Impulse bought an 81 Camaro. Now what do I do with it?

rallymodeller wrote: Okay, okay. Stay with me, here. A crazy idea I have been sitting on for a while, and might be fun (and hilarious). Know how people are always swapping the V12 out of Jag XJs and putting in SBCs? What about doing the reverse? Find a semi-decent Jag V12 and drop it in. Since it's already an auto, the T700 tranny will work just fine. Plus you get the added benefit of having a Camaro that, with the right exhaust, will sound like a Ferrari.

That would be something different. Having driven a '85 XJS V12 coupe several times (TH400 equipped), it is a smooth engine but not very fast. Never impressed me with its power. I driven 4 & 6-cylinders that were quicker. Now if you did it with a BMW or Mercedes V12, that would be fun.

Really, 4 pages and no one suggested this:

"I used to have a soul, but I traded it for a bitchin' Camaro. And then I wrecked it."

sanman wrote: Really, 4 pages and no one suggested this:

THIS.

Nah. Go with white paint and do a Bill Jenkins "Grumpy's Toy" clone drag car.

Since I already grew the requisite mullet, I think I'm going to paint it this pale yellow color, add some Cragar S/S mags and...

Drop in an LQ9 6.0L from a Tahoe or Escalade. Hot Rod built one on the cheap that made 426hp.

I'm just not sure how I'm going to make it handle without buying the $5000 Hotchkis suspension kit, and while retaining 15" wheels. I might go 16" wheels, but no bigger. I think wheels bigger than 16s look dumb on cars like this.

Ideas?

PS: I'm the OP. It's my 81 Camaro we're dream-building. Thanks for all the ideas!

M030 wrote: PS: I'm the OP. It's my 81 Camaro we're dream-building. Thanks for all the ideas!

This thread sure did take on a life of its own, huh?

With 400+hp on tap, I sure hope you arrive on some kind of handling improvement...

M030 wrote: Since I already grew the requisite mullet, I think I'm going to paint it this pale yellow color, add some Cragar S/S mags and... Drop in an LQ9 6.0L from a Tahoe or Escalade. Hot Rod built one on the cheap that made 426hp. I'm just not sure how I'm going to make it handle without buying the $5000 Hotchkis suspension kit, and while retaining 15" wheels. I might go 16" wheels, but no bigger. I think wheels bigger than 16s look dumb on cars like this. Ideas? PS: I'm the OP. It's my 81 Camaro we're dream-building. Thanks for all the ideas!

you don't need to spend a ton of money to make it corner and stop... bigger brakes that still allow a 15" wheel are a spindle swap away if you look under a 77-96 Caprice wagon or cop car, with 1LE Camaro rotors if you want to keep the 4.75" wheel bolt pattern.. regarding the springs- chop a set of wagon or Caprice cop car front springs for whatever ride height you want and that should be good to go. grab the steering box from a Caprice cop car. find sway bars and rear springs from a late 70's Z/28 or Trans Am.

the bigger 11" rear drums from a 75-77 A body (Monte carlo, Chevelle, etc) botl right on, or you could get some 98-02 F body rear discs or even from a late 90's/early'00's S10....

all of this stuff bolts right it.. GM was pretty awesome about this stuff..

make or buy some subframe connectors and put in solid body mounts.