It will all come down to budget and what you want. You have plenty of time for research. I would focus on getting the drive line (trans/rear) to handle the motor you already have. Also a Camaro is a unibody with no real frame. You should also research strengthening the body and the rear mounts. I have seen a lot of twisted camaros/novas over the years.

 

I mean the car has been able to handle the motor just fine since it was built 3 years ago so I dont really think I need to do anything to it right away besides change out all the fluids and such.

 

You have not mentioned what rear is in the car. Assuming it is the original rear your motor may have twice the torque the trans or rear can handle. Yes it will last for a long time as long you never use the torque in the motor. Just don't be surprised when you hit the gas in second gear and the countershaft shoot out the side of the transmission.

Think of this way our transmission is a 2 x 4, your engine can snap a 4 x 4. As long as you don't get on it too much the 2 x 4 will hold but if you gun it and you tires actual hook up, snap.

 

Well ill have the current owner of the car launch it before we buy it. Im not sure on the rear, id have to ask him on the 21st which is when I will be talking to him next. What would you suggest in terms of drivedrain build to handle 300-700hp and 400-800lbs of torque for under $5000 total. I looked at the transmissions, can get a good one for around $2500, LS motor with okay miles $500-$1000, not sure on the rear dif and driveshaft plus all the other components. I want to give this car some kick. But I want it to be able to safely handle a full load.

 

There are a lot of different ways to go. If you want to stick with chevy the 12 bolt is the way to go but at 800 Ft/lbs your mounting system and your frame should be beefed up.

You can find Ford rears ready to bolt in for less then the chevy 12 bolts.

One of nice parts of the rear and trans being stock is most non Z28 cars do not have posi rears and if this car is a single wheel drive then you can not get enough traction to break the rear or transmission. You can make a lot of smoke you just won't get anywhere quickly.

Some quick 3rd gen facts. The l98 350 was the most powerful engine GM put in a 3rd Gen. In 1987 the l98 was rated 245 hp and 340ft/lbs of torque. GM would not put the T5 in a L98 car because it was not strong enough to handle the torque. If you wanted a stick in 1987 you had to buy a 305. Bone stock a SB 400 can have 390 ft/lbs of torques with even small upgrades taking to 450ft/lbs pretty quickly.

The t5 in my 1996 V6 is the same as the one put in a 305 RS.

 

i would ask the seller what the hp an tlbs is of the engine in it, you can get a th350 or 400 for under 1k brand new to handle 500hp for a 15 minute ride is all you need . or a 700r4 for bit more an have 4 speeds ,an a ford rearend for 2k plus an you will have that for the life of the car,if you got an engine with 4000 miles ,just get a desent transmission an rearend an have some fun with what you got for now,who knows mabey they built up more then you know ask the questions then later think about other things at the same time though for 4k he might have more in it or not , guys like to put big blocks in them ,nice car though,but a perfeclty good 400 sbc should be driven my 2 cents,post up some pictures after you buy it ,that will tell the guys what you got , pics of the engine the trans an rearend ,then they will know what you got there

 

He wouldnt have the answer to that question. He bought it 3 years ago from a father and son that built it in Virginia. He had used it as a cruiser since and has only put around 2000 miles since he bought it.

 

so its got more miles then what was said ,i would ask questions like how long they father son had it before this guy,hp tlbs rear end an trans ,then when you get the car post pictures i got a remaned 400 in my 95 the th350 an the 10 bolt that i need to rebuild to handle 500 hp ,for me is cheaper then the ford rear ,but if you have plans of 600hp then the for rear can be had , did they just rebuild a 400 half way,is it clean under the hood ,mine is 3 years in August an about 9k miles bye then now its like 6k on the engine or less i figure alot less ,another ? is what does the odometor say there is no telling when they put it on the car an how long they drove before they put one on it ,like mine have yet to put one on it so i am just guessing with many short rides into town

 

Just got the car this week! SO happy with ut but it needed a little bit of work! Car is solid and has a lot of torque.