Updates:

2004 - ok, last i remember is putting new triple springs in the heads, but never got it to the track.
i had started a new position at work and was putting in 50 and 60 hour weeks which didnt leave me a
whole lot of time for playing in the garage.

2005 - My son Nicholas came out here to NY. One night we were looking for something to do we
ventured down into Binghamton and went to our first AHL Hockey game. We were both instantly
hooked and i think i only missed 2 or 3 games the rest of the season from Jan. Did nothing of any
note with the Camaro.

2006 thru 2009 - Nicholas and i joined the hockey booster club and i met a really nice girl. but, me being me,
things didnt work out too well and we broke up, which left me time to play out in the garage finally.
I had picked up some parts from my buddy Phil in So. Cal. and a buddy from work.

I ended up installing a complete manual steering system from an S10 p/u, one less belt on the motor
and a little less front end weight. I also installed Koni front drag struts and damn near lost a toe doing
it.

We also had the worst flood here in about 75 years. the garage took about 3 ft of flood water. the
water reached the intake manifold but not the carb., i changed all the fluids in the motor, trans and
rearend a couple times, but, i think the tranny needs internal work and im not putting any money into
that R4 when i want to get the powerglide in it. So, right now i dont have a working tanny.

My buddy Phil also talked me into pulling the hydraulic cam out and i picked up and Isky solid
lifter cam. now i have the decision whether or not to just throw it in there or do it correctly by
dialing in the cam which involves pulling off the heads and a whole lot more stuff. Without bob
looking over my shoulder, im more than apprehensive tackling this by myself.

So, then i got the bright idea i really want to get the car painted. i proceeded pulling off the doors,
and front fenders. removed the glass and guts of the doors. removed the crash beams in the doors
to drop drop a few more pounds. completely sanded down one door and ... not got around to
painting it because i got laid off from work.

All my body parts sat at a buddies house about 45 - 50 minutes from my place here in Greene for
over a year. I was getting paranoid my door was getting all rusted to shit so i finally made
arrangements to pick up all my stuff from my buddy Randys garage where we had planned to paint
the doors and fenders black epoxy primer.

With the help of my buddy Dennis i was put in contact with a painter near Bainbridge and got my
sanded down door some minor bodywork [parking lot dings] and got it painted grey epoxy
primer in 2009.

Since im still out of work, im back in school. Attending Broome County College for computer
sciences which means my wallet is on a diet.

Plans for 2010 - I'd really like to get the solid lifter cam in the motor, find some help dialing in the
cam and maybe even put the motor in my 1994 Chevy Silverado just so i can enjoy the motor
again. in the last 5 or 6 years ive put less than 20 miles on the motor.That and the Camaro wont
be rolling again until i come up with money to get the powerglide worked on which probably isnt gonna
happen til im working again which wont be until after im done with school NEXT year 2011.

I gave Bob a call and told him the changes ive made and he seems to think the Camaro will
easily be an 11 second car now, maybe even mid to high 7's in the 8th mi. When i set out to build a
motor for the Camaro back in 1999 with Bobs help, the only goal i had was to make it an 11 second
car, which i think it very well might be when i get it going agian. if i can get into a good job again, ill be
putting that 396 together and see if i cant make it a 10 second Camaro.

*sigh*. i miss the sound of my motor and the power under the peddle. Well, maybe ill get the motor
in the truck this summer and run it back and forth to school. Not like the truck cant use it either,
the stock 350 in the truck is rated at a wussey 205 hp which is completely useless.

I have even thought about pulling the stock 205 hp out of the truck, putting the 383 in it, then tear down
the stock 205 hp 350, install some forged 8:1 pistons, maybe some better heads and install the
Whipple Supercharger i have sitting in my garage on the motor and stick that back in the truck. i think
that could be done relatively cheap and would certainly add 100+ hp to the motor. If i stroke it,
would also add some more torque too, nice beefie power down low.

dunno, only time will tell. what i need, is a GOOD job when im done with school.

                                            | Home Page |