The Project

jlangholzj · Jan 18, 2009

well, here's a little project of mine that we're working on:

its a 350...yes...thats right...CHEVY!!! hahahaha.

Since I'm a terrible influence on my friends, I've pulled one into this crazy car culture, and we're starting a camaro project for him.

here's a link to the progress:

John Langholz's Photos - ::Those were the days:: | Facebook

what we stared out with was a 89' GLADIATOR van that had the 350 in it. Surprisingly, it only took us a few hours to get the thing out, of course, with a tractor, its a little easier . So we proceeded to disassemble the block. It was well within tolerances, being bored .03 over and all the bearings were .01 under.

At the moment, we've got the whole bottom end buttoned up, and We're waiting on the top end. This is because we're looking down in NV and AZ this week for a car, and in case one came up, we wanted the money to jump on it.

Hopefully, in the end, this should make somewhere in the 500 HP range.

As planned, we're doing all the work ourselves, I've painted and airbrushed before, but never on this scale yet so, needless to say, it WILL be interesting.

I'll keep everyone updated on our progress, and let ya know how this thing goes!

-John

EDIT:
(I'll do this soon, just ran out of time)

Attached also is a build sheet that I came up with real quick, entailing the predicted progress.

RUSTYNUT · Jan 18, 2009

I like to see the DIY attitude. The hobby has gone from getting parts from a bone yard and upgrading your ride to buying 15 grand crate motors, 3 grand disc brake kits etc. I loved the part in the movie War of the worlds when you see Tom Cruise rebuilding a sbf in his kitchen! Now thats hot rodding.

2nd Mustang · Jan 18, 2009

JMHO:

Camaro project=boring.

Two bolt mains and 500hp?

jlangholzj · Jan 23, 2009

2nd Mustang said:
JMHO:

Camaro project=boring.

Two bolt mains and 500hp?

500 is pushin it.

more realistically, 450 ish. The dyno sheets that TFS used showed 490 with the kit, but that was using a 383. So mid to upper 400's is still a very real reality.

and yes...2 bolts.... from what I understand, it shouldn't be that big of an issue anyway.

But the Parts came today!

just b/c I'm lazy, here's the specs on the top end:

9.7 : 1 compression speed pro pistons

Trick flow twisted wedge heads:
72 cc chamber
195cc intake
roller rockers

Cam:
246/254 degree duration at .050, .495/.510 in. lift
1.5 ratio rockers and a 112 degree lobe separation

Bottom end wasn't anything special, we had the crank .01 under and went with speed pro bearings and I-beam connecting rods.

more pics to come

jlangholzj · Jan 23, 2009

btw...whats so boring about a camaro project??

just curious on your opinion is all....

2nd Mustang · Jan 24, 2009

jlangholzj said:
btw...whats so boring about a camaro project??

just curious on your opinion is all....

I've had friends who had early Camaros and I've never really liked the body style. When the first 64-65 Mustangs were manufactured, my then bosses daughter bought one and I fell in love with the car's styling. She let me drive the stick shift car once and that was it. Both Mustangs that I have owned have been a three pedal car!

Good luck with your project anyway. BTW, I've had bowtie cars before too. One was an all out 55 post drag car with a fiberglass tilt front hood and a second 55 project car that was never finished due to lack of funds at the time.

jlangholzj · Jan 24, 2009

2nd Mustang said:
I've had friends who had early Camaros and I've never really liked the body style. When the first 64-65 Mustangs were manufactured, my then bosses daughter bought one and I fell in love with the car's styling. She let me drive the stick shift car once and that was it. Both Mustangs that I have owned have been a three pedal car!

Good luck with your project anyway. BTW, I've had bowtie cars before too. One was an all out 55 post drag car with a fiberglass tilt front hood and a second 55 project car that was never finished due to lack of funds at the time.

I guess I'm the kind of guy who's happy working on any kind of muscle. but I'm still leaning towards the stang for the best ones.

jlangholzj · Jan 26, 2009

good news guys....

now we have a car to go with the engine!

jlangholzj · Jan 29, 2009

bueller?

StangDreamin' · Jan 29, 2009

Okay, so where did you find that? I mainly ask since you said you were "...looking in AZ and NV..." and because -if it were a massive brown behemoth example of the last shocktower Mercury's; that mess would be my garage!

jlangholzj · Jan 29, 2009

StangDreamin' said:
Okay, so where did you find that? I mainly ask since you said you were "...looking in AZ and NV..." and because -if it were a massive brown behemoth example of the last shocktower Mercury's; that mess would be my garage!

hahaha na na, we found this one up in Minneapolis, ALOT closer than NV, since nothing turned up out there, so no worreis...we didn't steal anything from you..

although, his kid DID have a cougar.

...SERIOUS!

krash kendall · Jan 29, 2009

Nice '68!

I'm actually thinking of trying to get one of my friend's two '67 Firebird convertibles with my tax return this year. I know he had been thinking of selling one to pay for some work on the other. Both are complete, but have been stored in his garage since he got them (a coon's age ago).

jlangholzj · Jan 30, 2009

krash kendall said:
Nice '68!

I'm actually thinking of trying to get one of my friend's two '67 Firebird convertibles with my tax return this year. I know he had been thinking of selling one to pay for some work on the other. Both are complete, but have been stored in his garage since he got them (a coon's age ago).

I've always liked the birds too. They're baisically a camaro with a beak let me know how that goes krash, it'd be pretty awesome if ended up with one.

jlangholzj · Jan 31, 2009

well

good news: got the camaro back from the cities in one piece

better news: the 350 that came with the car is a 4-bolt main

krash kendall · Feb 2, 2009

jlangholzj, you've got mail.

jlangholzj · Mar 8, 2009

time for some UPDATES!!!

We'll be getting the crank back from the machine shop this tues, and we got the rest of the parts ordered. intake, carb, headers, ignition, etc etc...

We've got spring break this week, so we're hoping to have the engine put together, started, tuned and all (initially) broke in before break is over with.

Like most chevy's, the window channels up front (and in the back) were all rusted out. Today I'm just wrapping up the progress on the top where it meets the roof. New pillar channels were welded in, the lower cowl was re-fabricated, and I had to fabricate both the top and bottom lips of the upper channel where it meets the roof (along with the support it was welded to.)

(before it was cleaned up)

(this is before the bottom lip was cut, and it was welded up solid)

Of course the doors were in pretty good shape, but the bottoms were a bit rusty. The corners of each door had to be replaced, and the drivers side door needed a whole new bottom welded in.

(there's a patch on the right side)

I'll post some pics of when we get the motor all put together this week and DEFINITELY a video of when we start it up.

wicked93gs · Mar 8, 2009

damn it...everyone has a better welder than I do(or maybe I just cant weld a clean looking bead regardless of which welder type I use) anyway, its looking good...I always wanted a 67-68 Camaro...too bad you can never find them for a decent price, or at least I cant

jlangholzj · Mar 8, 2009

wicked93gs said:
damn it...everyone has a better welder than I do(or maybe I just cant weld a clean looking bead regardless of which welder type I use) anyway, its looking good...I always wanted a 67-68 Camaro...too bad you can never find them for a decent price, or at least I cant

keep looking, they're out there. We got this one for a very reasonable price, you just need to find someone who KNOWS what the value is, not the inflated, i can get this much for a POS value.

btw...the reason why your welds (according to you ) look so bad, is because your using a flux core by the looks of it. We're using Ar/O2 gas. it really makes for a much cleaner and EASIER weld. Plus are you using a 110 or 212 ?? the larger 212 will have a harder time with sheet metal.

size of wire: .25 on sheet metal and .3 on thicker stuff.

look into a welding supply nearby, and pick up some gas, you'll be happy with the results!

jlangholzj · Mar 13, 2009

ITS ALIVE!!!!!

YouTube - Chevy 350 First Start

rd · Mar 13, 2009

Looks like you have a great project and its going well.

I have one of these Brand C projects in the driveway, a 66 Malibu. Just got the 350 back in after a home el cheapo rebuild. Brakes are next. Needs the body gone through later on, and an interior asap. But it will go to cruise nights this summer.

Annoys the crap out of me when the somewhat raggedy Chevelle gets more attention at a cruise night than my hot rod 82 or even my Bullitt.

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