll see what he likes
Getting shock ideas from JonA and djborden on cc.com.

That's the easy ones. Then there's the things I really don't know enough specifics about F-cars to choose:

What about bushings? Springs? Reinforced or upgraded f/r control arms or PHB?
Cooling? Steering? What else?

thanks!!
kevin

[John_D.]

85 2.8 Camaro

My ideas include:
4thgen rear with SLP Torsen
4thgen wheels -- cheapest style that clears brakes -- salad shooters?
SFCs, possibly home made
battery in rear
exhaust -- I like the way an Aerochamber sounds on the V6-60 -- we'll see what he likes

What about bushings? Springs? Reinforced or upgraded f/r control arms or PHB?
Cooling? Steering? What else?

I have a 4th gen v6, so my thoughts may be a little off, but should be in the general neighborhood...


If it doesn't have limited slip now, it would definitely be a plus to add it.

Even with my 3.8, I think sfc's would be overkill. Plus they do put you in a higher class.

Salad shooters are good cheap light wheels.

Battery in rear, might help on a drag launch. But with the added weight of wiring, and the hassles I hear people have with them, probably not worth it.

I'm curious about that Aerochamber, I've never heard one.

At least stock replacement bushings would be good, because on the '85 they're probably shot.

I don't know about springs or sway bars for that car. Sam Strano would be a good person to ask.

I think upgraded control arms or PHB would be overkill. (unless you just want to do the control arms for the sake of getting good bushings in there..., but PHB is not really needed unless the diff is off center) (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I would think cooling would be adequate for 60 seconds of autocross, but I don't know about HPDE.


Tires would be a good consideration....


$100 sounds like a really good deal on the car!