Thought I'd throw up a little intro post. I'm Greg, from Wisconsin. I picked up a '90 camaro a couple months ago, its currently in about as many pieces as it can be in my garage (a hollow shell with doors attached right now!), putting it together to be a weekend toy/track day car. I've been road racing motorcycles for the past couple years, last year burned me out a little bit chasing points and only going to 4 different tracks all season. This year I'm just doing a couple of those races for fun and hopefully some track days in the car too just for some variety.

I want to have the car done before the end of june, so that should give me time to get to a couple events this year at least! Maybe I'll see some of you at events in the midwest.

Here's the only picture I've taken of the car so far from a couple weeks ago. Pardon the crappy cell phone picture quality..

(IMG:http://www.cooltruckparts.com/pics/noengine.jpg)

This post has been edited by Greg84: Feb 17 2010, 09:36 PM

Greg

Welcome aboard!!!!!!!

John

Looks like your off to a good start. Welcome aboard! We need more 3rd gens around here.

Wow, some cool new thirdgens recently. Welcome!

Looks like you've plucked a crusty TBI 305 with an automatic. What is going back between the fenders? If you say it's carb'd and/or using an automatic trans I'm boycotting this thread! LOL (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

Hey, mine almost wound up carb'd (and the next engine still might...we'll see). (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/banghead.gif)

There's a T56 sitting in my garage waiting to go back in, so the automatic is definitely not coming back. I'm still not sure what I'll do for an engine. Originally I planned on putting a TPI setup on the old engine, but lately I've been thinking about an LT1.

I'd do a Stealth Ram'd TPI. Pretty similar to the LT1 as far as power and the power curve and no opti spark.

Thats on the list too.. Along with using a modified LT1 intake. The only thing I've read about the stealth ram that I don't like is that it hits the hood.

Too bad Minirams are still so outrageously expensive.

The test I saw showed the mini ram was up 5 hp on a 500 hp engine (mini ram=505, stealthram=500), but down 20-30 ft lbs over the stealth ram. For that price difference and more torque, I'll stay with the stealth ram (which is the decision process that put one on my car when Mike, the previous owner, was looking for an intake upgrade). Either is a good choice, but bang for the buck...

I put a glass hood on for clearance and weight reduction (I'm also shooting for AI).

they fit a LOT better on the camaros...of course I have a bird so it smacked the non-relieved hood.

With energy suspension engine mounts, mine hit the Camaro hood as well.

I was going to update this thread with some new pics that I took yesterday. Spent all weekend sanding and cleaning the engine bay and the underside of the car to get it ready for paint, took some nice pictures in the daylight with my cell phone.. and I put the phone in my pants pocket (I rarely keep it in a pocket) and found it bouncing around the wash machine this morning (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

Anyways.. I'm hoping to paint the engine bay and underside this coming weekend. I also picked up a complete TPI setup with the wiring harness off a '91 trans am. Not exactly the highest performing option out there, but still better than the old TBI.

Well the TPI is great for torque, so if you build the rest of the long block with that in mind you'll be set. many TPI engines are dogs because they are simply mis-matched combinations. You may already know all of this so I'll stop preaching now.

I don't know what your power goals are, but my TPI 305 was a mover for what it was. With ported vette aluminum heads, ported intake, mild cam and a full exhaust on the STOCK TUNE it ran 13.70@101mph with 3.23 gears and a 2.2 60ft. Similar tricks on a TPI 350 can yield a pretty lively combination. If your power goals are 350-400hp and gobs of torque you'll be happy with the TPI setup. Here is some footage a few years ago after my wedding pictures were taken. I'm pedaling to keep it off the rev limiter but I still tag it if you listen close.

(IMG:http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w178/1meanz/th_305power.jpg)

(IMG:http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w178/1meanz/305tracks.jpg)

This post has been edited by 1meanZ: Mar 2 2010, 01:10 PM

I'll take as much as I can get, but I'd be more than happy with anything over 300!

Greg,

If you will allow me to add my 2 cents to your thread: Build your car to an existing class and set of rules. I've seen many builds over the years that don't fit anywhere when it came time to move to wheel to wheel racing. (Been doing this for 15 years!) You need to spend your money on seat time and not mods. CMC rules limit rear wheel horsepower (RWHP) to 230 or 260 for CMC2. Trust me...that's enough to get the juices flowing. After playing in the CMC crowd and you still have the desire for more HP and to spend more money then you can always move up to AI or AIX.

My suggestion...build it to NASA CMC rules, go through our HPDE program, then if you want...move to racing. We just built a 3rd gen with an LT1 for CMC2 that we recently sold that will be going through the first Comp school. We also have (3) other 305 carb cars in CMC and a buddy with a 4th gen LT1 up in the Madison area. We are also helping with the build of a 4th gen LT1 that will be in HPDE for the next year or so. If you need any help with your build...we've been there and done that!

Check out www.NasaMidwest.com for more info and our schedule but feel free to PM me for my email and phone number.

Good luck on your build,

Sidney Franklin
Bloomington, IL
NASA Midwest
CMC #64

Thanks Sidney, building a car to the class rules does make sense, that way I won't be spending money twice if I end up going that route! Most of what I had planned for it would fit with the CMC rules anyways, two things I already have that wouldn't (assuming I'm reading the rulebook right) are the t56 and a tubular K-member, but since I already have them I'll put them on the car. It wouldn't be too difficult to change those parts out at a later point.

It does ultimately come down to money. I've seen cars cut up where the only class they were legal in was AIX and that's a $100,000 class if you want to be competitve. A couple small mods that aren't easy to switch back and you're in AI. CMC is a good place to start for an F-body where the driver is just beginning to track.

The T56 is legal but the tubular crossmember isn't. If you haven't dunked a motor in yet then change the crossmember now. I had to do this last winter when I switched from AI to CMC. You don't need this part with a Canton pan, shorty headers, or stock exhaust manifolds. It's just bling! The bushings are free and that's where you need to spend your money!

Sidney
CMC #64