Any Second Gen Camaro owners here?

[pablo63]

I have a 72 Rally Sport I've been working on for a couple years now and was wondering if anyone else here owns one.

[pablo63]

No one else on this forum owns a Camaro? Okay I'll open it up a little, Errrrr okay... Alot. What other vehicle besides a Cobra do you own that you're proud of or enjoy driving?

[Fordzilla]

A nasty fire breathing 1969 Mustang with 1000+ horses at the wheels. It's like driving on ice.................all the time....

[pablo63]

Sounds like a heck of a Pony. Any pics?

[Buzz]

Originally Posted by Fordzilla

A nasty fire breathing 1969 Mustang with 1000+ horses at the wheels. It's like driving on ice.................all the time....

Not quite a 2nd gen Camaro, but I owned two different '74 Trans Ams, both with 455's. The first one had molded in flares, a modified suspension and the engine was built up and massaged by a certifiable Pontiac guru/fanatic. I don't know how much HP/TQ the beast actually made, but it was an antisocial, rip-snorting brute with more low end grunt than a D9 Cat.

It didn't like sustained high rpm flogging, but what an arse kicker on the street. It ate up just about anything that came along and at high idle, you really had to stand on the brake at the lights as the torque threatened to overwhelm the rear drums. It WAS like driving on ice in the summer time and on the infamous black ice of the Northern Alberta winters, every drive was an E-ticket, crap-your-pants, white-knuckle experience. Had to get pulled out of the snow banks more times than I care to remember.

Hell - one time I'll never forget, the rear end came around on a very slow turn in a quiet neighborhood just enough to nudge the front wheels over the curb and into the snow. I told my two buddies to hop out and push while I feathered it in reverse (more like feathering the brake pedal as at idle, the back tires were already spinning like crazy on the icy road.) The two wimps weren't budging the car and I was cussing and yelling at them to put their backs into it. Finally in an impulsive fit that only a young guy can have, I jumped out, car still in reverse and gave the front end a mighty shove.

Well suddenly, the rear tires found bite and we stood there like three dummies with our mouths open as the car flocked off backwards down the street, driver's door wide open. It went about half a block before gracefully arcing into someone's driveway, bending the driver's door backwards on a red Monte Carlo's bumper and ended up against the people's house, growling and belching, with the back tires spinning away in a cloud of smoke and ice fog.

By the time I ran up, a horrified looking lady was peeping out the door so I started apologizing and stammering my assurance that I would pay for the damage to her car and the siding on her house while my pals arrived slipping and falling on the icy road out front. The entire scene must have been too bizzarre and terrifying for her and she told me it was ok - just take the car and go away.

She didn't have to tell me twice and we hustled to beat it out of there before she changed her mind and called the cops. We managed to bend the door back around only about 2/3's of the way and it was no fun driving home holding the door at 20 below. That car was bad enough with two hands on the wheel and I ended up with frostbite and a firm resolution to buy a winter beater so I could keep the damn Trans Am parked.

Gawd, I loved that ol car - but it was an uncouth brute and one day a couple of years later on a drive with the wife to be (we were out shopping for kitchen knives) I impulsively traded it in on a shiny, T-topped '82 TA that was sitting on a dealer lot. I thought it was time to become more civilized, but I was shocked to see a tear roll down Pauline's cheek as we drove away in the newer car.

Later, when I had a nice black/gold '85 TA, I still missed the old '74, so I bought another clean 455 automatic car for about $3.5K. It was well kept and bone stock, so I immediately ordered the flare kit, bolted on a set of headers and dual exhausts and shod it with some big fat Mickey Thompsons. The old Poncho mechanic was gone though, so it never was as nasty as its predecessor and two years later, I traded both cars in on a low mile '86 Corvette.

Now you have me waxin' all nostalgic - I might just dig up a photo of that old brawler and post it here. Love those 2nd gen F-bodies!!

[Buzz]

Here it is - sitting all nice and quiet in Pauline's parents' driveway. The thing sticking up behind the roofline is the aluminum louvers, hinged up so I could clean the rear glass. That shaker scoop was fully functional. It would shudder at idle and torque sideways when I blipped the throttle and it sucked air voraciously at higher rpm with a moaning whoosh that flat prickled the hairs on the back of my neck and sent shivers down my spine.

[pablo63]

Great story Buzz and a great looking old Bird. My Camaro is pretty much done mechanically. Couple leaks left to fix and probably going to add a pcv set up and some good valve covers. Here are a few pics as she sits. BBC dynoed at 550 plus on hp/tq. It's a hoss and alot of fun to drive. I know what you guys mean when you say "like driving on ice" That's exactly what it's like.

[Ron61]

Great cars guys and the pictures are nice. Buzz I am still laughing at your adventure on the ice and snow. I am afraid to drive my 69 Cobra even on a damp road. It still has the original old Polyglass tires and they break loose with any touch of the throttle. I only turned it across the street once many years ago and decided it was not a wet weather car.

Ron

[Fordzilla]

Hi Guys, Great pics! Yes, I will get some pics & get them posted & in my gallery too. Right now the motor is out as the car is undergoing major surgery (Boss front end being added) & should be completed next month. In August the builders start my new garage & I think I will start a thread of it being built & post pics of it's progress.

Ron, I would be willing to help you out with that 69 of yours & store it in my garage. I would only smoke it's tires on nice dry sunny days for you!

[Buzz]

Lookin' good Pablo! The second pic actually reminds me of my old warbird after the door bending mishap. It was red at the time with the stock fenders and I bolted on a door from a brown Firebird that had been rolled. That indignity is what really pushed me to go ahead and redo the body with the molded flares and black paint.

Zilla - can't wait to see the pics! Keep working on Ron and he just might let you take his beast for a burn!

[Ron61]

Mick,

As soon as my eyes are completely healed from the cataract surgery I am going to have to get it out of the garage and take it for a drive. I start it every two or three months and run it for a while but it needs to be driven to get the transmission and rear end oil and grease warmed up. The weather here is starting to get hot and it won't be long until it will be to hot to enjoy driving it. And every time I drive it I have to learn to shift it again as those old 4 speeds had a throw that feels as if it is two feet between gears. But I left the stock shifter in as I didn't want to ruin the original appearance of the car.

Ron

[BBfangs]

I just came across this thread. Nice cars, good luck with them and have fun. I just sold a 1968 Camaro RS/SS with a 468 BBC. It was al original; except the engine. I considered it my middle son and it was sad to see it go. I owned it for 16 years. I have a 1965 Corvette roadster that I have restored and have owned for 22 years. It is very cool to drive. And for fun I own a tube frame 1968 Camaro drag car, 434 SBC, powerglide, runs a nice 9.50's all day. I just competed in PINKS ALL OUT in Maple Grove, Pa. I will try to post some pics in my gallery.

[Ron61]

Originally Posted by BBfangs

I just came across this thread. Nice cars, good luck with them and have fun. I just sold a 1968 Camaro RS/SS with a 468 BBC. It was al original; except the engine. I considered it my middle son and it was sad to see it go. I owned it for 16 years. I have a 1965 Corvette roadster that I have restored and have owned for 22 years. It is very cool to drive. And for fun I own a tube frame 1968 Camaro drag car, 434 SBC, powerglide, runs a nice 9.50's all day. I just competed in PINKS ALL OUT in Maple Grove, Pa. I will try to post some pics in my gallery.

That sounds like quite a car that you have there. I am looking forward to seeing the pictures.


Edit: I just went to your gallery. Are the May 21st pictures of your drag car? That is impressive.

Ron

[Jamo]

Pablo, I had a 70 1/2 I bought new in college...thanks for the memory. Damn good platforms.

[BBfangs]

Ron61, Thanks, I could only find one pic of the drag car so far. I will try to find more tonight. It is a lot of fun but i don't get as much race time as I want to these days.

[pablo63]

Buzz: Lookin' good Pablo!

Thanks Buzz. The car has been a great distraction for me the last couple years. It was my first time bringing a basket case back from the dead. Sans paint. Soon thou I hope. I've really enjoyed it and now I have the confidence to do a Cobra build. I think it will be cleaner and easier. Notice I didn't say cheaper. LOL
Here's what I started with by the way.

Fordzilla: Hi Guys, Great pics! Yes, I will get some pics & get them posted & in my gallery too. Right now the motor is out as the car is undergoing major surgery (Boss front end being added) & should be completed next month. In August the builders start my new garage & I think I will start a thread of it being built & post pics of it's progress.

Lookin forward to seeing the Stang and the new garage. Hope all goes well with both.

Ron61: Mick,

....every time I drive it I have to learn to shift it again as those old 4 speeds had a throw that feels as if it is two feet between gears. But I left the stock shifter in as I didn't want to ruin the original appearance of the car.

Ron

Long throws do seem pretty crude but are oh soooo rewarding when they're done right.

BBfangs I just came across this thread. Nice cars, good luck with them and have fun. I just sold a 1968 Camaro RS/SS with a 468 BBC. It was al original; except the engine. I considered it my middle son and it was sad to see it go. I owned it for 16 years. I have a 1965 Corvette roadster that I have restored and have owned for 22 years. It is very cool to drive. And for fun I own a tube frame 1968 Camaro drag car, 434 SBC, powerglide, runs a nice 9.50's all day. I just competed in PINKS ALL OUT in Maple Grove, Pa. I will try to post some pics in my gallery.

Sound like some great cars there. Like to see the pics. How do I find others galleries btw?

Jamo: Pablo, I had a 70 1/2 I bought new in college...thanks for the memory. Damn good platforms.

Any chance you have a photo in a box or albumn somewhere. I have grown very fond of these cars. What color and options did it come with?

[BBfangs]

I usually just click on the camera under the persons name to go straight to there photo gallery or I click on gallery at the top of the portal page and browse. I am still fairly new to the site so there might be other ways to look around.

[Ron61]

Clicking on the camera icon below a persons name is the easiest and quickest way to go to that person's gallery. They other way works also but just takes a little longer. Also an easy way to insert photos is when you are making a post look at the bottom of the smiley list and you will see My Photos and below that [insert]. Just click that and it will take you to your gallery and you can then pick any picture that you want to insert into the post. There are some options listed at the top once you get to the gallery as to how you want to do it.

Ron

[Fordzilla]

Originally Posted by pablo63

Lookin forward to seeing the Stang and the new garage. Hope all goes well with both.

Yeah, I'm pretty excited about the garage. I've gotten approval through the village planning board now need to go through the variance board. I need a variance for setting close to my neighbor (2' from property line) & going over the height limit. My neighbor has given written permission so it shouldn't be a problem for the variance approval. The hearing is later this month. The property lots here are long & narrow so I am planning a 14' by 40' two story garage. It's going to be pole barn construction with a gambrel roof & have a concrete floor. I'll finish a portion of the upper story as a guest quarters. I'll try to take pics & start a thread of it's progress. I have contracted an Amish builder & they are typically pretty fast at putting up buildings.

The Mustang makeover is coming along nicely. Front end surgery is finished & custom headers have arrived. Ready to put the motor in. I need to get a few more parts to be burning gas. (2 fuel pumps, radiator, alternator, & cut-outs along with the smaller odds 'n' ends that always pop up).

[Ron61]

Mick,

That garage sounds like a great one. Be sure to post pictures of it and the car as they come together. You are going to have one wild beast in that car.

Ron