BUILD LAME Turbo V6 Camaro
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I hope so! I have an idea that actually sounds miserable but worth it. Once the GN is no shit done, I might send the Monster clutch in for a balance job, and if it's done before Nats I'll try to throw that in there. It's the known driveline Achilles heel in this car, and if I don't do it before Nats I about guarantee that I won't do it at all this year.
Plus... The suspension may be wonky and the rear end may be a toothpick, but the clutch has been the only thing keeping me from turning up the happy knob.
After all the efforts I've made on the GN, I must say that it is very difficult and strange for me to pull a fuel rail like this out and then simply replace the injectors and throw it back in. It needs paint!!
but I have neither the time nor the patience for this car to go through that sort of effort.
It's not that I don't love this car. I've learned a fuck ton by fumbling my way through this build, and there are a bunch of aspects about it that tickle me in ways that no other car has. Let's not forget the sentimental aspect it held prior to any of this. I was driven home from school in this car as early as third grade.
but... as a grown assed man, I've hated on F-bodies and their hype. I saved THIS car because of the sentiment but I was ready to build anything that was simple, RWD, stick, cheap, and most importantly, relatively DISPOSABLE. I was looking to have for cheap thrills for a few summers and something to wrench on. This filled the void extremely well, but that means it's once again time to make a decision.
Remember how this car was also an excuse to not modify the Grand National? We all see how that worked out. Thanks to the trials and tribulations on the Camaro, it's already worked out way better than I could have ever imagined. While I think the modifications I did to the GN were very tasteful, I think the results are about to remind me of what it's capable of doing. In fact, I think it's going to end up faster, more fun to drive, and take all my attention away from the Camaro this summer. If this ends up being the case, the Camaro is going to end up looking pretty silly in my fleet.
I guess this new corrosion is a reminder that nothing lasts forever, and that time happens to be cut a lot shorter when you start with pre-rusted jalopy. Has the Camaro lived its life? Do I need to move on to something new? I am looking for a new DD.... Should I convert this thing to 93, get all the MPGs, install a catalytic converter (so that it doesn't stink anymore), and daily drive this thing until the wheels fall off? Should I sell it whole and as-is? Should I remove the 3800 and TKX for the next car and give the Camaro a viking funeral? All these ideas seem like a waste of funds and efforts to be honest, but I need to actually finish the GN before thinking too much about it. My main point is that jumping back into the Camaro wasn't exactly met with burnouts and Whitesnake blasting on the radio. My motivation to modify and install a $1600 clutch into the turbo v6 jalopy that's going to be completely overshadowed by my other turbo v6 car is understandably low. Even heads, cam, and suspension aren't going to fix it. By then, there might not be much car left to modify! I can do much better now than when I started this in 2018. I just need a new vision.
but I have neither the time nor the patience for this car to go through that sort of effort.
It's not that I don't love this car. I've learned a fuck ton by fumbling my way through this build, and there are a bunch of aspects about it that tickle me in ways that no other car has. Let's not forget the sentimental aspect it held prior to any of this. I was driven home from school in this car as early as third grade.
but... as a grown assed man, I've hated on F-bodies and their hype. I saved THIS car because of the sentiment but I was ready to build anything that was simple, RWD, stick, cheap, and most importantly, relatively DISPOSABLE. I was looking to have for cheap thrills for a few summers and something to wrench on. This filled the void extremely well, but that means it's once again time to make a decision.
Remember how this car was also an excuse to not modify the Grand National? We all see how that worked out. Thanks to the trials and tribulations on the Camaro, it's already worked out way better than I could have ever imagined. While I think the modifications I did to the GN were very tasteful, I think the results are about to remind me of what it's capable of doing. In fact, I think it's going to end up faster, more fun to drive, and take all my attention away from the Camaro this summer. If this ends up being the case, the Camaro is going to end up looking pretty silly in my fleet.
I guess this new corrosion is a reminder that nothing lasts forever, and that time happens to be cut a lot shorter when you start with pre-rusted jalopy. Has the Camaro lived its life? Do I need to move on to something new? I am looking for a new DD.... Should I convert this thing to 93, get all the MPGs, install a catalytic converter (so that it doesn't stink anymore), and daily drive this thing until the wheels fall off? Should I sell it whole and as-is? Should I remove the 3800 and TKX for the next car and give the Camaro a viking funeral? All these ideas seem like a waste of funds and efforts to be honest, but I need to actually finish the GN before thinking too much about it. My main point is that jumping back into the Camaro wasn't exactly met with burnouts and Whitesnake blasting on the radio. My motivation to modify and install a $1600 clutch into the turbo v6 jalopy that's going to be completely overshadowed by my other turbo v6 car is understandably low. Even heads, cam, and suspension aren't going to fix it. By then, there might not be much car left to modify! I can do much better now than when I started this in 2018. I just need a new vision.
You put a lot of work into this. I know your excited about your other one but you'll regret doin anything wild with this one
I think I would very much regret selling the car as a whole unit and trying to start over. However, I do think there is room for compromise. I'm fully aware that this car is not worth restoring. Even if it was, I still don't like F-bodies enough to do that. At the same time, I'm not sure if I want to get involved in another project that would require as much reinvention as this one.
I wish I could take everyone here for a ride so they can experience what I'm trying to describe. lol Putting good valve stem seals on it, quieting the exhaust down a little more, fixing the blown out suspension, and getting AC back in it would help a lot. I think the suspension is starting to bother me more than it used to. The shocks are fucked and the car has an awful reverse rake. Almost every bump in the rear brings it to the bump stops which I actually spent a lot of money to replace. I didn't want to smash my exhaust. It handles remarkably well given the circumstances, but it feels really sketchy because of how much it darts. I have a death grip on the steering wheel while just trying to keep straight. lol It's just stressful being in this thing. It looks and sounds terrible.
I have a lot of work to do and money to spend if I want to go faster. I know I mentioned the clutch, but even that's not THE fix if the car is all over the road. Do I really want to spend another 2500 on a rear end for a car I don't like? 3000 on suspension? What's next? Probably brakes. Roll bar? I know I'm starting to sound like a broken record here. I have this same debate with myself at least once a year. lol
....but this begs a new question. Is this just how highly customized project cars are in general? Even our idols with the nicest cars around tend to get bored and move on. Those who don't are rarely satisfied. It's always a work in progress. With that in mind, will a new car to destroy change this? Probably not! I have ideas for 3800 swaps, but I don't think I'll be able to execute them any better. Plus, there will be other compromises that I don't even know about yet. Sometimes it's better to stick with what you know. In this case, I know my Camaro really well including everything that's horrible about it.
You really think the YouTube cars aren't just as ratchet as our stuff with its quirks your only fooling yourself. Just look at the sema stuff for starters.
And who said you had to make it faster? I've looked down that road for way too long and decided it's just better to enjoy it for what it is. Haven't really messed with my own much since I've been crazy busy selling myself short at work but it's just the same. Small stuff can be fixed and the only deadline is one you set for yourself. Quality is gonna take patience, and skill as well as money blah blah...lost my train of thought but don't shit on this car because the other ones prettier, it's stayed together a lot longer than most turbo builds I've seen and it got you this far.
And who said you had to make it faster? I've looked down that road for way too long and decided it's just better to enjoy it for what it is. Haven't really messed with my own much since I've been crazy busy selling myself short at work but it's just the same. Small stuff can be fixed and the only deadline is one you set for yourself. Quality is gonna take patience, and skill as well as money blah blah...lost my train of thought but don't shit on this car because the other ones prettier, it's stayed together a lot longer than most turbo builds I've seen and it got you this far.
Had this conversation with someone today. Do you really think all those dudes own a C8 free and clear? No, you get to see the part of reality that's sunshine and rainbows without the fog, darkness, rain and sleet. It's bullshit and a bullshit standard to compare yourself to.
I think the suspension is workable. For $500 on Rock Auto you could get a set of fully adjustable front struts and fully adjustable rear shocks and some rear springs. No it's not a set of coil overs with all the fixings and tubular everything but it'd get you in a good position and do such and it'd probably be a weekend project.
Fuck the valve seals unless you're putting your heads on. If it's at start up what ever.
A/C, yeah I could see why you'd want that. You've got time to make that happen and even drive it for probably about 2 to 3 months depending on when you drive it.
Exhaust? Come on, if your exhaust isn't janky a race bullet or muffler swap. From what I remember it's not a janky exhaust. That's not a huge project take it some place and pay them an hour or two and some pipe if it's that annoying.
Your problem is you're letting perfect get in the way of adequate. You've got a relatively fast custom built car that you just let sit over the winter, got into and clicked it right the fuck off. Think about that for a minute, you didn't bullshit with it you just started it up and drove off.
You could also drive it around and beat on it without feeling the least bit bad. I DGAF how fast your GN is, you'll never do that with it.
I think you guys got me a little wrong, but I do appreciate the love for the car. Like I say, I wish I could take you for a ride!
I'm not inspired nor jealous of youtube cars. I am inspired and jealous of some of what some youtubers get to do on a daily basis, but that's different. My idols are guys I've met and hung out with in real life. They have beautiful Buicks which are the true definition of fast with class. Mine are not. One is kinda fast for what it is, but raw as hell, and the other is just classy. lol
I'll just let the cat out of the bag.... I'm gonna be a dad soon. I'm very excited! However, you can see that I'm also going through a bit of a crisis over it too. I've been working on building my vehicular dreams almost non-stop for about 6 years. It's gonna be very tough to watch it come to a screeching halt whether I'm at a good stopping place or not. Worth it? Yes, but hard nonetheless. I realize now that selling the Camaro is likely to result in getting nothing to replace it, so it just needs to stay.
Anyway, I'm not sure where this bad boy is going yet, but I got it back from Jason yesterday. I'm not sure how the F he managed to get it back in the plastic.
In reference to my 3800 thread, I'm kinda back on the idea of buying my buddy's Comp G because I can't stand the thought of it going to waste anymore. It's no Buick but it's black, 3.8 powered, and too good of a deal. It would be a fun and solid car AS-IS once I throw a fuel pump in it. Bonus is that if I blew a transmission or something I would have a donor car for the Camaro. The thought of waiting that long to make Camaro engine progress makes me wince a bit, but I'll get over it. lol
I'm not inspired nor jealous of youtube cars. I am inspired and jealous of some of what some youtubers get to do on a daily basis, but that's different. My idols are guys I've met and hung out with in real life. They have beautiful Buicks which are the true definition of fast with class. Mine are not. One is kinda fast for what it is, but raw as hell, and the other is just classy. lol
I'll just let the cat out of the bag.... I'm gonna be a dad soon. I'm very excited! However, you can see that I'm also going through a bit of a crisis over it too. I've been working on building my vehicular dreams almost non-stop for about 6 years. It's gonna be very tough to watch it come to a screeching halt whether I'm at a good stopping place or not. Worth it? Yes, but hard nonetheless. I realize now that selling the Camaro is likely to result in getting nothing to replace it, so it just needs to stay.
Anyway, I'm not sure where this bad boy is going yet, but I got it back from Jason yesterday. I'm not sure how the F he managed to get it back in the plastic.
In reference to my 3800 thread, I'm kinda back on the idea of buying my buddy's Comp G because I can't stand the thought of it going to waste anymore. It's no Buick but it's black, 3.8 powered, and too good of a deal. It would be a fun and solid car AS-IS once I throw a fuel pump in it. Bonus is that if I blew a transmission or something I would have a donor car for the Camaro. The thought of waiting that long to make Camaro engine progress makes me wince a bit, but I'll get over it. lol
Congrats on being a dad! It definitely slows the car stuff down, but only for a few years, and you'll figure a way to work around it too.
One thing about the comp g. I'm not sure how big you are, but I'm 6'5" and I feel like my head is tight up against the roof while driving the 04+ cars. I had a nice comp g for awhile with a cammed l26 in it....fun to drive, but the 97-03 cars were way more comfortable for me.
One thing about the comp g. I'm not sure how big you are, but I'm 6'5" and I feel like my head is tight up against the roof while driving the 04+ cars. I had a nice comp g for awhile with a cammed l26 in it....fun to drive, but the 97-03 cars were way more comfortable for me.
That's kinda what I figured. It will be here I'm ready.
I'm about 5'11" so I'll fit! I do prefer most of the other FWDs over late GPs, but I will admit to liking some of the features in this one. I've never had a HUD before. It had brand new 10-spokes which look amazing too. Hopefully I can get the AC to work without much of an issue. That's kind of a big must.