[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

[CharlieFoxtrot]

Thanks all!

I knew about the spacer issue for the 4th gen wheels in front.

Like I said, I do intend to replace ALL bushings and mechanical parts and I intend to use good quality tires.

And you all are saying I should use stock bushings? I'll look out for takeoffs.

Soma, I'll have to hold off on the brakes for a while, but if you still have them when I'm ready....

I had a 4thgen 3.4 parts car but the rear turned out to be messed up. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

We're starting on the car this weekend. First step is to swap over all the parts from the 89 parts car (body, interior, engine, 5-speed). The goal is to get the 85 running and get the parts car stripped and scrapped. After that, we'll start rebuilding.

When I was a kid my dad liked cars but didn't know anything about working on them. I had a 72 MGB and struggled to keep it on the road and safe. I want my kid to start out with a car in good shape and keep it that way, so we're going to rebuild everything from front to rear and top to bottom before he starts driving. Hell, his car will be beter than anything I've ever owned!! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

thanks again!
kevin