So I decided to build a new 1969 Camaro

[Avgasman]

Hello all, my name is Dan, and I have a persistent habit of getting involved with the internal combustion engine.

I spent 8 years in the automotive repair business as a tech, then service writer. I started to rethink my career path and went back to my first interest-aviation.

As I started my pilot training I was soon offered a position on a SCCA World Challenge GT team. The driver of that team moved on to a part-time NASCAR Craftsmen Truck racing stint, and asked if I would come along. I did. Most amount of work for the least amount of money I ever experienced. Those people work hard, six and a half days a week.

With that career behind me, I did just about the biggest career u-turn ever.

I became a production assistant for major and not so major recording acts, I became a roadie! Long story short, I've played drums for 25 years, (started when I was 14) like everything else, I had to know how they worked. I was taken under the wing of a very smart and creative boutique drumset manufacturer and learned the ropes from him. I did some repair work on the side for a local recording studio and everything just fell into place from there.

The road is tough for me, I'm 6'6" and I DO NOT fit in the bus sleeping berths. Plus, it gets old seeing the same act, night after night. You don't keep up with your friends and family, and I live a very clean and healthy lifestyle which is not what's generally available when you're on the road.

Back to the car stuff:

My first car was a 1965 GTO, it was rusted, twisted, and forever in a state of dis-repair- But I was 15, and didn't care.

Over the next ten years I would go through three more GTOs before completing what I though would be my last, old muscle car-another 1965 GTO!

This one was my first frame-off, everything gone through car that I bought from the second owner. Parked outside a barn in Arizona for 15 years. It smelled worse then it looked! But alas, it placed in three regional Semi-Mod Pontiac-Oakland club events, and it would turn an 11.85 in the quarter in street trim, which back in 1993, was pretty quick.

I sold that car to purchase a house back in 1999, and thought it would be the last, but,,,,,

this stuff is rrrrreally hard to shake.

So I've got this cousin, he's well, , the kinda guy that changes cars every couple months. One day he pulls up in a 2007 ZO6 Corvette, he throws me the keys and I am so stinking intoxicated by this 3.8 seconds to sixty, 190 MPH, AC is on and it doesn't overheat in traffic wundercar that I HAVE TO HAVE ONE. The engine's HP and drivability that is.

You see, I know that all new cars no matter how great, depreciate way to quick for me. So the search was on to find a worthy recipient for an LS engine swap. First it was a 1965 Chevelle, naah- had enough A-body stuff. then it was a 66-67 Chevy II. Prices just exploded and I wasn't to keen on any of the aftermarket solutions to the LS install then. How about a 1968-1970 Nova? Plenty of aftermarket support, thanks to the Camaro, Camaro, hmmm.

I've never owned a Camaro. Everyone should right? Actually before I bought the 69, I owned a 68 for about a week, so technically, this is my second Camaro- see I'm not that wet behind the ears.

Looking back at my past mechanical mentors, I've always been taught that the greatest bits of engineering are usually from the original equipment engineers. It not until the bean counters get involved do things get cheap.

So, I was drawn to the manufactures that utilize OE equipment and/or design like Detroit Speed, Art Morrison, and ATS. I purchased a LM Chicane subframe and kit from Tyler and decided to use ATS almost exclusively for parts and advice.

My goal for the car is to utilize as much factory parts as possible, keep the flashiness to a minimum, and be sure to make it easy and enjoyable, like the ZO6, to drive.

No more big cam, poor mileage, 3600rpm at 60mph, no A/C for me!!

So, on to the car:

A 54,000 mile beauty from Marin County.

mmmm, gorgeous, just before a local media blaster almost destroyed every panel:


Tyler's favorite photo:


L76 test fit:


Dog is playing peek-a-boo:



So I'm now at that stage, the one where you start to see the fruits of your labor.

[skatinjay27]

great looking project! and the color with the stripe looks killer. cant wait to see more pics!
tyler is a pretty good person to know. lol

[HRBS]

Looks nice and clean. Cant wait to see the rest.
(BTW... nice dog)

[fesler]

Very nice project need to keep updating the pictures, I love the Camaros and its cool to see how many guys are buidling them.

[Bowtieracing]

Plese post more pics!! Seem like i never get enough of 1 gen project pics

[68protouring454]

more pics please, you can't beat tyler and ats's stuff, top notch
nice work

[XcYZ]

Dan, that's quite the path that you've taken. I think the people behind the cars are what make them interesting. Out of curiousity, who were you a roadie for?

The car is looking great. Nice choice for a motor. Is it stock? Are you using the stock L76 ECM, the E38? Will it still have VVT and DoD? That's the motor that I have in my truck, it's a great, love it.

[jy211]

Hey looks like it's headed in the right direction...What FBO are you at?

[Avgasman]

getting the door/fender gaps correct:


last time I saw the car assembled:


I really have to make sure that I thank my body shop properly. This was Middlefield Auto Body in Redwood City, CA. Lorenzo Madrigal is the owner- he was awesome to work with. I told him to treat it like it was his own, he did everything possible to ensure it would be around for a long time.
Panels did not look like this in '69:


love my DSE firewall fill plate and wiper motor:


Big block cars just look meaner:

The car is looking great. Nice choice for a motor. Is it stock? Are you using the stock L76 ECM, the E38? Will it still have VVT and DoD? That's the motor that I have in my truck, it's a great, love it.

I use the term L76 but it may not be correct. The engine is an Australian export engine for the Holden Commodore, essentially it's a LS2 block with L92 heads and a L76 intake. I purchased it from Jesse at S-D and upgraded it with a mild Comp-Cam (214 @.050 intake 224 exhaust 112lsa), cable 92mm throttle body, and I'm planning on using MSD's MEFI for engine management. Supposed to make just over 500HP, seems about right to me.

Out of curiosity, who were you a roadie for?

I've teched for many local artists which I'm sure nobody has heard of. One of the more notable acts was this old local folk band, I believed they went by "The Grateful Dead" back in the day. Please excuse my sarcasm, but it's tough when you're working for them wearing a Slayer t-shirt.

[XcYZ]

Awesome. Going to be a great car.

Why the MEFI4 over an E38 or E67?