Decided to ressurect the third gen. Brainstorming time... - North East F-Body Association

bottledbird68 · #1 10-19-2012, 07:55 PM

Ok, we talked it over and I really want my third gen back together. But, being that the 68 is still in pieces I don't want to sink a ton of cash into it. And, since the Camaro doesn't seem to want to sell and what I'm getting for offers wont cover an ls/t56 swap that'll make the same 400 horse that the z's lt1 is already close too we've decided it's most cost effective to gut the Camaro and swap it all into the third gen.

Anyhow, just debating if there's any cheap worthwhile upgrades to do while it's out. I'm planning on a 24x conversion since I'm tired of opti issues. Also planning on a clutch. What's good these days? Been a few years since I looked into lt1 clutches. Motor is just shy of 400 horse and I'm most likely going to put one of my nitrous kits I have laying around to good use so it'll be seeing at least a 150 shot.
Motor already has a hot cam. Any current cams out there worth upgrading to? I'll go that deep if it's worth 20+ horse, otherwise I'll leave it be. I'm thinking my stock ported heads are going to limit me there but I figure it's worth asking. I've been researching ls stuff mainly so I'm out of touch in the lt1 world.

I have some minor body and paint work to do too so I'm thinking of spicing it up a little but I'm open to ideas. Got a couple in my head but I don't know if I'm crazy about any of them yet. Cars most likely staying the 06 gto brazen orange so I'm looking to build off that. Salad shooters are going, c5 front brakes are going back on, and it'll most likely get the c6 zr1 replica wheels off the Camaro.

So yeah, here it sits now. Camaro is staying together until the turkey burn unless the shell sells first. Then it's game on in about a month or so.

KB93z28 · #2 10-19-2012, 09:36 PM

I like this, should be badass 3rd gen formulas are sick. Its too bad someone jacked the Z06 wheels off that car, cuz they looked sick on that car. Im also debating whether or not to put my car in the turkey burns.

jayws6 · #3 10-20-2012, 06:42 AM

Hey Matt EFI swap nice. But expensive. Think small block cheaper for price of kit think Total was harnes , PCM. Coils tune like 1800-2500 $

Or on the cheap hard parts 24 kit 600$
PCM Like 100$
Coils junk yard like 50 buck or so
Harness could repin LT1 10 hours
Tune 200$
You can price it on there web site
Still think carb 350 cheaper

bottledbird68 · #4 10-20-2012, 05:34 PM

Jay, I want efi. I plan to drive the car all the time and I've never seen a 400 horse carb'd small block clear 20 mpg like I know the lt1 does.
Basically I only need the hard parts of the kit. I already have a PCM I can use, coils I can use, and I'll just repin the harness. Not going to spend the 700 or whatever it is on their harness. Plus I'll sell the msd opti to cover a good chunk of what the kit will cost me. The opti is my main issue with keeping the lt1 so with that gone I'll be much happier.

Kb, I agree on the zo6's but it is what it is. I may still find another set, or possibly a c6 zo6 set but we'll see. For now I already own the zr1's so for budget reasons they'll go on. I'm gonna put them on and see how they look. I may or may not paint them a gunmetal color though.
And YES, turkey burn rocks!!! We decided last year that's our new thanksgiving tradition

Formula413 · #5 10-20-2012, 05:49 PM

There may be a set of Z06 wheels for sale soon:

ILuvPizzaTimes10 · #6 10-20-2012, 06:34 PM

efi connections will be a Great upgrade. now getting it tuned may seem easy but don never calls back lt1 guys so good luck.

bottledbird68 · #7 10-20-2012, 06:51 PM

Not too concerned about tuning. One of my local friends has been tuning lt1's for a good 10 years now. He also does ls based platforms too so he's got the knowledge and the software to do whatever. I will however be needing the newer timing cover. Have any laying around?

ILuvPizzaTimes10 · #8 10-20-2012, 07:14 PM

only have a 1995 cover.

KLAB · #9 10-22-2012, 01:51 AM

your making just shy of 400 with a hotcam? what ported heads are they? I always liked this car better than the clam! I wanna see this come together

bottledbird68 · #10 10-22-2012, 03:20 AM

I'm generalizing a little bit. It put down 319 at the wheels at the dyno day a couple years ago. And that was before pizza told me he had the adjustable timing cranked all the way down on the msd opti. So, accounting for drivetrain loss, add in the correct timing, and a proper tune, not its current mail order one, I'm thinking rounding it off at 400 horse is reasonable. Realistically worst case now assuming 15% loss through the drivetrain it's around 375.
I'm not 100% sure what's in the motor. I didn't build it. Was told it has a hot cam, ported stock heads, and a ported intake. That and a set of pacesetter mid lengths.

And I agree. I like the third gen chassis and looks sooooo much better. Unless someone ponies up a good cash offer for the Camaro whole this is happening in the off season. I want the cars I care about done and driving. I never fell in love with the Camaro. I tried, just couldn't do it. I'm a firebird guy