New member here w/ lots of questions for my 71 Camaro build
 

Well I joined the site with the intentions of building another 2nd gen that an ex-girlfriend had sitting at her business. The 72 Camaro has been sitting for years and after asking her to sell me the car, she finally agreed to sell the car to me. I saw 2 pictures of the car and they were okay pictures but I needed some more to see what I was getting into. Well after countless e-mails, texts, and voicemails I got nothing. I sent her an e-mail asking her WTF? Needless to say I got a nasty e-mail back from her telling me that we shouldn't be talking anymore and all this other b.s. I should have known this was coming, fair weathter friend that she is just made up some b.s. excuse and now isn't going to let me have the car. Now here is my situation, I NEED SOMETHING TO BUILD!!!. I want to PT something that is affordable and that parts are available. I was thinking about the following cars: 78-80 Cutlass, 83-88 Monte SS, 78-85 Malibu & Malibu Wagon. I want to definately do a 5 or 6spd trans w/ SBC power. I would love to see some pics of any of the following cars that were mentioned. I also need to find out who does the clutch stuff for G-bodies. You guys were awesome when I asked for pics of Camaro's and very helpful too. I hope you guys can shed some light on my soon to be new adventure. Thank you in advance.

Welcome aboard! You will find lots of advice and opinions here

Just go to her with CASH in hand I'm sure she will change her mind they always do.:cheers:

First off I don't know where she lives or where the car is and second I would rather not deal with her anymore. It does suck that I can't get the cat because it was a pretty good deal. 72 Camaro for $900.00. I'm not going to dwell on it because she would love that. Anyone know of a 2nd gen for $900.00 I could buy???????? If I can't find another one I think I'm going to look for an 83 to 88 Monte Carlo SS. I had an 85 and I loved it. I think I can find one for a decent price. I would rather have a Camaro but the Monte will make a nice 2nd choice.

WOW well good luck with your purchase

just a word of caution.. a PT build takes a fair amount of cash before you have somthing that will accelerate, corner, stop and look good.... so dont start out with a car that has little or no resale value.. i have done stuff to my BU that would put a 1.gen in the 50K resale value bracket, give or take alittle... and now im stuck with a malibu, thar cost almost the same to build but is impossible to sell at 1/4 of the cost compared to a 1.gen....

i think an early 2.gen will be less of a bad investment than an MCSS... or atleast do an aerocoupe, BRP (sponsor here) has one for sale that looks decent.. perhape you can get him to throw some of his parts in when you bargain over the price...
http://www.brphotrods.com/aerocoupfs.html

Oh man I wish you would have not have posted that link to the aerocoupe. How cool would that look if we did the treatment to it.

I am with you on value, we are way upside down in Michael's Monte. Michael gets a LOT of unsolicited inquiry's, "is it for sale", "how much would you sell it for". But I think most of those people are hoping it would be cheap because it is a Monte Carlo and not a Camaro, exactly what you saying. But it is a super nice car and Michael has zero interest in selling. So we may never know what it is worth.

I am looking at that Aerocoupe though................ I think the flare and big meats all around would be killer.

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u...DSC_0045-1.jpg

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u...s/DSC02574.jpg

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u...s/DSC02569.jpg

... :D

and you've got me thinking about flares on the malibu :-) where are those flares from??

Always have loved the aero cars and what they represent, really the end of an era.

Definitely. :yes:

They look a lot like the ones on the GNX's..

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q...v/buickGNX.jpg


Cutlasses (Cutli?) and Montes have tons of potential, but I wouldn't rule out a 2nd gen either. The later years can be had in good shape pretty cheap in a lot of cases.

I'm kinda biased, though..
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3579/...6fe74ed235.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3663/...87a192ab02.jpg

Several other nice ones around here, as well.

silver63c10,
What suspension setup are you running in your car? How does it perform?

BTW, that GNX is sweet. I have seen that pic before and it has to be one of the best looking g-bodies out there.

The front is completely reworked upper control arm mounts and SPC full adjustable tubular arms, QA1 12-step adjustable Coilovers, and Suspension Techniques sway bar. Rear is Stock Car Products truck arms, and QA1s, no sway bar.

It seems pretty solid on the street, obviously can't get anywhere near it's limits safely, though. We haven't gotten to an auto-x or track day with it yet. Mainly concentrating on straight line stuff with it this year, seems to work very well at the drag strip so far. Here's a few pics..

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3441/...dea9a1025c.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3652/...f192c50894.jpg

That looks sweet. I'm on a mission this weekend......I'll keep y'all posted.

good luck !!!!!!!! hope all goes well.

Thanks AJ

Cam anyone tell me who makes 4 bar rear suspension for 70-73 Camaros? Or any other type of rear suspension? I was thinkiing of mini tubbing and thought it would be easier to mini tub with coilovers instaed of the leafs.

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Why not try a 1st gen Buick Riviera? 63-65. They are not very expensive and have really cool lines. especially the 65. Parts are fairly easy to find. I think OPG is going to be issuing just a catalog for them. If your really brave, take on a "Nailhead", they have all kinds of Torque.

Air Ride Technologies has the Air Bar, and DSE has the quadra-link. There's also Lateral Dynamics' 3-link. Many, many options out there.

Martz also make a 4-bar rear suspension for 2nd gens, Its what both Rick and I have.

the airride is actually built by chassisworks, who now has a revised g-bar (same as airbar without air) on the market called g-link (also being sold as a "prodogy bar") SC&C sells it at the same price, but he has a prety good take on front suspension using stock subframe... give him a call if you decide on a 2.nd gen