From Drag car to Touring machine

[LUACE]

I am in the process of transitioning my 68 camaro from a drag car to a touring machine. I need some advice/ recommendations on what I need to change from my current setup. Below is what I currently have:

383ci, Aluminum heads 2.05/1.60 valves. High rise intake. Isky .630 lift roller cam, 950cfm Holley. Th400 tranny with a 5k stall. 12 bolt w 4:56. Solid mounts throughout the car.

I’ve made up my mind on getting a t56 to replace the tranny, but haven’t decided on engine components and the remaining driveline. I really want to take advantage (if possible) of the components I have now.

[youthpastor]

sounds cool- got any pics?

I think I would pull the camshaft out and go with something more street friendly- the T-56 is a great idea

4:56 is a bit much-

check out

Speedtech- Detroit Speed- Ridetech websites all found to the left on your screen for some suspension ideas-

welcome aboad- Chris

[LS1NOVA]

Id swap the tranny to T56 like mentioned and leave the engine. Swap gears to 3.73.
Check out SC&C for suspension packages that work without breaking the bank.
Kore 3 for brakes.

[ProdigyCustoms]

Interesting. I am almost finished with the process of making my street drag car "more civil". Since I have other pure Pro Touring cars around all the time, and since John and I are building Project Unfair, I decided to still maintain the street drag theme for this car, but am making it much more comfortable to drive.

My car was originally built similar to yours, big roller small block, 950HP carb, TH350, 8" converter, 4.10 gears, Spool. A street car that has done plenty of 45 to 75 mile trips, but a hot sweaty handful the entire time.

In my conversion I did not do a overdrive on my car, my car is fast enough it runs a fairly tall gear, and tall tire already. But that is my first recommendation for you and your conversion. That 383 must make close to 550HP, I would suggest a T56 Magnum.

If you run a spool, it needs to go and get a differential in there. With my car since I will still be over 1000HP on nitrous, I am going from a spool to a Moser Wave Track 35 spline. A differential should eliminate that 'spool steering" on the street that tries to push you straight when you try to steer.

Suspension and brakes will be your single biggest improvement. On my car I did Speedtech control arms (with gulstrand mod) , coil over conversion (no sway bar because still a drag theme). Wilwood 12.19 (6) piston front and 12.2" (4) rear brakes, I had 17s and 18s made but I still run the bigs and littles theme. But I expect HUGE improvement in the drive ability. And while I have no illusions it will autocross very well, I think the drive ability of improved front suspension geometry and unlocked rear will be MUCH improved.

I also added Air Conditioning and A HUGE cooling system, Another important part of a Pro Touring car that can actually drive somewhere!

[intocarss]

I sold one Camaro drag car and bought a street strip drag car and converting it into a street fighter car.

BTW Luace.....Where did you race your Camaro at?

And if you need any engine advise see link below. He's in HB

[LUACE]

Yeah... seems like several, if not most of us, on this forum came from drags. I've been building my car incorrectly for years... taking too many shortcuts and doing things in a rush and half as*, which has taken away the fun of enjoying and cruising my car.
As for racing, I mostly went to the street races in Long beach, back when it was popular and happening. I’ve been to Pomona and Carlsbad a few times as well. Didn’t enjoy racing too much because I was always taking my car apart.

I sold one Camaro drag car and bought a street strip drag car and converting it into a street fighter car.

BTW Luace.....Where did you race your Camaro at?

And if you need any engine advise see link below. He's in HB

[LUACE]

Its been a year since I joined... I've learned a great deal and i have purchased several goodies since then. As i mentioned before, i am planning on doing things right this time around. Below is what i've purchased so far:

Speedtech full 'Track Time Package' suspension
ATS Tall Spindles
Baer 6S front and rear, along with a full floater Baer system
Forgeline Wheels - 18x10 275/30 and 19x12 335/30
DSE Roll bar
Mini tubs

More parts to come in the next few month. I will be starting my build thread in the next few weeks.

[MaxHarvard]

Its been a year since I joined... I've learned a great deal and i have purchased several goodies since then. As i mentioned before, i am planning on doing things right this time around. Below is what i've purchased so far:

Speedtech full 'Track Time Package' suspension
ATS Tall Spindles
Baer 6S front and rear, along with a full floater Baer system
Forgeline Wheels - 18x10 275/30 and 19x12 335/30
DSE Roll bar
Mini tubs

More parts to come in the next few month. I will be starting my build thread in the next few weeks.

That's a solid list of parts! :)

[SR71]

i would leave the big roller in the engine, just do susp, brakes, t56, wave loc posi w/ a 3.73 gear and you will be good to go...

then he might as well keep the non-od auto and high stall convertor because he would just be using the first 4 gears of the 6spd.....with a big roller, t56 and 3.73's, he might be able to use 6th gear if he decides he wants to cruise at about 120mph.


if you are going to keep a big, lumpy cam in the car, unless you have a programable timing curve, keep the 4.56 gear. my car had 3.73's when I bought it. later on when I put the t56 and the smallest comp thumpr hyd cam in it, the car bucked in 6th gear under light load at a constant 70+ mph cruise speed. it would show you every bit of slack in the drivetrain. so, I installed a set of 4.56's and the car is now smooth in 6th gear at highway speed.

I believe that 4.56 is the PERFECT gear for a t56 with a cammed and carb'd small block. with a 28" tire 2000 rpms is a smidge over 72 mph.

now if you have efi or a programable timing curve where you can crank alot of advance into it just off idle, that would be a different story. that would smooth the engine out and let you run less gear.

[MaxHarvard]

then he might as well keep the non-od auto and high stall convertor because he would just be using the first 4 gears of the 6spd.....with a big roller, t56 and 3.73's, he might be able to use 6th gear if he decides he wants to cruise at about 120mph.


if you are going to keep a big, lumpy cam in the car, unless you have a programable timing curve, keep the 4.56 gear. my car had 3.73's when I bought it. later on when I put the t56 and the smallest comp thumpr hyd cam in it, the car bucked in 6th gear under light load at a constant 70+ mph cruise speed. it would show you every bit of slack in the drivetrain. so, I installed a set of 4.56's and the car is now smooth in 6th gear at highway speed.

I believe that 4.56 is the PERFECT gear for a t56 with a cammed and carb'd small block. with a 28" tire 2000 rpms is a smidge over 72 mph.

now if you have efi or a programable timing curve where you can crank alot of advance into it just off idle, that would be a different story. that would smooth the engine out and let you run less gear.


Is first gear even usable with that gear?

[LUACE]

My other camaro I have 4.11 and a 4 speed tranny... 1st gear feels great, 4th not so much above 70mph. I imagine that 4.56 would be a little too much for 1st. So I imagine 4.11 would work best with a T56, but still haven't made a final decision.

As for the engine... I've made the decision to go to an LS eventually, but for now I am sticking with my big roller SBC. I will be building an LS on the side.

[SR71]

Is first gear even usable with that gear?

of course it is. IMO driveability was much improved over the 3.73's. and with my 19/20 wheel combo, a little extra from a stop is great.

a few yrs ago I owned a c5 that was rather infamous in my area. it went through several incarnations. at one time it was a supercharged, 6spd, 4.10 geared, 660 rwhp daily driver....on 26" rear tires. and if you crunch the numbers, 4.10's + 26" tires = 4.56's + 28" tires. the car was geared perfectly. it was much easier to drive with the 4.10's and the very aggressive clutch that it took to hold 700rw AT THAT TIME. oh and the car went a spinning 10.34 @ 134mph on 26" et streets and bone stock c5 suspension. at 60mph on the highway you could drop to 3rd, pin the throttle and watch her black track in the mirrors....all while getting 26mpg at cruise.

I think there is really no way to go wrong with a lsx/t56 combo.