Bland to BAM!
October 17, 2024
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
TILT-A-WHEEL
Tilt steering, cruise control, heated seats and A/C are all amenities that we have grown accustomed to without ever knowing it. We’ve come to expect our seat to power forward and our steering column to drop at the flick of a lever; after all, it’s a matter of driver comfort. As these driver comforts have become a part of our daily drivers, it’s not unthinkable that we would want the same for our classic trucks. Our resident ’68 Chevy makes the rounds to and from lunch, along with the occasional cruise-in, so why not build in many of the same conveniences? After looking online, we decided that our outdated straight column just had to go, and then we’d work on the rest of those comfort items.
Rearend Upgrade
This article delves into the process of upgrading a ’40 Chevy truck, focusing on swapping the original torque tube differential with a ’69 Camaro axle assembly and enhancing the rear suspension. It provides a comprehensive guide on reusing the leaf springs, installing new bushings, and incorporating a strong shock mount for rear frame strengthening. Essential tools like a bushing removal tool, MIG welder, and an oxy-acetylene torch are highlighted, demonstrating the intricate steps involved in modernizing early Chevy trucks.
POWER WINDOW HOW-TO
Adding power windows is a popular aftermarket option for classic vehicles these days. Worn-out window regulators have given people problems for years, and as replacement parts have become increasingly more expensive and harder to find, it’s simply easier and often cheaper to replace the old regulators with new electric ones. In the past we had to raid wrecking yards for parts that would adapt into our vehicles, and as expected there were generally a few problems associated with doing this. First, you don’t always know the condition of the parts being used, even though they look good; and second, you would need some background in window geometry to get the job done correctly. Finally, you need a certain level of basic fabrication skill and tools, which would be more than basic hand tools. With today’s technology and the availability of well-engineered aftermarket power window kits this has all changed, as it’s commonplace for most people to go straight to a kit designed for their vehicle.
Spotlighter
TIME MACHINE
This Camaro May Not Blend In With Most Of Its Brethren, But That’s Why It’s Cool
Big billet wheels, custom suspensions and modern power plants—that’s what we’ve come to expect from a first generation Camaro. And while these items are great if that’s what you prefer, we just can’t help but love a car that stands out in a crowd, like this 1968 Camaro vintage street machine. Period perfect down to the slightest details, the black Camaro would have been the ultimate classic Camaro street machine in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s with its big-‘n’-little Cragars, Lakewood traction bars and nose-down stance. Claude Minor is the proud owner of this retro Chevy, but it certainly didn’t start out in this configuration.
Author
Tommy Lee Byrd
Words & Photography
From First Generation Camaro Dream to Reality
Minor first longed for this Camaro in 1980 at the age of 14, and asked his uncle numerous times if he would possibly sell it. On December 24, 1983, Minor’s three-year effort paid off, as he drove away from his uncle’s house with the biggest smile a teenager could have. From there, it was a constant battle with breakdowns as the Camaro even overheated and toasted a set of cylinder heads on the way back from senior pictures in high school. Admittedly discouraged with the old Chevy, Minor parked the car for a few years before getting the urge to drive it to the 1989 Fall Grand Run in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
A Classic Camaro Love Story
The thing to do at the Grand Run is cruise the Parkway in Pigeon Forge, and as Minor was about to pull onto the main drag, the Camaro shut down in the middle of the street, thanks to an ailing alternator. Struggling to get the Chevy out of the road, he received a helping hand from a by-stander, who just happened to be a young lady. From that first encounter, Minor knew she was a keeper and the two were married in July of 1990. Claude and Jennifer Minor drove away from the wedding in the same Camaro and still ride around in it to this day. Now, that is our kind of love story!
Evolving a Retro Muscle Car Build
For the next few years, the couple drove the car to local shows and drag races before giving it a little break in 1993. The break turned into six years and in 1999, Minor decided it was time to put the old car back on the road. This time, he built a nitrous-fed 355ci engine and backed it with a trans brake-equipped Power Glide. In 2002, Minor felt his Camaro needed a total revamp and disassembled it with plans to get serious with drag racing. A full roll cage and lots of go-fast parts later, Minor changed his mind and went for the retro muscle car look. With this approach, he didn’t have to heavily modify the chassis or suspension to get the desired stance and vintage appearance.
Old School Hot Rod Suspension and Stance
Before reassembling the front subframe, Minor sent it to Willett Powder Coating for a durable and good-looking finish. He then installed the stock suspension equipment, aside from the 12-way adjustable QA1 shocks. The car came equipped with disc brakes on the front, so Minor simply rebuilt the entire braking system to stock spec, while also retaining the stock quick-ratio power steering box that came with the F41 Suspension option. Out back, the car was originally fitted with a 12-bolt Positraction rear end, so Minor kept the original housing and installed a 4.10 gear set before topping it off with a finned aluminum cover. Minor bolted on a pair of subframe connectors to keep the unibody structure stiff, and installed the bright yellow Lakewood traction bars for old school hot rod appeal. Additional old school styling comes from the 15×4- and 15×10-inch Cragar five-spokes and the accompanying Mickey Thompson tires, which protrude just enough from the rear wheel arches to provide the look everyone wanted in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s.
540HP Small Block Chevy Stroker Power
With earlier intentions of racing, Minor equipped his Camaro with a wicked power plant, which features a Dart block, stuffed with a Cola S-series crankshaft, Eagle 3D stroker connecting rods and JE pistons to create 415 cubic inches of small block Chevy stroker power. Robbie White at Volunteer Race Engines performed the machine work on the Dart block, and also did the final tuning on the dyno, where the nicely equipped stroker produced 540hp Camaro power and 520 lb-ft. of torque. The recipe for big power includes a pair of Airflow Research 210 competition series cylinder heads, a Comp Cams solid roller camshaft and the right amount of fuel and air from the 820cfm Demon RS carburetor. A complete MSD ignition system lights the fire and puts the small block to work, while Hooker Super Comp headers rids the engine of its spent gasses. Backing the small block is a Borg Warner Super T-10 four-speed transmission, which is controlled by a Centerforce Dual Friction clutch set and mounted with a Lakewood blow-proof bell housing.
Show-Quality Black Camaro Finish
Through the years, Minor’s Camaro had received a few fresh paint jobs, but he wanted perfection this time, and called upon help from Jim Borruff of Maryville, Tennessee. Before the car left for the body shop, Minor modified the roll cage and kept a four-point roll bar, while incorporating a removable bar behind the bucket seats. Borruff performed the necessary bodywork to prepare this Camaro for black paint and blasted on the 2002 Harley Davidson Vivid Black materials just before laying down several coats of clear. Hours of sanding and buffing ensued, as Borruff worked hard to make the car as slick as possible, and he did just that. Then it was time for interior and Charlie Alexander handled the installation of all new components from PUI, which match the original Deluxe Hounds Tooth vinyl coverings. You’ll find a three-gauge cluster beneath the dash and a column-mounted tachometer, all of which is 1969-vintage Stewart Warner equipment.
Award-Winning Classic Camaro Street Machine
With encouragement from his best friends Troy Criscillis and Chuck Reagan, Minor assembled the Camaro and completed all of the finish work before taking it to its first outing—the 2007 Shades of the Past in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. There, it won a Mighty Muscle Top 5 award and it’s gotten many more since then, thanks to its super slick paint, immaculate bodywork and classic Camaro street machine styling. It’s certainly not a modern-day street machine, but it brings back old memories of a much simpler time in the world of hot rodding. In addition, Claude and Jennifer Minor can thank this old Chevy for bringing them together and providing lots of fun over the years.
Though it looks tame on the outside with its factory air conditioning, the internals of this small block are radical and provide Minor with 540hp. The 415ci Chevy uses AFR cylinder heads, a Comp Cams solid roller and an 820cfm Demon carburetor, while dressed in vintage equipment.
Between the doors, you’ll find stock bucket seats that wear Deluxe Hounds Tooth covers with a four-point roll bar just behind.
The dash is basically stock, but Minor added a Stewart Warner tach and three auxiliary gauges to match the era-specific styling, along with the Hurst Ram Rod shifter.
Minor wanted to honor Bill “Grumpy” Jenkins with this vintage Camaro, so he did so with decals on the quarter glasses, a license plate on the front…
and cool gold-leaf lettering on the rear spoiler.
When the car reached completion, he mailed the glove box door to the man himself to have it signed.
BUILD-UP
01-Before the total revamp in 2002, the ’68 Camaro was red and rolled on a set of Weld Draglite wheels. Minor’s initial goal for this car involved lots of drag racing, but plans changed and he went the old-school route.
02-You won’t find tubular control arms, coilover shocks or huge sway bars on this vintage-styled Camaro, but you will find a fully restored suspension. Minor retained the factory disc brakes up front.
03-The front subframe and suspension components were powder-coated by Willett Powder Coating and reassembled by Minor with the help of a few friends. Wiring and plumbing is taking place to prepare the car for its fresh engine.
04-Out back, more preparations continue, as the rear end is assembled. A 4.10 gear set and Positraction unit can be found in the original 12-bolt housing and Minor outfitted the rear end with Lakewood traction bars and a finned cover.
05-With the doors installed, the paint is receiving it’s finish work, which includes sanding, buffing and polishing the fresh materials to a perfectly slick and glossy finish.
06-Power for Minor’s Camaro is plentiful, thanks to a nice selection of go-fast goodies. Starting with a Dart block, Minor used a Cola crankshaft, Eagle rods and JE pistons to create a 415ci small block with 10.3:1 compression.
07-Before sliding the AFR 210 competition series cylinder heads over the ARP studs, Minor installed the Comp Cams solid roller camshaft and Cloyes Hex-A-Just timing set. The forged flattop pistons ride inside a 4.126-inch bore.
08-With the internals buttoned up, Minor could install the deep-sump Moroso oil pan and mask the heads and timing chain cover. The rest of the engine would receive several coats of bright red paint.
09-After removing all the tape and masking paper, we get a glimpse of the awesome mill before it’s placed within the frame rails of Minor’s Camaro. Before it landed in the car, it was run on Volunteer Race Engines’ dyno and produce 540hp.
10-The transmission is a Borg Warner Super T-10 four-speed manual transmission, which is shown here with its Lakewood blow-proof bell housing. This will be bolted to the engine before it’s lowered into place.
11-It’s a team effort to slide the engine into place without scratching the firewall, frame or the engine itself, but Minor and crew get it mounted without any trouble. Now, it’s time to wire it and fire it!
12-With the Hooker headers bolted up and the accessories mounted, the small block engine is nearing completion. Minor went all out to dress his engine in vintage equipment, including the M/T valve covers, the Z/28 air cleaner and flex fan.
13-Minor didn’t use anything extraordinary under the hood of his car and even installed the factory air conditioning system to make it look like a car someone bought new and simply bolted on a few speed parts.
14-With the engine in place, Minor could hang the front sheet metal and make sure everything is aligned perfectly. Notice the tape on the edges—that protects the fresh paint from scratches or chips during the installation process.
15-Charlie Alexander installed the new Deluxe Hounds Tooth vinyl interior kit from PUI, and the carpet as well. The Grant steering wheel is exactly what someone may have upgraded to in the early ‘70s.
16-A view beneath the Camaro reveals a very sanitary under carriage. You’ll find a set of Hooker Super Comp headers and a driveshaft loop, which is a great precaution in a car with well over 500hp and a manual transmission.
