1970 Camaro Build Thread – From GT Racer To Historic Racer

[Steve Holmes]

I wanted to create this thread partially because I think people will enjoy seeing the rebuild of this car evolve, and the work that is going into it, but also to encourage others who have built or are building cars for historic racing to create their own build threads, as we all find them fascinating, and this is what The Roaring Season is about, sharing the ride with other enthusiasts. And we all appreciate the work that goes into building a historic racer.

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Kiwi racer Murray Brown had this 1970 Camaro built into a race car in 2000. At the time it was built, there weren’t a lot of places to race it, but several muscle cars were competing in a New Zealand class called Super GT, which was a sort of anything goes style category that allowed for plenty of creative thinking without the hindrance of too many rules. Murrays Camaro was built with a 383ci small block, the body was acid-dipped, and full rollcage was fabricated from mild steel tubing. The trunk lid, hood, front clip, front spoiler, front guards, and doors were all made from fiberglass, from a set of molds created for a similar car built up for Wayne Anderson a few years earlier. A large rear spoiler was fitted, along with Perspex side windows, and 17” x 11” Simmons wheels, and slick tyres. The standard Camaro rear end with leaf springs was removed, and replaced by a 9” with coil-overs and Watts-linkage, although all the original mounting points were retained. 6-pot Willwood brakes with 330mm rotors and 4-pot with 305mm rotors did the stopping.

The Camaro was finished in custom a yellow-mustard colour black stripes over the hood and trunk lid. As you’d expect, it was a bit of a tarmac shredder. Murray raced the car in Super GT for a few seasons, then when a new muscle car class called Central Muscle Cars was formed in 2004, Murray began racing the Camaro there. CMC was a competitive series, but Murray was never too interested in chasing points, he just picked the events he wanted to compete at; sometimes 2 or 3 races a season, sometimes none.

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[Steve Holmes]

A few years ago, Murray purchased a BMW 3-series to compete in the BMW race series, and found budget racing, often at historic events, to be to his liking. Then, having spoken earlier this year to Dale Mathers who was starting a new historic series for muscle cars which would only compete at historic racing events, and in which emphasis was placed on enjoyment rather than points chasing, Murray decided to give the Camaro a huge make-over, and have it rebuilt for the new Historic Muscle Cars series. www.historicmusclecars.co.nz

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In order for the Camaro to be eligible for HMC, it would need to undergo a large number of changes, as the HMC regs were created both to maintain originality of the vehicle, and a strong link to New Zealand saloon car racing of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. And so Murrays good mate, Steve Malam, who had been running a similar 1970 Camaro (a big block version) for the past few seasons, set about the big rebuild of the Camaro.

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Here is an itemized list of the changes that need to take place, starting with the engine, in which the alloy heads must be replaced by cast iron items.

1. Engine components,
A: new cast iron heads & valves rockers springs
B: remove 2" carb spacer , for hood clearance
C: new roller camshaft to match new head flow.
D: new exhaust with single side exit (instead of dumping under diff)
2. Front suspension
A: 5.5" stock style coil springs( original spring pockets reformed in A
arms & chassis)
B: Standard sway bar mounted in nolathane bushings, with standard links to
A arms
C: standard A Arms repaired and installed in factory mounting positions.
D: restoring of chassis material that was removed when coil over
suspension was fitted.
E: spindle stubs , ball joint taper restored.(these were modified by
dodsons)
F: existing shocks reused.
3. Rear suspension
A: Leaf springs
B: watts link removed & panhard bar installed
C: new shocks required
D: cut brackets off diff (3 link )
Fortunately we keep all of these components from rebuild when dodsons
modified car
4. Bodywork All new steel repro OEM Parts
A: front guards inner and outer
B: grille nose cone top and bottom
C: complete doors & glass
D: boot lid
E: 3pce rear spoiler (fibre glass)
F: front spoiler OEM (plastic)
H: headlights
J: bonnet -hood (flat, no hump,)
5 Wheels
A: 15X8 front 15x10 possibly arrow 3pce or similar with goodyear blue
streaks
B: 16X10 simmons with toyos
C: possible reworking of front brake callipers for rim clearance

The wheels will more than likely be Minilite style with Goodyear Bluestreak cross-ply tyres, as many owners are choosing for the new class. Here is the Camaro as it currently looks.

Steve is a member here, so hopefully will jump in and help with some of the details of the build. We will post progress photos as the build continues.

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[kiwi285]

Hi Murray and Steve, I believe that this will be a great class and will appeal more to the historic racing fans. That is a big and I guess relatively expensive step to have the car put back to the state it would have raced in in the 70's etc.

All the best and keep us up to date with progress.

[Bruce302]

Thanks for starting the thread Steve, and thanks to Murray for having the faith in the new Muscle car class. It is a huge step to take and I am sure there will be a lot of new enthusiasts taking part and spectating due the the committments like the rebuilding of previous versions of these tough American cars.

Great work, Thanks Murray.

regards,
Bruce.

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks Bruce, yeah it'll be interesting to see this one play out. Will be quite a transformation, both above and beneath the skin.

[Murray Maunder]

Brave call, shows the optimism for this class. As a fan I say a big thanks for your faith in HMC, I can't wait to see them grid up at Hampton Downs in 2012.

[Steve Holmes]

Steve Malam has sent me these update pics of Murrays Camaro. Steve has been grinding away on the car and is making good progress. The new suspension is in, the motor has been rebuilt with iron heads. Work has just started on the new sheet metal. They've decided to go with 16" wheels and 50 profile tyres, rather than 15" wheels and Goodyear Bluestreaks, which many other teams have opted for. This is understandable in their case, as this car has required a huge amount of time and money being spent to make all the changes. Murray, the owner, already had a set of 16" wheels, so has decided to use them.

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[Steve Holmes]

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[Steve Holmes]

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[Steve Holmes]

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[Steve Holmes]

New sheet metal has been fitted

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[Steve Holmes]

Exhaust system complete.

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[Steve Holmes]

Heading off for paint.....

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[vette8]

4938 body prep

[vette8]

4940 return from paintshop

[vette8]

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[vette8]

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[vette8]

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[vette8]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]4949[/ATTACH A big effort is now required to get ready for the 20th jan.

[RogerH]

It looks great - a real credit for taking on the transformation.

[Steve Holmes]

Great work Steve, that really looks amazing. Impressive job in such a short space of time.

[vette8]

5103 final assembly begins

[vette8]

5227 Door glass fitted

[Rod Grimwood]

That is a big undertaking and beautifully done, a credit to all involved. Can not wait to see it in real life, well done.

[Steve Holmes]

Great work Steve, it looks amazing. Do you think you'll make Hampton?

[vette8]

Its looking promising. We are on the dyno wednesday morning, and if all goes well, we will test on friday evening at hampton downs.
Its been a balls out effort to get to this stage, so hope we are not hampered in these final stages.

[Steve Holmes]

Awesome Steve, keep us posted.

[kiwi285]

A fantastic effort Steve and we will all be rooting for the dyno exercise and testing to go well for you.

[vette8]

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[vette8]

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[vette8]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGqoiZ9mYy0&context=C3bb79b6ADOEgsToPDskI9BNlQTrTTTxNnd45Fz4vu5373 AND AFTER 4 SOLID WEEKS- I DO THIS TO IT!

[Steve Holmes]

What happened Steve?

[markec]

How do you get photographs uploaded that big, I am normally told to resize smaller even when under the maximum allowable size.

[vette8]

What happened Steve?Just joking, everything fine.
It would not hook up properly, had 35 % wheelspin, however we were only there to do air fuel ratio.
So we re jetted carb, to suit new heads. From info we did get though, I believe we should have about the same power as before, hee hee.

[vette8]

How do you get photographs uploaded that big, I am normally told to resize smaller even when under the maximum allowable size.

mine are around 130kb resized from my iphone, sent to email then , I post them.

[Kiwiboss]

Just need to know the HP so i can drill the "spacer plate" holes, LOL. Damn great work Steve, im sure you and Frank no not to too lean it out too much, otherwise lets see you following friday!!

Sure looking forward to seeing the car!! and its going to be Camaro city with the 5 Aussie Camaro's, this one and Gimbletts 67, finally the Mustangs will be out numbered!!!

Dale Mathers

[Steve Holmes]

Just joking, everything fine.
It would not hook up properly, had 35 % wheelspin, however we were only there to do air fuel ratio.
So we re jetted carb, to suit new heads. From info we did get though, I believe we should have about the same power as before, hee hee.

OK, well thats allright then! Bloody fantastic effort on the Camaro Steve, its looks a million bucks!

[kiwi285]

Fantastic looking machine Steve. Roll on Friday so that we can see it in action again. The countdown has started in earnest

[Rod Grimwood]

Fantastic looking machine Steve. Roll on Friday so that we can see it in action again. The countdown has started in earnest

So right, it is a credit to them.
Countdown, 6 and a half sleeps

[Kiwiboss]

Did you test at Hampton yesterday Steve? you all happy with it?

Dale Mathers

[vette8]

Did you test at Hampton yesterday Steve? you all happy with it?

Dale MathersDale,managed to get a few laps in, to bed in brakes, scuff tyres, and general shake down.
Apart from some tyre rubbing on guards, there were no issues.
The car moves around a lot on 255 toyos, while we find what pressure is optimum. I will look forward to further test on thursday.
Certainly doesnt have the punch of a big block ,but more than makes up for it in revs. Lively little suckers these small blocks.

[Steve Holmes]

Ha ha ha, I guess your gear changing arm has got lazy from years of driving big block torque-monsters Steve!

[Kiwiboss]

Dale,managed to get a few laps in, to bed in brakes, scuff tyres, and general shake down.
Apart from some tyre rubbing on guards, there were no issues.
The car moves around a lot on 255 toyos, while we find what pressure is optimum. I will look forward to further test on thursday.
Certainly doesnt have the punch of a big block ,but more than makes up for it in revs. Lively little suckers these small blocks.

Steady as it goes Steve, took me a good year to fine tune the Mustang once built, and also had to learning to drive it!! but after 7 years its all sorted. With the Toyo's, i start at 23 to 25 cold and don't let them go over 30, when you check Toyo's website it tells the opposite which i tried but i found doesn't work? go figure?

Do you have a good finished picture for up on here?

Dale Mathers

[vette8]

Thats , interesting about pressures Dale, as I read the Toyo website recomendations, in disbelief.
Anyway I tried 40 psi, and slid everywhere, thinking it was just new the tyres scuffing off crap. Lowered to 37 , still thinking Toyo must know what they are talking about, and it was still very loose.( I was beginning to think I could take up drifting )
Thats all we had time for on saturday, so I will try 30 psi hot, with the knowledge of years of past experience with other brands of tyres, we have never had pressures that high.
I look forward to see how you get on with the bluestreaks.

[vette8]

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[Rod Grimwood]

Amazing how different it looks, back in original dress, Beautiful. If it goes half as good as it looks that will be great, and I do not doubt it will go.
As mentioned before, well done and a credit to all involved. Will be in for good look on Friday.

[Kiwiboss]

Im quietly confident my Mustang will go just fine on the Blue Streaks Steve, having raced John Watkins blue Boss 302 at Sears Point a few years ago i do know how they feel, and when he raced at Hampton 2 years ago he ended up outside pole with 2nd quickest time!! pretty good for his first event at Hampton!!

Yeap, lower those tyre pressures Steve, the Mustang felt just as you described and i keep bringing the pressures back until it felt good, Hoffman, Narain etc all done the same and couldn't believe the difference, like i said "go figure"

Anyway, well done Steve, where in for a great weekend so lets hope the weather holds up.

Dale Mathers

[Steve Holmes]

That looks awesome Steve. Great job!

[Kiwiboss]

Just bumping this thread up as i've had a few ask about Camaros for HMC.

Dale M

[fullnoise68]

What`s the Camaro - Mustang HMC numbers ratio now Dale?

[Kiwiboss]

About 8 of each currently, 16 Mustangs and Camaro's on the grid at once, hell thats a race in itself!! but the proposed future Camaro's looking to come ontrack will out number the Mustangs.

Dale M

[Kiwiboss]

Had to forward info from this posting today to another probable 70 Camaro coming to HMC which prompted me to add this picture.....Murray has now done several seasons under the HMC umbrella and will continue to do so again this season.

A great Dewi Jones picture from Australia