Scroll down and have a look at the insane custom '55 Chevy Larry and Duane made . . . wow !
Car: 1967 SS396 Camaro Convertible Replica
Engine: 408ci Big Block
Induction: Edelbrock RPM Air-Gap intake, Holley 750-cfm Double Pumper, Functioning Cowl Induction System with a 4"x14" diameter K&N air filter.
Camshaft: Lunati with 230/230 - 0.050 with 0.544/0.544 inch lift at 109 degrees, 1.7 roller rockers
Power: Per Advanced Dyno Technology, East Berlin, PA: 411 Torque and 382 HP at the rear wheels, engine horsepower calculated at 474HP.
Exhaust: Jet Hot Ceramic Coated 3" Competition Hooker Header, 3" exhaust all the way back with duel 2 chamber Flowmasters
Transmission: Street/Stripe Performance Package TH400 with 2800 stall converter, B&M Quicksilver Shifter
Cooliong: Duel 1300cfm electric fans with Aluminum radiator and shroud.
Rear: GM 12-bolt with 3:73 gears, GM Performance Axles and Eton Posi
Front Suspension: Polygraphite Bushings and Edelbrock Performer IAS shocks
Rear Suspension: Eaton Detroit 4 leaf conversion springs, Edelbrock Performer IAS shocks and sub frame connectors
Brakes: Stainless Steel Brakes 11" Disc front, 10" Disc Rear
Wheels and Tires: 15x7 Rallys w/ BFGoodrich P215/65R15, front; 15x8 Rallys w/ BFGoodrich P255/60R15, rear
Paint: Nantucket Blue w/ Black Bumble Bee Stripe and blacked out tailpan
Who knows . . . what would you do next ?
The project goal was to make the car a 396 SS Clone. With that, I found a near complete big block engine at DeTeodoro Racing in Middletown, DE that was built, balanced and blueprinted for bracket racing.
The Cowl tag reads the color as D2 or Nantucket Blue with a Black Convertible Power Top. The original interior was TR717-Z Blue Standard it is now TR760-Z - Black Standard. The Steel Cowl Induction Hood was added for looks but more importantly to allow the installation of the RPM Air Gap Manifold. The engine is bolted together with ARP Stainless. The cam is a Lunati 230/230 - 0.050 with 0.544/0.544 inch lift at 109 degrees. It is topped off with a 750 Holley Double Pumper, a MSD Billet Ready-To-Run distributor and coil, an Edelbrock RPM Air Gap and a functioning Cowl induction system. I installed a 4" high K&N Air Filter . . . the fit is perfect under the cowl hood. The exhaust system starts with Jet-Hot Ceramic coated 3" Hooker Competition Headers and 3" diameter pipe all the way back. I had an "H" pipe tapped into the system for balancing and finished it off with a set of 2 chamber Flowmasters.
When the 10-bolt was pulled I replaced it with an original '67 Camaro 12-bolt. It has the original mount for the '67 RH square radius rod / traction bar. It was rebuilt with 3:73's, an Eaton Posi Performance Differential and new GM Performance Axles. While I had the back apart, new springs and shocks were installed. I chose Z-28 4-leaf springs by Eaton Detroit Spring and Edelbrock Performer IAS shocks. I also installed a set of the IAS shocks on the front and replaced all the rubber with polygraphite bushings. On the rear springs - if I were to do it again I would have stuck with the mono leaf springs. The 4 leaf springs allow the car to sit a little lower than original. If you are running larger/wider tires the extra lift is of help and will save you from chunking your tires when you hit a deep bump.
The tires I am running are 255/ 60R15's on the back with 15"x8" rally wheels and 215/65R15 on the front with 15"x7" rally wheels. The tire height on the 255 is 27.04" and 26.00" on the 215. A formula that helped me in my selection was side wall height*ratio/25.4*2+rim diameter. Example: 255/60R15
255mm * .60 = 153mm
153mm * (1"/25.4mm) = 6.02"
6.02" (height of one sidewall) *2 = 12.04"
12.04" + 15" rim diameter = 27.04 total height
The Powerglide was pulled and traded for a TH400 and a driveshaft. The TH400 was rebuilt and a custom torque converter was installed. The torque converter was made to withstand strip abuse but is designed with the street and cruising in mind. A manual kickdown toggle switch is installed in the console. With the new trans installed, I tossed the column shift and installed a console set up. I located a clean '67 console with gauge package on eBay. I chose not to use the original gauges and opted for more precise Auto Meter Phantom gauges. I also swapped out the original Spedo and Fuel gauge for a new 5" diameter Auto Meter Phantom Spedo and 10K Tach. The finishing touch on the console was to fabricate a lowering box in the trans tunnel to hold a B&M Quicksilver automatic shifter. This lowering box allowed the clearance necessary for the top of the shifter to clear the console and for the use of the original console shift plate. I pulled the T-handle top from the original shifter and have it installed on the top of the Quicksilver. The set up looks great and stock from a distance. With these interior upgrades, the engine can now be monitored with more accuracy and the B&M Quicksilver allows for much better shifting.
The brakes were upgraded from the original stock drum set up to Stainless Steel Brake disc brakes on all four corners. The front kit is A123-6 - 11" slotted rotors and rear kit is A125 - 10" standard rotors.
Some recently completed projects include a partial body off paint job, new interior and a custom fabed roll bar. The roll bar is a bolt in design and can be easily be removed for car shows or to achieve a more original look. Everything that was metal and could be taken off the car was powdercaoted black, including the roll bar. Also added a duel 1300cfm cooling fans and an aluminum radiator. This upgrade made the biggest difference in the world and now allows me to drive the car in heat of the summer and not have to worry about overheating if I hit traffic or a long red light. With both fans running the temperature gauge never leaves 180F. Call Nick George of One Off Rod & Customs at 302-449-1489 and he will have one made to fit your car and cooling needs. The powder coating was done at ELE Powder Coating in Newark, DE. Email me at [email protected] if you need anything powder coated.
The prep and paint was professionally done by Duane Snyder of D&S Fabrications in Middletown DE. I sand blasted most of the removed parts and panels down to metal before primer and wet sanding. The roll bar was fabricated by Alan Cox of Cox Chasis Works in Fair Hill,MD and the Interior was finished by Richard Keithley of Fair Hill, MD.
If you are looking for information or have any questions that I might be able to answer based on my experience with this project, please email me at [email protected]. For a better source of information, hit the link below and go to Camaros.net. The guys on this site are unbelievable and the wealth of information is unmatched on the web. This site is a must for anyone with a First Generation Camaro.
Looking for a customized beach bike? We can put on together for you in any powder coated color and with any options you want. Great for guys over 6 foot and capable of holding up to 350 pounds. Contact me at [email protected] with any questions or pricing.
ONE OFF ROD & CUSTOM in Middletown, DE or call Nick George at 302-449-1489 if you need help with specialty parts and service.
