Since Chris Sanders was anxious to get his ride rolling under its own steam, his restricted funds allowed a basic small-block, albeit one with the long arm. Pro Machine, in Bowling Green, Kentucky, clearanced the block for the 383 stroker based on Scat rotator 10:1 hypereutectic pistons, 5.7-inch connecting rods, and a cast-iron crankshaft, all of it making perfect economic sense for Chris’ original intent. Pro Machine used COMP double-roller timing gear to secure an Erson hydraulic roller that’s been mapped with 226/234 degrees duration at 0.050 inch and a lift of 0.548 inch for both valves. The train is composed of COMP springs, roller rockers, and pushrods. They closed the lower end of the engine with a Milodon sump and a Melling high-volume oil pump. The Pro Race aluminum cylinder heads were fitted with 2.02 and 1.60 valves and form the stage for a Holley Street Dominator intake manifold and 770 Ultra Street Avenger carburetor. To add a bit of drama, Chris applied twin Spectre cold-air intake systems in conjunction with a custom airbox cupping the Holley’s maw. Favored combo MSD 6AL box and Pro Billet distributor broadcast spark fat and vibrant. Hedman headers sport 13/4-inch primary pipes, extract noxious gases and send them down a 21/2-inch tract joined with Flowmaster 1-chamber mufflers. A steel flywheel hosts the Zoom 11-inch clutch and pressure plate, followed by the exalted Tremec TKO 500 (3.27, 1.97, 1.34, 1.00, 0.68:1) gearbox. Torque migrates via a custom steel driveshaft by Bowling Green Machine to a ’70 12-bolt carrying a GM Positraction differential and 3.73:1 gears.
The Camaro’s had more bodywork than The Real Housewives of Orange County. Read: Chris and Martin replaced every panel on the car save for the firewall, roof, trunk lid, and valence panels. Trim is new. Bumpers are new. Glass is new. Lights are new. After many long hours of fitting and aligning the body parts, gapping the seams, smoothing the skin, and prepping it for paint, Martin dragged it to his secret closet in Morgantown, shot the Spies Hecker ’04 Viper Yellow, and applied the rally stripes.
The boys set the undercarriage up by fabbing rear framerails, splicing in Competition Engineering subframe connectors, and locating polyurethane body mounts. Chevrolet replacement spindles anchor the front. And the front of the contraption is peppered with polyurethane bushings, KYB shocks, and replacement springs with some of the coil removed (1 inch from the spring translates to 2 inches of lowered stance). At the rear of the chassis, they lined up aftermarket leaf bundles, KYB gas shock absorbers, and 4-inch lowering blocks.
Chris’ desire to eventually decorate the Camaro with mini-tubs suggests that larger, wider, meaner rollers are imminent. For now, though, the Z squats on Coy 18x8 and 20x8.5 C5 hoops embraced by 245/40ZR and 255/35ZR Hankook Ventus Sport K104s. For the fine art of burning off accumulated energy, the Camaro stomps on 13-inch Advanced Brake Technology drilled/slotted rotors followed by a similar pattern (12-inch discs) at the rear.
As per Chris, the tweed is temporary and will be seriously upstaged by something a lot suppler down the road. DJ’s Upholstery in Bowling Green did up the Geo Storm seats, finished the door panels to match the scheme in the trunk, and installed the Covan’s Classic carbon-fiber–like dash insert and Auto Meter Classic Black instrumentation. The tiller is Grant GT matched to the upholstery. Audio sensation arcs from a Kenwood head unit, 6.5-inch Pioneer speakers in the kick panels, and 6x9s in the package tray.