1973 Camaro Z/28 Build - by 91gti20v

5 minute(s) of a 50 minute read

No pics yet, but the point of no return has been reached. Factory shock mounts have been removed. Currently working on the design of our upper shock mounts. There will be lots of mock up in the coming weeks before final drawings are sent to the machine shop. Pics tonight. 

2/2/2010

Carnage!!! Shock mounts are out. Just gotta finalize our replacements design.

73 T/A Numbers

Engines:

350 V8 150 bhp.

400 V8 230 bhp @ 4400rpm, 325 lb-ft @ 3200 rpm.

455 V8 250 bhp @ 4000 rpm, 370 lb-ft @ 2800 rpm.

455 (SD) V8 290 bhp @ 4000 rpm, 390 lb-ft @ 3600 rpm.

The Hemi was gone in 73. So I would say that the T/A was top dog. 

3/12/2010

Progress is slow. 

Initial bellhousing readings taken. Ordered the offset dowels today to square that up. 

Hmm, lets see. Spacers for the C5 front brakes are getting anodized. Slacking on the coilover bracket design. Pics up this weekend. 

Tremec TKO-600. I prefer the gear ratios. I considered the T56 route, but would have wanted to go with a custom gearset. And the T56 requires extensive tunnel mods. 

Here she is tucked in the corner of the garage. Once I get the offset dowels in, I will be able to start mocking up the rest of the trans for install. 

There are two models of the TKO now. The 3550 went away a bit ago. You have a choice between the TKO 500 and 600. Rated for 500 and 600 ft-lbs respectively. The 600 has two different gearsets available. The standard set is what I chose.

GM TKO-600 (TCET 5009)

2.87, 1.89, 1.28, 1.00, 0.64

The road race version swaps the 0.64 OD for a 0.82 gear. I plan to do some solid road trips in the car, so I went with the higher OD ratio. They are both $2195 for the bare trans. I think I paid close to $3500 with all of the pieces parts needed for the swap. Going from auto to manual I need a ton of pieces. My car currently has a posi unit with 3.42 gears. A 2.18 final drive will help the fuel economy on the highway and I will still have great gear multiplication through the first 4 gears. 

After driving the car with an auto for the last 7 years, I can't wait to bang through the gears.  

3/16/2010

Updates... Sort of. Preliminary coilover bracket design done. I will be changing it though.

Redline Goods made a custom shift boot for me. It arrived today.

Thats all for now. 

3/17/2010

MORE PARTS! We designed some custom hubcentric rings for the front wheels that will also act as spacers to clear the C6 Corvette brakes I will be running.

6/21/2010

Firewall work has commenced. 

7/7/2010

7/29/2010

Ok, so I know I don't have any pics... However I do have lots of parts ready to be installed finally. 

Just received my spindles back from the powdercoater. They look great. This weekend, I will assemble my brakes and get the Wilwoods all shimmed up. 

Also, the critical piece to my puzzle is here. The coilover brackets along with the coilovers. I hope to have everything mocked up and will work on getting it all welded up next week. If all goes well, the car will be sitting on the ground in the next couple weeks. 

7/31/2010

Crappy cell phone pic. 

8/3/2010

Brakes are all built and shimmed properly.

I decided to burn the midnight oil (and most likely keep my neighbors awake) and begin the cuts on subframe to clearance for the coilovers. Drivers side is done. 

Uncut passenger side for reference, it will be done tonight. Need more cutoff wheels.