1981 Camaro - C-Prepared Build

Awsome to see you making huge progress! I hope someday to see you Lincoln running for a National title with that thing.

Gimp wrote:

Stang_guy03 wrote:

Gimp wrote: The previous post was this past weekend. Not much yet, but hopefully a big milestone gets completed this weekend. Stay tuned.

Sorries, I guess I got lost in the timeline. I got one going for my Mustang, but nothing as radical as you got going. Simply building a CAM-C car.

No worries at all! Nothing simple about a CAM car. Had I started this project much later, I'd probably have done the same. Hell, with a little extra work (and slower tires) I could be CAM legal.

Actually at the point you're at you'd never meet the spirit of the rules in CAM. But I got a strong feeling the there is going to be a huge problem with this issue before it is worked out. Exspecially in the traditional class (CAM-T). There are follow on rules for CAM to be phased in over a few years is my understanding.

Sorry being a little slow on catching up to comments here.

Stang_guy03 wrote:

Gimp wrote:

Stang_guy03 wrote:

Gimp wrote: The previous post was this past weekend. Not much yet, but hopefully a big milestone gets completed this weekend. Stay tuned.

Sorries, I guess I got lost in the timeline. I got one going for my Mustang, but nothing as radical as you got going. Simply building a CAM-C car.

No worries at all! Nothing simple about a CAM car. Had I started this project much later, I'd probably have done the same. Hell, with a little extra work (and slower tires) I could be CAM legal.

Actually at the point you're at you'd never meet the spirit of the rules in CAM. But I got a strong feeling the there is going to be a huge problem with this issue before it is worked out. Exspecially in the traditional class (CAM-T). There are follow on rules for CAM to be phased in over a few years is my understanding. Sorry being a little slow on catching up to comments here.

I think you're right. Houghbaugh has had to make quite a few changes just to be legal-er in Ultimate Street Car.

Went up and got a little more work done. A lot of it was finishing the grinding of old cage pieces I have been putting off and cleaning, but we did get the suspension fully bolted into place and rolled the car out into the sunlight to get a good look at it on all fours for the first time.

I made my wife pose next to it, so I guess I get what I deserve:

After we rolled it out we bolted up the front clip.

Mockup motor isn't really bolted down yet:

Then we pulled up the Joe's STS prepped Miata (which has been lowered) for comparison:

Ride height from the front:

After we got home, I did a little photoshop. I found a relatively stock looking car on Google, and adjusted the scale and angle, and lined up the two cars along the body line just to show the ride height difference from stock:

She's a bit low...

Next time I'm up there I can add a few more cage bars and work on getting the motor and trans mocked up.

Holy E36 M3 that is insane. I have ride height and tire width envy now.

I used to think my 275/40/17 was big on the front. Not so much anymore....

Imsa flares, right?

Dusterbd13 wrote: Holy E36 M3 that is insane. I have ride height and tire width envy now. I used to think my 275/40/17 was big on the front. Not so much anymore.... Imsa flares, right?

LOL. Thanks! Yes, IMSA style flares. I'm sending them off to my cousin who works in composites to have some molds made.

Looking good Gimp! I love your temp motor mount. I'm thinking that is one those fiberglass motors for mock ups.

I really nead to share your thread with a friend that thinks I've gone nuts with the basic mods on my Mustang.

Keep at and don't lose faith in getting it done. It's way to cool.

Dusterbd13 wrote: Holy E36 M3 that is insane. I have ride height and tire width envy now. I used to think my 275/40/17 was big on the front. Not so much anymore.... Imsa flares, right?

Yeah I know what you mean. I'm going to run 18x10 with 275/35/18 on my Mustang. I think I need more tire now, lol.

Stang_guy03 wrote:

Dusterbd13 wrote: Holy E36 M3 that is insane. I have ride height and tire width envy now. I used to think my 275/40/17 was big on the front. Not so much anymore.... Imsa flares, right?

Yeah I know what you mean. I'm going to run 18x10 with 275/35/18 on my Mustang. I think I need more tire now, lol.

My rear rims are too narrow. New 16x13s are on my list of things to order.

In other news, anyone need anything steamrolled?

I find it funny that it makes my Miata look huge. All other times the Miata seems so tiny and gets lost behind other cars in parking lots, but it looks like a monster next to the CP car.

That pic reminds me when I was a kid in the 60s-70s and race cars would start peeking out from garages in spring from their winter builds. Around here mostly semi- and late model dirt cars w/ factory frames before store bought chassis back in the day.

No offense or comparison w/ that awesome CP build to a dirt car... just brought back some good memories.

Great build there!

No offense taken! Get a nice 60 degree day and everyone starts coming out (sadly this day was about 30).

fasted58 wrote: That pic reminds me when I was a kid in the 60s-70s and race cars would start peeking out from garages in spring from their winter builds. Around here mostly semi- and late model dirt cars w/ factory frames before store bought chassis back in the day. No offense or comparison w/ that awesome CP build to a dirt car... just brought back some good memories. Great build there!

I had that same thought about it looking like some of the roundy round cars I watched growing up on those 1/3 qnd 1/2 mile ovals.

Gimp wrote:

Stang_guy03 wrote:

Dusterbd13 wrote: Holy E36 M3 that is insane. I have ride height and tire width envy now. I used to think my 275/40/17 was big on the front. Not so much anymore.... Imsa flares, right?

Yeah I know what you mean. I'm going to run 18x10 with 275/35/18 on my Mustang. I think I need more tire now, lol.

My rear rims are too narrow. New 16x13s are on my list of things to order.

About the only way I can go wider is with a serious cash out lay for custom wheels or major surgery in the front. Neither is in the budget. Our first outing is just over a week away it's still on jack stands.

My first event for this car was about 7 years ago and I'm only a roller now.

remember that time we first lowered it by taking out all those screw in spring spacers in the street in front of your parents house after we put the iroc wheels on? good times.

And we let the air out of the air shocks in the back. Life was simpler back then.

In reply to Gimp:

7 seven years ago I was still feeding two hungry kids and had no money to play with.

In reply to Gimp:

I remember those days, but the cars where only a few years old at the time. Had 81 Z28 I drove for yrs. Then the wife sold it before joining me in Germany.

Stang_guy03 wrote: In reply to Gimp: 7 seven years ago I was still feeding two hungry kids and had no money to play with.

E36 M3 this was more like 13-14 years ago. he's had the car forever. i remember it in the snow. and bringing it up here to cleveland to do the body bushings in my dad's garage then making a white castle run.

there are 2 constants in life. my belair and gimp's camaro. everything else rotates around those 2 cars.

patgizz wrote:

Stang_guy03 wrote: In reply to Gimp: 7 seven years ago I was still feeding two hungry kids and had no money to play with.

E36 M3 this was more like 13-14 years ago. he's had the car forever. i remember it in the snow. and bringing it up here to cleveland to do the body bushings in my dad's garage then making a white castle run. there are 2 constants in life. my belair and gimp's camaro. everything else rotates around those 2 cars.

That last quote feels about right. Best I can recall, I got the car in late 1999. Drove it as a V6 for a while, and then Pat and I put in the V8 I built. The body bushings we did on that one road trip are still on the car now.

This car is pretty much my longest relationship.

Gimp wrote:

patgizz wrote:

Stang_guy03 wrote: In reply to Gimp: 7 seven years ago I was still feeding two hungry kids and had no money to play with.

E36 M3 this was more like 13-14 years ago. he's had the car forever. i remember it in the snow. and bringing it up here to cleveland to do the body bushings in my dad's garage then making a white castle run. there are 2 constants in life. my belair and gimp's camaro. everything else rotates around those 2 cars.

That last quote feels about right. Best I can recall, I got the car in late 1999. Drove it as a V6 for a while, and then Pat and I put in the V8 I built. The body bushings we did on that one road trip are still on the car now. This car is pretty much my longest relationship.

Well the statement holds even truer for that far back. But I think I might be a tad bit older then you guys. I was married for 26yrs till last year. My kids are 23 and 20. Camaros, Mustangs and a few Corvettes have passed through my hands over the years. Plus a few other interesting cars and engines. One I wish I had back was an 85 Mustang GT! I loved that car, but it had to go.

Rules interpretation question!!! (Everyone's favorite, right?)

I'm trying to complete all the cutting on the car necessary over the next few weeks. One area I haven't really addressed, aside from clearance needed at ride height, is the rear wheel opening. Since I need to do a little more trimming for bump travel, I'm looking at the opening as a whole. The flares I have cover everything I need, but they enlarge the wheel well opening, left to right, but a few inches.

Here is the flare with the front part butted against the front of the factory wheel well:

Here is that same opening, with the tire in it (notice the minimum amount of material removed at the moment). While another measurement should be made, it is safe to assume the rear wheel is in the right place for the wheelbase.

And now the rule (emphasis mine):

L. The contour of the fender may be altered (flared) for tire clearance provided the modifications do not confuse the identity of the car. Only standard production ventilation openings on the specific recognized model are permitted. Tires may extend beyond the bodywork. Fender wheel openings may be trimmed to provide tire clearance throughout the full range of suspension travel, but no more than is necessary for this purpose.

So, here are the questions/options:

1. Does leaving the flare in it's current location, and trimming the original fender to fit under it illegal (leaving a lot of room behind the tire).

If that's okay, then:

1a. Should I move the flare a little forward and trim both the front and rear? This might be more aesthetically balanced, but means a little more work.

1b. Should I narrow the flare to be safe?

1c. Make new flares on my own?

Here are some other cars for reference: https://picasaweb.google.com/116511746312170569817/2014SCCASoloNationalsCPSmallAutoxpix?authkey=Gv1sRgCKLHxMW2_dWqJg#6058901071935475250

https://picasaweb.google.com/116511746312170569817/2014SCCASoloNationalsCPSmallAutoxpix?authkey=Gv1sRgCKLHxMW2_dWqJg#6058901166427968738

https://picasaweb.google.com/116511746312170569817/2014SCCASoloNationalsCPSmallAutoxpix?authkey=Gv1sRgCKLHxMW2_dWqJg#6058901354793029426

https://picasaweb.google.com/116511746312170569817/2014SCCASoloNationalsCPSmallAutoxpix?authkey=Gv1sRgCKLHxMW2_dWqJg#6058901424284817234

I think the nature of the rule is that if the car is aesthetically pleasing in the end, you're fine.

That seems to be the consensus so far, but it's harder to put metal back on, so I thought I'd ask.