1968 Chevy Camaro - Just Do It!

POWERTRAIN
A '70s-vintage small-block works the displacement of the day, 383 ci, as assembled by Speed-O-Motive in West Covina, California. Speedo used its own forged crank with forged H-beams and Probe SRS dished pistons that yield a blower-nice 9.5:1 compression ratio. Though that complete Comp solid-roller (255/262 duration at 0.050, 0.613 lift, 114-degree lobe-separation angle) valvetrain may seem a bit much, Wilson Manifolds prepped a Victor Jr. for port fuel injection and affixed its house fuel rails, 72-lb/hr injectors, and a 1,230-cfm Accufab throttle body to take full advantage. A FAST XFI controller keeps the engine's operating parameters where they're supposed to be. This combination straddles off-the-shelf Dart aluminum Pro-1 castings (2.08/1.60, 230cc intake runners, 72cc chambers, O-ringed block). There's that big, fat, intercooled, overdriven ATI F1 series Procharger producing 16 psi of boost. The rear-wheel numbers are just as big! Though untried at this writing, a Zex 100-shot waits for the signal. The exhaust tract includes 13/4-inch Doug's headers, a 3-inch X-pipe, and Flowmaster Super 40s. The MSD ignition system (Digital-6 box, HVC II coil, billet distributor) flames the fuel fed by an 18-gallon cell and an Aeromotive Eliminator in-tank pump. Cooling and lubing are handled by a Be Cool oversize core; down below there's a B&B 7-quart pan, a windage tray, a crank scraper, and 6 quarts of Royal Purple racing oil. Bill's drivetrain inclinations are downright carnal: a G-Force GF-5R five-speed (straight-cut gears, 3.25:1 Low, 1:1 High) good for 1,300 hp enabled by a Long V-Gate shifter and a McLeod dual-disc clutch inside a Lakewood SFI containment shield. A Denny's Nitrous Ready driveshaft connects all to a Currie 9+ axle complete with a Detroit Locker differential, 35-spline axles, and a cruise-friendly 3.00:1 final drive. Wow! Time for an Alka-Seltzer yet?

PERFORMANCE
Tom Habrzyk at Westech Performance Group (Mira Loma, California) tuned the engine on its chassis dyno. Then Bill tested this real-world information in the real world. At 3,630 pounds with Bill in the seat and blowing the tires off, the Camaro ran 10.30 at 136; it did better in the eighth, jabbing the 60-foot clocks at 1.45 and posting a 6.60/119. At 16-psi boost, the 383 produces 712 hp at 6,200 and 624 lb-ft at 5,300 rpm at the wheels. (Nitrous oxide was not used.)

INSIDE
The hard-case Z/28 has a neatly detailed, all-business interior as well. Classic Industries came to the rescue when Bill replaced all of the cabin's uphol-stery, fittings, and appointments. His concessions to modernity are Dakota Digital instruments and a Grant quick-release steering wheel. Safety is critical, hence G-Force five-point harnesses for both of those high-back JEG's bucket seats. For the track: a G-Force helmet, head and neck restraint, and certified racing attire. Bill fitted an Alston 10-point rollcage inside the shell, and his brother-in-law, James (Dr. Kreter by day), welded it in place in the driveway. That Long shifter makes you do a double take.

ROLLERS & BRAKES
Though handling might not be critical, you gotta have brakes. Wilwood four-piston calipers work 12-inch rotors front and rear. Street stock shown here. Epic 16x8 wheels and a rude combo of 205/55 Firestones in front and worn out (after 600 miles, ha!) BFG 255/50 Drag Radials on the back. At the race track, they morph into Center Line wheels (15x4, 15x10) fixed with Mickey Thompson 26x4.5 ET Front and 28x13.50 ET Street Drag racing rubber.

CHASSIS
Cruising comes naturally to this denizen of the Old Fart Racing Team and when it's time to abuse the slicks, the less suspension drag the better. Bill put Global West control arms on the stock subframe, hooked them to the stock spindles, slid adjustable QA1 90/10 coilovers in between them, and removed the antisway bar. The rearend rides on Global's multileaf bundles and is controlled by more QA1 adjustable dampers. Cal-Tracs bars stabilize the axle and plant the tires. Bill recently replaced the power-assisted rack-and-pinion he'd put in three years ago with a new manual steering box and linkage.